Can an H260 Sink?

[Bob Fliegel]

I was reading a article in "Forums Shared with Other Boats"/"Ask All Sailors" about a skipper named Jerome, in Texas, whose 20' Oday Mariner sank in the gulf, 3 miles off shore, with 4 people on board. Its an incredible story, one that all should read and learn from.What I am really curious about, though, if if the same thing could happen to my H260? Basicly, Jerome's boat got knocked down by a very strong gust, he never had time to reef, the cabin hatch boards were not in and the cabin filled with water. The boat would not self-right itself, and then the boat turned over completely and, pretty much, became a submarine (so much for positive floatation).Anyone out there have any experience or comments on the survivability of the H26/H260 in similiar circumstances? I'am concerned my wife/crew (Joyce) might read the article and decide to mutiny - I need to have a response prepared! Regards, Bob.

 

[Rick Webb]

I Was Told No by Hunter for my 23.5

He told me that they have filled them up with water and they do not sink as they have a lot of foam in the combings and the bow. I am not going to try it but would like to hear back from somone who is willing to try.

 

[Thomas Tongue]

Little Boats

I am by no means an expert but the engineer in me says it is a function of boat size. Little boats don't weigh much and it is easy to create enough buoyancy to keep her afloat. At some point it gets difficult to place enough buoyant material to do the job. A keel boat? No way. Your 260 (and my 26) displace around 3000 lbs. I don't know if there is that much buoyant material in her. Maybe Crazy Dave can settle this.

 

[Clyde]

It will sink

A few years back, Hunter bought JY Sailboats located in Connecticut which had the US patent on the Advance Composite Process (ACP). Only the Hunter daysailors made using the ACP are published by Hunter as being "Unsinkable", none of their other sailboats are published saying that they are "Unsinkable". The only sailboat larger than a daysailor that is available in the US with the "Unsinkable" selling feature is the Etap. Etap is a Belgium sailboat manufacturer that has a certification by the Marine Marchande, a French national organization. The largest size sailboat that Etap sells is a 39 footer. No other sailboat larger than a daysailor has this unsinkable feature that I know of that is sold in the US. If someone at Hunter said that the H23.5 was unsinkable, I would ask them to put it in writing. There is no published literature that I know of that says any of the Hunters not made using the ACP are unsinkable. Etap link.http://www.etapyachting.com/index.cfm?Part=Yachts&Page=UnsinkabilityFair Winds.Clyde

 

[Mark]

It will float?

I can recall a conversation I had with Greg some time asgo about this and I am sure there is enough posotive boyancy to keep it at least just above the surface.

 

[Bill and Nancy Berg]

"Positive Flotation"

Hunter calls it Positive Flotation. As I recall in their video, it means the boat will not sink. But that only means it may stay slightly above the water, but well down in it. We have only seen small bits of "positive foam" here and there, so I would count on being very wet. The boat will fill with water and I am guessing that the deck will be at the surface.I did not know O'day had any floatation in any models.

 

[Clyde]

I was wrong, it has positive flotation

On Sailnet.com, there is a sailboat test that states in its write-up that the H260 has "Positive Flotation" in a April 1999 test done on the H260. On Hunter's web site, there is no mention of this safety feature.Link to boat test. www.sailnet.com/sailing/99/btmay99.htmFair Winds.clyde