Hi, I am planning to purchase a 1987 Hunter 23. My only concern is since the keel is kind of small, if there’s a wind like 25-30 knots, can I go out, is the boat stable? Thank you very much
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Bill O'Donovan
Sure
15-30 mph is pretty stiff for any boat, especially 23-footer. But as long you reef early you'll be fine. You may not want to run the jib in such winds, for it would overpower the boat. You'll know if the rudder is just too hard to steer comfortably. Rule of thumb: Reef the main or pull in the jib, sometimes both.
15-30 mph is pretty stiff for any boat, especially 23-footer. But as long you reef early you'll be fine. You may not want to run the jib in such winds, for it would overpower the boat. You'll know if the rudder is just too hard to steer comfortably. Rule of thumb: Reef the main or pull in the jib, sometimes both.
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Jim Maroldo
H23 Keel
The keel on the H23 is fine Bill! We love ours in that it has a shallow draft, which allows us to go where others can't. It's quite stable, and we never have to worry about getting blown over or anything like that. We've sailed in winds up to 30 knots with her. Granted, it wasn't a "comfortable" ride, but the 23 handled it very well, and we had a ball! As Bill mentioned, we reef the main when the winds get close to 20 knots. We don't have roller reefing on our jib, so we carry a smaller "working jib" for heavy-weather sailing. We also are planning to add a 2nd reef point on the main this winter. It's quite inexpensive, and the boat will be allot happier with it. Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
The keel on the H23 is fine Bill! We love ours in that it has a shallow draft, which allows us to go where others can't. It's quite stable, and we never have to worry about getting blown over or anything like that. We've sailed in winds up to 30 knots with her. Granted, it wasn't a "comfortable" ride, but the 23 handled it very well, and we had a ball! As Bill mentioned, we reef the main when the winds get close to 20 knots. We don't have roller reefing on our jib, so we carry a smaller "working jib" for heavy-weather sailing. We also are planning to add a 2nd reef point on the main this winter. It's quite inexpensive, and the boat will be allot happier with it. Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
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Ed Gardner
Well, I won't go into how I did it (brain farts being what they are, you know) but last night I got completely broadside to 18-20 knots of wind and 3-4 foot waves (with sails sheeted in tight, not reefed). It was like watching a slow motion movie as we heeled over to the point where we had water all the way up to the side window, covering the side deck. I pointed her back up into the wind, where I intended to be in the first place, and she stood right back up and kept going. They tip early, but they don't seem to want to go over. Ed Gardner s/v Nausicaa Cicero, NY
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Ron Stephanson
H23 Keel
I have been in 30+ winds, reef early, I don't drop the jib. Control is lost without the jib. 2nd reef and storm jib, and she will handle extremely well.
I have been in 30+ winds, reef early, I don't drop the jib. Control is lost without the jib. 2nd reef and storm jib, and she will handle extremely well.
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Hayden Jones
Ed from Cicero................
Sounds like you were on the east end of Oneida Lake with a big blow out of the west. I lived in Syracuse for q15 years but didn't start sailing till I got to Ocean City MD. Hayden
Sounds like you were on the east end of Oneida Lake with a big blow out of the west. I lived in Syracuse for q15 years but didn't start sailing till I got to Ocean City MD. Hayden
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mike
Yo Ed
I think rather than rounding up in those conditions I'd have popped loose the main sheet. Rounding up could have scooped up water into your hatchway or cockpit and that's Baddddddddddd.
I think rather than rounding up in those conditions I'd have popped loose the main sheet. Rounding up could have scooped up water into your hatchway or cockpit and that's Baddddddddddd.
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Ed Gardner
Yo Ed
I know what you mean. I've dropped the main sheet at times and it's worked. But with the combination of high winds AND waves I end up with a bad case of lee helm and end up running down wind like an out of control chuckwagon race. I'd rather drop the jib sheet and allow the main to power me up into the wind. Worst I've had happen there is we end up in irons. Ed ============================================ I think rather than rounding up in those conditions I'd have popped loose the main sheet. Rounding up could have scooped up water into your hatchway or cockpit and that's Baddddddddddd.
I know what you mean. I've dropped the main sheet at times and it's worked. But with the combination of high winds AND waves I end up with a bad case of lee helm and end up running down wind like an out of control chuckwagon race. I'd rather drop the jib sheet and allow the main to power me up into the wind. Worst I've had happen there is we end up in irons. Ed ============================================ I think rather than rounding up in those conditions I'd have popped loose the main sheet. Rounding up could have scooped up water into your hatchway or cockpit and that's Baddddddddddd.
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Ed Gardner
Ed from Cicero................
Actually we were coming out of Maple bay, on the South shore, into a North wind. East end isn't bad, but you don't want to be on the West end of that lake with anywhere close to a 20 knot East wind. Its long enough to get you 6-8 footers and shallow enough to make them STEEP. As long as you watch your wind direction its a great lake to sail on. The West end can get a little flaky because of the islands, but once you're out of their lee its a blast. Ed ============================================= Submitted by Hayden Jones of Ocean City, MD on 09/05 at 12:42PM regarding Hunter 23 Sounds like you were on the east end of Oneida Lake with a big blow out of the west. I lived in Syracuse for q15 years but didn't start sailing till I got to Ocean City MD. Hayden
Actually we were coming out of Maple bay, on the South shore, into a North wind. East end isn't bad, but you don't want to be on the West end of that lake with anywhere close to a 20 knot East wind. Its long enough to get you 6-8 footers and shallow enough to make them STEEP. As long as you watch your wind direction its a great lake to sail on. The West end can get a little flaky because of the islands, but once you're out of their lee its a blast. Ed ============================================= Submitted by Hayden Jones of Ocean City, MD on 09/05 at 12:42PM regarding Hunter 23 Sounds like you were on the east end of Oneida Lake with a big blow out of the west. I lived in Syracuse for q15 years but didn't start sailing till I got to Ocean City MD. Hayden
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Crazy Dave Condon
Responses are good
The responses are good but if you are new to sailing, I would suggest staying out of the heavy wind sailing until you are more experienced. As for the keel, I found that in the years of selling and sailing those boats, I found the H 23 wng keel is very well balanced to the displacement of the boat. When looking at the hull, may I suggest that you do look at the wings as they are not bent, broken and so forth as it will deter the performance. If rusty, clean the keel, use a wire brush to get the oxidation off, fill in any gaps with a two part epoxy sealer, spray zinc chromate on any of the cast iron to prevent rust and then repaint before putting back into the water. Also check the keel to boat joint and if cracked, simply remove enough portion and put in epoxy sealer(this does not mean water is coming into the boat) Good luck and happy sailing Crazy dave condon
The responses are good but if you are new to sailing, I would suggest staying out of the heavy wind sailing until you are more experienced. As for the keel, I found that in the years of selling and sailing those boats, I found the H 23 wng keel is very well balanced to the displacement of the boat. When looking at the hull, may I suggest that you do look at the wings as they are not bent, broken and so forth as it will deter the performance. If rusty, clean the keel, use a wire brush to get the oxidation off, fill in any gaps with a two part epoxy sealer, spray zinc chromate on any of the cast iron to prevent rust and then repaint before putting back into the water. Also check the keel to boat joint and if cracked, simply remove enough portion and put in epoxy sealer(this does not mean water is coming into the boat) Good luck and happy sailing Crazy dave condon
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