Hunter 40.5 Legend 1995 - hi and help :)

[redunculous]

Hi all

New to the forums here and new (to be) Hunter owner - in fact new sailboat owner altogether! Just for note, I'm in the florida area - spacecoast


I am closing in June on a 40.5 hunter, and I am worried I may take up the forum here with questions a plenty so my apologies if I do

Couple of things I would appreciate some help on that appear in the survey

The transducer for the waterspeed indicator (autohelm ST50) has a paddle missing on the wheel - is there an obvious place for spare parts? I have e-mailed 2 x raymarine outlets and never got a response. (I'm in Iraq currently so its hard to chase people)

I have a 2 fixed blade prop - I saw a forum post here that stated a 2 bladed prop was not enough for a 40ft boat, anyone like to comment on that? With the survey it was noted that full throttle RPM was approx 3000, whereas the specified is 3600. It could be a linkage problem, tachometer requiring adjustment or the prop.... So when I saw that post it raised some alarm bells. Pitch etc of current prop is unknown at this time.

Dodger - the frame is there but the canvas is shot, any recommendations for some mom and pop type places that do a good job at a fair price would be greatly appreciated.

I have the same question with regards to recovering the aft cabin cushions

I'll leave it there to start

Looking forward to your advice / recommendations.

 

[Rick D]

The speed transducer isn't Raymarine (Autohelm). It is outsourced. As I recall, it is this manufacturer. So, when you pull the unit, take a look for some model number on it. http://www.airmartechnology.com/2009/products/marine-product.asp?prodid=58&manf=All Anyhow, those guys should be able to help you. If you have to replace it, consider going with a current ST60+ unit. And, contact me regarding the installation before you do.

A two blade fixed prop is fine. That is what mine came with. There are some advantages from a powering standpoint (certainly not from a sailing one) to a three blade, but boat size has nothing to do with it. Do you have a Volvo or Yanmar? In any event, you should be able to reach full RPM. If not, it can be from several causes, including a fouled bottom, fouled prop, mis-pitched prop, etc. Here is a chart of my boat with it's factory two blade and after with a slightly over-pitched folding two blade. Don't pay much attention to the speed; it was on an uncalibrated knot meter at the time.
RPM BEFORE AFTER (Two-way runs)
1500 3.7/3.8 3.9/4.0
2000 4.6/4.7 5.1/5.3
2500 5.8/5.9 6.0/6.1
3000 6.5/6.5 6.6/6.7
3800 7.0/7.0 (Wide Open Throttle)
3400 6.8/6.9 (Wide Open Throttle)

As far as the aft cabin, I would suggest having the cushions re-done at a home or auto upholstery shop, and suggest good new foam. You do need to take care that you use durable material, but you will find the cost will likely be far less than a marine canvas guy would charge. That's what I did.

 

[Steve Dion]

I think you will need to purchase a new transducer. I doubt that there is a repair for this.

A 2 blade prop will work fine, but you will not have as much thrust in rough conditions. You problem may be the prop, or it also can be the mixing elbow. If you are going to look at a 3 bladed prop take a look at the Campbell Sailor Prop for a fixed 3 blade. The next step is a feathering or folding prop (a lot more money). If you have the specs on your current prop, you can give them to a prop shop and they should be able to give you the estimated specs for your boat.

US Yacht Cushions is a great place for new cushions. They may have the patterns for your exact boat on file.

If you are going to do canvas, go to a good canvas shop. Be sure to check out their work before you put any money down.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

About the only thing I'd add to Rick's comments is that with a feathering 3 blade, I typically get 7.0 k at 2400 rpm and 7.5 at 2900. The biggest advantage to the 3 blade I've found is a bit more thrust both fwd and in reverse which is handy when docking requires some speed to maintain control.

 

[Rick D]

I forgot all about US Yacht Cushions; I believe they were the OEM supplier.

 

[Ed Schenck]

I have two knot log transducers, a Nexus and the original Signet. They both have a push out pin for changing the paddle wheel. Gotta' believe they are all like that. Hard to buy canvas for an existing frame. They need to come to the boat.

 

[redunculous]

Thank you for all the replies

Rick to answer the questions,

The ST50 head unit looks good, it had some crazing on the face (impossible to read as a result) but I have found a member of another forum who has some spare parts and was kind enough to ship me some replacement faces - not new but beggars cant be choosers With that being said I have to limit my spending this time round as buying the boat was the big dent on the wallet so I am trying to be cost effective without risking quality (hopefully that makes sense) Which is why I am looking to replace the transducer only or even the paddle wheel although thats improbable by all accounts. Maybe in the next few months I can upgrade to ST60's = is it really worth it though if my 50's work ok?

Its a yanmar, the bottom is good as this was pre-survey and it was lifted shortly after showing fouling not to be the issue. I'll do some fault finding when I get back - good to have a list to trawl through though so thankyou for that.

Home / upholstery shop sounds good to me, as I'm a virgin to all this I was curious as to the stitching - is there a certain way it should be done for durability or will the little old lady with a sewing machine be able to put something together quite nicely for me?

Good new foam I've been on the hunt for a while for, seems theres lots of places that claim to offer it - again still testing the water and worried about getting bitten.

Steve - Thanks, a new prop is a while down the line $ wise for me, its something I will do though and most likely I'll keep the current as a spare and treat her to something else when I get the knowledge up. Will add the mixing elbow to my list of items

US Yacht Cushions - Struggling to find a link, are they a phone only company do you know? I'd be interested in seeing the prices although i think with an order of foam cut to size and a decent seamstress I will save a few $$$ I would hope!

Don - good to know the advantage there, definitely something for me to check on other peoples boats and see how it feels. I guess its all down to personal choice, I may get on fine with 2 blade prop and wonder what I was worried about!

 

[redunculous]

I have two knot log transducers, a Nexus and the original Signet. They both have a push out pin for changing the paddle wheel. Gotta' believe they are all like that. Hard to buy canvas for an existing frame. They need to come to the boat.

Hi Ed

Thanks for joining in, I appreciate the help


Good to hear you can change the paddle wheel on your systems, once I get back to the US I can dig out the transducer and take a look. Maybe just maybe I will get lucky

The owner has the old canvas in his garage, its beat up but he reckons it can be used for sizing. I'm guessing it should be ok to run the sizes off the old one so fingers crossed that will save me some $ as well.

Is it going to be cheaper to buy some decent canvas and again having someone cut it and put it together in their house or after purchasing, cutting and stitching I could have had a company with lots of canvas stock knock one up - I've re-read that and I reckon its impossible to answer

 

[Rick D]

The ST50 head unit looks good, it had some crazing on the face (impossible to read as a result) but I have found a member of another forum who has some spare parts and was kind enough to ship me some replacement faces - not new but beggars cant be choosers With that being said I have to limit my spending this time round as buying the boat was the big dent on the wallet so I am trying to be cost effective without risking quality (hopefully that makes sense) Which is why I am looking to replace the transducer only or even the paddle wheel although thats improbable by all accounts. Maybe in the next few months I can upgrade to ST60's = is it really worth it though if my 50's work ok? No, it isn't worth it at all. Just if you have to start spending a bunch of money piecemeal. I'd look for a salvage transducer that you can pull the pin and paddlewheel from (or try to at least as a first step). You can try the Wanted section on this site. I think I tossed mine, but I'll look.

Its a yanmar, the bottom is good as this was pre-survey and it was lifted shortly after showing fouling not to be the issue. I'll do some fault finding when I get back - good to have a list to trawl through though so thankyou for that. Well, either the tach is off or something else is going on.

Home / upholstery shop sounds good to me, as I'm a virgin to all this I was curious as to the stitching - is there a certain way it should be done for durability or will the little old lady with a sewing machine be able to put something together quite nicely for me? A standard stitch on a commercial machine is fine for cushions. However, be sure you spec good quality Dacron thread.

Good new foam I've been on the hunt for a while for, seems theres lots of places that claim to offer it - again still testing the water and worried about getting bitten. The upholstery shop should be able to get the foam from their sources for less than you can, but it's always a good idea to check it out.

By the way, welcome aboard! You'll love the boat!

 

[redunculous]

I hear you on the spending, I'm pretty sure its easy to get carried away on 'repairs' when suddenly you've spent more then what you would have on a new one.... I'll do that a few times no doubt! I'll pop something on the wanted section and thanks for looking

Hopefully just the tach, in all honesty the instruments are all off here and there with re-calibration needed so we shall see.

Quality Dacron thread - got you

Thanks for the welcome!

I'm excited that's for sure, only stepped on her once back in October, first boat I looked at and thought about it until Feb, then surveyed her, then thought about it until this month - stuck my offer in, contract signed, deposit sent and here I am

I'm back in the US end of next month and plan to haul her and get her where I want her to be, hopefully have 2 weeks sailing out of my time off then back out here to earn what I need to start putting some of the luxuries in!

 

[Bill Roosa]

Dito most of the comments, 2 blade is fine, transducer should have a pin to pop out for replacing the paddle, and you have a source for seat cushions.
Try Sailrite.com for fabric and instruction on building (or having a nice old lady) make your bimini from scratch. It is pretty easy. Could also do the same with cushions. My 8'x8' bimini with the waterproof sumbrella fabric (read most expensive type) only cost $350 with all the fasteners, thread and windows (don't forget to put a window in so you can see the windix).

And thanks for your service.
Hooah

 

[Ed A]

the rpm deal may be a clogged exaust elbow. If it has been run alot without a load on the engine. not too big a deal to inspect or replace it.

 

[redunculous]

Bill

Your welcome, thank you also for your input.

350$ seems pretty good to me, do you have any pics at all of the bimini?

Will be having a dig around that site today - looks good

 

[redunculous]

Ed

Quite possibly, its been sat still for a long time and rarely been out for a good run by all accounts

 

[ggrizzard]

My thanks for your service as well.
US Yacht Cushions contact info:
USYC@aol.com 727-322-5352
Bob is the owner, they're located in ST Pete, with a brick and mortar location and they do a great job.
I'm not sure if they were the OEM supplier for your boat, as they were for mine, but they do have patterns for many Hunters and know what they are doing.

 

[redunculous]

ggrizzard

thanks for the number and e-mail, was struggling to find the correct one (first one I tried was out of service)

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Welcome to the forum! You will find this a great place with lots of great people. I have nothing to add to all the intelligent comments and great advice you are getting from Ed, Don, Steve and Rick who are all my go-to guys for questions and help on the 40.5. The only thing I can say is that the 40.5 is a fabulous boat. I have owned mine for going 5 years now and I still love her. Just spent the first weekend on her after launch this year and so appreciate all her creature comforts.
Congratulations on purchasing such a fine vessel! Please post some pics when you can.

POTL

 

[redunculous]

Welcome to the forum! You will find this a great place with lots of great people. I have nothing to add to all the intelligent comments and great advice you are getting from Ed, Don, Steve and Rick who are all my go-to guys for questions and help on the 40.5. The only thing I can say is that the 40.5 is a fabulous boat. I have owned mine for going 5 years now and I still love her. Just spent the first weekend on her after launch this year and so appreciate all her creature comforts.
Congratulations on purchasing such a fine vessel! Please post some pics when you can.

POTL

I'm sure you'll have plenty of intelligent comments to add and hopefully at a level I may be able to understand This is my first boat and I've just jumped straight in so I am still learning all the technical talk

I'm literally counting the days until I close and really cant wait to get her out onto the hard and start resolving my survey items.

Did you redo your stuffing box btw? I noticed a post a while back and mine needs adjustment / re-packing so I am thinking of putting a drip less one in so I can forget about it.

Thanks for your post

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

I'm sure you'll have plenty of intelligent comments to add and hopefully at a level I may be able to understand This is my first boat and I've just jumped straight in so I am still learning all the technical talk

I'm literally counting the days until I close and really cant wait to get her out onto the hard and start resolving my survey items.

Did you redo your stuffing box btw? I noticed a post a while back and mine needs adjustment / re-packing so I am thinking of putting a drip less one in so I can forget about it.

Thanks for your post

LOL-I don't have a lot of hope for the intelligent comments but hey, you never know. I have not done the stuffing box yet. I was on the boat for the first time this weekend since launch and I should have fired up the diesel to watch the drip rate but I didn't. Once I have a chance to do that I'll decide if I need to replace it or if I can just get by with an adjustment for this year. I'd like to go dripless too but that may wait until next year.

I understand your excitement and I hope that you don't have to spend too much time on the hard. Get her in the water and start sailing. Trust me, you will never run out of projects!

 

[timvg]

We've had a 2 blade prop for the 11 years we've had the boat. Plenty of power. We cruise at 7+ knots at 2900 RPM's. We first had the boat in Seattle and regularly powered into 4 knot (sometimes 5) currents.