Hunter 23.5 - No mast, no ballast, no centerboard, no problem?

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Electricboater45

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Jul 1, 2020
15
Hunter 23.5 Boston
My goal is a displacement speed solar powered electric boat. The combination of displacement hull shape and availability and pricing on Craigslist means I am looking at used sailboats in the 20 to 24 range.

The Hunter 23.5 looks great as I could take off the mast, remove the centerboard and not fill the ballast tank and I would have a sleek and light hull.

Yes, I would expect it to be very unstable. I would expect to need to add outriggers, most likely hulls from a Hobie 18.

Other than the risk of violent and bloody death from offended sailors, is there any reason this wouldn't work?

Another thread mentioned beaching was a bad idea. If there was no centerboard would it still be a bad idea?

Any other hulls you think I should look at?
 
Dave Groshong

Dave Groshong

SBO Staff
Staff member
Jan 25, 2007
1,867
Catalina 22 Seattle
Sounds a little crazy, yes, but hey, I have seen a Lazer sailboat with no mast or centerboard or rudder, blazing thru the marina relying on the outboard for steering, maybe start with that prototype and work up to a bigger size.
 
Hunter216

Hunter216

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Sep 22, 2018
1,869
Hunter 216 Kingston
Interesting project.

I can understand removing the mast and rigging and not using the water ballast so let’s say 1200lbs lighter but still close to 2000lbs.

However your adding back weight of
solar so panels, wiring, batteries and drive on a hull designed for an outboard so not sure about your “light” comment.

I don’t get removing the centreboard as it’s not that heavy and would increase stability.

If you add outriggers you are adding weight and the issue of how you attach them to the boat hull.

Beaching any boat not designed for it can create problems, I don’t think the designer of that model of Hunter had “beaching” in mind. ;)

Have you considered using a pontoon boat as a platform?
 
rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,776
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Dave Groshong said:
Sounds a little crazy, yes, but hey, I have seen a Lazer sailboat with no mast or centerboard or rudder, blazing thru the marina relying on the outboard for steering, maybe start with that prototype and work up to a bigger size.
Click to expand
I saw a laser with a trolling motor on the Charleston CL just last week.
 
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Electricboater45

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Jul 1, 2020
15
Hunter 23.5 Boston
The H23.5 doesn't have a weighted centerboard?

A pontoon boat or catamaran was my first plan but my wife saw pictures of a sailboat cabin and fell in love.

Flexible solar panels and lithium batteries aren't terribly heavy.

Any idea what the weight of the mast, rigging and sails are?
 
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Electricboater45

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Jul 1, 2020
15
Hunter 23.5 Boston
Also this will be use almost exclusively in salt water, so aluminum pontoons isn't a great idea. There are good fiberglass and plastic ones, but used sailboats are way cheaper and commonly available.
 
Rick Macdonald

Rick Macdonald

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Jun 2, 2004
649
Hunter 23.5 Calgary, Canada
I sail my H23.5 on a lake that is 1x7 miles. The day I launched the boat this year a power boat in the marina hit my pulpit, damaging it. Since that's where the forestay attaches, I took the mast off and motored around the lake without it for 2 months.

I couldn't believe how it bobbed and rocked like a cork without inertial stability of the mast (as light as it is). Even with the centerboard down and the ballast tank full I couldn't anchor anywhere exposed to even the slightest wake from other boats or my wife and I would both feel nauseous. I don't know if you'd be anchoring at all, but even motoring was uncomfortable. I have no idea how much outriggers will help.
 
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Rick Macdonald

Rick Macdonald

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Jun 2, 2004
649
Hunter 23.5 Calgary, Canada
I wasn't sure if comfort is an issue for you, but now you've mentioned your wife so maybe it is!
 
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Electricboater45

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Jul 1, 2020
15
Hunter 23.5 Boston
Absolutely! All the reading I've done suggests that catamarans and trimarans don't use ballast and only have boards and keels to resist sideways forces.

I believe I will be able to run aluminum tubing or wood beams over or through the hull to hold the outriggers. It's been done successfully before.
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,788
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
There was a guy on the North Fork of LI who did this. I don't remember what hull he used. He build a super structure for the cockpit and some of the hull and put solar panels on there. He could go 5-6 mph. I never heard him complain about excess motion. He had a solar energy company - Go Solar. I don't know if he is still around.
 
Jim Hawkins

Jim Hawkins

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Jan 10, 2016
127
Islander Wayfarer 37 Sloop Key West
I'm in!

I've contemplated the same thing. The hull I would look for is a shallow draft, 3' to 3'6" full keel. Not easy to find but there out there. I would build it along the lines of a European canal boat.
1603401774282.png
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,788
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
You can charter them in the Erie Canal in NYS. The problem is, and I told the operators this, is that they are round trip. So you can only go so far and then come back the same way. Same towns. Same scenery. They should be a drop and re-locate model. Maybe some people would go West and others East. Oh well. After Covid I hope they're still in business.
 
isaksp00

isaksp00

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Apr 27, 2010
1,279
Hunter 23 Lake Wallenpaupack
I have chartered one of those canal boats in the UK. I'd never take one anywhere near waves much more than about 2 inches.
 
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