Ok, OK, Sorry about the name dropping, I'm a newbie. I get the impression that the general Hunter owning populus think Crazy dave's a square guy. I felt like he was, but am approaching my first boat and really want to make sure I'm not screwing myself. how do all you 260 owners feel about your boats? I would like to hear any imput on shortcomings, limitations, "personality" traits etc.
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Wife and I traded up to a H356 from H260
She misses her H260. We sailed and trailered every weekend. Even took it to Pensacola, a 2000mi round trip. A little tender in gusty winds, it would heel very quickly but settle down. Have had it out in 25kt winds with 6ft steep following seas. A wild ride but was doable. There were a lot of little things you can do to make it more comfortable - check around on this site. So of the owners have done some amazing things. You can see some of the stuff I did to mine before trading up. Jim S/V Java
She misses her H260. We sailed and trailered every weekend. Even took it to Pensacola, a 2000mi round trip. A little tender in gusty winds, it would heel very quickly but settle down. Have had it out in 25kt winds with 6ft steep following seas. A wild ride but was doable. There were a lot of little things you can do to make it more comfortable - check around on this site. So of the owners have done some amazing things. You can see some of the stuff I did to mine before trading up. Jim S/V Java
Feedback on H260
Dave, I have a 2003 H260, wheel steering, Mercury 9.9, electric start, engine controls on the pedestal. I have owned a Hunter 25, Hunter 30, Catalina 38. Most of my sailing is on Lake Lanier, GA. We bought the H260 so we could sail in waters other than the lake. Took the boat to Isle of Palm, SC. Had her in 20 kt winds and 31/2 foot seas in Charleston Harbor. Also took her off shore. We have spent 4 nights in a row on her. Routinely spend weekends on her. I have sailed her in > 20kt winds on the lake also. To give a little more perspective, my wife in not happy unless we are healed over, in lots of wind with her hair on fire! The H260 has handled everything we've thrown at her. She is not as heavy as the other boats I've owned and has a lite feel. She will round up very quickly in a gust if you're not paying attention. Doesn't point as well as other boats I've owned. Very hard to sail wing on wing since the spreaders are angled aft. Likes a reach and not all that great downwind again because of the spreader angle. Easy to single hand. > 25 kts of wind, motor back to the dock or find a cove to anchor in. Huge cockpit, great swim platform, easy to step the mast as long as you pay attention. My wife usually puts the boat on the trailer with no problems. Adding or draining the water ballast is no problem. I drag it behind a Ford Expedition with 4.6L. Gas mileage goes down the tubes, but that's the price you have to pay for the freedom to sail anywhere you want. Lots of room below. Salon table design is a mystery to me but can seat six. Single burner butane stove, ice chest. We use an Engel 45 for refrigeration also. As with all boats, they have their positives and negatives. You have to spend some time on her to learn the idiosynchrasies. If you are looking for a large, comfortable trailerable sailboat, this is it. If you are not interested in trailering, then you might want to find something with a little heavier feel and inboard diesel.
Dave, I have a 2003 H260, wheel steering, Mercury 9.9, electric start, engine controls on the pedestal. I have owned a Hunter 25, Hunter 30, Catalina 38. Most of my sailing is on Lake Lanier, GA. We bought the H260 so we could sail in waters other than the lake. Took the boat to Isle of Palm, SC. Had her in 20 kt winds and 31/2 foot seas in Charleston Harbor. Also took her off shore. We have spent 4 nights in a row on her. Routinely spend weekends on her. I have sailed her in > 20kt winds on the lake also. To give a little more perspective, my wife in not happy unless we are healed over, in lots of wind with her hair on fire! The H260 has handled everything we've thrown at her. She is not as heavy as the other boats I've owned and has a lite feel. She will round up very quickly in a gust if you're not paying attention. Doesn't point as well as other boats I've owned. Very hard to sail wing on wing since the spreaders are angled aft. Likes a reach and not all that great downwind again because of the spreader angle. Easy to single hand. > 25 kts of wind, motor back to the dock or find a cove to anchor in. Huge cockpit, great swim platform, easy to step the mast as long as you pay attention. My wife usually puts the boat on the trailer with no problems. Adding or draining the water ballast is no problem. I drag it behind a Ford Expedition with 4.6L. Gas mileage goes down the tubes, but that's the price you have to pay for the freedom to sail anywhere you want. Lots of room below. Salon table design is a mystery to me but can seat six. Single burner butane stove, ice chest. We use an Engel 45 for refrigeration also. As with all boats, they have their positives and negatives. You have to spend some time on her to learn the idiosynchrasies. If you are looking for a large, comfortable trailerable sailboat, this is it. If you are not interested in trailering, then you might want to find something with a little heavier feel and inboard diesel.
Dave D in Apex
Dave, My wife and I have owned and operated a 260 for two and a half years. It is equipped much the same as Allan's. Our experience has been similar to both Allan's and Jim Seamans'. We are trading up, with Crazy Dave, to a 38. Reasons are extended range and much better cruising capability. My wife has had two major orthopedic surgeries since April 2004 and we were just too cramped in the 260 for anything longer than a week. Regarding Crazy Dave, he is truly a stand up guy. If you are truly interested in a used 260, he will go just about anywhere to help you find it. Ours will become available tomorrow, but knowing Dave, he had a buyer lined up and waiting before he even filled out the sales agreement for our 38. It may even be you. Good luck in your search and smooth sailing. Steve and Sheila Kamp "Carolina"
Dave, My wife and I have owned and operated a 260 for two and a half years. It is equipped much the same as Allan's. Our experience has been similar to both Allan's and Jim Seamans'. We are trading up, with Crazy Dave, to a 38. Reasons are extended range and much better cruising capability. My wife has had two major orthopedic surgeries since April 2004 and we were just too cramped in the 260 for anything longer than a week. Regarding Crazy Dave, he is truly a stand up guy. If you are truly interested in a used 260, he will go just about anywhere to help you find it. Ours will become available tomorrow, but knowing Dave, he had a buyer lined up and waiting before he even filled out the sales agreement for our 38. It may even be you. Good luck in your search and smooth sailing. Steve and Sheila Kamp "Carolina"
OK, I'll just have to jump in
MY 1999 Hunter 260 has been alot of places with the wife and I from Lake Erie to the North to the island of Bimini in the Bahamas to the South. As a matter of fact we are going back to Bimini the 17 of this month, God willing and the weather holds. The wife and I have spent up to 15 day on board without touching land (we ran out of water) we have modified our boat some for our type of sailing, like extra water tanks, pressurised water system, three type 31 gel batteries, 2k inverter, 1k generater, 40 AMP battery True charger, reverse cycle AC system, captains seat, 20 gal gas cap., better below deck lightting, 2 burner stove,freezer-refrig. combo, a new main last year 12% bigger with 2 reefing points, a cruing spinaker and for towing we added disk brakes etc etc that's the GREAT thing about the boat you have the room to do all these thing or you can just keep it the way it is. PS Crazy Dave IS THE MAN !!!! John
MY 1999 Hunter 260 has been alot of places with the wife and I from Lake Erie to the North to the island of Bimini in the Bahamas to the South. As a matter of fact we are going back to Bimini the 17 of this month, God willing and the weather holds. The wife and I have spent up to 15 day on board without touching land (we ran out of water) we have modified our boat some for our type of sailing, like extra water tanks, pressurised water system, three type 31 gel batteries, 2k inverter, 1k generater, 40 AMP battery True charger, reverse cycle AC system, captains seat, 20 gal gas cap., better below deck lightting, 2 burner stove,freezer-refrig. combo, a new main last year 12% bigger with 2 reefing points, a cruing spinaker and for towing we added disk brakes etc etc that's the GREAT thing about the boat you have the room to do all these thing or you can just keep it the way it is. PS Crazy Dave IS THE MAN !!!! John
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