h170 Looker

[Roger5024]

Dear h170 sailors,I am downsizing from a C27 so tht we can daysail in different waters by trailering about on and off Cape Cod. I took an hour sail in a rental 170 on the weekend, and had forgotten about the tenderness of the centerboard boat. It was pretty breezy (15+)so we sailed under unreefed main only, but it was also flukey and gusty, and that made for some scrambling. I am thinking maybe knee pads are in order, as I found that I often put my considerable bulk kneeling just a little on the high side, and let my wife move more freely.I need to get younger, but I am prepared to do that. Any other advice from you intrepid 170 sailors??ThanksRogerCape Cod

 

[gball]

H170 looker/ Moderate-air handling

Hi, Roger-Glad to hear you took a sail in the 170. Sailing main alone is a great move. I like to furl up my 170's jib when I first think I need to and just hike out on main alone. If you go with a 170 (which I would wholeheartedly recommend!), opt for reefing points in the main...they'll power her down quite a bit more yet-- making my 170 manageable in 20-25 solo or with one crew. When in a consistent blow (15+) both sails, I move up from the bench seat all the way up --sitting on the gunwale, so that I'm sitting on the top rounded edge of the hull. If I position my butt just right, the gunwale seems to fit my posterial shape (how's that for laying it out there!) and I can move in and out just a bit as headers or puffs come. Another option is one I've seen in the 170 photos section of this website-- that is to rig 3/8" line from the rudder assembly, run it foreward on the starbd. side to the mast tabernacle, then aft from the port side of the mast to the rudder assembly back on the port side. Thread that 3/8 through bigger boat 'lifeline' padding (purchaseable in 6' lengths) and use this system as a hiking strap. Also, the following link contains a retrofit optional 'heavier' 67lb. vs. 42lb. centerboard. http://www.nboat.com/hunterboats/hunter170/parts.shtml#linesOne can learn to love the 170's unique design and 'enthusiasm' in heavier air with the std. centerboard, but the retrofit option is there. I just say, Dinghies ARE sensitive by nature. You gotta love some heel-- or if not, get a tank like a Flying Scot or the like.The photo posted with this response shows a "chillin' " way to maintain neutral helm in light air--- sit on a lifejacket as padding!Full sails,Mike G.Alachua, FL

 

[Roger5024]

Thanks Mike

Mike,Thanks for the quick reply. I actually like sailing with a good heel- it is when the wind dropped (or when I accidently popped the main out of the cam cleat) and we started to heel to windward that I got a little spooked!. But I will absolutely get the reef points. I doubt I will need the hiking straps (crew- not my wife- could always 'Star hike') and since I weigh in at about 270, I figger I can hold her down. The heavier cennterboard is intriguing, but expensive, and, I imagine, would require rigging more blocks to pull it up- I was surprised how easily both centerboard and rudder could be raised. Good for beaching her, something I plan on!Thanks for the encouragement. Roger

 

[gball]

Beaching the 170

Roger,You're right, the 170 is so, so easy to beach. My wife and I recently sailed the intercoastal from Matanzas Inlet (where downtown St Augustine, FL meets the Atlantic) to Crescent Beach, and found beaching at state park beaches and sandy shoals along the way was a snap (see 170 photos section on this website for two of our trip photos). If you go with the 170, just remember to pop the rudder line (cleated on the tiller handle) early. I've jammed the line a couple times by grazing the bottom --thereby causing the line to load up with down-tension. I'm learning! Yes, a heavier board is an expensive option, and hey, the little added stability probably isn't enough of a payoff. By the way, what is 'Star hiking'? Cheers,Mike G.

 

[Roger5024]

Star hike

Mike,I did look at your pix- your transient slip next to the monster stinkpot was a pretty great shot!I grew up where there was an active Star fleet. Stars are beautiful,about 20-foot long racing keel sloops with small cockpits, hard chines and a lot of sail area. I think they are still an Olympic class. The preferred method of hiking when she really was heeled over was to actually lay on the topsides with only one arm and leg holding onto the cockpit. This was way before trapezes.Of course if the gust died, you had to scramble back onto the deck to prevent getting doused!See link attached.RogerPS on heavier h170 centerboard- it might not be a lot more expensive as an option when buying a new boat. I am checking it out.Take care Roger

 

[John Radcliff]

Heavier H170 centerboard

Is the heavier centerboard what was standard on 2000+ models? I though they upped the weight of the CB when the eliminated the cup holders.

 

[Roger5024]

Maybe

John,I talked with NBOAT today and they said that the h170 only came with lighter centerboard and that you would have to buy (for $800+) the heavier centerboard and swap it out. Not sure that they are right, but...Say, where do you sail? LI Sound, I suspect. How does the boat function in that environment?ThanksRogerCape Cod

 

[John Radcliff]

Thames River

Roger,I sail mostly in the Thames River. Last summer I moved from NH to Groton. I have not been sailing in CT too much. And this summer I am in Virginia. So the boat is just sitting there. The Thames is wide enough that it is only semi-shifty winds. But look out for the Subs. The Hunter has enough freeboard to not take too much spray over the bow. Overall, I am happy with the purchase. I have never felt like I was in danger or unstable. Over Memorial Day weekend, my girlfriend and I took the boat out. Under main alone, we were well over a fair amount. Neither of us are small (I am 6'2", about 200, she is 5'8" about 150), and there were many gusts that we were sitting on the high rail, leaning back, looking over at the tip of the CB. There was only one time that we had to ease the main to keep from rounding up. Granted, the wind that day was 15 to 20 knots in my guess.

 

[John Radcliff]

2k1+ have extra weight

From Hunter:"Before 2001 all of the boats had a 45lb centerboard. Since 2001 all of the boats have had 67lb centerboards."

 

[Roger5024]

GREAT RESEARCH

John,Ask Hunter- now why didn't I think of that! Thanks, I am sure that extra 22 lbs makes all the difference. Well, some difference anyway.As for the Thames (and I lived in Hartford long enuff to pronounce the 'th' not as a 't'), if a sub was moving slow enough, you could just pop the board and rudder and beach on her! Not recommended in this day and age however.Roger

 

[mbwilley]

Also Looking

Hello, all. I am a complete novice at sailing (as in I have never sailed but want to learn), and I'm looking at an h170. I have a 4-yr.old, so I want a very stable boat, but also one that I can grow with as a sailor. I'll be sailing Percy Priest and Old Hickory Lakes in Nashville and maybe Lake Barkley/KY Lake in Land Between the Lakes in KY. Also, I may be sailing solo quite a bit, as my wife is not interested in sailing. Is the h170 the boat for me?Thanks.Michael Willey

 

[gball]

Transient slip/Hunter 170

Roger,You're right, the 45' stinkpot pretty much dwarfed our 170! Another fun thing about that trip with our 170 was that we got to learn about tides for the first time. Mornings as we'd leave that St Augustine slip, the tide would be humming out at about 2mph! Our lil 4 stroke Yamaha did a great job powering us out of that slip-- in reverse!--- hey, I'm learning (we should have been bow facing OUT of the slip)!We also brought our handheld VHF and debutted our communication techniques with the bridge tenders in the area. The 170's 26 foot mast is a couple feet too tall for some of the bascule bridges on the FL intercoastal & we enjoyed talking with the tenders, telling them our intentions. I learned that it's best to monitor channels in a large-vessel waterway like that. We looked at this trip as a first step in our journey toward learning nav, safety, etc. toward eventual coastal cruising...someday!BTW, Star hiking sounds like a killer!Best,Mike G.

 

[Michael15993]

Hey Willey

Where are you looking at one, i cant seem to find much in this town. I would be happy to crew with you. I havent sailed in years but did learn to sail at sailing camp on Lake Erie, out of Verillion Ohio. And I live across the street from Priest. Please email me if intrested in me crewing with you, like you, wife not that intrested. I almost had her going on a nice 28.5 and she wanked too much so i dropped it. Maybe one day? who knows. my email is Punisher@aceclan.us that is from a gaming web i have, it will get ot me. Thanks