I have never experienced a backfire. In fact, early on there was a dispute on the dock about keeping the blade in gear or not and the local dealer did some research and fould out that Hunter recommends that you keep it in neutral. When I say I sometimes vibrate over 6 knots. It is not bad but I can feel it a bit on the helm. I just know it is there, no more.
Hunter 33 (Year 2007)
- Thread starter Ken13559
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One can certainly fit a larger head sail on the boat but it must be outside of the lifelines to avoid the spreader. There is a H 38 in my marina did that and as I said earlier, it is fast in light conditions.
Every boat is a compromise and it is clear Hunter with the 33, tried to have as much inside room as possible. Many of my friends with bigger older boats are amazed by the interior space in the 33. I agree the mast back a foot or more would have given more head sail. Also it probably would have made the boat less tender.
On the outside tracks, I can easily get 30 Degrees apparent especially with a bit of wind. I find the boat is in the best groove for speed between 30-45 D. While I can go less than 30 performance is sub optimal. Where I sail there are not a lot of tacks so once I get set up, I tend to work the traveller a lot to tune performance. I do not deal with currents. I have a shoal keel. Traveller also deals with tender boat problem. I agree with cruising chute properly set is the better choice than a bigger head sail in light winds. I do not like to use it over 10 knots though or the boat is too tender....too much sail. If I just sail with the chute and refurl the main, that tends to be balanced. As I said in some earlier post, you can bring the tack of the chute right down to the block at the anchor and it is like a big genny.
What I have been looking for to optimize light winds downwind is a bowspit. I find that in light wind the main can steal wind from the chute. I would like to get the chute further forward. There is one from Selden however I cannot see how to install it without condemning the anchor well. Anchor access important to me. So I am still looking for that. In very light winds one needs a pole to the clew of the chute to stop it from flapping around the rigging. It will then be ready to grab the wind when it picks up a bit. I tend to put it leveraged against the rub rail. I also tie a line from the pole to the life line. Lost a pole once!
What no one seems to discuss on this forum is angle of heel. For me the boat preforms best around 15 D heel. When I go over further the bow tends to dig in a bit. That could be because I tend to keep the water tank full for ballast as I sail alone most times. I find then when in a 12+ wind, having three or four adults on the rail really stabilizes the boat however it is not an option most of the time.
I am surprised that you cannot point higher with a deep keel and a full battaned main with head sail tight. I believe your observations, so that means a deep keel vs a shoal keel is not that important on this boat vis a vis speed.
more about going faster
2. Re the spinnaker sheets - They go outside everything and go right back to a turning block on the bottom of the arch and then to the rear winch. As I said peviously this is a great sail for improved performance on the H33.
3. Prop - I have a three blade feathering one which is very worthwhile for performance. In light winds it can be worth half to one knot.
4. I have given up on the idea of any larger headsail so my next mod will be a new laminated version using the same material (pentex) as the mainsail.
1. Vang - I have a gas strut and the placement is essentially only in one place as you have to compress it fully and then attach it when the boom is horizontal.
2. Re the spinnaker sheets - They go outside everything and go right back to a turning block on the bottom of the arch and then to the rear winch. As I said peviously this is a great sail for improved performance on the H33.
3. Prop - I have a three blade feathering one which is very worthwhile for performance. In light winds it can be worth half to one knot.
4. I have given up on the idea of any larger headsail so my next mod will be a new laminated version using the same material (pentex) as the mainsail.
Nick, did you add the gas strut. I know mine doesn't have it ( '05) but is available.
Roan, I added it and apart from the easier leach adjustment it enables you to do away with the topping lift
That's very interesting as I have been toying with the idea of makimg something similar. I would be interested to know how long the sprit should ideally be for the H33.Roan, this is a picture from a boat for sale in this area. I haven't seen it in person but it is a Selden sprit. From what I can tell the sprit is removed when not being used.
Hmmm. I do not see where the back end of the sprit attaches. I would want the block out at least 4 feet from the bow of boat. In light air the main really kills the chute. I have been surprised by how little torque the chute puts on the foot line. I can easily adjust it at almost any condition. Why I comment on this, one could put the chute foot quite a way out as the pressure is not too great. I hear Hunter has a new stainless pipe set up. I wonder if they have a bowsprit instead of Selden. Leave that with me.
Maybe check the Selden site, may have more info on sizes etc. They have a pdf copy of their full catalogue which may have the dimensions etc.
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