I am currently looking to buy a Hunter 216 but my concern is with the hydraulic lift and the rudder. The bay where I sailed can be somewhat shallow which was not a problem because I sailed a O'Day Mariner which gave me a draft as little as 10". According to the Hunter manual the draft can be from 1' to 3'8", but can I release the keel to be anywhere in between? Also the rudder is not a kickup rudder so can it be easily pulled up in shallow water? Any overall opinion of the Hunter 216 would also be helpful? thanks.
Hunter 216 hydraulic lift and rudder
- Thread starter ggrusso
- Start date
- Status
I sail mine frequently in a shallow bay with no problem. The keel can be lowered to any depth desired and the rudder can be pulled up to any depth for shallow water. I generally drop the rudder and keel all the way...this way the keel grounds before the rudder protecting the rudder. If the keel grounds, I raise the rudder some, crank up the keel some, and sail away. If you know you are going to ground, raise the keel some, raise the rudder some and sail on. True, the rudder is not a kick up and is vulnerable but you should be OK as long as you always keep the keel deeper than the rudder. What you didn't know is that both the keel and rudder can be lowered partway.
- Status