Balancing sails

[sansterre]

I am the owner of a 36 ft 1982 Hunter,, I have tried to balance the boat with the sail to the ruder but could never get it to hold it's position ..I tried in a close reach ,beam reach ,and down wind all without success...
At the time the sail that I had were the main and a genoa of 110 %
Thank you for helping from Le Sansterre

 

[Scotty C-M]

Did you try trimming all your sails, then using the traveler to stear the boat?

 

[Dan Hill]

I've done this a few times with our 28.5. I've used a full main matched up with a 150 genoa from a catalina 27. This genoa works out to about a 130 on my hunter.

Works best on a broad reach in steady moderate winds. I trim both sails using telltails then lock the wheel neutral and use the traveler to make minor cource corrections.

I would suggest trying more jib or reefing the main. Every boat balances differently I'm sure.

Good luck!

 

[IH82BL8]

Hmm...that would be an interesting way of singlehanding if the sheets were not within easy reach of the helm (and an autohelm wasn't in the budget).

 

[Dan Hill]

Hmm...that would be an interesting way of singlehanding if the sheets were not within easy reach of the helm (and an autohelm wasn't in the budget).

Exactly!

When we were in Maine on Sebago Lake in our h240, minus a traveler. I would do the same procedure using the main sheet. Problem was it changed sail shape at the same time and caused greater changes in balance. Fun controlling helm using sails tho.