I just bought a Hunter 23.5 and what I want to know is how much wind does it take to put this sail boat on it's side??? I'm new to sailing, and I want to be prepared. Mike mowens@flower-mound.com
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Tim Leighton
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Mike: I don't have a 23 nor am I anywhere near an expert on it or marine engineering/design. Having said that, you ask the same question my wife did when she first started sailing! Without going into any math (I was TERRIBLE in math!), basically, as a sailboat heals to the wind she gets more and more stable. See that for yourself by going out under bare poles sometime and motoring parallel to a beam sea and then put up the main. That healing, by the way, is what allows the boat to go faster...to a point. And that is the point. As the boat heals beyond a certain angle (around 20 degrees for my 31', probably a bit less for you especailly with a centerboard), the sideward force on the sails dramatically DECREASES. HUH? Yup, think of it (as I do!) in simple terms. As the boat heals, the sail starts "spilling" wind at the top decreasing the healing force and increasing the righting motion. At that point (all things being equal) the boats heal decreases until the next gust of wind hits it. There are a couple of things which could keep the boat healed. First, an extremely strong wind could put a vessel on her beam ends (we're talking gale/hurricane force here) or a large wave hitting the beam just as you reach max heal could throw the boat on her side. THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE YOUR BOAT WOULD CAPSIZE IN ANY SITUATION WE NORMALLY FIND OURSELVES! (That is more for our new-to-sailing spouses than us). Since you apparently will be lake sailing in Texas, you probably won't have to worry about huge waves (except for those gigantic stinkpotters plying your waters!). However, thunderstorms are a real possibility (I'm an airline pilot and fly into DFW often!) so keep a weather eye, and reduce/furl your sails EARLY and I doubt you'll ever have a problem. I would recommend at least one good primer for you which has great sections on just about every aspect of sailing: "The Annapolis Book of SEAMANSHIP" by John Rousmaniere. I belive it has been continually updated and still in print. Mine was printed in the early 80's but I still refer to it. I hope this helps. Have an great time and welcome to sailing! Tim L. (S/V "TIDE") Chesapeake Bay
Mike: I don't have a 23 nor am I anywhere near an expert on it or marine engineering/design. Having said that, you ask the same question my wife did when she first started sailing! Without going into any math (I was TERRIBLE in math!), basically, as a sailboat heals to the wind she gets more and more stable. See that for yourself by going out under bare poles sometime and motoring parallel to a beam sea and then put up the main. That healing, by the way, is what allows the boat to go faster...to a point. And that is the point. As the boat heals beyond a certain angle (around 20 degrees for my 31', probably a bit less for you especailly with a centerboard), the sideward force on the sails dramatically DECREASES. HUH? Yup, think of it (as I do!) in simple terms. As the boat heals, the sail starts "spilling" wind at the top decreasing the healing force and increasing the righting motion. At that point (all things being equal) the boats heal decreases until the next gust of wind hits it. There are a couple of things which could keep the boat healed. First, an extremely strong wind could put a vessel on her beam ends (we're talking gale/hurricane force here) or a large wave hitting the beam just as you reach max heal could throw the boat on her side. THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE YOUR BOAT WOULD CAPSIZE IN ANY SITUATION WE NORMALLY FIND OURSELVES! (That is more for our new-to-sailing spouses than us). Since you apparently will be lake sailing in Texas, you probably won't have to worry about huge waves (except for those gigantic stinkpotters plying your waters!). However, thunderstorms are a real possibility (I'm an airline pilot and fly into DFW often!) so keep a weather eye, and reduce/furl your sails EARLY and I doubt you'll ever have a problem. I would recommend at least one good primer for you which has great sections on just about every aspect of sailing: "The Annapolis Book of SEAMANSHIP" by John Rousmaniere. I belive it has been continually updated and still in print. Mine was printed in the early 80's but I still refer to it. I hope this helps. Have an great time and welcome to sailing! Tim L. (S/V "TIDE") Chesapeake Bay
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Ken Shubert
It can happen!
I've had the mainsail "kiss the surf" and the jib was a bag of water. It's not how much wind but a gust at exactly the wrong time. I had just come-about and lost most of my forward speed when a gust of maybe 35 mph caught me unaware. It's a rare happening but just be sure your ballast tank is full and plugged ---- it will self right and not turtle like a hobie. The worst worry is falling out of the boat, an even bigger problem singlehanded. It seemed like everything was in super slo-motion. There wasn't anything frantic or scary about it except loose towels and cusions in the cockpit were trying to fall out. Pay attention and 'read the water' so it won't happen! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
I've had the mainsail "kiss the surf" and the jib was a bag of water. It's not how much wind but a gust at exactly the wrong time. I had just come-about and lost most of my forward speed when a gust of maybe 35 mph caught me unaware. It's a rare happening but just be sure your ballast tank is full and plugged ---- it will self right and not turtle like a hobie. The worst worry is falling out of the boat, an even bigger problem singlehanded. It seemed like everything was in super slo-motion. There wasn't anything frantic or scary about it except loose towels and cusions in the cockpit were trying to fall out. Pay attention and 'read the water' so it won't happen! Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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Ken Koons
Never thought about keeping the plug closed
I've just become the proud owner of a 240. I'd never thought about closing off the tank once it's full. I guess that if you were knocked down by the wind a lot of your balast could leak out of the fill hole, causing you to go over more.
I've just become the proud owner of a 240. I'd never thought about closing off the tank once it's full. I guess that if you were knocked down by the wind a lot of your balast could leak out of the fill hole, causing you to go over more.
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Dave Freeman
Rudder effectiveness
I just upgraded from my 23' "Y-KNOT". Not a skilled sailor, but when I'd get Y-Knot too far over (intentionally or unintentionally), it seemed that the rudder would come out of the water enough to lose "effectiveness" the result would be for the boat to immediatley come into the wind and right itself. I did this many times in many scenarios (several unplanned) and nver "got wet" --thank goodness. Not sure about a plug for the ballast! Never saw it referred to in the owners manual!! enjoy your 23' a real fun/safe boat
I just upgraded from my 23' "Y-KNOT". Not a skilled sailor, but when I'd get Y-Knot too far over (intentionally or unintentionally), it seemed that the rudder would come out of the water enough to lose "effectiveness" the result would be for the boat to immediatley come into the wind and right itself. I did this many times in many scenarios (several unplanned) and nver "got wet" --thank goodness. Not sure about a plug for the ballast! Never saw it referred to in the owners manual!! enjoy your 23' a real fun/safe boat
R
Ray Bowles
No Plug, No ballast. Belly flop.
If your ballast tank is not plugged all you have is a sink full of sloshing water. If the water can empty out of the tank and be replaced by air then all you have for ballast is one hell of a lot weight that can shift from side to side and continue to change in weight and balance. By filling and plugging the tank you have a fixed weight in a fixed area that can not shift thereby filling the function of lead or iron in a fixed keel boat. Would you set 10 or 12 loose batteries in the bottom of your boat for ballast? An unplugged tank is the same. Ray s/v Speedy
If your ballast tank is not plugged all you have is a sink full of sloshing water. If the water can empty out of the tank and be replaced by air then all you have for ballast is one hell of a lot weight that can shift from side to side and continue to change in weight and balance. By filling and plugging the tank you have a fixed weight in a fixed area that can not shift thereby filling the function of lead or iron in a fixed keel boat. Would you set 10 or 12 loose batteries in the bottom of your boat for ballast? An unplugged tank is the same. Ray s/v Speedy
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