H260 in Upper Potomac and Chesapeake Bay

[Caption James T]

I have recently moved to North Virginia just south of DC. I have started looking for a sailboat of some type. I found a ad for a Hunter 260. It seams like a good boat for my sailing plans. Day sailing on the Potomac south of Regan airport down to Quantico(slipped somewhere in the middle, can't afford DC prices) and weekend trips to the Chesapeake Bay(towed) when the car market lets me upgrade to a truck. I am have been given a recommendation ageist it by a coworker. Suggesting that I seek a >25ft keel boat with a heavy displacement for the Bay. Due to heavy wave action that can be found in the Bay. The hunter 240 I had. Was fine with 3ft waves, but I found that to be limit of reasonable. So my coworker's suggestion makes sense to me that a heaver displacment or more length would be wise for the 5ft waves expected in the bay.

Does anyone have experience in the Chesapeake bay with a hunter 260? or know if the hunter 260 handles waves better than the 240?

As I would really like to make a hunter 260 work, but it may not be suited for the bay. If I had to chose day sailing the Potomac or the weekend on the bay. I am not sure what way I would go at the moment. As to keep a boat on the bay would a 2 hour drive min.

 

[rgranger]

…5ft waves expected in the bay..

…?

 

[Davidasailor26]

I have no experience with the 260, but I have sailed on the bay in an O’Day 28 (admittedly 50% heavier) and lots with a Beneteau 37. I also crewed on a 20% lighter Soverel 27. For your use I think the 260 would be fine. Though you can get 5’ waves on the bay it’s not like they come out of nowhere. The vast majority of days are much calmer than that. If the forecast is for heavier conditions just stay in the river. Over time if you want to go farther you can consider an upgrade, but for day sailing around the Potomac and an occasional trip on the bay I think something the size of the 260 would be adequate

 

[Caption James T]

@Davidasailor26 Thanks you for responding. I still don't have a strong understanding of the weather in this area and have sailed mostly lakes where current and winds don't get to interact. From you post is sounds like the conditions are predictable and can be avoided with planing/forecasting. Is there a method you know of/use for predicting the waves based on the forecast and tides? or is more of a wind speed limit? Aka can bad waves happen in low winds.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I don't know of any great wave prediction tools for the Chesapeake other than the National Weather Service marine forecast. They put out Small Craft Advisories that in my experience seem pretty conservative, so I'd be comfortable using them as an indicator. You can get some wind over current, especially with a strong south wind and an ebb tide, but it does take a decent breeze to get that started, and that will be forecast. I use Windy.com a lot for wind strength predictions.