Last year was my first year back sailing since I was a Junior in college (too many years for me to mention), as a young sailor I sailed catamarans, obviously fast and rarely did they heal over unless in a good wind in which one hull lifts out of the water and several times as a result I capsized them. Last season I was very cautious not to push a mono-hulled boat too much more out of fear and than actual performance limits. I sail a Hunter 25 1976 with a lead keel. What are the chances that I could capsize a boat of this size and ballast in reasonably calm seas (not more than 6 foot waves)? Has anyone capsized a boat of this size and ballast? Responses appreciated.
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Try hard
I suppose you can capsize anything, but I bet you would have to try pretty hard to cpasize that lead keel 25. Usually , when you are new to the boat fear will hold you back a lot more then the limits of the boat will. the boat should be pretty comfortable heeled over 20-30 degrees, the ocupants of the boat may not be too comfortable. If you do not have a heel gauge I'd suggest putting one on, it will show you how little heel feels like a lot of heel until you are used to it.
I suppose you can capsize anything, but I bet you would have to try pretty hard to cpasize that lead keel 25. Usually , when you are new to the boat fear will hold you back a lot more then the limits of the boat will. the boat should be pretty comfortable heeled over 20-30 degrees, the ocupants of the boat may not be too comfortable. If you do not have a heel gauge I'd suggest putting one on, it will show you how little heel feels like a lot of heel until you are used to it.
waves
are your concern. It's said a breaking wave on your beam that's larger then your beam can capsize you. Your boat only has a beam of 8' so that doesn't give much play room in 6' waves. If you find yourself in true 6' waves, make sure you close all the hatches and companion way and try to either run or beat, don't reach. If you run, drag something to create resistance of a broach (stern swinging around just in time to get a wave on the beam and capsizing). So don't worry about the boat heeling too much, just worry about being out in conditions that generate 8'+ waves.
are your concern. It's said a breaking wave on your beam that's larger then your beam can capsize you. Your boat only has a beam of 8' so that doesn't give much play room in 6' waves. If you find yourself in true 6' waves, make sure you close all the hatches and companion way and try to either run or beat, don't reach. If you run, drag something to create resistance of a broach (stern swinging around just in time to get a wave on the beam and capsizing). So don't worry about the boat heeling too much, just worry about being out in conditions that generate 8'+ waves.
Former Hobie sailor
We too sailed Hobies before we bought a keel boat. It was a strange feeling at first. We we so used to the fine line between sailing on the edge and going over. Lean back or move out was our control. A monhull with a keel felt so precarious. You will get used to it and unless you are out in way too much wind (over 20) you probably don't actually have 6 ft waves. A keel boat will heel so far and then round up as the sail spills wind and the rudder comes out of the water. At that point you either need to let the main out a little or reef. Hobies are usually sailed with the main sheeted in tight. Keel boats are not. Experiment with your sail and see what gets you good control.
We too sailed Hobies before we bought a keel boat. It was a strange feeling at first. We we so used to the fine line between sailing on the edge and going over. Lean back or move out was our control. A monhull with a keel felt so precarious. You will get used to it and unless you are out in way too much wind (over 20) you probably don't actually have 6 ft waves. A keel boat will heel so far and then round up as the sail spills wind and the rudder comes out of the water. At that point you either need to let the main out a little or reef. Hobies are usually sailed with the main sheeted in tight. Keel boats are not. Experiment with your sail and see what gets you good control.
I have tried
Hi, I am learning to sail on my H 23. During my first two months of ownership, I tried really hard to see what the boat would do if pushed really hard in many different conditions and with different sails. As stated above, the Lead Keel boat will round up before turning over. My experimenting was done on a 560 acre lake in my backyard. I will not try it in offshore, but I do have some sense of it going over like a Hobbie Cat.... Never say never. I have transported the boat to the beach {Cocoa Beach, FL} now and am almost ready to launch it in the salt and, God willing, take it out in the Ocean in the next 45 days. I plan to bring along someone that knows how to sail with me, the first few times........ By-the-way, I made it through the 36 month waiting list for a wet slip in 65 days.... It is great to push these little boats, I can't wait to be on 3 to 4 feet seas; but I do need to seal the rub rail and one window before launching, because I know it will get wet when I take the boat offshore. Pull on the sheets really hard and keep your head down! Good luck!
Hi, I am learning to sail on my H 23. During my first two months of ownership, I tried really hard to see what the boat would do if pushed really hard in many different conditions and with different sails. As stated above, the Lead Keel boat will round up before turning over. My experimenting was done on a 560 acre lake in my backyard. I will not try it in offshore, but I do have some sense of it going over like a Hobbie Cat.... Never say never. I have transported the boat to the beach {Cocoa Beach, FL} now and am almost ready to launch it in the salt and, God willing, take it out in the Ocean in the next 45 days. I plan to bring along someone that knows how to sail with me, the first few times........ By-the-way, I made it through the 36 month waiting list for a wet slip in 65 days.... It is great to push these little boats, I can't wait to be on 3 to 4 feet seas; but I do need to seal the rub rail and one window before launching, because I know it will get wet when I take the boat offshore. Pull on the sheets really hard and keep your head down! Good luck!
Oh its possible....
The attached is a link to a story from a week ago of a santana 25 (525) that took a knock down in Puget Sound with tragic results. Its definately possible. 4' seas 20 knts.
The attached is a link to a story from a week ago of a santana 25 (525) that took a knock down in Puget Sound with tragic results. Its definately possible. 4' seas 20 knts.
It's important to note that of the four people who ended up in the water the person NOT wearing a PFD drowned.
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