Hunter Owners

[Don Guillette]

Over the many years that I've been involved with sail trim through this forum and selling my book and chart to virtually every country in the world except China and Russia one item has jumped out at me. I've sold my products to the owners of every production boat made in the world including homemades and ferro cement.

Far and away the biggest boat owner group I've sold to is Hunter, followed by Catalina, McGregor, O'Day and finaly Bennies. Because of this breakdown I've obviously had more personal conversations with Hunter owners. My conversations with all sailors are great but Hunter owners are something else - they really want to improve their sail trim and get the most out of their boats.

As a group they have taken the time to learn the basics of sail trim so our conversation get down to the nitty gritty very fast. In fact, I sometime cringe when I find out it is a Hunter owners because I know this ain't going to be easy. Normally, the Hunter owner has already isolated the problem so I don't have to mess around with the basics. Additionally, my answer better make sense or they call me on it.

Hunter owners it is a pleasure doing business with you.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Well, thank-you for those kind words, Don! ;-)

It's that time of year again, already. My little Hunter is on the hard, somewhat covered with snow, I'm sure. I will have a little break soon. I'm taking the family to a resort in the Dominican Republic over the week of Christmas. (I could buy another boat for the price of this trip!) They have HobieCats so I'll get a little bit of a sailing fix, but don't be surprised if 6 months from now I'm drawing wind vector diagrams again!

I haven't forgotten the photo that I promised you from my BVI trip. I just need to crop it properly and get it printed and in the mail.

All the best from The Great White North.

 

[Ray Bowles]

My first boat was a 1995 Hunter 26. That sweet looking creature was so poorly equiped, and sailed so sadly, that I was forced to become a more enlightened sail trim novice.
Now after having owned the Hunter, a 1990 IP 38 and a 1980 C22 I finially bought a 1982 San Juan 23.
The Island Packet 38 is just a dream to cruise on and comes with a stunning array of sail adjustment controls. But alas, she isn't any type speed queen.
I found the C22 to be a very impressive craft that really respones to very minute sail adjustments.
The SJ23 is simply one of the fastest sail packages afloat. Therefore I shall endeavor to seal suggested sail trim ideas in used rum bottles and let them float BACK to the Hunter sailboats in the wake of my SJ.
Someone must be second.
Ray

 

[Alan]

HAHAHA Ray

Methinks you are going to have to put down your bottle of rum, it seems to have impaired your judgment!

SJ 23 is for sure a nice boat but unless its falling off a cliff it's never going to catch my H35.5 :naughty:

 

[Ray Bowles]

Alan, Surrender NOW!!!
Some old fashioned Hunter owners think that using asymetrical spinnakers and reachers will overcome the performance drawbacks caused by the lightweight hindquarters of their craft. The thought of owning a boat that was so close to sinking that it could'nt support the added weight of a backstay must be hard to bare. In your attempt to gain any type of performance increase I'd think you would even accept a tow from a power boat. Sad, sad sad.
So in the Christmas spirit I give to you a no questions asked free tow back to the dock and I promise not to gloat.
Ray

 

[ChuckThomas]

Don, Thanks for all the advise over the last few years. Santa brought me a copy of the book and chart this year. I spent all day reading it yesterday. The sails I have been using are the originals that came with the boat (27 years old) and as my friend says - ' I never knew Dacron could get so soft.' They are totally out of shape. BUT TODAY I GET MY NEW MAIN AND 155 GENNY!!!!! Can't wait to get out tomorrow and try them out. Bad side is that forecast is for 20-25knts wind. I might wait till Sunday and use tomorrow to adjust all leads and roller furling lines. BTW Ray, my sails were so out of shape that LSU is doing a study to figure out why we were smoking all of those other new boats. Just kidding. Hope everyone has a great holiday season.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Thanks Chuck, You're talking about 20-25 knts of wind while we are expecting the same 25 knts of wind with another FOOT of snow. We have an honest 3 1/2 feet at the marina and up to another 2 feet tomorrow. ENOUGH!
I would sing praises about Hunters, Catalinas and even NYC garbage scows if the snow would just stop. In addition, the high temp for the past 2 weeks has been 11 degrees above zero and the lows down to - 20.
You will love your new sails. I put new sails on the C22 last year and she was unbelievable. I was stunned by the change in the boat. So what do you do when you have new sails and you've just painted the hull and deck, run all the lines thru new sheeves back to the cockpit and mounted all new line clutches? Well, you win the local annual race that you been in for 6 years and promptly buy a new boat and sell your gem.
All's well though seeing as how the UW went winless last year so I guess that helps LSU look a little better....Maybe...
Have a wonderful year next year and enjoy every minute you have on that boat.
Ray