I recently took my H28.5 into San Francisco Bay to really learn the boat and its systems (nobody told me about San Pablo Bay and its joys). I felt that I was prevented as helmsman from making quick reaction sail adjustments because the winches were set too far forward to reach from behind the wheel to trim the genoa, and the main halyard...forget it from back there. My old 26 with a tiller was easy to singlehand, but I am wondering how to set up the 28.5 for easier handling for the singlehander or for the occasions when there is only myself and a fairly inexperienced crewmember aboard.
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goin alone-
I too go out alone and have found the winches set forward to be a bit of a ...."reach". I usually have to lasso them for 2 turns prior to turning. It's a real exercise in cleating up after the turn. I have a 30 or 32 inch wheel which I upgraded from the OEM 24" which was the production leftovers from the H27. I have seen some people mount an aft winch (somewhat smaller diameter) at the side of the cockpit "T" But it seems to make things look pretty busy. On some later 28.5 they had a "molded-in" flat half crescent protrusion/platform on the side deck to accept the aft winch. See if you have it.
I too go out alone and have found the winches set forward to be a bit of a ...."reach". I usually have to lasso them for 2 turns prior to turning. It's a real exercise in cleating up after the turn. I have a 30 or 32 inch wheel which I upgraded from the OEM 24" which was the production leftovers from the H27. I have seen some people mount an aft winch (somewhat smaller diameter) at the side of the cockpit "T" But it seems to make things look pretty busy. On some later 28.5 they had a "molded-in" flat half crescent protrusion/platform on the side deck to accept the aft winch. See if you have it.
Your 2nd hand
When you need another hand or two for single handing, you will be hard pressed to find a better bang for the buck than an auto pilot. Simrad and Raytheon both make a nice looking fully self contained wheel mounted one for boats to 40ft for under $1,000 (Ive seen Simrads on sale for around $800.00). You can barely by a winch for that. With an autopilot you can auto-tack, hook up to gps unit to follow waypoints and even use it to relax while motoring. It's just like having someone to yell "take the wheel for a minute" to, without having another person anyplace near your boat. Have fun. Doug
When you need another hand or two for single handing, you will be hard pressed to find a better bang for the buck than an auto pilot. Simrad and Raytheon both make a nice looking fully self contained wheel mounted one for boats to 40ft for under $1,000 (Ive seen Simrads on sale for around $800.00). You can barely by a winch for that. With an autopilot you can auto-tack, hook up to gps unit to follow waypoints and even use it to relax while motoring. It's just like having someone to yell "take the wheel for a minute" to, without having another person anyplace near your boat. Have fun. Doug
The H285 is easy to singlehand if set up for it
Lou: I have a 87H285 that has both forward and aft "molded-in" flat half crescents in the cockpit that Jim was referring to. My jib winches are mounted on the aft positions, and are easy to reach from the helm when single-handing. If yours are mounted in the forward positions, you'll find single-handing a breeze if you can move them aft. As for the main, did you mean halyard or sheet? The sheet is easy to keep handy at the helm by draping it over the drinkholder on the binnacle. The halyard winch on the cabin top is obviously out of reach of the helm, but when raising the main, I point the bow off the wind slightly, and then lock the rudder with a slight opposite offset, which seems to hold course long enough to raise the main.
Lou: I have a 87H285 that has both forward and aft "molded-in" flat half crescents in the cockpit that Jim was referring to. My jib winches are mounted on the aft positions, and are easy to reach from the helm when single-handing. If yours are mounted in the forward positions, you'll find single-handing a breeze if you can move them aft. As for the main, did you mean halyard or sheet? The sheet is easy to keep handy at the helm by draping it over the drinkholder on the binnacle. The halyard winch on the cabin top is obviously out of reach of the helm, but when raising the main, I point the bow off the wind slightly, and then lock the rudder with a slight opposite offset, which seems to hold course long enough to raise the main.
Ya gotta move around!!!
Geeeeze, I single hand my 28.5, 90% of the time and I always thought it was a piece of cake!!! I sail in 5-30knts of wind regularly, by myself, usually with full main and my 130% flying. If I move side to side, I can access both winches to release or crank-in, I keep the main-sheet draped over the throttle control at the pedestal. When I come about, I deal with the genoa 1st, then I pull the mainsheet traveller to windward if I want to go fast or just leave it "centered" if I'm lazy, and I keep the mainsheet in-hand to adjust as needed for serious puffs. I can't imagine an easier boat to single-hand than the 28.5 Hunter!!!
Geeeeze, I single hand my 28.5, 90% of the time and I always thought it was a piece of cake!!! I sail in 5-30knts of wind regularly, by myself, usually with full main and my 130% flying. If I move side to side, I can access both winches to release or crank-in, I keep the main-sheet draped over the throttle control at the pedestal. When I come about, I deal with the genoa 1st, then I pull the mainsheet traveller to windward if I want to go fast or just leave it "centered" if I'm lazy, and I keep the mainsheet in-hand to adjust as needed for serious puffs. I can't imagine an easier boat to single-hand than the 28.5 Hunter!!!
Single handed
I agree with the others that the 28.5 is a very easy bost to single hand. The sheets are easily accessible and the size of the rig is just right for me. I have 19985/86 and the winches are in the forward position. I carry a 150 on a furler and when I tack I can usually get it sheeted in before it catches the wind and don't need the winch handle. I do not put three full wraps on the winch when sheeting in this way but before cinching it in I do have three wraps. I also found that the 4:1 mainsheet my boat came with was too light for my tasts and moved to a 6:1 Harken arrangement with a ratchet and this works like butter. I also sit on the low side when working the jib sheets and usually stay there with occasional standing up to check for traffic.
I agree with the others that the 28.5 is a very easy bost to single hand. The sheets are easily accessible and the size of the rig is just right for me. I have 19985/86 and the winches are in the forward position. I carry a 150 on a furler and when I tack I can usually get it sheeted in before it catches the wind and don't need the winch handle. I do not put three full wraps on the winch when sheeting in this way but before cinching it in I do have three wraps. I also found that the 4:1 mainsheet my boat came with was too light for my tasts and moved to a 6:1 Harken arrangement with a ratchet and this works like butter. I also sit on the low side when working the jib sheets and usually stay there with occasional standing up to check for traffic.
autopilot
I agree with the comment about autopilot. I jumped from a 22 with tiller to a 27. I have only been sailing for a year now. I would not own another sailboat without autopilot.
I agree with the comment about autopilot. I jumped from a 22 with tiller to a 27. I have only been sailing for a year now. I would not own another sailboat without autopilot.
Easy Single Handing
My 88 H28.5 has the aft winches. I also have lazyjacks so I have to turn dead upwind to raise the main. I also have an autopilot which I always have ready for use. My Main halyard has a long tail. I run it from the deckhouse not around the halyard winch, but back to the strbd jibsheet winch and raise it from there. When singlehanding I rarely use the halyard winch. The autopilot comes in handy when I have to go below for some reason or if I am out on Lake Michigan alone and want to both sail and enjoy my favorite book of the moment. Knock on wood, I've never had any problems at all. Happy sailing!
My 88 H28.5 has the aft winches. I also have lazyjacks so I have to turn dead upwind to raise the main. I also have an autopilot which I always have ready for use. My Main halyard has a long tail. I run it from the deckhouse not around the halyard winch, but back to the strbd jibsheet winch and raise it from there. When singlehanding I rarely use the halyard winch. The autopilot comes in handy when I have to go below for some reason or if I am out on Lake Michigan alone and want to both sail and enjoy my favorite book of the moment. Knock on wood, I've never had any problems at all. Happy sailing!
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