Brian why is the PHRF ratings for the Hunter 26/260 lower than the Hunter 23's? Also the capsize ratio is lower (which is better) for the 26/260 than the 23 and the Motion Comfort is higher (which is better) for the 26/260 compared to the 23. Our Mac has a lower PHRF than either the Hunter 26/260 or the 23, yet if someone was to sail with us they might think it to be slow as we don't quite know what we are doing yet. A water ballast boat is somewhat more tender than a keel ballasted boat in maybe most instances, but then stiffens up. Once you get use to that it isn't a big thing as you are going to probably by sailing with either type boat at 12-15 degrees of heel as it is a sailboat. The water ballast boat has advantages over the keel ballasted boat in other areas. If a person is looking they have to figure out what will work best for them.I've sailed back-to-back on a hunter 26 water ballast/ centerboard and a hunter 23 shoal keel w/ centerboard. There's no question that the 23 felt more stable, especially in 4-5 foot waves. Also, the 23 was definitely faster than the 26. Once ballasted, the water ballast boat is a lot heavier than the an equally ballasted keelboat.
No one boat can meet everyone's needs. For us with the nearest water we can sail a larger boat on about 100 miles away and with typical trips of much longer distances (last year over 1000 miles and this year hopefully to Florida 2500 miles one way) our boat meets our needs very well, sails very well and has room for the two of us for extended trips longer than a weekend or week. It isn't a power sailor water ballast boat, but there are thousands of owners of those boats that feel they fit "their needs" very well.
Maybe instead of criticizing other boats we should be saying what our boats do well and then if someone is trying to make a buying decision they will have some data to base their decision on.
c ya,
Sum
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