I'm thinking of buying a Hunter 23. I want to have a little larger boat than my Point Jude 15 so that I can spend the night on the hook once in a while. Currently, I can set up my boat and launch in about 15 minutes. How long will it take with a 23 ? Is it feasable to trailer sail a 23 ? I do have a suitable towing vehicle. I live in the Finger Lakes area of NY and there's so many great places to sail. I love the flexability of trailering. Whatchyathink ?
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Roger E. Davis
Set up time
Hi, Paul ! I have a winch and post to raise the mast. See archives for posts on that item. Motor and rudder stay attached. With practice, you can cut the setup time to about 15 minutes or less. Roger Trout Run, Pa. rdavis@pct.edu
Hi, Paul ! I have a winch and post to raise the mast. See archives for posts on that item. Motor and rudder stay attached. With practice, you can cut the setup time to about 15 minutes or less. Roger Trout Run, Pa. rdavis@pct.edu
23 set up time
I do not leave my motor and rudder attached . I usually count on about an hour to set up and launch . I only do this one time a year so I guess if a person did it a lot they would get quicker. I just take my time , it seems like when I rush ,things get missed and I end up paying for it later . Many people trailer sail 23s they are great boats .Personally I would have a slip or spot to leave it on the trailer and then take occasional long weekend trips. Much depends on the traffic at the launch ramp . One of our local lakes gets pretty hairy on weekend . People who will go out of their way to help you on the water will do all sorts of vile things at the ramp, ymmv good luck , Mike
I do not leave my motor and rudder attached . I usually count on about an hour to set up and launch . I only do this one time a year so I guess if a person did it a lot they would get quicker. I just take my time , it seems like when I rush ,things get missed and I end up paying for it later . Many people trailer sail 23s they are great boats .Personally I would have a slip or spot to leave it on the trailer and then take occasional long weekend trips. Much depends on the traffic at the launch ramp . One of our local lakes gets pretty hairy on weekend . People who will go out of their way to help you on the water will do all sorts of vile things at the ramp, ymmv good luck , Mike
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Rob Morton
Set up and Launch
It takes my wife and I about an hour to set up. We don't leave the motor or rudder on either. By the time we get the mast stepped and everything on, get it in the water and are ready to head out its right at an hour. One year there was no water here and we had to trailer sail and during that season we got it down to about 45 minutes. That was with a good routine and doing it about 3 times a month. We took ours for 10 days to another location for vacaction and I don't know it I would want to set it up just for a day of sailing although I'm sure some people do. There are some mast stepping ideas and equipment in the archives that may help. As for the boat we love ours. Hope this all helps. Rob Morton
It takes my wife and I about an hour to set up. We don't leave the motor or rudder on either. By the time we get the mast stepped and everything on, get it in the water and are ready to head out its right at an hour. One year there was no water here and we had to trailer sail and during that season we got it down to about 45 minutes. That was with a good routine and doing it about 3 times a month. We took ours for 10 days to another location for vacaction and I don't know it I would want to set it up just for a day of sailing although I'm sure some people do. There are some mast stepping ideas and equipment in the archives that may help. As for the boat we love ours. Hope this all helps. Rob Morton
Launch and Tow Vehicle
Paul, I've added some of the mast raising aids that are in the archives (The Peter Suah 'A'frame) and that really helped particularly if you rig the blocks ahead of time. With this and practice, you could get it down to just under an hour. Having a checlist handy helps. You need a fairly deep ramp to launch and I use a set of chains to lower the trailer. A trailer extention would help. All this said, This is not a boat you want to launch from scratch for an afternoon sail but rather for a weekend because of the effort. The advantage of this boat is the wing keel verses the newer water ballast or shoal keels ot there. For a boat this size, it's very stable. It's the perfect boat for me.. Good Luck, Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Paul, I've added some of the mast raising aids that are in the archives (The Peter Suah 'A'frame) and that really helped particularly if you rig the blocks ahead of time. With this and practice, you could get it down to just under an hour. Having a checlist handy helps. You need a fairly deep ramp to launch and I use a set of chains to lower the trailer. A trailer extention would help. All this said, This is not a boat you want to launch from scratch for an afternoon sail but rather for a weekend because of the effort. The advantage of this boat is the wing keel verses the newer water ballast or shoal keels ot there. For a boat this size, it's very stable. It's the perfect boat for me.. Good Luck, Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Tow vehicle
Paul, Sorry, I was going to mention the tow vehicle: I use a Ford Explorer. I have towed up to 190 miles each way and it has the power to handle the tow requirements. The weak item are the brakes. I don't tow any faster than 60MPH and mostly at 55. You need to be very conservative in stop distances. A larger truck would certainly do better but the trade off is how much do you use it to tow verses the poor gas consumption. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
Paul, Sorry, I was going to mention the tow vehicle: I use a Ford Explorer. I have towed up to 190 miles each way and it has the power to handle the tow requirements. The weak item are the brakes. I don't tow any faster than 60MPH and mostly at 55. You need to be very conservative in stop distances. A larger truck would certainly do better but the trade off is how much do you use it to tow verses the poor gas consumption. /Chuck S/V Windsongs H23
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Dave Noack
Set-Up Time
An hour is about what we average on set-up. I have installed a tripod which allows me to step the mast myself if need be, but whether one or two it still seems to take about an hour. I have set up just to sail an afternoon, its no big deal. As for trailering I have an F250 and have trailered the boat as far as 400 miles (through a blizzard over Eisenhower pass no less)with no problems but, as Chuck said, I keep it down to 55 or 60mph( "A patient sailor always has fair winds"). They are great little boats, and after a great day of sailing, you have your own private "Cabin on the Lake" right there. Dave N. h23 "Wind Dreamer"
An hour is about what we average on set-up. I have installed a tripod which allows me to step the mast myself if need be, but whether one or two it still seems to take about an hour. I have set up just to sail an afternoon, its no big deal. As for trailering I have an F250 and have trailered the boat as far as 400 miles (through a blizzard over Eisenhower pass no less)with no problems but, as Chuck said, I keep it down to 55 or 60mph( "A patient sailor always has fair winds"). They are great little boats, and after a great day of sailing, you have your own private "Cabin on the Lake" right there. Dave N. h23 "Wind Dreamer"
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mike
dock for me
I used to trailer sail a Siren 17. I agree with the desire to see different lakes but getting there, waiting at the dock, stepping and unstepping. It became a pain even with the 17 footer. After joining a club and getting a dock I moved up to the H23. I love the dock and I love the boat. We use it so much more for daysails and weekday evenings. Yes it is possible to trailer and daysail an H23. Check the archives or owners list for Ward N. in Iowa. He trailer sailed a 23 for years and has the stepping down pat. But he's also moved up to a bigger boat and a dock. For me, trailering a 23 is possible but would quickly get old. My 2 cents? Dock the H23 and buy a laser for those other lakes!
I used to trailer sail a Siren 17. I agree with the desire to see different lakes but getting there, waiting at the dock, stepping and unstepping. It became a pain even with the 17 footer. After joining a club and getting a dock I moved up to the H23. I love the dock and I love the boat. We use it so much more for daysails and weekday evenings. Yes it is possible to trailer and daysail an H23. Check the archives or owners list for Ward N. in Iowa. He trailer sailed a 23 for years and has the stepping down pat. But he's also moved up to a bigger boat and a dock. For me, trailering a 23 is possible but would quickly get old. My 2 cents? Dock the H23 and buy a laser for those other lakes!
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Ben
About an hour....
Setting up the 23 is not at all difficult. My pregnant wife and I did it ourselves in about an hour (the first time). However, it's something I would only want to do a couple of times a season, not every weekend. As has been mentioned, I have found the biggest problem to be getting the boat on and off the trailer. Stepping the mast is easy compared to this.
Setting up the 23 is not at all difficult. My pregnant wife and I did it ourselves in about an hour (the first time). However, it's something I would only want to do a couple of times a season, not every weekend. As has been mentioned, I have found the biggest problem to be getting the boat on and off the trailer. Stepping the mast is easy compared to this.
A little over an hour
I think it's a pain, but then again I used to keep the boat in a slip and never had to do it very often. Peter H23 "Raven"
I think it's a pain, but then again I used to keep the boat in a slip and never had to do it very often. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Bob Zanowicz
An hour is a good estimate
The Hunter 23 WK is great boat and with many wonderful characteristics but trailerability is not one of them. The mast is unusually heavy for a boat its size and the wing keel with the stock trailer does not make for easy launching/retrieval. Many owners have fabricated modifications to make stepping and launching easier so you might want to check the archives. In short, if you are motivated and have an able and willing crew to help you with an occasional trailering you might be OK. Otherwise consider a seasonal boat slip. good luck Bob
The Hunter 23 WK is great boat and with many wonderful characteristics but trailerability is not one of them. The mast is unusually heavy for a boat its size and the wing keel with the stock trailer does not make for easy launching/retrieval. Many owners have fabricated modifications to make stepping and launching easier so you might want to check the archives. In short, if you are motivated and have an able and willing crew to help you with an occasional trailering you might be OK. Otherwise consider a seasonal boat slip. good luck Bob
Buoy or Slip
Set up and take down are roughly an hour each way. Plenty of options posted on the net for mast raising/lowering systems, find one, you will need it. I'd give serious thought to finding a slip or a buoy you can rent for the season. The setup/tear down time is significant enough that it rules out afternoon or evening sails after dinner. Setting her up or taking her down isn't easy alone, and it will take longer. That cuts down on those single handed trips you might make when the crew wants to go shopping or to the beach instead of sharing your passion. You will get out sailing much more often if you keep her on the water and you will still be able to trailer her to exotic destinations a couple of times a summer if you like.
Set up and take down are roughly an hour each way. Plenty of options posted on the net for mast raising/lowering systems, find one, you will need it. I'd give serious thought to finding a slip or a buoy you can rent for the season. The setup/tear down time is significant enough that it rules out afternoon or evening sails after dinner. Setting her up or taking her down isn't easy alone, and it will take longer. That cuts down on those single handed trips you might make when the crew wants to go shopping or to the beach instead of sharing your passion. You will get out sailing much more often if you keep her on the water and you will still be able to trailer her to exotic destinations a couple of times a summer if you like.
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