Hi, have finally sold my last motorboat (too many headaches, fumes, noise and fuel bills!!) and I’m looking for my first sailing boat. I have seen a lovely 2006, Hunter33, bilge keel, in mast furling, Yanmar30, new standing rigging 2019, new sails 2018... she looks great, .....as a first sail boat and something I’ll be looking to sail single handed....would this be a good choice?
First Sail Boat!
- Thread starter TheEssexSailor
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Welcome aboard! Sounds sweet! She will be a handful until you get the hang of her. Bring an experienced crew with you and you'll pick it up faster
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,758
Welcome to the forum. Why not. You identify as a qualified day sailor.
Is this going to be short coastal exploring day trips? Or do you fancy a sail across the North Sea fjording along the Norwegian coast?
The Hunter are sound boats but I would not want to be caught in a brutal storm in the North Sea. Certainly the bilge keel would come in handy, but she will not have the sailing abilities of a deep fin keel nor the tracking of a full keel boat.She might make a good transition boat from motor to full blue water sailing.
Is this going to be short coastal exploring day trips? Or do you fancy a sail across the North Sea fjording along the Norwegian coast?
The Hunter are sound boats but I would not want to be caught in a brutal storm in the North Sea. Certainly the bilge keel would come in handy, but she will not have the sailing abilities of a deep fin keel nor the tracking of a full keel boat.She might make a good transition boat from motor to full blue water sailing.
yeah I did the RYA Day Skipper to boost my knowledge, I just need to build the experience! (Two different things!!)
will be used for coastal cruising around the south east of UK...lots of mud flats, hence the bilge keel seemed like a good idea!
not brave enough to go to Norway but who knows...one day!
Wow! It has been my observation that the hardest thing for a new sailor to wrap their head around is the fundamental differnece between knowledge and skill. Since you already seem to have that down, I think you are going to do just fine. Check the weather, mark a back-stop on the chart in case things go sideways..bring a friend and go sailing.
BTW: I know how to do a back handspring. I can't actually do one
but ...I have heard my daughter's gymnastics coach explain it to her (step-by-step) at least 50 times.Wow! It has been my observation that the hardest thing for a new sailor to wrap their head around is the fundamental differnece between knowledge and skill. Since you already seem to have that down, I think you are going to do just fine. Check the weather, mark a back-stop on the chart in case things go sideways..bring a friend and go sailing.
BTW: I know how to do a back handspring. I can't actually do one
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,758
Perhaps the poster was a bit in error regarding the length, but Hunter did build bilge keels.
HUNTER DUETTE
Launched in the mid-1980s, this was a makeover of the British 22ft Hunter Sonata one-design raceboat that was intended to boost the design’s appeal to cruising sailors.
The boat was already well proven, with a reputation for easy and predictable handling, allied to a powerful rig that offered good performance in light airs. The updated design sought to retain these properties while also offering the benefit of twin keels for reduced draught (0.9m/3ft instead of 1.27m/4ft 6in) and the ability to dry out at low tide in suitably sheltered harbours and beaches.
A similar righting moment to the fin-keel version was achieved by increasing the ballast ratio to 55 per cent – one of the highest figures of any cruising yacht. The result was a boat that was significantly faster than other bilge keelers of a similar size (and indeed some fin-keel models) but retained its excellent handling characteristics, as designer David Thomas intended. Indeed, when sailing downwind the Duette proved to have better directional stability than the Sonata, thanks to the two keels.
The Duette followed the earlier Horizon 26, which itself was based on the earlier Hunter Delta. Subsequently a number of other British Hunters sprouted twin keels with a similar aim, including the Horizon 30, and the Channel 27, 31 and 323. All offered a similar appealing combination of easy handling and performance that often exceeded that of fin-keel designs of a similar size.
HUNTER DUETTE
Launched in the mid-1980s, this was a makeover of the British 22ft Hunter Sonata one-design raceboat that was intended to boost the design’s appeal to cruising sailors.
The boat was already well proven, with a reputation for easy and predictable handling, allied to a powerful rig that offered good performance in light airs. The updated design sought to retain these properties while also offering the benefit of twin keels for reduced draught (0.9m/3ft instead of 1.27m/4ft 6in) and the ability to dry out at low tide in suitably sheltered harbours and beaches.
A similar righting moment to the fin-keel version was achieved by increasing the ballast ratio to 55 per cent – one of the highest figures of any cruising yacht. The result was a boat that was significantly faster than other bilge keelers of a similar size (and indeed some fin-keel models) but retained its excellent handling characteristics, as designer David Thomas intended. Indeed, when sailing downwind the Duette proved to have better directional stability than the Sonata, thanks to the two keels.
The Duette followed the earlier Horizon 26, which itself was based on the earlier Hunter Delta. Subsequently a number of other British Hunters sprouted twin keels with a similar aim, including the Horizon 30, and the Channel 27, 31 and 323. All offered a similar appealing combination of easy handling and performance that often exceeded that of fin-keel designs of a similar size.
It’s a “Hunter 33 Legend” built to spec when new...I guess! ......does this mean it’s a US import?
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,758
It's a thing over there. Who knew?
uk.boats.com
Choosing a yacht: bilge keels vs fin keels - boats.com
Rupert Holmes dispels some popular myths about bilge keel sailing yachts.
uk.boats.com
Haha yes it’s definitely a thing..great for south east coast of UK as there are plenty of mud flats and shallow waters !It's a thing over there. Who knew?
Choosing a yacht: bilge keels vs fin keels - boats.com
Rupert Holmes dispels some popular myths about bilge keel sailing yachts.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,758
If you do go through with the purchase, you indicate you are considering, please share pictures your boat. Especially of her using her bilge keels to stay above the mud at low tide.
Photo below, looks a little weird but works well!
Attachments
Are you in the UK. Hunter built in the US either a deep fin keel or shoal draft wing keel. That style boat was built in England when Hunter had a plant there and built bilge style keels for the european market. However,, it was called Hunter Legend built in England as there was already another Hunter company in England.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,758
That is an interesting bottom. Would seem the structure puts a lot of boat weight on the keels and the rudder when sitting in the mud. I wonder if there is a history of failures in those systems.
Most bilge keels I have seen have a keel running about 60% the length of the boat. The structure was supported with internal linear and lateral bracing along the twin keels.
Most bilge keels I have seen have a keel running about 60% the length of the boat. The structure was supported with internal linear and lateral bracing along the twin keels.
