I've been looking at the new Hunter 260 (and a coulple used ones) I was wondering if I could have some pro & Con imput from owners of the same. I have a hunter 22 now and want to stay in a size that I can handle myself and also that gives me a little more comfort inside. I love to sail and love to spend the night and take small trips as well. Spending a weekend on the boat is ideal to me and I'm doing it now on a 22. I am not interisted in trailering the boat so thats not a concern of mine. Thanks for the imput. Chris Keyport, NJ CLalevee@optonline.net
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Go a little bigger
If you are not trailering than go with a keel boat,I almost got a 260 but saw a 280 hunter and got a 290,the 280 same as 290 but 290 has arch. Easy to sail singlehanded and will handle the wind much better,more room below and a real head. The 260 is a great boat if you need to trailer but you can't beat a boat with a fixed keel,the rudder is stronger and a inboard diesel is less trouble. I took my wife on a 260 than the 290 and she fell in love with the 290 shoal draft keel. nick
If you are not trailering than go with a keel boat,I almost got a 260 but saw a 280 hunter and got a 290,the 280 same as 290 but 290 has arch. Easy to sail singlehanded and will handle the wind much better,more room below and a real head. The 260 is a great boat if you need to trailer but you can't beat a boat with a fixed keel,the rudder is stronger and a inboard diesel is less trouble. I took my wife on a 260 than the 290 and she fell in love with the 290 shoal draft keel. nick
Agree with nick in general, but...
...part of my reasoning in getting the 26 five years ago was for the minimal 1'9" draft (with swing keel and rudder up) that allows me to anchor in thigh deep water. The kids can walk to shore on the sandy beaches AND pushing off a grounding is a piece of cake. If necesary you can even pump-out the water ballast for a few less inches of draft and wieght. If trailering is not a factor (I don't) and you don't need the draft or lack of it, then go for a keel boat. Like nick said more room below and they sail better. Considerations are dollars and bang for the buck. Slightly/gently used vs. older vs. new. If you really like the 260 layout then there is a keeled version of it (260 keel or 270) which can be shower equiped. They will take outboards and some came with 10 hp inboard diesals. alan
...part of my reasoning in getting the 26 five years ago was for the minimal 1'9" draft (with swing keel and rudder up) that allows me to anchor in thigh deep water. The kids can walk to shore on the sandy beaches AND pushing off a grounding is a piece of cake. If necesary you can even pump-out the water ballast for a few less inches of draft and wieght. If trailering is not a factor (I don't) and you don't need the draft or lack of it, then go for a keel boat. Like nick said more room below and they sail better. Considerations are dollars and bang for the buck. Slightly/gently used vs. older vs. new. If you really like the 260 layout then there is a keeled version of it (260 keel or 270) which can be shower equiped. They will take outboards and some came with 10 hp inboard diesals. alan
Thanks
I would love to go bigger and I am looking at various modles. Draft is a (small) concern because I keep the boat in a slip. I prefer the slip because of what it has to offer. I guess I have to talk to the dock master and ask about depths. Thats why the 260 was looking good. I do want a full head and an inboard would be BEAUTIFUL!
I would love to go bigger and I am looking at various modles. Draft is a (small) concern because I keep the boat in a slip. I prefer the slip because of what it has to offer. I guess I have to talk to the dock master and ask about depths. Thats why the 260 was looking good. I do want a full head and an inboard would be BEAUTIFUL!
Budget and Slip Size
We bought a slightly used(1 season) 2001 Hunter 260 last year for 3 reasons. 1) It would fit in our existing slip. 2) Price was about right, and the previous owner lowered his price when someone selling another 260 sold there's at a price we were willing to pay. 3) The Admiral really liked it. I would have preferred something with a fixed keel and closer to 32'(4 children), but the factors above prevented that, and the admiral wanted a bigger boat "NOW" or none at all. Our 17 year old 22 footer had become too small. There was a 1996 280 available but it was about $7K more expensive than what we could afford, and I see its still there this year, but the price has been reduced to the same price as what we paid for the 260 with pretty much the same accessories. Our marina also added additional slips last summer. If we'd waited a year we could have had a bigger boat and a bigger slip. Fortunately, the admiral would like to upgrade again in 4-6 years to something in the 30'+ range. So we'll just have to 'suffer' with the 260 for a few more years(I would have been happy to suffer just fine with the 22' for a few more years, but one must do their best to obey the admiral). And when I'm sailing the 260, I even feel like I'm the admiral. I don't regret the purchase at all.
We bought a slightly used(1 season) 2001 Hunter 260 last year for 3 reasons. 1) It would fit in our existing slip. 2) Price was about right, and the previous owner lowered his price when someone selling another 260 sold there's at a price we were willing to pay. 3) The Admiral really liked it. I would have preferred something with a fixed keel and closer to 32'(4 children), but the factors above prevented that, and the admiral wanted a bigger boat "NOW" or none at all. Our 17 year old 22 footer had become too small. There was a 1996 280 available but it was about $7K more expensive than what we could afford, and I see its still there this year, but the price has been reduced to the same price as what we paid for the 260 with pretty much the same accessories. Our marina also added additional slips last summer. If we'd waited a year we could have had a bigger boat and a bigger slip. Fortunately, the admiral would like to upgrade again in 4-6 years to something in the 30'+ range. So we'll just have to 'suffer' with the 260 for a few more years(I would have been happy to suffer just fine with the 22' for a few more years, but one must do their best to obey the admiral). And when I'm sailing the 260, I even feel like I'm the admiral. I don't regret the purchase at all.
Pros and Cons
Relative to the 22 you currenly have.... Pros: more space, more stable, a little faster, still easily singlehanded, still very affordable to own relative to a larger boat. Cons: A little more expensive for slip and winter storage space, a little more boat to wash and maintain. Some good comments were made regarding moving up to a larger boat if trailering is not an issue. You can singlehand a large boat -- I have a friend that moved up from a Catalina 30 to 36 and he says that the 36 is a little easier! I like the smaller boats because new sails, hardware, etc. are not as expensive. Larger boats require heavier equipment and bigger sails which add up in costs for service and replacement. Also, an outboard motor gives you flexibility. You can pull it up to reduce drag and to clear fouled lines. You can take it off to bring to the shop when repairs are needed, etc. When your inboard needs serious repair service, the mechanic has to come to the boat, and the messy work is being done in the boat, not out on the transome. Fair winds, Tom
Relative to the 22 you currenly have.... Pros: more space, more stable, a little faster, still easily singlehanded, still very affordable to own relative to a larger boat. Cons: A little more expensive for slip and winter storage space, a little more boat to wash and maintain. Some good comments were made regarding moving up to a larger boat if trailering is not an issue. You can singlehand a large boat -- I have a friend that moved up from a Catalina 30 to 36 and he says that the 36 is a little easier! I like the smaller boats because new sails, hardware, etc. are not as expensive. Larger boats require heavier equipment and bigger sails which add up in costs for service and replacement. Also, an outboard motor gives you flexibility. You can pull it up to reduce drag and to clear fouled lines. You can take it off to bring to the shop when repairs are needed, etc. When your inboard needs serious repair service, the mechanic has to come to the boat, and the messy work is being done in the boat, not out on the transome. Fair winds, Tom
If budget allows go bigger
If you have access to a slip and trailering is not the issue than go bigger,most slips will take the draft of a shoal keel boat,unless you have some low water to get in and out of your slip. What area will you be sailing in ,my 290 has 4ft shoal draft,the nice thing about the 260 is getting close to the beach if you want that,plus the 260 will be a lot cheaper overall being able to put it on the trailer for winter and any other maintance if you want to do that yourself ,thats where you save a lot of $$$$. But the keel boat will handle much better when the wind starts blowing, Check out the 28 to 306 boat models,after I decided not to go with the 260 I sailed a 280 hunter which was great and lots of open space below,I got the 290 because it was like new and had the arch,easy to sail and handle in wind and I got a super deal from the dealer. My wife loves the boat and we are so glad we got a keel boat.
If you have access to a slip and trailering is not the issue than go bigger,most slips will take the draft of a shoal keel boat,unless you have some low water to get in and out of your slip. What area will you be sailing in ,my 290 has 4ft shoal draft,the nice thing about the 260 is getting close to the beach if you want that,plus the 260 will be a lot cheaper overall being able to put it on the trailer for winter and any other maintance if you want to do that yourself ,thats where you save a lot of $$$$. But the keel boat will handle much better when the wind starts blowing, Check out the 28 to 306 boat models,after I decided not to go with the 260 I sailed a 280 hunter which was great and lots of open space below,I got the 290 because it was like new and had the arch,easy to sail and handle in wind and I got a super deal from the dealer. My wife loves the boat and we are so glad we got a keel boat.
Where are you sailing?
THe key to the whole question lies in the area that you are sailing in. If you are coastal cruising I would go with the keel boat for obvious reasons. If I was lake sailing I would go with the 260. I currently have a H22. I love the boat and my wife and I have been out for 14 days with no problems. I generaly single hand because my wife doesn't know anything about the boat (I am trying to teach her). I bought the H22 because of the trailer. It is ironic that I intend to put the boat into a slip this year (got tired of planning trips around tides and putting the mast up and down). I am going to sail my H22 for a few more years and then I am going to upgrade. I was considering the H260 as well but I have figured out that since I coastal cruise, some in the Chesepeake Bay, I am going to a fixed keel with an inboard diesel. I am seriously considering a Catalina 30 in shoal draft. The capsize rating is less than 2 which makes it a very stable boat. They are reasonable priced (about the price of a slightly used H260) and there are a lot of them around. They have lead keels and the shoal draft is less than 4 feet (more like 3.5 feet). I guess that what I am trying to relay is that the boat that fits you will fit the sailing that you are doing. That is the main question to answer. After you answer that look at your budget, then consider what you want to do with the boat. Do a search on a site like www.usedboats.com to see what fits your budget.
THe key to the whole question lies in the area that you are sailing in. If you are coastal cruising I would go with the keel boat for obvious reasons. If I was lake sailing I would go with the 260. I currently have a H22. I love the boat and my wife and I have been out for 14 days with no problems. I generaly single hand because my wife doesn't know anything about the boat (I am trying to teach her). I bought the H22 because of the trailer. It is ironic that I intend to put the boat into a slip this year (got tired of planning trips around tides and putting the mast up and down). I am going to sail my H22 for a few more years and then I am going to upgrade. I was considering the H260 as well but I have figured out that since I coastal cruise, some in the Chesepeake Bay, I am going to a fixed keel with an inboard diesel. I am seriously considering a Catalina 30 in shoal draft. The capsize rating is less than 2 which makes it a very stable boat. They are reasonable priced (about the price of a slightly used H260) and there are a lot of them around. They have lead keels and the shoal draft is less than 4 feet (more like 3.5 feet). I guess that what I am trying to relay is that the boat that fits you will fit the sailing that you are doing. That is the main question to answer. After you answer that look at your budget, then consider what you want to do with the boat. Do a search on a site like www.usedboats.com to see what fits your budget.
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