We can't wait to sail the used '97 H26 which we bought just before winter. While we wait, we were hoping you folks with experience could answer some questions. 1 - How should our 2 grammar school kids sleep? Table up using V-berth, feet towards the bow? 2 - How do you keep the bugs out when overnighting? Is there a way to put fiberglass screening over the companionway? 3 - There's no DC power outlet (cigarette lighter type) on board. Where's a good place to add one to run laptop, radio, etc. 4 - Anyone installed a boom kicker to hold up the boom and eliminate need for topping lift. Along with lazy jacks it seem like a winning combo. Any thoughts? 5 - Is there any place to rig a small hammock on deck? 6 - Never sailed a boat that used winches before. Can you winch and tail single handed? How about those blue rubber things you put on winches to make them self tailing? 7 - Suggestion for holding tiller in place for short periods? Tiller Tamer, etc. 8 - How small of a Danforth type anchor can you use as a lunch hook? 9 - Which is best, sleeping bags or bedding? 10 - How many days can my family of 4 go before needing to empty the chemical toilet? I'll stop at 10 for now. Hopefully you'll give us lots of good advice. Thanks in advance. Ron Mehringer & Crew Hydro-Therapy
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Rick Webb
top ten ?
1. V-berth, feet towards the bow? 2. Velcro around the edges and on the screen 3. I put one above the electrical panel and have a little goose neck light that plugs in 4. not sure you would need it to keep the boom up, the lazy jacks will 5. I am still looking also was thinking of getting another pole to put in where the mast crutch does at the stern and going from there to the mast, open to suggestions 6. Heard they work, on my list of things to buy. 7. Tiller Tamer works great 8. Do not think you need one other than the one that came with the boat 9. Sleeping bags that unzip all the way around and sheets 10. How many carbonated beverages do you drink and how long do you want to to be around the thing half full? Our rule is you use it you empty it.
1. V-berth, feet towards the bow? 2. Velcro around the edges and on the screen 3. I put one above the electrical panel and have a little goose neck light that plugs in 4. not sure you would need it to keep the boom up, the lazy jacks will 5. I am still looking also was thinking of getting another pole to put in where the mast crutch does at the stern and going from there to the mast, open to suggestions 6. Heard they work, on my list of things to buy. 7. Tiller Tamer works great 8. Do not think you need one other than the one that came with the boat 9. Sleeping bags that unzip all the way around and sheets 10. How many carbonated beverages do you drink and how long do you want to to be around the thing half full? Our rule is you use it you empty it.
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Tom
Bugs
You've got some good answers already. Here's just a few more... I use a camper top when over-nighting. Hard as we tried we could keep all the bugs out. They see the light and find a way in. And any light in the cockpit is a real mess. We found that using a small citronella candle in a stable wide bottomed container provided just enough light without attracting bugs. I thinks you'll find you rarely need the winches to sheet in. I put a wrap or two around the winch to pull on, then drop the sheet into a cam cleat but never need to crank. This is an easy boat to singlehand. Have fun. Tom/Ft Worth
You've got some good answers already. Here's just a few more... I use a camper top when over-nighting. Hard as we tried we could keep all the bugs out. They see the light and find a way in. And any light in the cockpit is a real mess. We found that using a small citronella candle in a stable wide bottomed container provided just enough light without attracting bugs. I thinks you'll find you rarely need the winches to sheet in. I put a wrap or two around the winch to pull on, then drop the sheet into a cam cleat but never need to crank. This is an easy boat to singlehand. Have fun. Tom/Ft Worth
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Larry Barnes
What's a boom kicker?
Haven't heard of this device. Is it simpler and more convenient than a topping lift? DC power outlet can be placed in the wood bulkhead, forward side of the head enclosure, down low enough so that the wires are inside the sink cabinet This would also give you good access so your laptop could be use on the saloon table. The stereo was also installed there when I purchased the boat and I've seen the wisdom of that, for the ease of wireing. Larry Barnes
Haven't heard of this device. Is it simpler and more convenient than a topping lift? DC power outlet can be placed in the wood bulkhead, forward side of the head enclosure, down low enough so that the wires are inside the sink cabinet This would also give you good access so your laptop could be use on the saloon table. The stereo was also installed there when I purchased the boat and I've seen the wisdom of that, for the ease of wireing. Larry Barnes
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Ron Mehringer
Larry, a boom kicker is...
...a mechanical device that runs parallel to your boom vang. You cut it to size to hold up the boom. At first glance you might think it was one of those fancy mechanical boom vangs used by racers. Those things both hold up the boom and provide the vang function (I think). This thing is cheaper and only holds up the boom. The blocks and sheets for the boom vang are still needed. My thinking is that you can eliminate the topping lift and not have the full weight of the boom pulling the lazy jacks tight. I've heard that the sail can be difficult to lower if lazy jacks are too tight. Please take all this with a grain of salt, since I've not yet used a kicker or lazy jacks. You can find the kicker in either the West Marine catalog or BoatUS. Thanks for the outlet advice. Ron Mehringer Hydro-Therapy
...a mechanical device that runs parallel to your boom vang. You cut it to size to hold up the boom. At first glance you might think it was one of those fancy mechanical boom vangs used by racers. Those things both hold up the boom and provide the vang function (I think). This thing is cheaper and only holds up the boom. The blocks and sheets for the boom vang are still needed. My thinking is that you can eliminate the topping lift and not have the full weight of the boom pulling the lazy jacks tight. I've heard that the sail can be difficult to lower if lazy jacks are too tight. Please take all this with a grain of salt, since I've not yet used a kicker or lazy jacks. You can find the kicker in either the West Marine catalog or BoatUS. Thanks for the outlet advice. Ron Mehringer Hydro-Therapy
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Harvey Small
IMHO
You're gonna put two grade school kids in one v-berth? That's right up there with putting a ferret in your trousers. How about one kid on each settee berth? That way you don't have to mess with the table, and you could even rig lee cloths so the kids can nap under way. I suppose you could also put the smaller one in the V-berth and the larger on the settee. Don't mess with the "boom kicker". Go to www.garhauermarine.com. They're an OEM supplier for Cataline and others, and they make a great solid vang for the Hunter 26 for around $200. That's only my opinion, but it's the right one! Harvey Small s/v Waiting for the Sun
You're gonna put two grade school kids in one v-berth? That's right up there with putting a ferret in your trousers. How about one kid on each settee berth? That way you don't have to mess with the table, and you could even rig lee cloths so the kids can nap under way. I suppose you could also put the smaller one in the V-berth and the larger on the settee. Don't mess with the "boom kicker". Go to www.garhauermarine.com. They're an OEM supplier for Cataline and others, and they make a great solid vang for the Hunter 26 for around $200. That's only my opinion, but it's the right one! Harvey Small s/v Waiting for the Sun
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Dave Condon
Answers
Some of the questions can be answered by local sailors. As for the V berth, one couple sleeps up there while the kids play Romper Room in the rear berth. I laughed when I heard that one. Suggest a camper top for the main hatchway which you can purchase through the HOW store or you local dealer. One is supplied by Ameriseam. Ask for the one with screened windows and screen door. The topping lift supplied with the boat is sufficient. IF you wish to purchase a boom kicker for what the topping lift already does, go ahead but I like to keep the money in my pocket. I can put it to good use when I get that new brain which I probably need. Lazy jacks on the 26 and 260 are a pain and just get in the way. Only installed one over the years and the customer after 6 months asked me to remove them. You can buy screen hatch kits for the forward hatch or whatever. Cigeratte lighter plug best placed near the electrical panel as you can access both the black and red wires easily. You may be seeing yellow coded wires in lieu of black for the negative wires on new Hunters and others too for the 12 volt DC battery electrical systems if not already done. It is confusing to have black for negative on a 12 volt battery system and black for the hot on an AC or shore power which sometimes confuses folks. Bye Bye from this old pickle brain
Some of the questions can be answered by local sailors. As for the V berth, one couple sleeps up there while the kids play Romper Room in the rear berth. I laughed when I heard that one. Suggest a camper top for the main hatchway which you can purchase through the HOW store or you local dealer. One is supplied by Ameriseam. Ask for the one with screened windows and screen door. The topping lift supplied with the boat is sufficient. IF you wish to purchase a boom kicker for what the topping lift already does, go ahead but I like to keep the money in my pocket. I can put it to good use when I get that new brain which I probably need. Lazy jacks on the 26 and 260 are a pain and just get in the way. Only installed one over the years and the customer after 6 months asked me to remove them. You can buy screen hatch kits for the forward hatch or whatever. Cigeratte lighter plug best placed near the electrical panel as you can access both the black and red wires easily. You may be seeing yellow coded wires in lieu of black for the negative wires on new Hunters and others too for the 12 volt DC battery electrical systems if not already done. It is confusing to have black for negative on a 12 volt battery system and black for the hot on an AC or shore power which sometimes confuses folks. Bye Bye from this old pickle brain
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Michael Bell
Hope this helps
My two kids sleep in the V-berth. We clipped “no-see’m “ netting on the companionway. Plan to Velcro it on for next summer. I installed another DC power panel between the 110 and the companionway – with outlet. The lazy jacks on my ’98 H26 was the best add-on I’ve done. I purchased (not installed yet), the boom kicker. One less thing to have to deal with lowering the main, and gives you free space from mast to aft for a rain fly (or sun shade). I got an 8 lb lunch anchor. Will all depend on conditions. We use sleeping bags. Our family of four spent three weeks in Canadian waters last summer, and I empted the port-a-potty four times (I’m not known to pee inside however).
My two kids sleep in the V-berth. We clipped “no-see’m “ netting on the companionway. Plan to Velcro it on for next summer. I installed another DC power panel between the 110 and the companionway – with outlet. The lazy jacks on my ’98 H26 was the best add-on I’ve done. I purchased (not installed yet), the boom kicker. One less thing to have to deal with lowering the main, and gives you free space from mast to aft for a rain fly (or sun shade). I got an 8 lb lunch anchor. Will all depend on conditions. We use sleeping bags. Our family of four spent three weeks in Canadian waters last summer, and I empted the port-a-potty four times (I’m not known to pee inside however).
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Ron Mehringer
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