Center board H240

[Anitabreak II]

Hello!Does anyone happen to know the weight of the centerboard on a '99 Hunter 240? I find that the owners manual is not very detailed.Has anyone replaced the lines for the centerboard; it would seem to me quite the job.Also: my boat seems to float about 6-8 inches above the waterline, (ballast is full)see photo......I have been concerned about how "tippy" this boat seems all season and have considered selling and purchasing a fixed keel.Thanks, Anita

 

[Anitabreak II]

Hello!Does anyone happen to know the weight of the centerboard on a '99 Hunter 240? I find that the owners manual is not very detailed.Has anyone replaced the lines for the centerboard; it would seem to me quite the job.Also: my boat seems to float about 6-8 inches above the waterline, (ballast is full)see photo......I have been concerned about how "tippy" this boat seems all season and have considered selling and purchasing a fixed keel.Thanks, Anita

 

[Hogan]

Maybe the same as 260

I believe the 260 centerboard is about 65 pounds and there is an article in the Knowledgebase including good photos on how to change the centerboard control line. How did you determine that the ballast is full? I couln't tell much from the photo about how high it is sitting in the water.

 

[Hogan]

Maybe the same as 260

I believe the 260 centerboard is about 65 pounds and there is an article in the Knowledgebase including good photos on how to change the centerboard control line. How did you determine that the ballast is full? I couln't tell much from the photo about how high it is sitting in the water.

 

[Anitabreak II]

Hi Hogan

the boat is sitting 6-8 inches above the waterline, it is had to see but make the image larger and look at the bow portion. As far as determining if the ballast is full, I waited until the air stopped rushing out and could also touch the water with my finger. Maybe it's becasue I am used to crewing on fixed keel boats, but my 240 just seems too tender for my comfort. Could also be because I've only had her a couple of months and sailed about 5 times!! Thanks for the centerboard info.....so I have 1365 lbs of ballast, explaines alot!!Anyone want to buy a '99 Hunter 240???AnitaPS: where does one go to view knowledgebase??

 

[Anitabreak II]

Hi Hogan

the boat is sitting 6-8 inches above the waterline, it is had to see but make the image larger and look at the bow portion. As far as determining if the ballast is full, I waited until the air stopped rushing out and could also touch the water with my finger. Maybe it's becasue I am used to crewing on fixed keel boats, but my 240 just seems too tender for my comfort. Could also be because I've only had her a couple of months and sailed about 5 times!! Thanks for the centerboard info.....so I have 1365 lbs of ballast, explaines alot!!Anyone want to buy a '99 Hunter 240???AnitaPS: where does one go to view knowledgebase??

 

[kenkindy1]

Reef Early

The water ballast boats do "jump" to a fairly big heel angle in any winds over about 12 knots. I've had my 98 240 about 6 years and consider the tenderness of the boat a reasonable trade off for the ease of trailering/roomy interior and massive cockpit (as big as most 35 foot boats).If you're planning to only sail in your home lake and feel the tenderness is too much then a fixed keel boat is probably best. There are lots of great sailing a couple hours from your Geneva NY location. We generally try to take our boat "on vacation" once a year. The same stretch of Lake over and over again gets a little boring.It all depends on your intentions.Ken

 

[kenkindy1]

Reef Early

The water ballast boats do "jump" to a fairly big heel angle in any winds over about 12 knots. I've had my 98 240 about 6 years and consider the tenderness of the boat a reasonable trade off for the ease of trailering/roomy interior and massive cockpit (as big as most 35 foot boats).If you're planning to only sail in your home lake and feel the tenderness is too much then a fixed keel boat is probably best. There are lots of great sailing a couple hours from your Geneva NY location. We generally try to take our boat "on vacation" once a year. The same stretch of Lake over and over again gets a little boring.It all depends on your intentions.Ken

 

[BrianW]

Waterline Stripe

It's hard to tell from looking at your photo, but from what I can tell, your waterline looks to be at the bottom of your waterline stripe (where it supposed to be). Like the others suggest, reef early and reef often. Keep sailing and your sense of "tender" will adjust as you get more confident and learn to adjust your sail area. Two things will happen: (1)You'll learn to control the heel better, and (2)when it does heel over a bit, you'll be more comfortable that nothing drastic is about to happen. BrianW

 

[BrianW]

Waterline Stripe

It's hard to tell from looking at your photo, but from what I can tell, your waterline looks to be at the bottom of your waterline stripe (where it supposed to be). Like the others suggest, reef early and reef often. Keep sailing and your sense of "tender" will adjust as you get more confident and learn to adjust your sail area. Two things will happen: (1)You'll learn to control the heel better, and (2)when it does heel over a bit, you'll be more comfortable that nothing drastic is about to happen. BrianW

 

[Benny]

Who painted the waterline?

It's an old smugglers trick to paint the waterline in their vessels higher so that when they are ladden with cargo they may give the appearance of being normally weighed to any observer. All I mean to emphasize is that the paint line and the waterline are not always the same. Perhaps the PO had very overweight mother in law or felt that the higher the line the more protected the bottom would be. Just make sure your water tank is completely full and load the boat up with the usual provisions and equipment you take for a trip and consider the resulting waterline your true one.

 

[Benny]

Who painted the waterline?

It's an old smugglers trick to paint the waterline in their vessels higher so that when they are ladden with cargo they may give the appearance of being normally weighed to any observer. All I mean to emphasize is that the paint line and the waterline are not always the same. Perhaps the PO had very overweight mother in law or felt that the higher the line the more protected the bottom would be. Just make sure your water tank is completely full and load the boat up with the usual provisions and equipment you take for a trip and consider the resulting waterline your true one.

 

[VT Fitz]

Paint job issue

It's hard to say for sure from the picture, but I think you've got a bottom painter issue, not an unfilled ballast issue.I'm looking specifically at the sugar scoop transom. It seems the top edge of your bottom paint creeps up quite a bit above the lower edge of the transom curve. The boat should not routinely float with the lower lip of the transom underwater. If it did, you'd need bottom paint on the transom too!

 

[VT Fitz]

Paint job issue

It's hard to say for sure from the picture, but I think you've got a bottom painter issue, not an unfilled ballast issue.I'm looking specifically at the sugar scoop transom. It seems the top edge of your bottom paint creeps up quite a bit above the lower edge of the transom curve. The boat should not routinely float with the lower lip of the transom underwater. If it did, you'd need bottom paint on the transom too!

 

[George]

H240 Waterline

The knowledgebase is at this link: Link submitted by authorThere is not much on the H240 but you'll do just as well looking at the H26 and H260 pages. The centerboard line replacement section is at H260 repairs section.The smaller, lighter the boat the more "tender" the boat. The H240 is less tender than most boats of this size with a displacement of 2300lbs and 1330lbs of ballast. The only objective way I know to look at this subjective term "tender" is to compare the Displacement/length ratio, the Ballast ratio and the Sail/displacement ratio of competing boats. I think you'll find the H240 compares very favorably. Crunch the numbers before deciding the H240 is too "tender".There are a few 24ft boats that are less tender; for example, the Dana 24's displacement is over 8000lbs and most models probably weigh close to 10,000lbs. Try towing that across the country.The smaller the boat, the better sailor you have to be. Learn to deal with wind and waves and you'll grow to love the H240 -- it's an ideal first boat.Two defensive strategies worth learning are: when to reef and how to heave-to. Once you get that down, you'll be able to handle virtually all conditions and have fun doing it. If the water in your ballast tank valve can be touched with a finger that's the waterline. Think about it, water seeks its own level, so as you load the boat the water in the ballast tank valve will rise. Also, look at how high the stern rides. The sugar scoop stern is usually just a few inches above the waterline and when sailing is anally under water. Finally, there is a very light raised waterline mark all around the hull of the boat. You have to use a finger to feel it. This is a guide for the person painting the bottom. As noted, on this boat the "keel" is actually a centerboard and only heavy enough to keep it deployed down - about 60lbs.Pat Adam's pictures and narrative for replacing the centerboard in the H260 knowledgebase are very detailed. Because the H240 and the H260 are virtually identical except for the size there are lots of other tips that apply to your boat in the H260 knowledgebase.

 

[George]

H240 Waterline

The knowledgebase is at this link: Link submitted by authorThere is not much on the H240 but you'll do just as well looking at the H26 and H260 pages. The centerboard line replacement section is at H260 repairs section.The smaller, lighter the boat the more "tender" the boat. The H240 is less tender than most boats of this size with a displacement of 2300lbs and 1330lbs of ballast. The only objective way I know to look at this subjective term "tender" is to compare the Displacement/length ratio, the Ballast ratio and the Sail/displacement ratio of competing boats. I think you'll find the H240 compares very favorably. Crunch the numbers before deciding the H240 is too "tender".There are a few 24ft boats that are less tender; for example, the Dana 24's displacement is over 8000lbs and most models probably weigh close to 10,000lbs. Try towing that across the country.The smaller the boat, the better sailor you have to be. Learn to deal with wind and waves and you'll grow to love the H240 -- it's an ideal first boat.Two defensive strategies worth learning are: when to reef and how to heave-to. Once you get that down, you'll be able to handle virtually all conditions and have fun doing it. If the water in your ballast tank valve can be touched with a finger that's the waterline. Think about it, water seeks its own level, so as you load the boat the water in the ballast tank valve will rise. Also, look at how high the stern rides. The sugar scoop stern is usually just a few inches above the waterline and when sailing is anally under water. Finally, there is a very light raised waterline mark all around the hull of the boat. You have to use a finger to feel it. This is a guide for the person painting the bottom. As noted, on this boat the "keel" is actually a centerboard and only heavy enough to keep it deployed down - about 60lbs.Pat Adam's pictures and narrative for replacing the centerboard in the H260 knowledgebase are very detailed. Because the H240 and the H260 are virtually identical except for the size there are lots of other tips that apply to your boat in the H260 knowledgebase.

 

[Anitabreak II]

Thanks All

Just had a chance to get to the computer and check for replies.....thanks to all of you. This is a great spot to get some very valuable information. I will check for the actual water line.....and maybe stop being such a newbie!!!! It's nerve racking to have so many questions and so little experience. I will say that my new found friends at the club I joined last summer are great teachers and are always willing to help.My husband (not a sailor, only gets on the boat to fix things...God love that man!) and I wrapped the boat up for winter today. Noticed that the mast plate sits right on top of the centerboard line and even seems to pinch it....I wrote in an email to George, that I always thought it seemed tough to crank up. The line never looked as though it it "flowed".....anyone care to chime in on that one??Anita

 

[Hogan]

Hard to crank for a reason

If you look at the pictures in the Knowledgebase that Geo referred you to, you will see that the arrangement of the control line attach point on the centerboard just does not provide a mechanical advantage for raising the thing. It is difficult to think the board only weighs 60 to 65 pounds. Even using the winch is difficult, at least in my experience.

 

[Joe Refkin]

Tippy

I bought my 240 new in 1998 and sailed her for 5 years on Lake Michigan. Some times we encountered winds over 35mph. With the main reefed and the jib furled - no problem. Being water balanced is tippy, but it's fun once you realize the physics are not going to let you tip over. She heels rapidly to a certain point, then the physcis takes over and stops further heeling.I loved the spacious cockpit.It's important to reef early rather than late. Say at 15 kts or more of wind. Don't be so quick to sell. Get to know the boat. Trailerability saves a ton of money winter storage wise.

 

[loose cannon]

i like my 240

i bought it from st louis in 7/06 and have sailed it a couple dozen times oon stockton lake where i live.originally i envisioned exploring lakes with it but since i found this lake im happy here.the downside of this boat is i have to haul it out so the ballast tank doesnt freeze and bust the hull.the upside is this boat performs very well in light winds which can happen alot here especially in july/august.its also a very easy boat to swim off when anchored out in a cove.as the others said its a good idea to reef early when the winds pick up.