Hi guys, I went to the Oakland's (San Francisco Bay Area) Strictly Sail Boat Show. I had the opportunity to see Mike Harker slides and comments about his circumnavigation on his Hunter 49, but fankly speaking, I was a little disappointed after Mike's slide show due to the fact that no H49 problems were reported other than a leak. Since I am planning on buying a boat in the foreseeable future and that my wife likes H49 I was a little dissapointed with Mike Harker and his slides about the girls he met while sailing. I wanted also to aske him about hsi boat but Honestly, hi did not even gave us the opportunity for q's and a's and, therefore, I was dissapointed. Does anybody know about H49 problems?? Victor
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Hi Victor, odds are you will not get much commentary...
here. Not many of those owners around that visit this site. What exactly did you have in mind? Hull, systems, rigging, etc.? Our P42 is a bit smaller and you will find lots of information about this model in the Knowledge Base. I cannot imagine the problems or issues between these boats would amount to that much. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?model=45 Terry P.S. I saw only one owner review on this site. Check it out.
here. Not many of those owners around that visit this site. What exactly did you have in mind? Hull, systems, rigging, etc.? Our P42 is a bit smaller and you will find lots of information about this model in the Knowledge Base. I cannot imagine the problems or issues between these boats would amount to that much. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?model=45 Terry P.S. I saw only one owner review on this site. Check it out.
E-Mail Mike about the H49?.
Maybe you could e-mail him and get the personal touch. He is all over the Internet. Related Link is just one example. See Google for the rest. There may be problems unique to a 49. You would certainly think those would get exposed on a circumnavigation. But only a 49 owner knows and how many want to talk about it? Last year I chartered a 46 for four days. This boat had some hours on it but the problems were minor. Mostly because we did not have time to really understand all the systems. Two electric heads, a myriad of water tanks, a strange electrical system because of a generator, etc. But you are right to investigate. It is a new design and a lot of money if the bugs aren't out of it.
Maybe you could e-mail him and get the personal touch. He is all over the Internet. Related Link is just one example. See Google for the rest. There may be problems unique to a 49. You would certainly think those would get exposed on a circumnavigation. But only a 49 owner knows and how many want to talk about it? Last year I chartered a 46 for four days. This boat had some hours on it but the problems were minor. Mostly because we did not have time to really understand all the systems. Two electric heads, a myriad of water tanks, a strange electrical system because of a generator, etc. But you are right to investigate. It is a new design and a lot of money if the bugs aren't out of it.
rudder
Hi, I went to the same seminar. He did mention that the rudder fell off the boat during one passage.
Hi, I went to the same seminar. He did mention that the rudder fell off the boat during one passage.
The rudder problem he reported...
The rudder problem Mike HarKer reported was related to a different boat (the one he previously owned, I believe a Hunter 45 or 46). I also read Latitud 38 Mike's interview (March 2008 issue) in which a water pum failure was also reported (nothing a bout rudder failure, though). Vick.
The rudder problem Mike HarKer reported was related to a different boat (the one he previously owned, I believe a Hunter 45 or 46). I also read Latitud 38 Mike's interview (March 2008 issue) in which a water pum failure was also reported (nothing a bout rudder failure, though). Vick.
Q's and A's
Terry, After a boat has been sailed around the world I believe that an experienced sailor such as Mike, should give us a first hand opinion about the following: 1. How does the boat behave when going up wind? 2. Was she stable and easy to steer? 3. Mike did not have any wind vane installed for self-steering (no electrical pawer required), therefore... how did his automatic pilot behave AND how many extra batteries did he need to "feed the beast"??? 4. What about yaw? Was she stable when windward? 5. Did he noticed problems with jib furling or in mast furling? 6. Where did his H49 leak porblem originated? According to Mike he accidentaly discovered the leak. Does the H49 have any warning OR emergency device to spot the problem? Did it fail? 8. The H49 has a wide open stern which I believe could be a problem with following seas. What is Mike's opinion about this? What's your opinion Terry? and so on. I am not an experienced sailor. I am in the process to becoming one: always learning. I fact I do not even own a boat but I am about to buying one and Hunter boats are in my radar. And this is the reason I am asking: I want to know as much as I can about this boat before making a decision. Thank you guys for your help. V.
Terry, After a boat has been sailed around the world I believe that an experienced sailor such as Mike, should give us a first hand opinion about the following: 1. How does the boat behave when going up wind? 2. Was she stable and easy to steer? 3. Mike did not have any wind vane installed for self-steering (no electrical pawer required), therefore... how did his automatic pilot behave AND how many extra batteries did he need to "feed the beast"??? 4. What about yaw? Was she stable when windward? 5. Did he noticed problems with jib furling or in mast furling? 6. Where did his H49 leak porblem originated? According to Mike he accidentaly discovered the leak. Does the H49 have any warning OR emergency device to spot the problem? Did it fail? 8. The H49 has a wide open stern which I believe could be a problem with following seas. What is Mike's opinion about this? What's your opinion Terry? and so on. I am not an experienced sailor. I am in the process to becoming one: always learning. I fact I do not even own a boat but I am about to buying one and Hunter boats are in my radar. And this is the reason I am asking: I want to know as much as I can about this boat before making a decision. Thank you guys for your help. V.
Hi Victor, I would be happy to provide details...
regarding our boat model as it applies to your questions. Rather I'll defer to Mike or any other H49 owner to answer your questions since I have never circumnavigated with our boat. Having done so and returned safely to speak about it speaks volumes. I hope he answers your questions. Terry
regarding our boat model as it applies to your questions. Rather I'll defer to Mike or any other H49 owner to answer your questions since I have never circumnavigated with our boat. Having done so and returned safely to speak about it speaks volumes. I hope he answers your questions. Terry
WanderLust 3, From Mike Harker
For your information, I asked many people that attended the first presentation about shortening it to make room for questions at the end. EVERYONE said not to shorten the presentation and to take questions afterwards. I tell the audience at the end that I will be just outside the room when I am finished to take any and all questions and that I will be at the Hunter dock each afternoon for a few hours to talk with anyone about sailing issues. After each presentation, there were at least 6 -10 people waiting and everyone asked and heard answers from eachother. From about noon until a half hour before my presentation at 4:30 I was at the Hunter dock sitting on the 49 or under the shade at a table talking with anyone that came. It was always busy. I will try to answer this guys questions personally but Gary needs to post our interview he did with me for over 2 hours where all thes questions were addressed. Mike Harker WanderLust 3 Hunter 49 Mike
For your information, I asked many people that attended the first presentation about shortening it to make room for questions at the end. EVERYONE said not to shorten the presentation and to take questions afterwards. I tell the audience at the end that I will be just outside the room when I am finished to take any and all questions and that I will be at the Hunter dock each afternoon for a few hours to talk with anyone about sailing issues. After each presentation, there were at least 6 -10 people waiting and everyone asked and heard answers from eachother. From about noon until a half hour before my presentation at 4:30 I was at the Hunter dock sitting on the 49 or under the shade at a table talking with anyone that came. It was always busy. I will try to answer this guys questions personally but Gary needs to post our interview he did with me for over 2 hours where all thes questions were addressed. Mike Harker WanderLust 3 Hunter 49 Mike
Well, Mike, if the worst you could do...
...in an eleven month circumnavigation is mess up an impeller, you obviously weren't trying hard enough. Seriously, however, this phenomenon you keep reporting about the 466 "yawing" downwind perplexes me. I own an H46--same hull as the 466--and I find the downwind manners of this boat to be quite refined. Any chance the difference between the two boats has more to do with the fact that: (1) you rigged the headsails entirely differently for your second circumnavigation, or; (2) you were a better downwind sailor your second time around?
...in an eleven month circumnavigation is mess up an impeller, you obviously weren't trying hard enough. Seriously, however, this phenomenon you keep reporting about the 466 "yawing" downwind perplexes me. I own an H46--same hull as the 466--and I find the downwind manners of this boat to be quite refined. Any chance the difference between the two boats has more to do with the fact that: (1) you rigged the headsails entirely differently for your second circumnavigation, or; (2) you were a better downwind sailor your second time around?
H-49 Problems
You are probably right with #2. I did not know anything when I started sailing my Hunter 46. I simply learned from my mistakes and tried something else. The yaw on the H-46 was more evident than on the new 49 which simply does not yaw downwind. Mike
You are probably right with #2. I did not know anything when I started sailing my Hunter 46. I simply learned from my mistakes and tried something else. The yaw on the H-46 was more evident than on the new 49 which simply does not yaw downwind. Mike
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