I am in the process of selling my boat but will be buying another. I am mainly interested in the Hunter 170 and Hunter 216. My sailing is in a coastal environment - Bogue Sound and the Neuse River near Oriental. I am looking at this size boat so I can singlehand, but also take family and friends. My main concern with the H170 is its apparent ternderness (based on reading this forum). The H216 is appealing for its size and stability. My concern is, how difficult is trailering, rigging, launching, retrieving and preparing to trailer home??? I realize that any boat will require some time to rig/derig, and I am wondering about one person doing it all on a H216. Thanks for your input.
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Lamar Sumerlin
Strongly consider the H216
I have a H216 and also considered the H170. My conclusion was the H216 is a much better boat for a large day sailor plus it has a reasonable size cabin for getting out of the weather. The cockpit of the H216 will confortably handle 6 large adults and be stable doing it. With reasonable weather conditions, you can also single hand the boat. The only thing I can't tell you is if you could step the mast by yourself or not. It depends on your physical condition, etc. It may require another person to step the mast safely. You can check the various post on the subject in the archives to decide. Trailering the boat shouldn't be a problem but since I don't know the type of vehicle you have I cannot say for sure. Just about any light duty truck or SUV with a 6 cyclinder engine will be sufficient but you would need to check it out.
I have a H216 and also considered the H170. My conclusion was the H216 is a much better boat for a large day sailor plus it has a reasonable size cabin for getting out of the weather. The cockpit of the H216 will confortably handle 6 large adults and be stable doing it. With reasonable weather conditions, you can also single hand the boat. The only thing I can't tell you is if you could step the mast by yourself or not. It depends on your physical condition, etc. It may require another person to step the mast safely. You can check the various post on the subject in the archives to decide. Trailering the boat shouldn't be a problem but since I don't know the type of vehicle you have I cannot say for sure. Just about any light duty truck or SUV with a 6 cyclinder engine will be sufficient but you would need to check it out.
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doug miller
like mine
just got my 216, i'm not very experienced sailor, but single hand is not a problem. only concern is docking in a windy condition. i selected it because of the large cockpit. i don't need a cabin except to store life jackets, and the extra space in the cockpit is nice for hauling friends. so far (2 weeks), very happy with purchase. doug
just got my 216, i'm not very experienced sailor, but single hand is not a problem. only concern is docking in a windy condition. i selected it because of the large cockpit. i don't need a cabin except to store life jackets, and the extra space in the cockpit is nice for hauling friends. so far (2 weeks), very happy with purchase. doug
H216 ease of trailering, setup, etc.
I own an H216 and love it. The H216 is tender also, especially when single or double handling (racing crew ideal is 4 people)...but, I personally think it is easy to control...course I'm used to racing dinghies that are always tender. Reef the main early. Furl the jib if still overpowered. With main reef/jib furl one can handle a pretty good blow. If control problems still exist, probably time to drop the sails and motor home! One advantage of the 216 over the 170 is that the lead keel makes the boat almost un-captizable. When overpowered it nicely takes control and points up into the wind. If one sails in typically windy conditions, like San Francisco bay, the addition of a deep reef in the main might be nice. Personally I like a tender day sailer that gets up and moves in light wind conditions and will put up with the tenderness for light wind speed. I mean, this is a keel boat and the usual effect of being overpowered is being uncomfortable and losing speed due to excessive heel. I also like the higher freeboard of the 216 which keeps me (uh... and my crew I guess!) drier. Trailering is very easy. Total weight of boat, stuff in boat, and trailer is probably about 2000#...well within the towing weight limit of most vehicles. Except in a couple states with low weight limits, the surge brakes are a trailer option. I would get the option. In California where I am, surge brakes are required so I have them and appreciate them. I have set up and sailed my boat single handed multiple times. Very easy once you get the pattern. I have written up how to do this several times on this forum. I'm older and lifting the mast up and down strains me...but I do it...but I try to con some passerby into helping me for a few seconds..."excuse me, can you pull on this line for a minute please". With my racing crew, I go from parking lot to splash in 20 minutes...add an extra 8 minutes if we rig the spinnaker. With just myself or one other person, I am still at about 30 minutes from parking lot to splash. Knockdown is even faster unless you stop to visit or suck down a brew. Conclusion: H216 is tender, fast and controllable. Easy to trailer, setup, launch, knockdown. Extra: I installed an additional jib fairlead/cam cleat near the tiller to make single handing easier.
I own an H216 and love it. The H216 is tender also, especially when single or double handling (racing crew ideal is 4 people)...but, I personally think it is easy to control...course I'm used to racing dinghies that are always tender. Reef the main early. Furl the jib if still overpowered. With main reef/jib furl one can handle a pretty good blow. If control problems still exist, probably time to drop the sails and motor home! One advantage of the 216 over the 170 is that the lead keel makes the boat almost un-captizable. When overpowered it nicely takes control and points up into the wind. If one sails in typically windy conditions, like San Francisco bay, the addition of a deep reef in the main might be nice. Personally I like a tender day sailer that gets up and moves in light wind conditions and will put up with the tenderness for light wind speed. I mean, this is a keel boat and the usual effect of being overpowered is being uncomfortable and losing speed due to excessive heel. I also like the higher freeboard of the 216 which keeps me (uh... and my crew I guess!) drier. Trailering is very easy. Total weight of boat, stuff in boat, and trailer is probably about 2000#...well within the towing weight limit of most vehicles. Except in a couple states with low weight limits, the surge brakes are a trailer option. I would get the option. In California where I am, surge brakes are required so I have them and appreciate them. I have set up and sailed my boat single handed multiple times. Very easy once you get the pattern. I have written up how to do this several times on this forum. I'm older and lifting the mast up and down strains me...but I do it...but I try to con some passerby into helping me for a few seconds..."excuse me, can you pull on this line for a minute please". With my racing crew, I go from parking lot to splash in 20 minutes...add an extra 8 minutes if we rig the spinnaker. With just myself or one other person, I am still at about 30 minutes from parking lot to splash. Knockdown is even faster unless you stop to visit or suck down a brew. Conclusion: H216 is tender, fast and controllable. Easy to trailer, setup, launch, knockdown. Extra: I installed an additional jib fairlead/cam cleat near the tiller to make single handing easier.
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Jerry Young
Can't Go Wrong!
Lee, I have owned a number of boats from 12'-27'. Finally, I took a look at my sailing habits, mostly single-handed outings, no overnights, no camping, no cooking, some trailering and started looking for a virtually unsinkable, relatively stable, easy to handle and very fast daysailor. The H216 met all of my criteria. After now sailing it for nearly a year, I don't see myself getting another boat. I am nearly 60 years young and can handle the H216 by entirely by myself from trailering, rigging and all types of sailing including racing. Yes there are a number of modifications that I did to my boat including adding a boomkicker, handholds, moving the motor mount, adding a swim ladder, etc. I stayed away from the v-berth as I have no need for one. I use the cuddy for storage only. I will be adding a rear traveler, spinnaker package, electrical system with lighting, solar vent and various guages. You can not go wrong with this boat and I am happy that Hunter came out with it when they did. Happy sailing, Jerry
Lee, I have owned a number of boats from 12'-27'. Finally, I took a look at my sailing habits, mostly single-handed outings, no overnights, no camping, no cooking, some trailering and started looking for a virtually unsinkable, relatively stable, easy to handle and very fast daysailor. The H216 met all of my criteria. After now sailing it for nearly a year, I don't see myself getting another boat. I am nearly 60 years young and can handle the H216 by entirely by myself from trailering, rigging and all types of sailing including racing. Yes there are a number of modifications that I did to my boat including adding a boomkicker, handholds, moving the motor mount, adding a swim ladder, etc. I stayed away from the v-berth as I have no need for one. I use the cuddy for storage only. I will be adding a rear traveler, spinnaker package, electrical system with lighting, solar vent and various guages. You can not go wrong with this boat and I am happy that Hunter came out with it when they did. Happy sailing, Jerry
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Kris Burrows
Another Happy Owner
Yep! I'm another happy owner that the H216 appears to have been designed for. I normally sail by myself for relaxation, but the boat is big enough to bring my family if they are curious about what I do on Sundays. My mate is pure land lover with no desire to camp on the water, in an RV, or in a tent any place. If she is so inclined we sail to a neighboring port, eat dinner at a waterside restaurant, and get a hotel room. In a year and a half of ownership I'm pretty confident in trailering, rigging and taking down,launching, and doing rountine maintenance. It is helpful to have a third hand at a busy launch site, but if my family isn't with me, fellow boaters are always available to assist. Like some of my fellow sailors I'm starting to tinker to make things easier to just get in the boat and sail, without the trailer-to-water transition time. I've now got a slip in the local marina, painted the bottom with magic anti-slime goo, installed a dock box for supplies, put a porta-jon in for emergencies on the water, installed a stack-pack lazy jack system to help control and sea furl and cover the main sail, installed hand rails, and am seriously looking at boom vangs, and a wisker pole assembly. I love sailing, but am getting to be a classic lazy sailer. My trailer is primarily used for rountine maintenance and seasonal haul out I can do myself to avoid an accasional threatening hurricane in our region. I'll leave all the performance stuff and week end trailering to you young studs. Just give me a cool steady breeze with no thunder heads and keep the power boats, cruise ships and aircraft carriers within a mile of my pleasure zone. The perfect boat for a recreational day sailor that is reasonably priced.
Yep! I'm another happy owner that the H216 appears to have been designed for. I normally sail by myself for relaxation, but the boat is big enough to bring my family if they are curious about what I do on Sundays. My mate is pure land lover with no desire to camp on the water, in an RV, or in a tent any place. If she is so inclined we sail to a neighboring port, eat dinner at a waterside restaurant, and get a hotel room. In a year and a half of ownership I'm pretty confident in trailering, rigging and taking down,launching, and doing rountine maintenance. It is helpful to have a third hand at a busy launch site, but if my family isn't with me, fellow boaters are always available to assist. Like some of my fellow sailors I'm starting to tinker to make things easier to just get in the boat and sail, without the trailer-to-water transition time. I've now got a slip in the local marina, painted the bottom with magic anti-slime goo, installed a dock box for supplies, put a porta-jon in for emergencies on the water, installed a stack-pack lazy jack system to help control and sea furl and cover the main sail, installed hand rails, and am seriously looking at boom vangs, and a wisker pole assembly. I love sailing, but am getting to be a classic lazy sailer. My trailer is primarily used for rountine maintenance and seasonal haul out I can do myself to avoid an accasional threatening hurricane in our region. I'll leave all the performance stuff and week end trailering to you young studs. Just give me a cool steady breeze with no thunder heads and keep the power boats, cruise ships and aircraft carriers within a mile of my pleasure zone. The perfect boat for a recreational day sailor that is reasonably priced.
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Calvin
Had a 170
I had a 170 and it was a fine boat. We used it mainly for lake sailing but occassionaly went to the coast. I was always somewhat worried abou turning over, because I had been told, and had seen several stories about people who had and who had an extremely difficult time getting the boat back up.
I had a 170 and it was a fine boat. We used it mainly for lake sailing but occassionaly went to the coast. I was always somewhat worried abou turning over, because I had been told, and had seen several stories about people who had and who had an extremely difficult time getting the boat back up.
single-handling
The main thing that attracted me to the 216 was being able to rig it, launch it, sail it, unlaunch it, and de-rig it all by myself. I wanted a bit more boat than a 17 footer (but not that much more boat). Although, I like taking the wife and kids out on it, I usually find myself doing the rigging and launching by myself. I don't find the mast hard to raise myself (although I haven't done it yet in a strong blow). The only tricky part for me in rigging is attaching the jib (with integrated forestay). There are a couple of tricks posted where you can do this single handed. I tie a loop in the Mainsail halyard and use the trailer wench to pull the halyard to bend the mast forward just enough to pin the jib. The advantages of the 170 are the lower cost and lower weight (can trailer with almost any vehicle). The advantages of the 216 are it is more stable, can hold more people, has an enclosed cubby cabin, and can handle a bit more seas than the 170.
The main thing that attracted me to the 216 was being able to rig it, launch it, sail it, unlaunch it, and de-rig it all by myself. I wanted a bit more boat than a 17 footer (but not that much more boat). Although, I like taking the wife and kids out on it, I usually find myself doing the rigging and launching by myself. I don't find the mast hard to raise myself (although I haven't done it yet in a strong blow). The only tricky part for me in rigging is attaching the jib (with integrated forestay). There are a couple of tricks posted where you can do this single handed. I tie a loop in the Mainsail halyard and use the trailer wench to pull the halyard to bend the mast forward just enough to pin the jib. The advantages of the 170 are the lower cost and lower weight (can trailer with almost any vehicle). The advantages of the 216 are it is more stable, can hold more people, has an enclosed cubby cabin, and can handle a bit more seas than the 170.
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