H25 storm canvas

[jcherubini]

As Diana nears the water (at last... finally) I am closing/moving a West Marine installation here and eyeing the bargains. One thing I would like to add to this boat is a trysail track (I got good deals on the hardware, you see). I would like to hear from people who have used a trysail and other storm/emergency-only sail arrangements on the first-generation Hunter 25 (or 27).

In specific--
Do you sheet the trysail to the boom or the deck? --I have heard virtues of both.
How high up does your trysail track extend?
What other halyard/downhaul/outhaul tackle have you added?
Do you use any storm headsails NOT tacked or hoisted to the usual headstay and tack fitting?
What weight sailcloth have you used?
Most of all... at what heel angle to you consider the boat comfortably settled-down?

I have not (yet) consulted the sailmaker. Almost all of my major-weather experience is constrained to Cherubini 44s... which is of limited help here.

Thanks.

J Cherubini II
H25 Diana of Burlington

 

[Ed Schenck]

At last, finally, hardly says it JC. When did we first see you writing about Diana? Measured in a few years for sure. And why all the storm preparation? Where are you going? I have been sailing my H37C for ten years now and have never purchased anything to be considered storm gear(other than ground tackle). Bad weather for me is the staysail and two reefs. So I'd be no help with your questions but it is good to see you are in the final stages.

 

[jcherubini]

H25 getting closer

Thanks, Ed; and it's always a pleasure to see your comments on here. I was remarking to someone today that 'you can always count on Ed; he's a true fan,' etc.

Little Di is awaiting final reassembly, paint, electrical, and rerigging. This project moves slowly mainly due to lack of funds (and more of that on its way this year too). But it is a commitment and I do keep at it. My kids have never been much interested in this project (and therein lies a lot of the delay) and I am resolved that I shall end a singlehander. So the focus of the project has shifted. Also I got an iPod from my brother making the problematic CD shelf pretty much unnecessary... things like that happen and become important. I still have NO provision for GPS thought I happen to like the cheaper Standard Horizon one for its swivel mount... but that is up in the air again due to funds. My cousin Mike, himself a premier finisher, has offered his time and when weather permits we will strip the bottom and get the hull and deck ready for Brightside. I need to make a new foredeck hatch as my original idea got changed and that has to be fitted before the fairing and paint. And I have an array of custom sheet metal fabrication-- new mast step, stem fitting, chainplates, traveler bracket-- and other stuff to do that will breathe new life into this little boat.

My goals are to head south... intending upon the James River by this fall and Oriental by next. After that who knows?

I'll try to follow all these posts as well as I can.
JC2

 

[David in Sandusky]

No storm sails on our h27

We've had Lady Lillie out in 40 kt gusts with the third reef in the main (set up as the second reef point on our sail), and a bit of the 110 showing off the roller furler. We were on Sandusky Bay, and the wind was offshore, so we did not have to deal with the wave action that would come with that wind in open water. We were able to sail slightly into the wind (by GPS, so including being set downwind on our shoal keel) so there would be some hope on a lee shore with this rig. I'd definitely have the engine going if that were the case, however.

I've always associated storm sails with heading offshore, where you might have to sail through a big storm. We are never farther than 8 hours from a port on the Great Lakes, so adequate warning of sustained winds over 50 knots is quite likely.

The exception is the big packet of cold air falling off a distant thunder head, and hitting the boat with high winds. I've talked to a few long time Great Lakes sailors who have experienced the inevitable knock-down from this cause. But those winds did not sustain for more than a few minutes.

I wonder how much effective warning we would have had if we had been on the lake when Ike hit last fall. I don't think it was more than a few hours warning that the winds would be 70 miles per hour. (35 was the forecast the day before). A dockmate who was on board at the dock said that Ike's winds arrived as a high dust storm. Now that would be a tough situation underway!

Good luck with the last tasks of your project, JC. Thanks for keeping us informed.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Thanks for the kind words JC. Well my boat is currently just across the river from Oriental. And I did have it there for four weeks for maintenance. It is so remote but I really enjoyed my time there. I am on the other side(Matthew's Point) for easier access to Beaufort, Morehead City, and the beaches. Come Feb. 16 the plan is to go offshore and straight for Florida. I finally found a slip over here in Port Richey.

That was all by way of making a point about being offshore in your H25. On the way down from Lake Erie we were never more than five hours from safe harbor. In the Atlantic off NJ we could make any good inlet within nine or ten hours. So I figure half that. In the seven week trip playing in the bays and big sounds and the Atlantic we were either motoring or under full sail. There was one storm and we were safely anchored in Barnegat Bay.

A comment about your paint choice. My first coat on the cabin house was Brightside. I ended up sanding all of it and switching to Toplac. It went on so much better.

Best of luck with the projects.