I'm in the process of buying a 1997 376 Hunter. The boat dealer told me that the boat can't be capsized in winds under 25 knots. 1) Is that true? 2) What speed of wind should I be worried about capsizing? 3) If the boat is on Auto-pilot, is it better to be near the wheel and adjust the angle or to be near the lines to adjust the sails in a case of heavy gust?
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Capsize
Hi Franklin, In the highly unlikely circumstance that your boat would ever be capsized, it will probably be done in by a large breaking wave hitting your beam rather than by winds. You might be knocked down by a gust, but if you release your sheets the keel will bring you back upright. With respect to your third question, your autopilot is a convenience, but it doesn't stand a watch on it's own. Someone should be on watch at all times. If you're in the cockpit, you'll have access both to the helm and the lines to deal with the gust. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust H37.5
Hi Franklin, In the highly unlikely circumstance that your boat would ever be capsized, it will probably be done in by a large breaking wave hitting your beam rather than by winds. You might be knocked down by a gust, but if you release your sheets the keel will bring you back upright. With respect to your third question, your autopilot is a convenience, but it doesn't stand a watch on it's own. Someone should be on watch at all times. If you're in the cockpit, you'll have access both to the helm and the lines to deal with the gust. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust H37.5
Gary's right
We've been in some pretty heavy (way over 25) winds under full sail and still couldn't bury the rail. The 376 wants to head up to the wind and is difficult to hold in that heading. That means it's time (actually past the time) for a reef. Much more comfortable sailing anyway.
We've been in some pretty heavy (way over 25) winds under full sail and still couldn't bury the rail. The 376 wants to head up to the wind and is difficult to hold in that heading. That means it's time (actually past the time) for a reef. Much more comfortable sailing anyway.
Boat Dealer!!!
Your dealer may or may not be right. No sailboat can be capsized by wind alone regardless of its strength. By capsized I mean either inverted or with the mast under water. It takes the dynamics of a big wave to do this by throwing the boat upside down. The 376 is probably no better nor any worse than all the rest in these circumstances. Have no fears, 25 knots is just a breeze. Get concerned at 50 or more.
Your dealer may or may not be right. No sailboat can be capsized by wind alone regardless of its strength. By capsized I mean either inverted or with the mast under water. It takes the dynamics of a big wave to do this by throwing the boat upside down. The 376 is probably no better nor any worse than all the rest in these circumstances. Have no fears, 25 knots is just a breeze. Get concerned at 50 or more.
Broadside, greater than your beam
A broadside, breaking wave higher than the beam will capsize a sailboat, regardless of its design. So 12 to 15 foot breaking waves would do for your boat. Getting caught broadside by a breaking wave would mean that a ny of a number of extreme weather strategies were not working. Once over, if your capsize screen is less than 2, you can expect to return to an upright position on a following wave in a reasonable amount of time. Wave height is a function of wind speed, duration of high winds, and fetch (the length of water over which the wind has been working.) As already mentioned, wind alone can knock you down, but not capsize you. David Lady Lillie
A broadside, breaking wave higher than the beam will capsize a sailboat, regardless of its design. So 12 to 15 foot breaking waves would do for your boat. Getting caught broadside by a breaking wave would mean that a ny of a number of extreme weather strategies were not working. Once over, if your capsize screen is less than 2, you can expect to return to an upright position on a following wave in a reasonable amount of time. Wave height is a function of wind speed, duration of high winds, and fetch (the length of water over which the wind has been working.) As already mentioned, wind alone can knock you down, but not capsize you. David Lady Lillie
Heavy Weather Sailing
by Adlard Coles is the book to read on this topic. It's available in the chandlery on this site. David Lady Lillie
by Adlard Coles is the book to read on this topic. It's available in the chandlery on this site. David Lady Lillie
Capsize screen
I hear 2 or under 2 a lot. Mine is 2.03. Not sure how sensitive that number is. Is 2.03 a big difference between 2?
I hear 2 or under 2 a lot. Mine is 2.03. Not sure how sensitive that number is. Is 2.03 a big difference between 2?
No way in 25 knots!
We got cought out in some heavy wind last memorial day. She may try and round up, but capsize, no way. We went out in our 376 with our famialy, a friend and her 17 daughter who raced Jr. Olympics and wants to attend the Coast Guard Academy. Forecast for Narragansett Bay was 15-25 knots and 1-2 foot waves, at least they got the waves right. We were on a beam reach from Wickford up to see the Battleship MA in Fall River. On the way there we had gusts in the 30's and doubled reefed and rolled up the jib, oh she sailed nice. On the way back it was sustained winds in the 30's and gusts in the 40's with a few in the low 50's. One monster gust was recorded at 62, and it tried to round us up. I managed to keep control by releasing the main and manhandeling the helm. Man did she want to round up! The Coast Guard wanabe put on the harness and went forward to pull down the mailsail. When she came back into the cockpit after strugeling with the hugh main on the 376 she had this hugh smile on her face, and to steal the line from Master and Commander I aked her to "now tell me that was't fun?" All she could do was smile. That young lady was so cool under preasure, she never blinked and handeled the sheets like a seasoned pro. If I even need to call the Coasties for help I hope she is the one to come get me, that girl is way too cool under thoes conditions for a 17 year old. 3 Months to Memorial Day! Russell
We got cought out in some heavy wind last memorial day. She may try and round up, but capsize, no way. We went out in our 376 with our famialy, a friend and her 17 daughter who raced Jr. Olympics and wants to attend the Coast Guard Academy. Forecast for Narragansett Bay was 15-25 knots and 1-2 foot waves, at least they got the waves right. We were on a beam reach from Wickford up to see the Battleship MA in Fall River. On the way there we had gusts in the 30's and doubled reefed and rolled up the jib, oh she sailed nice. On the way back it was sustained winds in the 30's and gusts in the 40's with a few in the low 50's. One monster gust was recorded at 62, and it tried to round us up. I managed to keep control by releasing the main and manhandeling the helm. Man did she want to round up! The Coast Guard wanabe put on the harness and went forward to pull down the mailsail. When she came back into the cockpit after strugeling with the hugh main on the 376 she had this hugh smile on her face, and to steal the line from Master and Commander I aked her to "now tell me that was't fun?" All she could do was smile. That young lady was so cool under preasure, she never blinked and handeled the sheets like a seasoned pro. If I even need to call the Coasties for help I hope she is the one to come get me, that girl is way too cool under thoes conditions for a 17 year old. 3 Months to Memorial Day! Russell
What are your cruising plans?
Modern Hunters up to 40 feet are really designed for coastal cruising. 10 foot waves take a lot of wind, and a lot of water and at least 12 hours to build up. And even more wind to be breaking. With a little bit of prudence, you can avoid the problem. If you get caught, you can plan on helming the boat on a safe course for a good while. So there is a good plan to reach port even if it is 50 to 70 miles away when things start to pick up. With crew that can helm the boat in heavy weather, heavy weather equipment and strategy, the proper mods for long range cruising, and good weather planning, the 376 could cross the Atlantic without significant risk. But if I were planning a lot of blue water cruising, I would get a boat with more storage, and a capsize screen below 2. See Henk Meuzelaar's posts in the archives for the voice of experience. Oh... I wouldn't enter the Sydney-Hobart race in a 376, either. What kind of cruising to you plan? David Lady Lillie
Modern Hunters up to 40 feet are really designed for coastal cruising. 10 foot waves take a lot of wind, and a lot of water and at least 12 hours to build up. And even more wind to be breaking. With a little bit of prudence, you can avoid the problem. If you get caught, you can plan on helming the boat on a safe course for a good while. So there is a good plan to reach port even if it is 50 to 70 miles away when things start to pick up. With crew that can helm the boat in heavy weather, heavy weather equipment and strategy, the proper mods for long range cruising, and good weather planning, the 376 could cross the Atlantic without significant risk. But if I were planning a lot of blue water cruising, I would get a boat with more storage, and a capsize screen below 2. See Henk Meuzelaar's posts in the archives for the voice of experience. Oh... I wouldn't enter the Sydney-Hobart race in a 376, either. What kind of cruising to you plan? David Lady Lillie
Crusing Plans
My plans this summer are to sail straight to Cancun from Houston and next summer to sail from Houston to the Keys and other islands there. So basically in the Gulf of Mexico mostly.
My plans this summer are to sail straight to Cancun from Houston and next summer to sail from Houston to the Keys and other islands there. So basically in the Gulf of Mexico mostly.
Weather
Franklin, Your dealer is pretty accurate, in that you won't capsize in winds under 25 knots. That's because a breaking wave taller than your boats beam would be unlikely. Frankly, I've sailed boats the size of yours in over 40 knots and in seas higher than the boats beam and we did not worry about capsizing, but we did make sure we had control of the boat and did not try to get beam on to the wave pattern. Even in those conditions I would not describe the waves as breaking. You might want to consider how you will keep yourself updated with weather information for these longer trips. Summer is hurricane season in the Gulf. This all seems pretty new to you and I would recommend spending some time sailing your new vessel with an experienced instructor before you plan any longer voyages. Also, spend some time talking with others in your area about outfitting for a longer voyage. A several day sail in local waters is not the same as taking off on a two week straight shot across the Gulf. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Franklin, Your dealer is pretty accurate, in that you won't capsize in winds under 25 knots. That's because a breaking wave taller than your boats beam would be unlikely. Frankly, I've sailed boats the size of yours in over 40 knots and in seas higher than the boats beam and we did not worry about capsizing, but we did make sure we had control of the boat and did not try to get beam on to the wave pattern. Even in those conditions I would not describe the waves as breaking. You might want to consider how you will keep yourself updated with weather information for these longer trips. Summer is hurricane season in the Gulf. This all seems pretty new to you and I would recommend spending some time sailing your new vessel with an experienced instructor before you plan any longer voyages. Also, spend some time talking with others in your area about outfitting for a longer voyage. A several day sail in local waters is not the same as taking off on a two week straight shot across the Gulf. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
DON'T DO IT!!!
Franklin, Regardless of your boat's capsize screen, you shouldn't sail it straight from Cancun to Houston. Such a voyage would be problematic because: first, you have to round the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, and; second, you have to stop at Galveston. (Just having fun here; sorry.) Anyway, don't worry about capsize screens at this point in your sailing career. This bogus ratio was developed by marketing guys intent on convincing you that their keelboat is better than yours. Far better to concentrate on such things as when to reef and how to reef. The point is not to keep the stick pointed skyward so much as it's how to keep the crew safe and comfy. Capsize screens won't tell you anything in that regard.
Franklin, Regardless of your boat's capsize screen, you shouldn't sail it straight from Cancun to Houston. Such a voyage would be problematic because: first, you have to round the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, and; second, you have to stop at Galveston. (Just having fun here; sorry.) Anyway, don't worry about capsize screens at this point in your sailing career. This bogus ratio was developed by marketing guys intent on convincing you that their keelboat is better than yours. Far better to concentrate on such things as when to reef and how to reef. The point is not to keep the stick pointed skyward so much as it's how to keep the crew safe and comfy. Capsize screens won't tell you anything in that regard.
Franklin
John is exactly right. You need to concern yourself with safety gear and MOB drills. These capsize screens were more intended for blue water racers who are pushing everything to the max. If your crew knows how to handle reefing and and can perform a MOB drill with recovery, then you are in good shape for your trip.
John is exactly right. You need to concern yourself with safety gear and MOB drills. These capsize screens were more intended for blue water racers who are pushing everything to the max. If your crew knows how to handle reefing and and can perform a MOB drill with recovery, then you are in good shape for your trip.
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