New Used Hunter 140 Owner with Questions

[Steve Kramer]

I am a life-long sailor, but sold my big, heavy Com-Pac sailboat for a lightweight Hunter 140.A few simple questions:1. If I want to hang the smallest available Minn-Kota trolling motor off the back of the transom, do I need to buy one of those motor brackets? I imagine it's a dumb idea to hang a trolling motor on the transom, even with a protective covering over the transom. I'm hoping there is room for the marine battery box at the very back of the cockpit, like my Com-Pac had, although my Com-Pac had under the seats storage and I'm pretty sure this Hunter 140 does not.2. I'm thinking for launching at a beach instead of a boat ramp, I could make one of those portable boat roller ramps or buy one so my wife and I, who are not muscle men and women, could load and unload the boat into the water without lifting the boat, although it only weights 225 lbs., and we could avoid always using our crowded Florida boat ramps.3. Has anyone every added a bimini top to a Hunter 140? I know the main sail boom is higher than on some boats, but maybe not high enough for a bimini top.4. Is a spinnaker available for the Hunter 140 boat and about how much does that cost?5. I read the specs on this boat and found that the mast is 21 feet 6 inches tall? Is that the mast measured from the water line or the length of the actual mast itself? I'm guessing the height of the mast from the water line.I guess that my questions for now. I'm really looking forwared to sailing again. It's been a few years since I sold my Com-Pac 16. I have also owned a Sea Snark Sunflower sailboat and raced Hobie Cat 16s in the Gulf of Mexico off Clearwater Beach, FL.Thanks for answering my questions, ahead of time.Steve KramerSafety Harbor, FLHunter 140 Owner (awaiting delivery)

 

[crazy dave condon]

suggestions

Regarding trolling motors, you will need a battery and there is no accessible area to put a battery into. If there was, you would have to install a plate for the battery box to sit on and the strap alone provided with the battery box is not in my opinion strong enough to keep the battery box wwith battery in position when that small boat is bouncing around. You would have to add additional straping around the box and again where are you going to put the battery? I would not suggest the battery in the cockpit as you might fall over it. You could cut out the seat and drop in a storage compartment with lid that would hold the battery box but I am not keen on that either. As for motors, I suggest looking at the Honda 2 hp with the centrifical clutch that will turn the prop when you throttle up. It is air cooled and a four stoke engine. This works very well on small daysailors. There is a new electric motor which has a lithium battery built in Germany and sold thur West Marine called the Torpedo. Great little engine but expensive. It will fold up into a bag which is good for storage.You can use a beach dolly for this. See if HOW Chandlrey sells them.You may want to go to either Hunter or Ameriseam on this. At Hunter, contact Ted Norris at 800-771-5556 ext. 3652 or Jim Larsen at Ameriseam 800-755-7221. If Ameriseam can do the job, order the bimini thru HOW Chandlrey.If you can put on a spinnaker, Ted Norris can answer that for you at Hunter.Usually the mast height is from the water line. I would be caustious going under a low bridge because some have gone under such a bridge relying on that information with the mast hitting the bridge as the water was higher due to flooding. You as the captain will be responsible if loosing a mast to a bridge when going under a low bridge if that should ever happen. Be careful and do your homework.Steve, I hope I have helped you and happy sailing.