Should I expect a new Hunter 170, sailed by a novice/intermediate sailor with a crew of two on a small lake with 10-20 knot winds, to spend a good deal of time upside down? I'm not having fun at all! Others tell me that the larger saolboats never flip. Is this true? Turtling the thing the last two times out has ruined my motor, broken my spirit, and is making crew very hard to find. HELP! Thanks, rich
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Clyde Lichtenwalner
Inverted
Except under the most harrowing sea conditions, keel boats do not capsize. May I suggest some additional sailing instruction regarding the placement of crew and reefing of sails or dumping of wind from the mainsail under the shifty, puffy conditions that lead to the type of problems you are experiencing.
Except under the most harrowing sea conditions, keel boats do not capsize. May I suggest some additional sailing instruction regarding the placement of crew and reefing of sails or dumping of wind from the mainsail under the shifty, puffy conditions that lead to the type of problems you are experiencing.
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Larry McKay
Reduce sail or spil wind
Anytime the wind exceeds 15+ knots or lake gusts exist you musr reduce sail or spil the wind in a boat that size. I enjoy 20 degree heel and I believe the boat is most efficent at that level. You can sail at 30 degrees but you can't relax especially on a lake----I sail a 1990 27' Hunter on the Maine coast.
Anytime the wind exceeds 15+ knots or lake gusts exist you musr reduce sail or spil the wind in a boat that size. I enjoy 20 degree heel and I believe the boat is most efficent at that level. You can sail at 30 degrees but you can't relax especially on a lake----I sail a 1990 27' Hunter on the Maine coast.
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Calvin Smith
What were the circumstances
I am sorry that you have had this problem twice, but am most interested in knowing the exact conditions when these mishaps occured. I also have a new 170 and have taken water over the side three times now but have yet to go over. My feeling is that if you can stay on the high side the boat will come back down. This is easily said but when the heel approaches 90 degrees it is hard to find something to hold on to. (we have rigged lines between the front and rear cleats so we can have some vertical support. Were you and your crew on the high side when you went over?
I am sorry that you have had this problem twice, but am most interested in knowing the exact conditions when these mishaps occured. I also have a new 170 and have taken water over the side three times now but have yet to go over. My feeling is that if you can stay on the high side the boat will come back down. This is easily said but when the heel approaches 90 degrees it is hard to find something to hold on to. (we have rigged lines between the front and rear cleats so we can have some vertical support. Were you and your crew on the high side when you went over?
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Bryan C.
Turtles
Any sized boat can roll under the right circumstances. Smaller boats are more susceptable because they have less overall ballast; boats with a centerboard depend on the weight of the crew for ballast. Larger boats have greater ballast and should not roll unless you are in some serious wind/wave conditions. Of course, they are supposed to roll back over as well. Somewhat converse to what you might expect, a larger sailboat (i.e. 22-25) is easier to sail in that they are more stable and less likely to roll. You can still get into trouble if the wind picks up and you do not know how to compensate. Unfortunately, it sounds like the 170 is not a good beginner's boat. Smaller boats can roll but can also be turned back over without much difficulty. Previous posts suggest that is very difficult to do with the 170. It sounds like it is designed more for performance; several posts have commented on the boat rolling over. It's in that size ranger where it is too small (and built with too agressive a rig) to have built in stability to compensate for errors, but too big to readily turn back over when you get dumped. I would echo the others that your should either sail with an experienced sailor or take lessons. Until you feel more comfortable with handling strong winds, you should avoid sailing in them and/or keep your sail reefed. There is a *big* difference between a 10 knt wind and a 20 knt wind. The force on the canvas is 4x greater. I reef my 35 before the wind gets to 20. A beginner can easily feel overpowered in a 20 knot wind. Here's a tip -- when in doubt let it out. Keep your hand on that mainsheet and if you feel the boat getting overpowered let that main way out fast.
Any sized boat can roll under the right circumstances. Smaller boats are more susceptable because they have less overall ballast; boats with a centerboard depend on the weight of the crew for ballast. Larger boats have greater ballast and should not roll unless you are in some serious wind/wave conditions. Of course, they are supposed to roll back over as well. Somewhat converse to what you might expect, a larger sailboat (i.e. 22-25) is easier to sail in that they are more stable and less likely to roll. You can still get into trouble if the wind picks up and you do not know how to compensate. Unfortunately, it sounds like the 170 is not a good beginner's boat. Smaller boats can roll but can also be turned back over without much difficulty. Previous posts suggest that is very difficult to do with the 170. It sounds like it is designed more for performance; several posts have commented on the boat rolling over. It's in that size ranger where it is too small (and built with too agressive a rig) to have built in stability to compensate for errors, but too big to readily turn back over when you get dumped. I would echo the others that your should either sail with an experienced sailor or take lessons. Until you feel more comfortable with handling strong winds, you should avoid sailing in them and/or keep your sail reefed. There is a *big* difference between a 10 knt wind and a 20 knt wind. The force on the canvas is 4x greater. I reef my 35 before the wind gets to 20. A beginner can easily feel overpowered in a 20 knot wind. Here's a tip -- when in doubt let it out. Keep your hand on that mainsheet and if you feel the boat getting overpowered let that main way out fast.
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Tom Ressler
When in doubt
I agree with all the other postings. When in doubt let it out. Sounds to me like you need some sailing lessons. Any time you begin to feel overpowered, you should re-trim or reef. The trick to dinghy sailing or for that matter any boat is to get a feel for what the boat is doing. You don't need to look at the Windex or telltales, you FEEL it. I realize the 170 is bigger than a dinghy but it's all the same. I've sailed everything from an 8' pram to a 60' yacht and it's only a matter of degree. When the rail is in the water, let out the mainsheet a little at a time until you FEEL the boat start to right itself. Sail with the main alone until you get this FEEL. ALWAYS stay on the high side of the boat. When you change tacks, cross with the tiller behind you (hand to hand). Don't turn your back on the bow and sails. Hope this helps.
I agree with all the other postings. When in doubt let it out. Sounds to me like you need some sailing lessons. Any time you begin to feel overpowered, you should re-trim or reef. The trick to dinghy sailing or for that matter any boat is to get a feel for what the boat is doing. You don't need to look at the Windex or telltales, you FEEL it. I realize the 170 is bigger than a dinghy but it's all the same. I've sailed everything from an 8' pram to a 60' yacht and it's only a matter of degree. When the rail is in the water, let out the mainsheet a little at a time until you FEEL the boat start to right itself. Sail with the main alone until you get this FEEL. ALWAYS stay on the high side of the boat. When you change tacks, cross with the tiller behind you (hand to hand). Don't turn your back on the bow and sails. Hope this helps.
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