I want to buy a Hunter 260 water ballast sailboat. I have to navigate a shallow part of the neighborhood channel to get to the Intracostal Waterway. I have to get through a part about 2 1/2 feet deep for about 50 yards or so. It would be just straight going and of course I would be doing this under motor and sail down. Can anyone tell me if this would be a big problem with a Hunter 260. The rest of the channel is over 4 feet. Thanks for any help and advice on how I am going to manage this. Tip Thienes
Hunter Draft
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No problem...
keel up, draft is something like 18". Of course, you may have to raise the rudder some too, which makes handling a little tougher, but manageable. Keep reading tho, you will get lots of responses on this issue.
keel up, draft is something like 18". Of course, you may have to raise the rudder some too, which makes handling a little tougher, but manageable. Keep reading tho, you will get lots of responses on this issue.
Any Tidal Range?
We Sail our Hunter 26 in and out of Shell Key Cove at the Pass A Grill/Gulf area all the time. I have the Depth Sounder set with a 2 Ft keel offset and we manage to squeak thru fairly easy reading "0" Ft, it does help to have the rudder lifted a little. Be sure to watch the prop if you have an extra long shaft motor. It's better to hit the rudder than the prop. Take care steering with the rudder in the somewhat raised position as it places a great deal of strees on the unit. Check the tide charts, and time the departure and arrival the first few times to get a better handle on the conditions. Boldly go where other boats fear to tread. J. R. Setser 1998 Hunter 26 S/V Lifetimestoo
We Sail our Hunter 26 in and out of Shell Key Cove at the Pass A Grill/Gulf area all the time. I have the Depth Sounder set with a 2 Ft keel offset and we manage to squeak thru fairly easy reading "0" Ft, it does help to have the rudder lifted a little. Be sure to watch the prop if you have an extra long shaft motor. It's better to hit the rudder than the prop. Take care steering with the rudder in the somewhat raised position as it places a great deal of strees on the unit. Check the tide charts, and time the departure and arrival the first few times to get a better handle on the conditions. Boldly go where other boats fear to tread. J. R. Setser 1998 Hunter 26 S/V Lifetimestoo
no sweat
We do this all the time, the rudder has to come up most of the way. If you have rudder to outboard steering conection there will be still good control for steering.
We do this all the time, the rudder has to come up most of the way. If you have rudder to outboard steering conection there will be still good control for steering.
The 18 Inch Myth
I went through an inlet on the Chesapeake known as Hole in the Wall in our H26. The charts said 2'. The depth sounder said 2-4'. The keel said "Your stuck." I got out and pushed pulled and wiggled and finally got through. The problems was a combination of the load in the boat and the tide. I sometimes wonder if that 18" spec applies only if there is no water in the ballast tank. Places like you are talking about sometimes have a channel that requires some local knowledge to get through without a bump. Talk to your friendly dockmaster. Mark
I went through an inlet on the Chesapeake known as Hole in the Wall in our H26. The charts said 2'. The depth sounder said 2-4'. The keel said "Your stuck." I got out and pushed pulled and wiggled and finally got through. The problems was a combination of the load in the boat and the tide. I sometimes wonder if that 18" spec applies only if there is no water in the ballast tank. Places like you are talking about sometimes have a channel that requires some local knowledge to get through without a bump. Talk to your friendly dockmaster. Mark
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