I am looking at a 1997 Hunter 26 with swing keel, 6' draft, and water balast. Can anyone comment on the seaworthiness of this boat? For example, would this boat be able to comfortably make a passage from FL to the Virgin Islands? Perhaps there is additional info on this topic that someone could point me to. Thanks, Jack
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H26 Seaworthiness
The Hunter 26 is a class C vessel. This means it is suitable for inshore Voyages on coastal waters, large lakes, bays estuaries, or rivers, where wind force of up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale and significant wave heights of up to 2 meters may be experienced. There was a recent thread on this exact question. Go to these links: http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2006230234059.3&id=416859&ptl=#2006231033649.34 http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2006236092201.64&id=418189&ptl=#2006237071015.44
The Hunter 26 is a class C vessel. This means it is suitable for inshore Voyages on coastal waters, large lakes, bays estuaries, or rivers, where wind force of up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale and significant wave heights of up to 2 meters may be experienced. There was a recent thread on this exact question. Go to these links: http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2006230234059.3&id=416859&ptl=#2006231033649.34 http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2006236092201.64&id=418189&ptl=#2006237071015.44
Fla to Bimini
I remember hearing(on this forum I think) of a group of H26/260's and some Mac 26's that made the trip to Bimini from Ft. Laud. Fla. If I remember correctly they had a website. Try searching for them on google or yahoo, if they do have a site, they would be perfect to ask that same question Brad s/v Kivalo
I remember hearing(on this forum I think) of a group of H26/260's and some Mac 26's that made the trip to Bimini from Ft. Laud. Fla. If I remember correctly they had a website. Try searching for them on google or yahoo, if they do have a site, they would be perfect to ask that same question Brad s/v Kivalo
Rudder problems...
seem to be an issue if my memory is correct. The "jumps" from the Keys to Bahamas, from Turks and Caicos to Hispanola, from Hispanola to Puerto Rico are ALL not to be taken lightly for that size boat. Not really built for it. Could it be done in "perfect" conditions? Probably. Would I trust my life to "perfect" conditions existing...probably NOT.
seem to be an issue if my memory is correct. The "jumps" from the Keys to Bahamas, from Turks and Caicos to Hispanola, from Hispanola to Puerto Rico are ALL not to be taken lightly for that size boat. Not really built for it. Could it be done in "perfect" conditions? Probably. Would I trust my life to "perfect" conditions existing...probably NOT.
Bahamas
Have been done many times in 26/260 - you can motor across on a nice day. Virgins are another story altogether...I'd do some serious homework before choosing a boat....
Have been done many times in 26/260 - you can motor across on a nice day. Virgins are another story altogether...I'd do some serious homework before choosing a boat....
Virgin Islands not Bahamas!
Keep in mind that the question is about going to the Virgin Islands and not the Bahamas! From Miami to Charlotte Amalie, USVI, its over 1000 nautical miles and as Honeyman said, you will have to go to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico before you can get to St. Thomas which is the closet of the Virgins. The Hunter 26 is a great coastal boat but by no means an ocean going vessel.
Keep in mind that the question is about going to the Virgin Islands and not the Bahamas! From Miami to Charlotte Amalie, USVI, its over 1000 nautical miles and as Honeyman said, you will have to go to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico before you can get to St. Thomas which is the closet of the Virgins. The Hunter 26 is a great coastal boat but by no means an ocean going vessel.
open water????
I'm a lake sailor and only been on the blue water twice but in much larger floating tubs than my 240 which is a little sister to the 260. I have friends with 26 and 260 and I would not be caught in open wanter on either unless it was the perfect breeze on perfect blue/green carribean weather than you can only count on once in a blue moon. if you want to stay in that 26 range of a boat. Look at a Flicka. Great blue water boat for a small boat. Some folks do it with 25-26 keels but, well, ummmmmmmmmmm. What do I know, I'm just an inland lake sailor stuck on land most of the time.
I'm a lake sailor and only been on the blue water twice but in much larger floating tubs than my 240 which is a little sister to the 260. I have friends with 26 and 260 and I would not be caught in open wanter on either unless it was the perfect breeze on perfect blue/green carribean weather than you can only count on once in a blue moon. if you want to stay in that 26 range of a boat. Look at a Flicka. Great blue water boat for a small boat. Some folks do it with 25-26 keels but, well, ummmmmmmmmmm. What do I know, I'm just an inland lake sailor stuck on land most of the time.
your responses
thanks to all who posted their responses. I am aware of the limitations of this 26' boat, however I thought that the water ballast might make this boat a more seaworthy. I understood the owner explaining that some valves may be open to take on the ballast at any time or in rough seas, the boat would then become very stable. Also, hunter might offer some sort of a pump kit to pump this ballast water out when it is no longer needed. Does it really work this way, or am I missing something here? Jack
thanks to all who posted their responses. I am aware of the limitations of this 26' boat, however I thought that the water ballast might make this boat a more seaworthy. I understood the owner explaining that some valves may be open to take on the ballast at any time or in rough seas, the boat would then become very stable. Also, hunter might offer some sort of a pump kit to pump this ballast water out when it is no longer needed. Does it really work this way, or am I missing something here? Jack
or am I missing something here?
Yes you are Jack! Hi, the boat is only stable with a full ballast tank. It should never be sailed without it full. Half full is very unstable. Without any, it should not be sailed and motored only as much as neccesary and only when needed to reduce a few inches of draft. The company does not even reccomend that. The Mac is designed to be used at times without ballast HOWEVER it is not as stable and a few notorious accidents have happened. The newer Mac 26M has more fixed ballast built in to increase the safety factor. The 26 is a somewhat lightly built boat. Because of the nature of waterballast and high windage, it can become uncomfortable in rough conditions. I would not consider this an open water boat although as the more experienced skippers have said if you choose the conditions carefully then maybe. I would have a real life raft, signaling equipment (EPIRB) and survival gear appropriate for conditions. alan
Yes you are Jack! Hi, the boat is only stable with a full ballast tank. It should never be sailed without it full. Half full is very unstable. Without any, it should not be sailed and motored only as much as neccesary and only when needed to reduce a few inches of draft. The company does not even reccomend that. The Mac is designed to be used at times without ballast HOWEVER it is not as stable and a few notorious accidents have happened. The newer Mac 26M has more fixed ballast built in to increase the safety factor. The 26 is a somewhat lightly built boat. Because of the nature of waterballast and high windage, it can become uncomfortable in rough conditions. I would not consider this an open water boat although as the more experienced skippers have said if you choose the conditions carefully then maybe. I would have a real life raft, signaling equipment (EPIRB) and survival gear appropriate for conditions. alan
Always use water ballast
Jack, Basically, on a water ballast boat, if you are sailing at all, you should have the water ballast tank filled up. The water ballast isn't something to provide EXTRA stability only in rough weather. You need it filled up all the time whenever you are sailing. The intention is that you only drain it when you are ready to take the boat out of the water at the boat ramp. Or perhaps if you run aground, you could drain it to help you get unstuck. Then fill it back up again. The water ballast is a "substitute" for a weighted keel that allows for greater trailerability. A boat designed for ocean crossings will not have water ballast; it will have a big heavy (deep) lead or iron keel and be more stable than a water ballast boat. No matter what boat you have, start with very modest cruises and slowly work your way up to longer ones. Jeff
Jack, Basically, on a water ballast boat, if you are sailing at all, you should have the water ballast tank filled up. The water ballast isn't something to provide EXTRA stability only in rough weather. You need it filled up all the time whenever you are sailing. The intention is that you only drain it when you are ready to take the boat out of the water at the boat ramp. Or perhaps if you run aground, you could drain it to help you get unstuck. Then fill it back up again. The water ballast is a "substitute" for a weighted keel that allows for greater trailerability. A boat designed for ocean crossings will not have water ballast; it will have a big heavy (deep) lead or iron keel and be more stable than a water ballast boat. No matter what boat you have, start with very modest cruises and slowly work your way up to longer ones. Jeff
H26 Seaworthiness
There is recent discussion on this subject in the archives. You can't make a swan out of a duck no matter how much paint you apply. The H26 is a canoe without ballast!
There is recent discussion on this subject in the archives. You can't make a swan out of a duck no matter how much paint you apply. The H26 is a canoe without ballast!
H26 water ballast
Thanks for clearing up the water ballast issue. I was obviously confused in thinking that it provided EXTRA/secondary stability in the times of trouble. What confused me is that this boat is specified to have a 6' draft, so there must be some sort of iron swing keel hanging there in the first place which I thought provided primary stability. Thanks again to all for your responses, Jack
Thanks for clearing up the water ballast issue. I was obviously confused in thinking that it provided EXTRA/secondary stability in the times of trouble. What confused me is that this boat is specified to have a 6' draft, so there must be some sort of iron swing keel hanging there in the first place which I thought provided primary stability. Thanks again to all for your responses, Jack
Catalina 22s and others have the iorn swing...
...keel. The 26 has one made of fiberglass and I think a foam core. Overall it's a bit more dense than water but too little mass to add much at all to stability. Water ballast is taken on by empty cargo ships to increase stability but the key is that the compartment must be completely full. An example has been made with water frozen in the bottom of a cup (representing a filled ballast compartment) sitting in a full sink and a cup with liquid (representing a partly filled compartment) in the same. The Hunter 50 used water tanks with pumps to transfer ballast to the windward side for added stability. alan
...keel. The 26 has one made of fiberglass and I think a foam core. Overall it's a bit more dense than water but too little mass to add much at all to stability. Water ballast is taken on by empty cargo ships to increase stability but the key is that the compartment must be completely full. An example has been made with water frozen in the bottom of a cup (representing a filled ballast compartment) sitting in a full sink and a cup with liquid (representing a partly filled compartment) in the same. The Hunter 50 used water tanks with pumps to transfer ballast to the windward side for added stability. alan
Tippecanoe
but I like mine
Great coastal/lake boat. No way too far offshore. One look at the bottom contour will tell you that this boat with a canoe like bottom(or any other like it) will be great in the flatter shallow stuff but would be a wipeout too long/far offshore(and I own a 260). Jack, it sounds like a first boat for you. If so 1st, be careful of that guy selling you, 2nd start small and have some fun before trying to make a huge investment buying an offshore capable boat(with all it's demands) and only later discovering all you really want is to simply enjoy a cool afternoon/evening sailing with friends. A very wise 90y/o sailor with a million (nautical)miles under his belt told me that he always wanted his newer sailor friends to have 12 good days sailing before their first bad one(and it can get really,scary bad). Shoot for easy and fun first. Maybe Charter the BVI's and assess what Dallas can honestly accomidate for your more typical day. For that a 260 is great. For crossings, no way in my canoe. Aloha, Michael
but I like mineGreat coastal/lake boat. No way too far offshore. One look at the bottom contour will tell you that this boat with a canoe like bottom(or any other like it) will be great in the flatter shallow stuff but would be a wipeout too long/far offshore(and I own a 260). Jack, it sounds like a first boat for you. If so 1st, be careful of that guy selling you, 2nd start small and have some fun before trying to make a huge investment buying an offshore capable boat(with all it's demands) and only later discovering all you really want is to simply enjoy a cool afternoon/evening sailing with friends. A very wise 90y/o sailor with a million (nautical)miles under his belt told me that he always wanted his newer sailor friends to have 12 good days sailing before their first bad one(and it can get really,scary bad). Shoot for easy and fun first. Maybe Charter the BVI's and assess what Dallas can honestly accomidate for your more typical day. For that a 260 is great. For crossings, no way in my canoe
. Aloha, MichaelCenterboard NOT Keel
The 260 water ballast does not have a keel. The swing centerboard does go down about 5 feet, but it only weighs about 125 lbs. The ONLY ballast is the water ballast tank.
The 260 water ballast does not have a keel. The swing centerboard does go down about 5 feet, but it only weighs about 125 lbs. The ONLY ballast is the water ballast tank.
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