Hunter 23.5 Sailing upwind 15knots+

[Chris Flanagan]

I have made a deposit on 1993 Hunter 23.5 and found most owners reviews generally positive. I'm moving up from GP14 dinghy and I am looking for a larger, more comfortable boat for a beginner and this looks like a good choice. My wife and I eventually want to do some overnight sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. However I came across an article on Practicalsailor.com reviewing this model that it had issues with sailing upwind in gusty winds, that consistently rounded up and stalled in winds exceeding 15knots. I'm looking for feedback from Hunter 23.5 owners and their experiences before I sign on the dotted line so to speak. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Tally Ho]

I can't comment on the H23.5, but my H280 and my O'Day 322 will round up if I am carrying too much sail (particularly my big Genoa on the O'Day 322) in high winds.

I think it is primarily a function of adjusting the sails (reefing, etc.) to match the wind conditions. The characteristics of different boats may vary, but most boats will round up if over powered.

And ALL sailboats will stall when pointed up wind.

So, reef early, keep the boat at a reasonable degree of heel, and all will be fine.

Good luck with your new purchase..

Greg

 

[pateco]

consistently rounded up and stalled in winds exceeding 15knots.

I cant give you specifics regarding this boat, but the quoted experience, can happen to any boat carrying too much sail. if its rounding up in 15 knots, reef the main, and furl or change the jib to a smaller size. Problem solved.

 

[Jackdaw]

New-sails would have helped that bash.

Apologies to Lou Reed. A baggy main will often overpower a boat going upwind, causing it to generate excess drag, heel, weather helm, and the eventual round up. Outhaul, halyard, backstay, cunningham on hard to make the main as flat as possible.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

I've been sailing my 1995 H23.5 on a 7x1 mile lake for 14 years now. As the others have said, you need to reduce sail. Being a fractional rig, the boat sails fine on a reefed main alone. If you get hit by a gust and start to round up, immediately let the main sheet out some to keep it upright and so you don't lose speed by rounding up.

 

[Chris Flanagan]

I've been sailing my 1995 H23.5 on a 7x1 mile lake for 14 years now. As the others have said, you need to reduce sail. Being a fractional rig, the boat sails fine on a reefed main alone. If you get hit by a gust and start to round up, immediately let the main sheet out some to keep it upright and so you don't lose speed by rounding up.

I've been sailing my 1995 H23.5 on a 7x1 mile lake for 14 years now. As the others have said, you need to reduce sail. Being a fractional rig, the boat sails fine on a reefed main alone. If you get hit by a gust and start to round up, immediately let the main sheet out some to keep it upright and so you don't lose speed by rounding up.

Thanks to you and the other for your helpful advice, the article I mentioned in Practical Sailor read like it had a serious flaw in the boats rigging and general design. I'm new to the sport and just wanted to hear it from Hunter 23.5 owner before I finalized the purchase. Thank you!

 

[Karyon]

We bought our 23.5 late last summer, had in some good gust earlier this spring, and I too thought wow this thing rounds up pretty quick, I reefed the main, let the main sheet out and she cruises along pretty nice, even with dropping your jib and go with main alone. We are happy that we bought ours.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Chris;
Years ago, Practical Sailor was invited to tour the Hunter plant along with other sailboat manufacturers; however, they refused. In fact, one year I had all the water ballast boats in the water to test sail to include every make and model which was a huge success as other dealers participated as well telling the good points only of each brand. Practical Sailor was invited and the response back to me, well we will leave that alone. Although in recent years articles are not as biased, I still have reserve about Practical Sailor even though there are now excellent articles frtom them.

As for your inquiry, good advice has been given about reduced sail either Jibing or wing to wing. Suggest strongly going to wing to wing, that you use a whisker pole only after you have learned how to sail the Hunter 23.5 very well.

 

[Daveinet]

A boat is going to round up as a result of being heeled over. If you keep the boat flat, you should not have problems with the boat boat rounding up. That is why the comments about reefing early. And yes, baggy old sails will make the problem worse. You need your forward motion to be more powerful than your heeling motion. Old sails make a boat much harder to control.

Since you have stated you are somewhat of a newbie, you may want to concentrate on reading the water. This will help you to sail the boat level and not be prone to rounding up. You have 1000 lbs of ballast, which is a lot for a boat that size. Even though water ballast is somewhat inefficient, the boat should be pretty stable. .