I am interested in looking at/purchasing a 1988 Hunter 18.5 with a wing keel and trailer. Can anyone give me what to look for in this boat? Was the boat solid and dependable? Was the boat easy to trailer launch? I will be sailing mostly on a small lake near my home and this will be my first sailboat in some time - is it a good starter boat? Any other information that anyone could give would be helpful. Thank you in advance for your advice.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
C
Crazy Dave Condon
Trailer suggestions
The boat was solid but remember the bigger the boat, the more stable it is as a rule fo thumb. The trailer needed to be upgraded. First, add a longer extension bar. Remove the keel guide and put abetter one on. The wings use to get caught on the original. Check the fenders as they could come loose. Crazy Dave condon
The boat was solid but remember the bigger the boat, the more stable it is as a rule fo thumb. The trailer needed to be upgraded. First, add a longer extension bar. Remove the keel guide and put abetter one on. The wings use to get caught on the original. Check the fenders as they could come loose. Crazy Dave condon
P
Peter
Hunter 18.5
I've had an '88 H18.5 for about three years now, and I like it. I feel that it has been a good starter boat. I think that if I was to do it over again I would buy a slightly bigger boat, as the small cabin doesn't allow a lot of the things I'd like to do. My biggest difficulty with the boat, though, is not the sailing, that is fine, it is that I do not like the trailering aspect of it. While the fixed keel does have advantages, I do think that the fixed keel means that it is going to be harder to put into and out of the water -- the ramp has to be that much steeper. I would heed Dave's advice above, he gave me the same advice and I have installed heavy wooden guides that guide the keel into the housing. That has made it much easier to get the boat on and off the trailer. I feel that the boat sits high on the trailer and do not feel comfortable stepping the mast, though as I've become more familiar with it I find it easier each time I do it. You will need at least one other, and probably a couple of other, friends to help you step the mast each time, it is not a one man job. I keep my boat on Lake Erie, and it sails fine there, though the lake can be very rough at times. I did miss many days of sailing last summer because the lake was too rough. I will be keeping it on Sandusky Bay this summer, and hope to do some racing with it. The bay will offer more shelter and I should be able to sail her much more often. If you have further questions, please email me at pkozup@juno.com or give me a phone call at 330 847-0975, and I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have about the boat.
I've had an '88 H18.5 for about three years now, and I like it. I feel that it has been a good starter boat. I think that if I was to do it over again I would buy a slightly bigger boat, as the small cabin doesn't allow a lot of the things I'd like to do. My biggest difficulty with the boat, though, is not the sailing, that is fine, it is that I do not like the trailering aspect of it. While the fixed keel does have advantages, I do think that the fixed keel means that it is going to be harder to put into and out of the water -- the ramp has to be that much steeper. I would heed Dave's advice above, he gave me the same advice and I have installed heavy wooden guides that guide the keel into the housing. That has made it much easier to get the boat on and off the trailer. I feel that the boat sits high on the trailer and do not feel comfortable stepping the mast, though as I've become more familiar with it I find it easier each time I do it. You will need at least one other, and probably a couple of other, friends to help you step the mast each time, it is not a one man job. I keep my boat on Lake Erie, and it sails fine there, though the lake can be very rough at times. I did miss many days of sailing last summer because the lake was too rough. I will be keeping it on Sandusky Bay this summer, and hope to do some racing with it. The bay will offer more shelter and I should be able to sail her much more often. If you have further questions, please email me at pkozup@juno.com or give me a phone call at 330 847-0975, and I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have about the boat.
C
Crazy Dave Condon
Do not go up ;the mast in a boson's chair
One other thing I would like to mention. I use to a farmer who made moonshine behind my dealership. Every Saturday night, guess where I was. Sippin good old peach brandy. Anyway, to avoid dropping the mast, I went up the mast in a boson's chair to change the wind vane as I wanted to go sippin suds. Well, my buzzel butt was too heavy and the mast broke. Customer had dinged his mast badly previous and was curious as to why he had a noticable new mast. Crazy Dave Condon
One other thing I would like to mention. I use to a farmer who made moonshine behind my dealership. Every Saturday night, guess where I was. Sippin good old peach brandy. Anyway, to avoid dropping the mast, I went up the mast in a boson's chair to change the wind vane as I wanted to go sippin suds. Well, my buzzel butt was too heavy and the mast broke. Customer had dinged his mast badly previous and was curious as to why he had a noticable new mast. Crazy Dave Condon
J
Jack Everitt
18.5
MY first boat was a 18.5. We found out quickly that the cabin was too small by the time we loaded everything for an overnight stay. Secondly, in very very light air you do need to have forward motion ( water moving over the fixed keel) to maintain steerage. Since we were inexperienced we had some anxious moments as the boat slipped sideways without any rudder control. If you can afford a larger boat, I would recommend starting with a 23.5. you will be happier in the long run.
MY first boat was a 18.5. We found out quickly that the cabin was too small by the time we loaded everything for an overnight stay. Secondly, in very very light air you do need to have forward motion ( water moving over the fixed keel) to maintain steerage. Since we were inexperienced we had some anxious moments as the boat slipped sideways without any rudder control. If you can afford a larger boat, I would recommend starting with a 23.5. you will be happier in the long run.
A
ALLEN
18.5
I HAVE BEEN SAILING AN 18.5 FOR 11 YEARS NOW. THIS IS BOAT NUMBER 7 FOR ME INC A BAYFIELD 25.WHICH I LIVED ABOARD WHEN I WAS IN MY "EARLY" 20S IT"S BEEN A GREAT BOAT. EASY TO LAUNCH AND SAIL SINGLEHANDED. MY BEST ADVISE WOULD BE TO BUY THE BOAT THAT MATCHES THE WAY YOU SAIL. DONT BUY BLUEWATER CRUSER TO DAY SAIL. SOME TIPS ON SAILING THE 18.5. WHEN RAISING THE MAST RUN THE JIB HALYARD TO FORWARD CLEAT, WHEN MAST IS UP TIGHTEN JIB HALYARD THEN GO FORWARD TO ATTACH FORESTAY. ONE MAN JOB "5'7 150". ALSO INSTALL LONGER TOUNGE ON TRAILER FOR SHALLOW LAUNCHES. WE SAIL MS GULF COAST. TAKE MOSTLY DAY TRIPS TO SHIP AND CAT ISLAND "8-12 MILES OFFSHORE. SAILED FROM SHIP ISLAND TO LONG BEACH HARBOR ONE TIME ON A REACH IN 25 KNOT WIND ON A REACH. BOAT HANDLED VERY WELL UNDER REEFED MAIN. COVERED 14 MILES IN ABOUT 2HR.
I HAVE BEEN SAILING AN 18.5 FOR 11 YEARS NOW. THIS IS BOAT NUMBER 7 FOR ME INC A BAYFIELD 25.WHICH I LIVED ABOARD WHEN I WAS IN MY "EARLY" 20S IT"S BEEN A GREAT BOAT. EASY TO LAUNCH AND SAIL SINGLEHANDED. MY BEST ADVISE WOULD BE TO BUY THE BOAT THAT MATCHES THE WAY YOU SAIL. DONT BUY BLUEWATER CRUSER TO DAY SAIL. SOME TIPS ON SAILING THE 18.5. WHEN RAISING THE MAST RUN THE JIB HALYARD TO FORWARD CLEAT, WHEN MAST IS UP TIGHTEN JIB HALYARD THEN GO FORWARD TO ATTACH FORESTAY. ONE MAN JOB "5'7 150". ALSO INSTALL LONGER TOUNGE ON TRAILER FOR SHALLOW LAUNCHES. WE SAIL MS GULF COAST. TAKE MOSTLY DAY TRIPS TO SHIP AND CAT ISLAND "8-12 MILES OFFSHORE. SAILED FROM SHIP ISLAND TO LONG BEACH HARBOR ONE TIME ON A REACH IN 25 KNOT WIND ON A REACH. BOAT HANDLED VERY WELL UNDER REEFED MAIN. COVERED 14 MILES IN ABOUT 2HR.
M
Mark Rountree
- Status
- Not open for further replies.