After my first summer of sailing on our 1987 hunter 34 I wonder about the excessive weatherhelm. Can anyone give me some suggestions on how to lessen or eliminate it. I dont know all of the combinations with main and headsail so thanks for your help. We have the original main and have roller furling. Thanks.
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Ken Palmer
when in doubt, let it out.
Too much weather helm may be a symptom of too much sail up. Above 15 knots, you might consider putting a reef in the main and/or rolling up the genny a bit. The other cause is that you may be trimmed too tight. My old instructor usesd to tell me "when in doubt, let it out". Simply put, let the main out until it starts to luft, then tighten up a bit. On your genny, watch the telltails closely to make sure both sides are streaming out. Adjust the genny in or out to get this to happen. If top and bottom telltails are not all streaming out, it may be a sign that you are using the wrong point to attach your jib sheet block. Try moving it forward or back. I'm sure others will give you more detail. I'll end by saying that a little weather helm is good; too much could be dangerous if sailing close to other boats since you don't have complete control. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Too much weather helm may be a symptom of too much sail up. Above 15 knots, you might consider putting a reef in the main and/or rolling up the genny a bit. The other cause is that you may be trimmed too tight. My old instructor usesd to tell me "when in doubt, let it out". Simply put, let the main out until it starts to luft, then tighten up a bit. On your genny, watch the telltails closely to make sure both sides are streaming out. Adjust the genny in or out to get this to happen. If top and bottom telltails are not all streaming out, it may be a sign that you are using the wrong point to attach your jib sheet block. Try moving it forward or back. I'm sure others will give you more detail. I'll end by saying that a little weather helm is good; too much could be dangerous if sailing close to other boats since you don't have complete control. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Have your rig tunning checked
Ken is correct. * WHEN IN DOUBT LET IT OUT*. You may also want to find if your rig is set correctly. Too tight, too loose, is the mast set properly. These boats can sail with the best of them when they are setup properly.
Ken is correct. * WHEN IN DOUBT LET IT OUT*. You may also want to find if your rig is set correctly. Too tight, too loose, is the mast set properly. These boats can sail with the best of them when they are setup properly.
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Bill hall
Sail trim and other stuff
Weatherhelm is caused by excessive tork of the stern to leeward, with the keel being the center of rotation. Excessive heel will also make the stern move to leeward. Less sail pressure is needed aft to reduce weather helm or more sail pressure fore. Too much mast rake will cause weatherhelm. Likewise too much mast rake forward will cause lee helm. Look at your boat from a distance in the slip to see mast rake. Flattening the main (outhoul and cunningham tight) and outhoul to leeward will also assist.
Weatherhelm is caused by excessive tork of the stern to leeward, with the keel being the center of rotation. Excessive heel will also make the stern move to leeward. Less sail pressure is needed aft to reduce weather helm or more sail pressure fore. Too much mast rake will cause weatherhelm. Likewise too much mast rake forward will cause lee helm. Look at your boat from a distance in the slip to see mast rake. Flattening the main (outhoul and cunningham tight) and outhoul to leeward will also assist.
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Mike DiMario
Other factors
Craig, It really depends on the conditions that you experience excessive weather helm. There was a thread last month, if you use the search about this topic and alot of different things affecting helm. We have a 376 and it seems to be in the same catagory. I ususally adjust the twist in the jib first and then the jib trim. Then I usually adjust the main to emulate the twist in the jib. I found that moving the traveler to windward and letting more slack on the mainsheet will allow the main to twist. Then I adjust the main in until it backwinds and then I tweek it out. Overtightening the main, particularly not allowing it to twist properly, will really cause the boat to overheal and the weather helm can be a bear. Depending on conditions this will handle 20 knots. Over that we furl in the main. Happy sailing and good luck, Mike D. Media, PA Serenity H376
Craig, It really depends on the conditions that you experience excessive weather helm. There was a thread last month, if you use the search about this topic and alot of different things affecting helm. We have a 376 and it seems to be in the same catagory. I ususally adjust the twist in the jib first and then the jib trim. Then I usually adjust the main to emulate the twist in the jib. I found that moving the traveler to windward and letting more slack on the mainsheet will allow the main to twist. Then I adjust the main in until it backwinds and then I tweek it out. Overtightening the main, particularly not allowing it to twist properly, will really cause the boat to overheal and the weather helm can be a bear. Depending on conditions this will handle 20 knots. Over that we furl in the main. Happy sailing and good luck, Mike D. Media, PA Serenity H376
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Bryan
Check archives
There have been a whole bunch of posts on this subject in recent weeks if you check the archives. The basic suggestions (as the other posts mentioned) involve depowering the main (by reefing, flattening the sail, or easing the sheets) while there seems to have been some split of opinion as to whether powering or de-powering the foresail (by moving the jibsheet car or reefing) have the effect of improving weather helm.
There have been a whole bunch of posts on this subject in recent weeks if you check the archives. The basic suggestions (as the other posts mentioned) involve depowering the main (by reefing, flattening the sail, or easing the sheets) while there seems to have been some split of opinion as to whether powering or de-powering the foresail (by moving the jibsheet car or reefing) have the effect of improving weather helm.
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Bill Cunningham
Do your have the "Short Rudder"?
Don't know if your Hunter is the first 1983 model like mine, but hulls lower than 254 were fitted with a poorly engineered rudder (six inches shorter and 2+ inches less in horizontal length. Before I broke mine off during a race (submerged object) I would some times round up during a gust and be on the opposite tack! Hunter offered new rudders at a cost of $700, but I am sure there are some that were not replaced! If the rudder is not the problem, always remember that dropping the main traveler is the quickest and easiest way to reduce the weather helm!
Don't know if your Hunter is the first 1983 model like mine, but hulls lower than 254 were fitted with a poorly engineered rudder (six inches shorter and 2+ inches less in horizontal length. Before I broke mine off during a race (submerged object) I would some times round up during a gust and be on the opposite tack! Hunter offered new rudders at a cost of $700, but I am sure there are some that were not replaced! If the rudder is not the problem, always remember that dropping the main traveler is the quickest and easiest way to reduce the weather helm!
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