Can anyone tell me how a 1987 shoal draft Hunter 28.5 performs? I've been looking at Portsmouth yardstick numbers to try to compare US Boats but it would be better to hear from "someone who knows". Can they be single-handed ok? Can the helmsman play the mainsheet/traveller ok in gusts? Lots of +ve reviews on the Hunter site but they don't say which keel Hopefully yours Patrick in Port Charlotte FL patrick.randall@comcast.net
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S. Sauer
Hunter twenty eight five
I bought our 28.5 in 1986 with the deep keel. She sails to her 174 PHRF rating and outpoints most similar racer cruisers but we have a deep (5'-2") keel, folding prop, racing bottom paint and headfoil system. If you want inexpensive performance, this is a great boat, however the shoal draft version may be quite diferent. I have never seen one set up for racing but we regularly out point and blow by the crusing versions. Yes, you can easily single hand and adjust the traveler, main sheet and handle the cockpit primary winches while steering. A wheel lock or auto pilot can also be fitted for single handing. In gusts you just drop the traveler down then bring it back up when the gust passes, or just set a boom vang and 'dump' the main sheet, and bring it back in; it has a 3;1 and 6;1 purchase. You should expect the shoal draft boat to be more tender and have more weather helm due to the keel's center of gravity being further aft. If you expect to regularly sail in winds over 15 knots a 135% Genoa does well but won't point as well as a 155%. Above 20 knots the stock 110 Jib does fine. Again the deep draft version sails well without much weather helm with all of the above combinations. In my opinion the deep draft is far superior for racing performance, and you can compare PHRF numbers for the two versions in your area. You usually see shoal draft versions with roller furlers, fixed props and generally set up for cruising. The mainsail can be re-cut to raise the end of the boom for reasonable headroom under a bimini. Both versions obviously share the same interior and standard equipment. The cast iron keel is a pain in the neck and rust spots come thru the gel coat every season. The plastic v-berth 20"x20" hatch and the 10"x10" main cabin hatch can be replaced with sturdier aluminum versions, but the ventilation isn't great unless that forward hatch is open. The gate valves should be replaced with bronze / stainless ball valves or seacocks. For more information, there is a separate group of Hunter twenty eight-five owners on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/huntertwentyeightfive.
I bought our 28.5 in 1986 with the deep keel. She sails to her 174 PHRF rating and outpoints most similar racer cruisers but we have a deep (5'-2") keel, folding prop, racing bottom paint and headfoil system. If you want inexpensive performance, this is a great boat, however the shoal draft version may be quite diferent. I have never seen one set up for racing but we regularly out point and blow by the crusing versions. Yes, you can easily single hand and adjust the traveler, main sheet and handle the cockpit primary winches while steering. A wheel lock or auto pilot can also be fitted for single handing. In gusts you just drop the traveler down then bring it back up when the gust passes, or just set a boom vang and 'dump' the main sheet, and bring it back in; it has a 3;1 and 6;1 purchase. You should expect the shoal draft boat to be more tender and have more weather helm due to the keel's center of gravity being further aft. If you expect to regularly sail in winds over 15 knots a 135% Genoa does well but won't point as well as a 155%. Above 20 knots the stock 110 Jib does fine. Again the deep draft version sails well without much weather helm with all of the above combinations. In my opinion the deep draft is far superior for racing performance, and you can compare PHRF numbers for the two versions in your area. You usually see shoal draft versions with roller furlers, fixed props and generally set up for cruising. The mainsail can be re-cut to raise the end of the boom for reasonable headroom under a bimini. Both versions obviously share the same interior and standard equipment. The cast iron keel is a pain in the neck and rust spots come thru the gel coat every season. The plastic v-berth 20"x20" hatch and the 10"x10" main cabin hatch can be replaced with sturdier aluminum versions, but the ventilation isn't great unless that forward hatch is open. The gate valves should be replaced with bronze / stainless ball valves or seacocks. For more information, there is a separate group of Hunter twenty eight-five owners on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/huntertwentyeightfive.
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Bob
Love my 285
Patrick, Our 1987 Hunter 285 (with a shoal draft) is our first boat after getting into sailing about three years ago so I still consider myself a novice to it all. However, we love sailing her! She is set up for crusing and the only "racing" we do is to cocktail hour. But seriously, I can, and have, easily sailed her alone but having an auto-helm sure helps. The shoal draft is ideal for getting into those shallow places at the top of the bay but I'll agree she can be a bit tender. In winds over 15 kt. we usally start pulling the "rags" in so we don't heel more than 20. We/ve had her up to 7 kt. and that was according to our GPS. It's usally just my wife and I with maybe another guest. Four adults on board and the cockpit can get crowded. However, there is a lot of boat for the money and I think Hunter did a fine job building the 285. I would get a survey done on any 285 that you fancy. We had to rebuild the rudder (a good winter project) because almost every 285 has a delaminated rudder. One of the gate valves was replaced with a brass ball valve and through hull. I was planning to replace all the valves this winter but the water inlet valve for the engine froze closed. We'll probably get a bigger boat later on but for right now we found that our Hunter is just plain fun to sail for a weekend and even a week, with just my wife and I. I do have an issue with the bimini (I'm 5'11" tall) but I plan to have a stepped bimini made where the higher end of it will be behind the end of the boom. I feel that is better than cropping down the main sail.
Patrick, Our 1987 Hunter 285 (with a shoal draft) is our first boat after getting into sailing about three years ago so I still consider myself a novice to it all. However, we love sailing her! She is set up for crusing and the only "racing" we do is to cocktail hour. But seriously, I can, and have, easily sailed her alone but having an auto-helm sure helps. The shoal draft is ideal for getting into those shallow places at the top of the bay but I'll agree she can be a bit tender. In winds over 15 kt. we usally start pulling the "rags" in so we don't heel more than 20. We/ve had her up to 7 kt. and that was according to our GPS. It's usally just my wife and I with maybe another guest. Four adults on board and the cockpit can get crowded. However, there is a lot of boat for the money and I think Hunter did a fine job building the 285. I would get a survey done on any 285 that you fancy. We had to rebuild the rudder (a good winter project) because almost every 285 has a delaminated rudder. One of the gate valves was replaced with a brass ball valve and through hull. I was planning to replace all the valves this winter but the water inlet valve for the engine froze closed. We'll probably get a bigger boat later on but for right now we found that our Hunter is just plain fun to sail for a weekend and even a week, with just my wife and I. I do have an issue with the bimini (I'm 5'11" tall) but I plan to have a stepped bimini made where the higher end of it will be behind the end of the boom. I feel that is better than cropping down the main sail.
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Marc Honey
Burnt Store
I own the deep keel version of the 28.5, an '87, and can only say this... I've sailed in Port Charlotte and the shoal keel would be a great benefit in that shallow bay area. My '87 model has the jib sheet winches mounted in the aft position, closest to the helm and I single-hand 95% of the time. Main and traveler are no problem. Great boat to single-hand. Mine has a 135% genoa on Harkin roller furling, with a full batten, loose footed main, all lines led aft.
I own the deep keel version of the 28.5, an '87, and can only say this... I've sailed in Port Charlotte and the shoal keel would be a great benefit in that shallow bay area. My '87 model has the jib sheet winches mounted in the aft position, closest to the helm and I single-hand 95% of the time. Main and traveler are no problem. Great boat to single-hand. Mine has a 135% genoa on Harkin roller furling, with a full batten, loose footed main, all lines led aft.
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rick crockett
great boat
i have a shoal draft version and race every other weekend and do just fine against j-30's, s2's, custom's, wavelengths etc, yes i have mylar sails(155,135,110,spinn, etc) fixed two blade, new selftailing winches and i single hand 99% on the time. true, shorten sail when it blows and play the traveler, that's the key, good luck and ask any questions anytime later "maverick"
i have a shoal draft version and race every other weekend and do just fine against j-30's, s2's, custom's, wavelengths etc, yes i have mylar sails(155,135,110,spinn, etc) fixed two blade, new selftailing winches and i single hand 99% on the time. true, shorten sail when it blows and play the traveler, that's the key, good luck and ask any questions anytime later "maverick"
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