Keel up? Keel down? Hunter 23.5

[Hayden Jones]

I find the Hunter 23.5 quick to heel and it goes to 25 degrees pretty quickly. Scares land lubbers (my wife and others)!!!! I sail in shoal areas of Assawoman Bay behind Ocean City, MD. The keel is usually up to avoid hitting the bottom. Average bottom depth is about 4 to 5 ft. Tough with a 5 ft draft. I've lowered the keel in deeper water but haven't seen any improvement in the heeling (however it does appear to hold a line better on close hauls and close reaches).Is the heeling normal for the 23.5? I tend to reef it much earlier than my old boat to avoid the heeling. I also loosen the main sheet but substantially lose speed. Since I just got the boat this spring, I'm still learning, but this is one I'd like to resolve quickly.I'm off on vacation next week and hope to sail every day (can't get the first mate to spend a night on the boat as yet. Working on it. ) and drink every night, once the boat has been put to bed. "There's booze in the blender, and soon it will render that frozen concoction that helps me hang on." Send me you secrets!Hayden

 

[MARTY ALBRIGHT]

HEEL AWAY.........

I SAIL A HUNTER 240 AND HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. ALTHOUGH I USUALLY SAIL WITH CENTERBOARD DOWN OR SLIGHTLY UP, THE BOAT WILL HEEL TO 30 DEG WITH SIGNIFICANT GUSTS. I HAVE TRIED SAILING WITH THE BOARD UP WHICH SEEMS TO HELP(PROBABLY DUE TO LEEWAY) SOMETIMES. REEFING HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED ON THIS SITE FOR 15 DEG HEEL OR GREATER. THAT REALLY SLOWS ME DOWN AS IN MY AREA MOST WINDS ARE GUSTY. MYWIFE AND SAILING FRIENDS HAVE COME TO ENJOY THE HEELING BECAUSE WITH EXCESSIVE WIND THE BOAT PREDICTABLY POINTS TO WIND REGARDLESS OF TILLER EFFORT. I HAVE ROLLER FURLING ON THE JIB WHICH HELPS CONSIDERABLY WITH REEFING AND ITRY TO KEEP THE RIG BALANCED. I HAVE RECENTLYPURCHASED A LOOS GAUGE TO SET SHROUD TENSION WHICH MIGHT HELP (MY TENSIONS WERE WAY OFF). I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE OUT SOME OF THE MAST BEND WHICH ALSO SHOULD HELP.  HOPE THIS HELPS TO KNOW WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING. BEST OF LUCK AND GOOD SAILING.MARTY ALBRIGHT (SAILCRAZEMNA@YAHOO.COM)

 

[Mike Collins]

23.5 heeling

I usually reef the main at about 15 to 17 knots of wind. I have roller reefing on the jib and play with it for nearly neutral helm. Keeping from the "Hunter" rounding up is a good thing, I really don't see any negatives on the speed of the boat. We were hitting up to 6.5 knots with 19 knots of wind, no problem. The tiller takes very little effort (like power steering, compared to fighting the weather helm), and the heel angle still depends on how hard you drive it. Gusts are much more manageable and average speed is much better. I really think that the 23.5 is set up for the 10-12 knot inland lake wind with full sails. Only took me about 2 years to learn this!!The passengers are much more happy, and the boat is much more predicable. S/V Yacht C

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Beg difference

I do not agree with the heeling suggestion as the earlier response advised. Experience teaches me not to heel over 12-15 degrees as you will start to fight the boat thus loosing performance and of course scaring the crap out of your family. If you do not have roller furling, I advise to get it. Suggest that you start to reef the jib if you have furling at 11-13 knots or earlier if uncomfortable and at about 15 knots or higher to reef the main and if it is too much, then you are crazy to be out there scaring everyone. YOu scare your family and you will end up sailing by yourself. The board should be down all the way but if it is up some but not much, best advise is to be careful with the amount of sail you are carrying.For the record, I personally introduced the 23.5 and 240 internationally for Hunter as I was involve with those projects. I know them too well.Crazy Dave Condon