I sailed my brand new 2003 H260 for the first time. the lake had a few white caps so i was not to worried. however, thier were quite a few wind gust throughout my 2 hour sail.A few times the boat heeled to about 20 degrees. a little spookie for my first time with this particular boat. the gunals never hit the water. my question is how much heel is to much heel for this boat. Its not like you can stand on the keel and right the boat once it rolls over.
HOW MUCH HEEL
- Thread starter cathlab
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don't worry
20 degrees is a piece of cake. About 17 is the max optimum heel for that boat, more than that and you aren't gaining any speed on a tight haul. A 260 will head up when overpowered, so thats a kind of a safety valve. You will get used to the boats charactaristics, It's a little touchy at first. One important note is knowing when to reef. Be prepared to reef at wind speeds of 20-25. The boat will be faster reefed than fighting alot of heel. I sail mine in the Colorado mountains and the wind can be very unpredictable and sudden here. I've had mine to over 50 degrees in a few sudden gusts. The boat will handle it just fine, much better than your guests or spouse. It's a little strange to see the dog walking on the walls of the cabin. Good luck and enjoy your new boat.
20 degrees is a piece of cake. About 17 is the max optimum heel for that boat, more than that and you aren't gaining any speed on a tight haul. A 260 will head up when overpowered, so thats a kind of a safety valve. You will get used to the boats charactaristics, It's a little touchy at first. One important note is knowing when to reef. Be prepared to reef at wind speeds of 20-25. The boat will be faster reefed than fighting alot of heel. I sail mine in the Colorado mountains and the wind can be very unpredictable and sudden here. I've had mine to over 50 degrees in a few sudden gusts. The boat will handle it just fine, much better than your guests or spouse. It's a little strange to see the dog walking on the walls of the cabin. Good luck and enjoy your new boat.
30 degrees
I have been sailing my H260 for 2.5 years on Kerr Lake. I agree with Ruedi, except I start reducing sail usually by furling some jib in over 15 and reefing the main about 20. The H260 will hold a 30 degree heel and keep sailing but rounds up much beyond that. Over 20 degrees and you are not sailing any faster. The groove is about 15 degrees.
I have been sailing my H260 for 2.5 years on Kerr Lake. I agree with Ruedi, except I start reducing sail usually by furling some jib in over 15 and reefing the main about 20. The H260 will hold a 30 degree heel and keep sailing but rounds up much beyond that. Over 20 degrees and you are not sailing any faster. The groove is about 15 degrees.
15-20 knots
I find myself reefing when the wind gets into the 15-20 knot range. As far as the boat going over, not likely w/o wind and significant waves. The previous owner of my h26 took it out on a lake in high winds to see if he could knock it flat. Said no matter how hard they tried it just kept rounding up and popping back up long before the mast got anywhere near horizontal. (professional sailor on closed course, do not try at home) Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
I find myself reefing when the wind gets into the 15-20 knot range. As far as the boat going over, not likely w/o wind and significant waves. The previous owner of my h26 took it out on a lake in high winds to see if he could knock it flat. Said no matter how hard they tried it just kept rounding up and popping back up long before the mast got anywhere near horizontal. (professional sailor on closed course, do not try at home) Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
You will not have to worry
about standing on the keel to get her up again. She will do it alone. We have had our 260 with waves coming over the side of the cockpit, the rail well and truly in the water. In fact looking out through the windows of the cabin into the water is rather interesting. But we did this only once just to check her out. The fact remains sail flat and sail fast!
about standing on the keel to get her up again. She will do it alone. We have had our 260 with waves coming over the side of the cockpit, the rail well and truly in the water. In fact looking out through the windows of the cabin into the water is rather interesting. But we did this only once just to check her out. The fact remains sail flat and sail fast!
Tipping over is not really a concern
There is really no way that I can see for the boat to tip over from wind. The only way that I can see it tipping over is with substantially large breaking waves (not white caps). This past weekend I was sailing close hauled through the Straits of Mackinac with waves 3 to 5 feet coming from multiple directions resulting is a big steep confused chop that launched the forward half of the boat completely out of the water a few times times while doing only 3 knots. There were plenty of white caps. The wind was blowing quite hard at times but with a reefed main all I had to do was luff up a little in the hardest gusts so that I was a little under trimmed. This kept the boat at an angle of heal that was acceptable to the passengers. On the H26 and my previous boat (a C22) the only way to get the boat to really lay flat was to take it out in strong winds and under trim the main so that the push on the jib compensated for the fact that the rudder was no longer able to keep the boat from automatically rounding up. This requires a bit of practice to get right. As the boat heels 2 things happen. The first is that the sails present less area to the wind since they are now laying more to the side. This reduces the pressure on the sails. The second is that the rudder starts to lose it's effectiveness. At a certain point of heel it will stall and the boat will round up into the wind. As I mentioned above the only way to hold it at that angle of heel or greater is to steer with the sails by letting out the main. As mentioned by others above, the boat does not sail as fast at large angles of heel but it is certainly capable of handling them.
There is really no way that I can see for the boat to tip over from wind. The only way that I can see it tipping over is with substantially large breaking waves (not white caps). This past weekend I was sailing close hauled through the Straits of Mackinac with waves 3 to 5 feet coming from multiple directions resulting is a big steep confused chop that launched the forward half of the boat completely out of the water a few times times while doing only 3 knots. There were plenty of white caps. The wind was blowing quite hard at times but with a reefed main all I had to do was luff up a little in the hardest gusts so that I was a little under trimmed. This kept the boat at an angle of heal that was acceptable to the passengers. On the H26 and my previous boat (a C22) the only way to get the boat to really lay flat was to take it out in strong winds and under trim the main so that the push on the jib compensated for the fact that the rudder was no longer able to keep the boat from automatically rounding up. This requires a bit of practice to get right. As the boat heels 2 things happen. The first is that the sails present less area to the wind since they are now laying more to the side. This reduces the pressure on the sails. The second is that the rudder starts to lose it's effectiveness. At a certain point of heel it will stall and the boat will round up into the wind. As I mentioned above the only way to hold it at that angle of heel or greater is to steer with the sails by letting out the main. As mentioned by others above, the boat does not sail as fast at large angles of heel but it is certainly capable of handling them.
On getting knocked down.
What the rest said but I usually find myself reefing the main around 12 knots when beating windward. A puff strong enough to get push the boat over will generally cause it to round up because the small headsail gets overpowered by the main (which wants to head the boat up) and the stalling rudder. The boat can get knocked down under certain conditions such as heading the boat into the wind rapidly with a gust ( a no-no) instead of easing the mainsheet. My main is 10 years old and my rig is on the loose side so that could be why I reef ealier than the others. I generally prefer to reef the main first as the sail plan (jib driving the boat leeward, main driving it windward) is more balanced. In general I enjoy driving that puppy like a sunfish with the rail in the water for the fun of it with willing crew. It is a bit tender but lots of fun. The rudder system is a weak spot. My boat is the similar but older h26. alan
What the rest said but I usually find myself reefing the main around 12 knots when beating windward. A puff strong enough to get push the boat over will generally cause it to round up because the small headsail gets overpowered by the main (which wants to head the boat up) and the stalling rudder. The boat can get knocked down under certain conditions such as heading the boat into the wind rapidly with a gust ( a no-no) instead of easing the mainsheet. My main is 10 years old and my rig is on the loose side so that could be why I reef ealier than the others. I generally prefer to reef the main first as the sail plan (jib driving the boat leeward, main driving it windward) is more balanced. In general I enjoy driving that puppy like a sunfish with the rail in the water for the fun of it with willing crew. It is a bit tender but lots of fun. The rudder system is a weak spot. My boat is the similar but older h26. alan
Don't worry
I have tried to broach my H260 many times, some intentially, and just cannot do it. Depending on the tuneing of the standing rigging, 15 to 20 deg. is the 'sweet spot'. My is about 18 deg. It also rounds up around 22 deg. unless you fight it. I have had mine at 28 deg. before and moved slower then at 18 deg. I have heard of new H260 rounding up as early as 15 deg., but my dealer says that is because it was not tunned right. My spouse is use to 18 deg finally and was my main concern last season was her comfort level. The knuckles turn white long before you turtle.
I have tried to broach my H260 many times, some intentially, and just cannot do it. Depending on the tuneing of the standing rigging, 15 to 20 deg. is the 'sweet spot'. My is about 18 deg. It also rounds up around 22 deg. unless you fight it. I have had mine at 28 deg. before and moved slower then at 18 deg. I have heard of new H260 rounding up as early as 15 deg., but my dealer says that is because it was not tunned right. My spouse is use to 18 deg finally and was my main concern last season was her comfort level. The knuckles turn white long before you turtle.
heeling is fun
Although extreme heeling is fun, it may not be the fastest sailing. Generally you dont need to worry about rolling the boat. As the rudder comes out of the water when heeling, the boat will "headup" into the wind and will knock you flat again. I've seen the wind go from 3mph to 55mph in seconds. The boats in front of me had their masts hit the water, but they bounced back up as they headed up.
Although extreme heeling is fun, it may not be the fastest sailing. Generally you dont need to worry about rolling the boat. As the rudder comes out of the water when heeling, the boat will "headup" into the wind and will knock you flat again. I've seen the wind go from 3mph to 55mph in seconds. The boats in front of me had their masts hit the water, but they bounced back up as they headed up.
45 degrees
Once while sailing home on a particularly windy day under reefed jib only I twice hit 45 degrees of heel. My wife, now more used to these things, did not jump off or kill me. Not a nice way to sail but shows what the limits are. The wind was 30+ mph and we made it home safely. My dock mates, some of whom were also out, wondered why we sailed home. With the wind coming in on the starbard side it would have rolled our motor out of the water. Besides I prefer to sail in heavy air to sail. Feels safer. ct
Once while sailing home on a particularly windy day under reefed jib only I twice hit 45 degrees of heel. My wife, now more used to these things, did not jump off or kill me. Not a nice way to sail but shows what the limits are. The wind was 30+ mph and we made it home safely. My dock mates, some of whom were also out, wondered why we sailed home. With the wind coming in on the starbard side it would have rolled our motor out of the water. Besides I prefer to sail in heavy air to sail. Feels safer. ct
Ataraxis
Ataraxis, I have to assume your talking about Ron at marina up there. I'm over in Cedar Rapids and pulled my (new to me) 26 over to have them tune the mast for the first time. The previous owner had it all out of wack. I can't say anything but good things about them. Even took her our out for a sail and I have to say that I really like Red Rock. It's a nice lake. Jason
Ataraxis, I have to assume your talking about Ron at marina up there. I'm over in Cedar Rapids and pulled my (new to me) 26 over to have them tune the mast for the first time. The previous owner had it all out of wack. I can't say anything but good things about them. Even took her our out for a sail and I have to say that I really like Red Rock. It's a nice lake. Jason
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