I'm looking to purchase a daysailor and have come down to these two boats has anyone owned both or has anyone experience sailing both to give me an unbiased opinion on the the best features of both. I do have some concerns about windspeeds above 15 and handling and tipping hunter 170 vs catalina 16.5 thanks paul
hunter 170 vs catalina 16.5
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H170 is "tender", and great fun
While I sail a 146, it is very similar in handling characteristics to the 170. Search these forums and archives - you will see plenty on the 170, as well as look at the Owner Reviews section. These small centerboard boats ARE tender. As Waffle so abruptly suggests, if you are concerned about heeling and tipping, maybe you should look at a bigger, more stable keel boat. 18' and below, centerboard boats will tip over. Eventually. After 1 year of sailing my 146, I finally got dunked just 3 days ago. The ACP Hunters are a blast - lots of fun, very very simple to rig and maintain. All you do is sail them! They move in virtually no wind. Hunter support is very good, though their manual kinda stinks. I will caution you to the one negative, though it is easily remedied. They are prone to turtling when they do get knocked down. You can add a float to the top (like on a catamaran), or you can inject foam into the mast. This will eliminate the turtling. If you want a fun, tremendously responsive boat that is extremely carefree, keeps you dry when under sail (until you tip), moves well in light winds, and is super easy to rig/derig, you won't be disappointed. Sail each first, if you can. If NE means New England - that might be tough to do right now! Good luck!
While I sail a 146, it is very similar in handling characteristics to the 170. Search these forums and archives - you will see plenty on the 170, as well as look at the Owner Reviews section. These small centerboard boats ARE tender. As Waffle so abruptly suggests, if you are concerned about heeling and tipping, maybe you should look at a bigger, more stable keel boat. 18' and below, centerboard boats will tip over. Eventually. After 1 year of sailing my 146, I finally got dunked just 3 days ago. The ACP Hunters are a blast - lots of fun, very very simple to rig and maintain. All you do is sail them! They move in virtually no wind. Hunter support is very good, though their manual kinda stinks. I will caution you to the one negative, though it is easily remedied. They are prone to turtling when they do get knocked down. You can add a float to the top (like on a catamaran), or you can inject foam into the mast. This will eliminate the turtling. If you want a fun, tremendously responsive boat that is extremely carefree, keeps you dry when under sail (until you tip), moves well in light winds, and is super easy to rig/derig, you won't be disappointed. Sail each first, if you can. If NE means New England - that might be tough to do right now! Good luck!
Keelboat daysailor
You can get a daysailor with a ballasted keel. I'm not familiar with all the models out there, but I did own an International Tempest 22. Fast and sailed like a dream. It was so balanced that I could just let go of the tiller and walk to the bow and it would hold it's course. (Scary when I think about falling over.) It had a 500# ballasted daggerboard, that you raised and lowered witha screw jack. (People who race them permanently fix and fair them in the down position and use a lifting harness to get them on and off the trailer.)
You can get a daysailor with a ballasted keel. I'm not familiar with all the models out there, but I did own an International Tempest 22. Fast and sailed like a dream. It was so balanced that I could just let go of the tiller and walk to the bow and it would hold it's course. (Scary when I think about falling over.) It had a 500# ballasted daggerboard, that you raised and lowered witha screw jack. (People who race them permanently fix and fair them in the down position and use a lifting harness to get them on and off the trailer.)
If you are looking at new boats ...
Look at the Precision 185. I thought it looked like a great little boat for the money.
Look at the Precision 185. I thought it looked like a great little boat for the money.
Tippy can be part of the fun
I love my 170! I was a little leary at first when I heard about its reputation for being "tippy" (after I bought the boat!), but have found it to be great fun to sail and the open cockpit is great. I am still (cautiously) exploring the limits of my boat, but have not felt at all unsafe. I do have a float on top of the mast, to avoid turtling. When I have done practice capsizes, the boat is a piece of cake to right. I have taken out several friends who were very nervous about the boat heeling. This provided a great opportunity for me to work on sailing the boat flat even when the wind picked up. I have saved exploring the limits of heel to when I have a couple of thrill seekers on board. I have never sailed the Catalina, so can't comment. I have seen them at the boat shows and they are (almost) as pretty as the 170.
I love my 170! I was a little leary at first when I heard about its reputation for being "tippy" (after I bought the boat!), but have found it to be great fun to sail and the open cockpit is great. I am still (cautiously) exploring the limits of my boat, but have not felt at all unsafe. I do have a float on top of the mast, to avoid turtling. When I have done practice capsizes, the boat is a piece of cake to right. I have taken out several friends who were very nervous about the boat heeling. This provided a great opportunity for me to work on sailing the boat flat even when the wind picked up. I have saved exploring the limits of heel to when I have a couple of thrill seekers on board. I have never sailed the Catalina, so can't comment. I have seen them at the boat shows and they are (almost) as pretty as the 170.
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