Hunter 22 Center Board

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Earl Bishop

I need to know how the center board works before my first sail. I have a diagrahm which show the keel is retracted with a line through the table structure. Does the center board fall on its own when released from the jam cleat?If so is it shear weight. If so how much weight? How does it stay down in position. My last sailboat (MacGregor 25) required a pin in place once the center board was down.
 
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Dan

Centerboard

The Centerboard will fall on its own. Do not just let the line go or it will hit the front of the centerboard trunk pretty hard. As long as the purchase is set up correctly inside the table with the block mounted to a padeye in the upper rear corner and another block with a dead end attached to the centerboard cable it will be easy to lift the board. I just removed my centerboard and its total weight is somewhere around 100 lbs I think. It does not have anything to hold it down nor does it need any. I would recommend you try lowering the board and raising it again at th dock to make sure it works properly and to be comfortable with its operation. When I bought my 22 and pulled it out of the water I found that the centerboard had been installed backwards and the line to raise it was not set up correctly. Good luck and have fun. The 22 is great sailing.
 
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Dan

rail in the water

I have tried to get the rail in the water but the boat will not hold that angle while sailing. I do get it pretty close. I guess normal heel for me was about 30 degrees. I sailed it once for 30 miles in 20-25 knt winds with 5ft seas on Lake Ponchatrain in Louisiana. Even with the hatches closed everything inside the cabin was soaked. The boat handled it well although I had to heave to twice for rest, and my headsail was ripped to shreds by the time I got home(it was an old sail). It is not very often that I am uncomfortable on a boat. I used to crew on race boats of all sizes in all kinds of weather. I hope this answers your questions.
 
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Jack

Heeling

It makes no sense to heel 30 degrees for extended periods of time, much less keeping your rail in the water. First, that is an indication that you have too much sail up and should be reefed. Second it puts undue stress on your rigging and sails. Thirdly it just slows you down. Fourth it is uncomforatble and tires you out. Most boats regardless of make should not heel more than 15 degrees. After that the rudder serves as a brake. Granted it is fun for awhile but the reality is that there is little value in excessive heeling.
 
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Dan

Oops typo

There was not supposed to be a plus after the 30. In a good wind I am normally between 20 and 30 degrees of heel depending on crew weight and location. I would be interested to know how you keep your Hunter 22 under 15 degrees of heel in a good wind without sails flogging though. I was never able to do that although I have tried to hang off the side as far as safely possible. My fastest speed was 5.8 knts on the GPS held for about an hour at 20-25 degrees heel. Winds were 15-20 and I was towing a dingy.
 
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David

Thanks....that's the problem

is that we can't really keep her at 15 or under once we get any wind. She seems to get over there pretty quickly and I find my self reducing sail like a fiend. Yep, tried soloing in 15 winds with just the head sail last week. That didn't work too well. In light wind I can do that, on this day I couldn't head up at all. Thanks for the advice, now if my wife will just believe we aren't going over!
 
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