What a great day of sailing yesterday. I took my son and a friend of his out on the Neuse River departing from Oriental. Had basically a beam reach to the north almost to the Pamlico Sound, and then a run back to Oriental. After owning a Hunter 240 for 5 years, I traded down to the H-216. What a blast. This is a super fun day sailer, and much easier to set up and take down. I have used colored electrians tape to color code the shrouds so its a no brainer for my crew making the connections during set up. I also color coded the turnbuckles so it's clear which end is up, and which end is down. During the season, I'm leaving my main sheet tackle attached to the boom to help hold it in place when trailering. Also saves a little effort when setting up. I just need to go sailing more oten.
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I Agree!
We went out on the Potomac just off of Westmoreland State Park (VA, just below Colonial Beach). This was our second sail in this boat (MacGregor 26 for 18 years prior). Launched the ASpin for the first time. What a lovely day. Seems we were out on the day the Monarch butterflys were headed south. It was like a parade! And the really lovely thing about this time of year (read that football season)...no power boats! It was SO quite! Wife and I are very happy with this boat!
We went out on the Potomac just off of Westmoreland State Park (VA, just below Colonial Beach). This was our second sail in this boat (MacGregor 26 for 18 years prior). Launched the ASpin for the first time. What a lovely day. Seems we were out on the day the Monarch butterflys were headed south. It was like a parade! And the really lovely thing about this time of year (read that football season)...no power boats! It was SO quite! Wife and I are very happy with this boat!
I totally agree with you that the H216 is a fun boat, and totally safe as well. I was out yesterday by myself in 10 knots of nice steady wind. The boat was nicely heeled over at 10-15 degrees on a close reach and I was catching and passing lots of other boats. It took hours for me to stop smiling that day. Sorry to say though that I plan to upgrade to a larger boat. I know that I'll really miss my H216. Gary
216 vs 240
Can you give me a better comparison of the 216 vs the 240? I have been thinking of doing the same. I have been following all articles regarding the 216, and it seems everybody claims the boat is very tender. (the same was said about the 240, but I feel very comfortable in it, even in 25~30 knts). Anything about the 240 you like better than the 216?8rzm
Can you give me a better comparison of the 216 vs the 240? I have been thinking of doing the same. I have been following all articles regarding the 216, and it seems everybody claims the boat is very tender. (the same was said about the 240, but I feel very comfortable in it, even in 25~30 knts). Anything about the 240 you like better than the 216?8rzm
H216 vs H240
Except for one season, I have always had my boat on a trailer and have hauled it to where I sail, and tear down at the end of the day to go home. The H216 is easier to me to rig and take down. I have done both processes alone with both boats. I never used my 240 for overnighting (though I had hoped to). That said, it was just much bigger then what I needed. The 216 is a great day sailer because the cockpit is huge. The storage space is quite useful; but clearly not practical for overnighting. I haven't had the 216 in heavy wind yet. We have buried the rail a couple of times in a gust, but head up and smooth out right away. The lead centerboard gives me a lot of comfort. At 52, and sailing primarily in the Neuse River, I wanted a level of comfort that the boat won't turn over, or worse turn turtle. I really struggled with my decision about whether to sell the 240 to step down in size. Now that it's done, I have absolutely no regrets.
Except for one season, I have always had my boat on a trailer and have hauled it to where I sail, and tear down at the end of the day to go home. The H216 is easier to me to rig and take down. I have done both processes alone with both boats. I never used my 240 for overnighting (though I had hoped to). That said, it was just much bigger then what I needed. The 216 is a great day sailer because the cockpit is huge. The storage space is quite useful; but clearly not practical for overnighting. I haven't had the 216 in heavy wind yet. We have buried the rail a couple of times in a gust, but head up and smooth out right away. The lead centerboard gives me a lot of comfort. At 52, and sailing primarily in the Neuse River, I wanted a level of comfort that the boat won't turn over, or worse turn turtle. I really struggled with my decision about whether to sell the 240 to step down in size. Now that it's done, I have absolutely no regrets.
Setup time?
Lee - About how long does it take you to rig the 216? I'm down sizing from a h26. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
Lee - About how long does it take you to rig the 216? I'm down sizing from a h26. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
H216 rigging time
This past weekend, from the time we pulled into the parking lot at the boat ramp until we pulled way from the ramp on the water was 40 minutes; the fastest ever for us. I never seem to remember to time the tear down, but it is probably comparable. It takes a little longer to tie stuff down to travel then it takes to untie when ready to set up. With the H240, the shrouds stay attached all the time, even through set up and take down. With the H216, the shrouds have to be detached. That requires a little extra time to attach the turnbuckles when setting up, but as I mentioned earlier, I have color coded the shrouds and turnbuckles so crew knows which goes where, and which end of the turnbuckle needs to be on top. Something I meant to mention in an earlier post in this thread is that I can trailer the H216 with my Envoy very easily. Most of the time that I had the H240 I pulled it with a Tahoe, and that worked well. I traded for the Envoy and trailered with the Envoy a couple of times, and it felt like the tail was wagging the dog.
This past weekend, from the time we pulled into the parking lot at the boat ramp until we pulled way from the ramp on the water was 40 minutes; the fastest ever for us. I never seem to remember to time the tear down, but it is probably comparable. It takes a little longer to tie stuff down to travel then it takes to untie when ready to set up. With the H240, the shrouds stay attached all the time, even through set up and take down. With the H216, the shrouds have to be detached. That requires a little extra time to attach the turnbuckles when setting up, but as I mentioned earlier, I have color coded the shrouds and turnbuckles so crew knows which goes where, and which end of the turnbuckle needs to be on top. Something I meant to mention in an earlier post in this thread is that I can trailer the H216 with my Envoy very easily. Most of the time that I had the H240 I pulled it with a Tahoe, and that worked well. I traded for the Envoy and trailered with the Envoy a couple of times, and it felt like the tail was wagging the dog.
Rigging and Derigging
When taking down the rig on the 216, place the pin (without the wedge) in to hold the mast and then cleat off one end of the Spinnaker (or main) halyard on the mast then taking the free end to the bow. By exerting pressure to move the mast forward, you will free up enough of the tension to remove the clevis pin holding the jib furler drum. This will relieve enough tension from all of the shrouds to allow their clevis pins to be removed without loosening the turnbuckles. Using the reverse to re-rig the boat will save you a significant amount of time.
When taking down the rig on the 216, place the pin (without the wedge) in to hold the mast and then cleat off one end of the Spinnaker (or main) halyard on the mast then taking the free end to the bow. By exerting pressure to move the mast forward, you will free up enough of the tension to remove the clevis pin holding the jib furler drum. This will relieve enough tension from all of the shrouds to allow their clevis pins to be removed without loosening the turnbuckles. Using the reverse to re-rig the boat will save you a significant amount of time.
Rigging/De-rigging
I replaced my upper/lower forestay shackles and the shroud turnbuckle shackles with Qic-Lock quick release pins. I fly an asym and I found I had to insert the pins for the shrouds from the center of the boat outward so the "head" doesn't foul the asym sheets. I am very careful to make sure the pins are firmly seated. If some else inserts the pins, I double check. I have pins for the jib, both head and furler and the shrouds. I have someone help raise the mast with a rope with a cheapo clip attached to the bottom of the forestay/jib standing in front of my truck. I have a mast tie down cleat on the forward mast support. After raising the mast I cleat this the mast raising rope (still clipped to the forestay) loosely to the cleat. I can then pull back on the mast and get the pins installed in the shrouds. Next I attach the forestay. If I have a couple people, we pull hard down on the forestay, usually having to bounce it, while the third person installs the pin. If alone, I have a short piece of line with loops on both ends. I use the large loop to tie a Prusik knot around the jib (this is a climbing know). I then put my foot in the other loop, stand on it, and insert the forestay pin. Works slick.
I replaced my upper/lower forestay shackles and the shroud turnbuckle shackles with Qic-Lock quick release pins. I fly an asym and I found I had to insert the pins for the shrouds from the center of the boat outward so the "head" doesn't foul the asym sheets. I am very careful to make sure the pins are firmly seated. If some else inserts the pins, I double check. I have pins for the jib, both head and furler and the shrouds. I have someone help raise the mast with a rope with a cheapo clip attached to the bottom of the forestay/jib standing in front of my truck. I have a mast tie down cleat on the forward mast support. After raising the mast I cleat this the mast raising rope (still clipped to the forestay) loosely to the cleat. I can then pull back on the mast and get the pins installed in the shrouds. Next I attach the forestay. If I have a couple people, we pull hard down on the forestay, usually having to bounce it, while the third person installs the pin. If alone, I have a short piece of line with loops on both ends. I use the large loop to tie a Prusik knot around the jib (this is a climbing know). I then put my foot in the other loop, stand on it, and insert the forestay pin. Works slick.
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