Anyone ever heard of someone putting a bimini on a Hunter 170? Wondering if it would be possible? It would be nice to have while siting at the dock or beached up somewhere.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
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As much as I'd like to haved one...
I believe you'd have a few problems...
- Although the boom is higher than most daysailors, it's STILL a bit low for a Bimini to fit underneath
- It would have to be short to stay aft of the mainsheet
- Would block visibility of jib telltales
- Would block access to outhaul
I believe you'd have a few problems...
- Although the boom is higher than most daysailors, it's STILL a bit low for a Bimini to fit underneath
- It would have to be short to stay aft of the mainsheet
- Would block visibility of jib telltales
- Would block access to outhaul
Re: As much as I'd like to haved one...
The best I have seen is a tarp stretched over the boom and tied off from four corners to the cleats. It looks nice but you can't use it while sailing. But since you suggested to use it at the dock or beach, It might work.
The best I have seen is a tarp stretched over the boom and tied off from four corners to the cleats. It looks nice but you can't use it while sailing. But since you suggested to use it at the dock or beach, It might work.
Yes you can !
You need to create something that clamps around the boarder of the hull where you can fix the biminitop on. The brand Lalizas sells biminitops with aluminum frame. You will probably not find any standard biminitop with a frame that fits the H170 and you'll have to shorten the lenght of the aluminum tubes to make it fit.
Once finished, it looks great and it's nice to have some shade. You can even sail with it as the pictures show you.
It is just one of many modifications I made for my boat.
The only thing which I have not figured out yet is how to make a modification allowing me to put a stronger engine on the boat like a 10hp or more to allow for higher speed under power and planing. Anyone who knows a solution for that is most welcome.
Rgds,
Yves
You need to create something that clamps around the boarder of the hull where you can fix the biminitop on. The brand Lalizas sells biminitops with aluminum frame. You will probably not find any standard biminitop with a frame that fits the H170 and you'll have to shorten the lenght of the aluminum tubes to make it fit.
Once finished, it looks great and it's nice to have some shade. You can even sail with it as the pictures show you.
It is just one of many modifications I made for my boat.
The only thing which I have not figured out yet is how to make a modification allowing me to put a stronger engine on the boat like a 10hp or more to allow for higher speed under power and planing. Anyone who knows a solution for that is most welcome.
Rgds,
Yves
aWESOME
Yclaes,
That is an awesome modification. Can you send the pictures and any details you used to create the bimini to my email address at timothyneilhayes@live.com? Thanks!!!
Also, did you make the bimini that length for a reason or was that just how long you wanted it?
Thanks,
Tim
Yclaes,
That is an awesome modification. Can you send the pictures and any details you used to create the bimini to my email address at timothyneilhayes@live.com? Thanks!!!
Also, did you make the bimini that length for a reason or was that just how long you wanted it?
Thanks,
Tim
Mast Float...
Is the mast float the Hunter optional equipment version? Have you had a chance to test it? Hope not.
I believe that the mast float is actually for a Hobie Cat and will cost you over $100. Most people on this site will recommend that you fill your mast with flotation such as swimming pool noodles or pipe insulation. The instructions can be found in the upgrade section of this site. I did mine one afternoon which took about thirty minutes and works great. The boat laid on its side while I swam around. If you seal it well, it will stay like that until you are ready to right it! Much cheaper!
I understand the theory about mast floatation, but few of the finer points are confusing. If a 170 takes a knockdown and the center board is locked down, will the boat go upside down immediately or only when the mast fills with water. If it's the latter, I would think stepping on the centerboard would right the boat very quickly.
I haven't examined the mast as I've only had the boat about 10 days now and it's been in the water the entire time. Except for leaking around screws, etc, the only major hole is in the bottom. Is that right?
I'm a little sensitive to "knock downs" as I experienced one about a month ago on a smaller 12' boat due to operator error (mine). The wind was fairly gusty that day and in retrospect, I should have passed on sailing. However, I was hot to trot and almost immediately when I left the shore, I was "in to it". With my hand full, I did get the dagger board down, but didn't have time to bungee it. First mistake. Second mistake was my "kick-up" rudder which I thought I got down, but it either kicked back up or I failed to get it fully extended. Second mistake. Third mistake was flying both the main and jig as I was over powered. Fourth and final mistake was jam cleating the main while on a tight tack.
I suspect because of lack of fully rudder, I couldn't hold my tack line. The boat quickly turned 90 degrees to the wind and before I could pull the main sail sheet out of the jam cleat, the boat went over on it's side and continued to an upside down position. As it was going over the dagger board departed along with the rudder. If I had had the dagger board bungeed down, I think I could have pulled and then stepped on it and the boat would have righted itself.
I was only a 150' or so off shore and the wind and my towing quickly brought it toward the beach where a passer by helped me right it.
$500 later I had a new dagger board and a new rudder. I still have that boat and when I go out in it, I now double bungee the dagger board down and have line tied to the rudder.
As I related in another post here, a few days after I launched my 170, I saw 2 clowns dump a 170 in similar or perhaps worse wind conditions. I was on the dock when the boat was righted and I observed that the center board was locked up. I watched the boat go over and didn't see any center board extending downward. I realize the center board is NOT the same as a lead keel, but there is weight there and also a great lever for righting a boat.
I don't know if the mast had floatation or not, but I don't think the boat ever went very far past 90 degrees.
I haven't examined the mast as I've only had the boat about 10 days now and it's been in the water the entire time. Except for leaking around screws, etc, the only major hole is in the bottom. Is that right?
I'm a little sensitive to "knock downs" as I experienced one about a month ago on a smaller 12' boat due to operator error (mine). The wind was fairly gusty that day and in retrospect, I should have passed on sailing. However, I was hot to trot and almost immediately when I left the shore, I was "in to it". With my hand full, I did get the dagger board down, but didn't have time to bungee it. First mistake. Second mistake was my "kick-up" rudder which I thought I got down, but it either kicked back up or I failed to get it fully extended. Second mistake. Third mistake was flying both the main and jig as I was over powered. Fourth and final mistake was jam cleating the main while on a tight tack.
I suspect because of lack of fully rudder, I couldn't hold my tack line. The boat quickly turned 90 degrees to the wind and before I could pull the main sail sheet out of the jam cleat, the boat went over on it's side and continued to an upside down position. As it was going over the dagger board departed along with the rudder. If I had had the dagger board bungeed down, I think I could have pulled and then stepped on it and the boat would have righted itself.
I was only a 150' or so off shore and the wind and my towing quickly brought it toward the beach where a passer by helped me right it.
$500 later I had a new dagger board and a new rudder. I still have that boat and when I go out in it, I now double bungee the dagger board down and have line tied to the rudder.
As I related in another post here, a few days after I launched my 170, I saw 2 clowns dump a 170 in similar or perhaps worse wind conditions. I was on the dock when the boat was righted and I observed that the center board was locked up. I watched the boat go over and didn't see any center board extending downward. I realize the center board is NOT the same as a lead keel, but there is weight there and also a great lever for righting a boat.
I don't know if the mast had floatation or not, but I don't think the boat ever went very far past 90 degrees.
I can't remember if your boat is new or used, but if new, it doesn't have mast flotation. If used, the PO might have "foamed" it. Masts leak around the head piece and any rivets and possibly other places as well. It won't go over immediately but you don't have a lot of time. I used to turtle sunfish just to sit on it upside down and lecture to my sailing classes. Lots of fun. My thought is why chance it! FOAM THE MAST
and you won't have to worry about it. Yes, the big hole is in the bottom but from some of the discussions on this site, they will fill quickly from the top if nothing is sealed. Some people even foam the boom but I think this is overkill.
Secondly, if the boat does go over ( and not turtled) grabbing the center board will right the boat instantly. I didn't have to climb up and stand on it, just a gentle tug and over it came like it was trying and just needed a little help. As far as a Hunter 170 blowing over, the only time I have had one blow over was in the parking lot as it blew off the trailer. On the water, the only way I have had one go over was standing on the gunwale and grab the mast. In a good wind with the boat at about 30 degrees I can hear the water splashing in the centerboard well. At 45 degrees the rubrail gets wet. Anything beyond that I loose the main and furl the jib. Of course I don't go sailing in 30 knot winds either. However, in 10 - 15 knot winds I can't roll the boat unless I jump to leeward and my dog wouldn't like that.
Nevertheless, take my advice: get some noodles (about three 6' should do it), drill out the two rivets at the top, fill the mast with the noodles from the top. Get yourself a tube of 3M Marine 5200 sealant use it around the top and bottom. Remove any screws you can on the mast and give them a shot of 5200 as well and replace the screws. Rivet the head back on and just for added measure add another shot of 5200 at the rivets. Let it sit for a few days to let the 5200 harden and you are set. Then find a warm day (if they have them up there) turn the boat over (somewhat closer to shore with a friend standing by) and see what happens! I love my Hunter and even with other boats in the yard, I will still keep my 170!
Secondly, if the boat does go over ( and not turtled) grabbing the center board will right the boat instantly. I didn't have to climb up and stand on it, just a gentle tug and over it came like it was trying and just needed a little help. As far as a Hunter 170 blowing over, the only time I have had one blow over was in the parking lot as it blew off the trailer. On the water, the only way I have had one go over was standing on the gunwale and grab the mast. In a good wind with the boat at about 30 degrees I can hear the water splashing in the centerboard well. At 45 degrees the rubrail gets wet. Anything beyond that I loose the main and furl the jib. Of course I don't go sailing in 30 knot winds either. However, in 10 - 15 knot winds I can't roll the boat unless I jump to leeward and my dog wouldn't like that.
Nevertheless, take my advice: get some noodles (about three 6' should do it), drill out the two rivets at the top, fill the mast with the noodles from the top. Get yourself a tube of 3M Marine 5200 sealant use it around the top and bottom. Remove any screws you can on the mast and give them a shot of 5200 as well and replace the screws. Rivet the head back on and just for added measure add another shot of 5200 at the rivets. Let it sit for a few days to let the 5200 harden and you are set. Then find a warm day (if they have them up there) turn the boat over (somewhat closer to shore with a friend standing by) and see what happens! I love my Hunter and even with other boats in the yard, I will still keep my 170!
Thanks for the advise! Sounds like a good winter project when I pull the boat next week.
We have weekly Regatta on the Lake Saturday. Maybe Regatta is too strong as we usually have a mixed bag of 3 to 5 boats with a handicap course setup so that the slower boats don't sail as far. With my little 12' sailing dinghy, I usually came in last if for no other reason, it just won't go fast on the tack leg.
Today, I went head-to-head with the guy who usually wins and wonder of wonders, I beat him by 15 minutes. I realize that racing sailboats on water is a real crap shoot due to varying winds, but even with that disclaimer, my 170 gave me an excellent ride today. Hope we have a short winter and April comes up quickly as I'm looking forward to doing some more sailing with my 170.
PS I saw the 2 guys sailing today on the lake that knocked down their 170 7 days ago. I figured they were done for this year, but I guess they "climbed back on the horse" that bucked them off. I have to give them a pat on the back for shaking off the dunking last Sunday.
We have weekly Regatta on the Lake Saturday. Maybe Regatta is too strong as we usually have a mixed bag of 3 to 5 boats with a handicap course setup so that the slower boats don't sail as far. With my little 12' sailing dinghy, I usually came in last if for no other reason, it just won't go fast on the tack leg.
Today, I went head-to-head with the guy who usually wins and wonder of wonders, I beat him by 15 minutes. I realize that racing sailboats on water is a real crap shoot due to varying winds, but even with that disclaimer, my 170 gave me an excellent ride today. Hope we have a short winter and April comes up quickly as I'm looking forward to doing some more sailing with my 170.
PS I saw the 2 guys sailing today on the lake that knocked down their 170 7 days ago. I figured they were done for this year, but I guess they "climbed back on the horse" that bucked them off. I have to give them a pat on the back for shaking off the dunking last Sunday.
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