Thanks for all the replies folks. Much appreciated. I am happy to report that I anticipate finally being able to sail my “new to me” Hunter 38 this year. The winter canvas cover and frame will be removed soon, and the boat launched as soon as the weather on Lake Ontario is warm enough for live aboard. I’m thinking around the 1st of May.
I’ve decided that I should sail the boat “as is” this summer before making a decision on the folding prop.
But, I’m still on the fence on the spinnaker.
I anticipate doing a lot of short handed sailing- either single handing it, or with relatively (or completely) inexperienced crew/friends. I’m assuming an asymmetrical spinnaker would be my best choice, and would appreciate any input from other Hunter 38 owners on that type of sail.
I should add that I am an experienced sailor. I turn 70 this year and have been sailing for, umm, about 70 years. My parents sailed their Niagara 35 on Lake Ontario well into their 80s, and I learned how to sail from my father, who also sailed all his life. I’ve raced a little (I had Santana 20 for 20 years) and loved flying the spinnaker on that lightweight flying machine. But I’m not a racer. I just love the poetry of wind and water. In addition to the Hunter 38 I have a Pacific Seacraft Flicka that I sail here in Idaho on beautiful Payette Lake. The Flicka is one of the coolest 20 footers ever. In addition to sailing most of my life on Lake Ontario I’ve sailed the waters of the Pacific Northwest (the San Juans and Gulf Islands), and Hawaii.
So, any input on an asymmetrical spinnaker would be much appreciated. I don’t want to mess with a true spinnaker. I’ll never race the Hunter 38, because, umm, it’s a Hunter 38. LOL. But I love a boat that sails well, and I want to get the best sailing performance I can from this boat. It has the B&R rig, so I won’t be doing much (if any) downwind sailing.
Can I fly the asymmetrical spinnaker anywhere from a broad reach to 160* off the wind? Can I fly and douse it single handing? Those of you who sail the Hunter 38, do you feel you need a bigger headsail than the 100% it came with?
I should add that my boat has the roller furling main and headsail.
Thanks again for all your thoughts!
I’ve decided that I should sail the boat “as is” this summer before making a decision on the folding prop.
But, I’m still on the fence on the spinnaker.
I anticipate doing a lot of short handed sailing- either single handing it, or with relatively (or completely) inexperienced crew/friends. I’m assuming an asymmetrical spinnaker would be my best choice, and would appreciate any input from other Hunter 38 owners on that type of sail.
I should add that I am an experienced sailor. I turn 70 this year and have been sailing for, umm, about 70 years. My parents sailed their Niagara 35 on Lake Ontario well into their 80s, and I learned how to sail from my father, who also sailed all his life. I’ve raced a little (I had Santana 20 for 20 years) and loved flying the spinnaker on that lightweight flying machine. But I’m not a racer. I just love the poetry of wind and water. In addition to the Hunter 38 I have a Pacific Seacraft Flicka that I sail here in Idaho on beautiful Payette Lake. The Flicka is one of the coolest 20 footers ever. In addition to sailing most of my life on Lake Ontario I’ve sailed the waters of the Pacific Northwest (the San Juans and Gulf Islands), and Hawaii.
So, any input on an asymmetrical spinnaker would be much appreciated. I don’t want to mess with a true spinnaker. I’ll never race the Hunter 38, because, umm, it’s a Hunter 38. LOL. But I love a boat that sails well, and I want to get the best sailing performance I can from this boat. It has the B&R rig, so I won’t be doing much (if any) downwind sailing.
Can I fly the asymmetrical spinnaker anywhere from a broad reach to 160* off the wind? Can I fly and douse it single handing? Those of you who sail the Hunter 38, do you feel you need a bigger headsail than the 100% it came with?
I should add that my boat has the roller furling main and headsail.
Thanks again for all your thoughts!
