Hunter 212?

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

Danny Paul

Need advice. I'm very much interested in buying a sailboat for great lakes shore sailing/overnight cruising. I have never sailed before but will attend a school this month. Any opinions about the Hunter 212's suitability on the great lakes? I know it is unballasted, could this be a problem? I understand any boat's capabilities are directly related to the handlers skills, weather and such, but would this boat give me enough capability to enjoy those four months of good sailing weather? I want to stay with a manageable trailerable boat. Thanks!
 
K

Ken Koons

Unballasted

Being relatively new to sailing myself (3 years on a 16' Daysailer and coming up on my 2nd season with a Hunter 240) I think I'd definitely want a ballasted boat for the Great Lakes. I was turtled once when singlehanding the 16' Daysailer and didn't enjoy it at all. That was on a small reservoir with help getting to me within 5 minutes. I'd hate to think what would have happened if I'd screwed up far from shore. Even with 1300 lbs of water ballast the 240 heels fairly dramatically in strong breezes.
 
R

Ray Bowles

Dan, I'm not sure what you mean by ballasted,

but it must have weight somewhere. You might have meant that it's not water ballasted? We have a 95 H26 that tows very well behind a Ford pick-up. The 212 should be a wonderful boat for day sailing up to a point. After lessons, and with the help of a fellow sailer if possible, you might find that wind to 10k is a "good point". 1 month later you'll find 15k is a "good point". Sail within your comfort zone and your 212 will be a fantastic boat. Subscribe to every sail mag you afford. Get books from the library. After 1 to 1 1/2 years I doubt there will be many winds that will chase you off the lake. Ray S/V Speedy
 
E

Edward Smith

Move up to Hunter 22 or Down to a 20.

I sail a 170 and it is daysailer but I wouldn't sail great lakes with less that the 22 with its' water ballast. Look closely and wisely. You can still get pretty close in. The 20 is also ballasted. Why the 212 isn't I couldn't guess. The 20 Is 15 inch draft, board up as opposed to 10 inches, board up. The 22 isn't quite that good. Hey, I think there is a chance there. Fair winds.
 
M

Mark

Ballasted....kinda

Ballast around the centerboard trunk casing is 250lb.s. The centerboard is 150lb.s of fiberglass encased lead. So 400 lb.s of the total 1800 lb.s could be considered ballast. Don't know much about conditions on the Great Lakes, but mine tends to handle Lake Washington and Puget Sound day sailing conditions fairly well. I haven't been out in anything much over 15 knots, but I'm happy so far. Weather Helm kicks in before I even get close to broaching and the roller furling and quick reefing makes it easy to get conservative quick. When looking at new boats, I chose the 212 over the 240 or 170 because of the quicker/easier setup over the 240 (mine lives on a trailer,) and I wanted a usable cabin which the 170 didn't have. I'm not ever planning to do much overnighting on her, but it's good place to get out of the weather. It's the largest boat made with plastic rather than fiberglass (a lot stronger = low maintenance) and there's not a lick of wood on her (even lower maintenance) and not much bright work. The rigging is a bit un traditional (no backstay, swept shrouds,) but that can be said about the newer Hunters in general. The biggest complaint I hear from other 212 owners is the companionway hatch cover...it's kinda flimsy and unlockable. Any larger of a boat and I'd have to upgrade my towing rig and get used to a lot more setup and maintenance. Any smaller and I wouldn't be out on the Sound. The 212 seems to fit my current day sailing needs fine, BUT, don't let this endorsement fool you - I'd rather be on a 356!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom