Hunter 146 Lee Helm

[patnev]

I recently purchased a 146 to have a small sailboat for the beach. I've had several much larger keel boats over the years but am now satisfied with a brief day sail. Hence the smaller boat.

I was surprised to notice a fairly significant lee helm on this boat, which of course I do not like at all. Given the fixed length headstay (defined by the furling jib)and no backstay, I can't rake the mast. Anyone else have this problem with a 146? Any ideas on how to get the center of effort on the sails far enough aft to get a slight weather helm. (In this light of a boat I guess one way is for me to compensate by sitting much further, moving the CLR forward rather than the CE backward. But, I tend to singlehand and like the feel of the tiller rather than the tiller extension. I can't hardly reach the tiller unless I sit right in the stern.)

Any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Rick S.]

Lee helm

I sail a 170 but since no 140 owners have responded I'll give it a shot. Most of the concerns I've seen on this forum, particularly about the 170, are about weather helm and how to get the boat to point higher. This is the first mention I've heard about lee helm.

Did you buy your 140 new or used? If used, are you sure that the rigging setup is original, including the pigtail between the mast and the jib forestay? When you set up the boat, does the mast have any visible rake? Are the shroud adjusters stock? Do you have an owner's manual?

Can you describe the conditions when the lee helm is worst -- point of sail, wind speed, amount of heeling, etc.? Is there any sailing condition under which the helm is neutral? Does having a second person aboard make any difference?

Rick

 

[Tereza]

My 146 bdoes not have lee helm

Hi...I have not encountered this either. Though the winds are so shifty on my lake, that if I DO see odd behavior, I attribute to the crummy wind conditions.
Give Hunter a call - they are always very helpful.

The only rigging adjustment you have is the tension on the side stays. Maybe they have stretched...

One change I have wanted to make but have not yet done is to make the gooseneck adjustable - so it slides up and donw the mast. I want to be able to bring the main a little bit further down, since when I single hand I am not enough ballast, and the boat is real tippy.

Post back here and tell us what you learn!!

 

[patnev]

Rick S. and Tereza, thanks for the responses. Here's answers to your comments. Hopefully they will spawn other ideas:
- the boat is new
- the rigging is correct and yes there is the pigtail on the forestay
- there is only a very slight visible rake
- shroud adjusters are stock and I doubt the shrouds have stretched, the tension on the shrouds and forestay are high enough and balanced from my past experience
- lee helm was noticed on a beam reach. I still have to test on other points of sail. Winds were light (7-10). Heel was minimal. One person on the boat and sitting at the stern. (This could be an issue - sitting further forward should mov the CLR forward having the same affect as moving the CE back. I haven't tested that theory yet.)
- As Tereza pointed out, this small vessel is very sensitive to moveable ballast. But I think all light displacement boats are. Rick, is that true for the 170. (On the 146 you better be sitting on the windward side in nearly any breeze at all or capsize is a real possibility.)
- an adjustable gooseneck is an interesting idea, Tereza. But, for the condition I describe I think it would give more of a lee helm.
- My next move is to test other points of sail and move myself further forward.
Regards,
Pat

 

[david]

170 and weather helm

Like Rick S. I have a 170 (same as 146, just longer) too and one of my few complaints is too much weather helm - in 15+ knot winds, it takes quite an effort to keep the boat from heading up. But I guess it is better than lee helm which could get you in trouble. I did tighten my shrouds, but noticed little difference (except that the jib now unfurls completely, unlike before). Hope you enjoy your 146.