I just Bought a used 2002 Hunter 170. My previous sailing experience has been 30 years with a Sunfish. I have heard that the 170 likes to turtle. That was a lot of fun with the Sunfish. Should I get a Mast Float to make life easier with this heavier boat?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
D
Dick in MI
Not a necessity
merely insurance. I've never gone over yet, but if I do the float gives me some peace of mind.
merely insurance. I've never gone over yet, but if I do the float gives me some peace of mind.
J
J Mashburn
Another Option
It is possible to use a throw cushion or extra life jacket (i.e., floatation device) by sliding it under the end of the mast if you go over. This will keep the mast afloat until you can right it & prevent it from turtling. H-146 TIKI
It is possible to use a throw cushion or extra life jacket (i.e., floatation device) by sliding it under the end of the mast if you go over. This will keep the mast afloat until you can right it & prevent it from turtling. H-146 TIKI
S
S. Cohen
Couldn't hurt
The peace of mind that I have from the mast float is well worth the cost. I have capsized and the float kept the mast out of the water. The boat was easy to right and I did't have to rush to try to keep the mast afloat. (capsizing had noting to do with stability of the 170, strictly pilot error).
The peace of mind that I have from the mast float is well worth the cost. I have capsized and the float kept the mast out of the water. The boat was easy to right and I did't have to rush to try to keep the mast afloat. (capsizing had noting to do with stability of the 170, strictly pilot error).
J
John Kivel
magic feather
Have you ever seen the movie "Dumbo"? When people ask me why I have a hobie float on top of my 170 I tell them it's my magic feather. That is to say that it inspires confidence. The problem with the turtling as I understand it is not that the 170 goes over any more than any other small boat, but that once it turtles the wide beam makes it almost imposible to right without a helpful guy with a power boat. I put the mast float on top of mine, and then I knocked it over just to see how easy it is to right - and it's a snap. I can't figure out how to have a float and a mast head fly on the same mast though. j
Have you ever seen the movie "Dumbo"? When people ask me why I have a hobie float on top of my 170 I tell them it's my magic feather. That is to say that it inspires confidence. The problem with the turtling as I understand it is not that the 170 goes over any more than any other small boat, but that once it turtles the wide beam makes it almost imposible to right without a helpful guy with a power boat. I put the mast float on top of mine, and then I knocked it over just to see how easy it is to right - and it's a snap. I can't figure out how to have a float and a mast head fly on the same mast though. j
J
John Kivel
one more thing
I have been thinking about taking a red magic marker and drawing something absurd like a pirate face on the top of my mast float - so you can only see it when I am trailering the boat. j
I have been thinking about taking a red magic marker and drawing something absurd like a pirate face on the top of my mast float - so you can only see it when I am trailering the boat. j
D
Dick in MI
The face on the float
John, I've been thinking of something similar, but for safety reasons. When trailering, I think that the white float behind the white boat might not be as easily seen until the car behind you gets too close. I thought of a red X or some kid of face but haven't gotten around to doing anything yet.
John, I've been thinking of something similar, but for safety reasons. When trailering, I think that the white float behind the white boat might not be as easily seen until the car behind you gets too close. I thought of a red X or some kid of face but haven't gotten around to doing anything yet.
J
John Kivel
the face on the float
It was actually for safety reasons that I thought of the face as well. I tried to tie a red flag of some sort on to the float, but since the float is both big and round, whatever I tied on managed to work it's way around to the mast and not be seen from behind. john
It was actually for safety reasons that I thought of the face as well. I tried to tie a red flag of some sort on to the float, but since the float is both big and round, whatever I tied on managed to work it's way around to the mast and not be seen from behind. john
F
Frank
Trailer markings
Regarding rear markings when trailering, I suggest stopping at the nearest decent size truck stop (Flying J?) and purchasing a red flag to tie to the mast when driving down the road. Most DOT regs require any object protruding more than six feet beyond the tailights of a trailer must have a red flag (or light or equivalent) attached to the rearmost point in plain view. I do not have a special trailer for my 170 so the mast protrudes quite a ways and the flag was a quick and easy solution. Just a thought.
Regarding rear markings when trailering, I suggest stopping at the nearest decent size truck stop (Flying J?) and purchasing a red flag to tie to the mast when driving down the road. Most DOT regs require any object protruding more than six feet beyond the tailights of a trailer must have a red flag (or light or equivalent) attached to the rearmost point in plain view. I do not have a special trailer for my 170 so the mast protrudes quite a ways and the flag was a quick and easy solution. Just a thought.
J
Jeremiah D. Canty
Pevents a center board slam
I have a mast float on mine just becasue I have kids and don't want to have to try and right a turteled boat with them floundering in the water. I also just got back from a trip to Hawaii and stopped by the MCAS Kaneohe sailing marina. They have mast floats on all their boats--several of which were Hunter 170s. They like the mast floats on the 170 especially because the center board doesn't slam back into the hull so hard as it does if it turtles. They have broken a couple of centerboards that way and the manager said Hunter doesn't warranty the boards if they break during a slam as a result of turteling!!!
I have a mast float on mine just becasue I have kids and don't want to have to try and right a turteled boat with them floundering in the water. I also just got back from a trip to Hawaii and stopped by the MCAS Kaneohe sailing marina. They have mast floats on all their boats--several of which were Hunter 170s. They like the mast floats on the 170 especially because the center board doesn't slam back into the hull so hard as it does if it turtles. They have broken a couple of centerboards that way and the manager said Hunter doesn't warranty the boards if they break during a slam as a result of turteling!!!
- Status
- Not open for further replies.