Have sailed for 30 years on and off mostly small boats like Sunfish or sloop rigged daysailors. I am thinking of purchasing a H26 1994 from a Hunter dealer. I would of corse get a marine surveyer. I doubt that I would trailer it. The waters can be shallow 3-10 feet and are protected. Can this vessel be handled alone? I could easily assemble a crew in any event. Most of the time my wife and three young children would be abord. Is this a good boat for me (area and ability)? How does the handling compare with similar vessels? What do you good people think!
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doug scherer
sailing solo is soothing
I don't have hunter but a similar sized boat. I mostly sail alone and prefer it that way; wind in my face, salt air, headed for that paradise island on Sunday afternoon. (#1) It's nice to have the jib halyard led back especially for raising the sail. (#2) I have rigged an elastic cord to hold the tiller in self steering mode so I can preforn up front work while underway. (#3) A good reliable motor so you can keep the nose to the wind if the weather picks up real quick and you need bring down a little sail, also when the wind dies down so you can get back home.
I don't have hunter but a similar sized boat. I mostly sail alone and prefer it that way; wind in my face, salt air, headed for that paradise island on Sunday afternoon. (#1) It's nice to have the jib halyard led back especially for raising the sail. (#2) I have rigged an elastic cord to hold the tiller in self steering mode so I can preforn up front work while underway. (#3) A good reliable motor so you can keep the nose to the wind if the weather picks up real quick and you need bring down a little sail, also when the wind dies down so you can get back home.
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Larry Barnes
singlehanded or w/family
Alan, Sounds like the h26 is the boat for you. It's the biggest little boat I've ever sailed. Very comfortable for the family because of the ample room [topside as well a down below. The nicest feature, especially for the ladies, is the enclosed head. Except for the tall people of the world you could say it has full headroom and the salon seating for six w/perfectly adequate gally make this a family boat. Single handed sailing can easily be outfitted with roller furling jib and a tiller tamer or autopilot. The halyards are feed to the cockpit and lazyjacks, for the main sail furling would definately top it off. I've owned two of these wonderful boats and highly recommend it as a natural evolution for a dingy sailor. Frequently, you'll hear the h26 referred to as tender. My take on that is: when you get acustomed to your boat you'll know when to reef. Any boat is tender when it's over powered. General rule is to reef early and tender won't be a word in you vocabulary. I'm excited for you and the possibility of owning a 26. Your sailing adventures just expanded one thousand percent. Have fun on the H2O Larry Barnes "CNTRL SEA"
Alan, Sounds like the h26 is the boat for you. It's the biggest little boat I've ever sailed. Very comfortable for the family because of the ample room [topside as well a down below. The nicest feature, especially for the ladies, is the enclosed head. Except for the tall people of the world you could say it has full headroom and the salon seating for six w/perfectly adequate gally make this a family boat. Single handed sailing can easily be outfitted with roller furling jib and a tiller tamer or autopilot. The halyards are feed to the cockpit and lazyjacks, for the main sail furling would definately top it off. I've owned two of these wonderful boats and highly recommend it as a natural evolution for a dingy sailor. Frequently, you'll hear the h26 referred to as tender. My take on that is: when you get acustomed to your boat you'll know when to reef. Any boat is tender when it's over powered. General rule is to reef early and tender won't be a word in you vocabulary. I'm excited for you and the possibility of owning a 26. Your sailing adventures just expanded one thousand percent. Have fun on the H2O Larry Barnes "CNTRL SEA"
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John Griffin
Best small family cruiser.
Alan, I have two small children and a willing wife,WE HAVE HULL #620. If you were to pick a safe cruiser to put your family in and suffer the elements, there could be no better than the ubiquitous- westerly centaur-26' At 3' draft twin keels [Stand up straight on a grounding] it is the only 26' boat built with a family in mind.Two quarter berths "V" berth for two and a convertable dinette!!! Look for one before you buy anything else, they are bullet proof. All the best ,JOHN< ,SUE,EMMA,HENRY. E-Mail for more info.
Alan, I have two small children and a willing wife,WE HAVE HULL #620. If you were to pick a safe cruiser to put your family in and suffer the elements, there could be no better than the ubiquitous- westerly centaur-26' At 3' draft twin keels [Stand up straight on a grounding] it is the only 26' boat built with a family in mind.Two quarter berths "V" berth for two and a convertable dinette!!! Look for one before you buy anything else, they are bullet proof. All the best ,JOHN< ,SUE,EMMA,HENRY. E-Mail for more info.
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Dave Condon
Hunter 26
The year you mentioned was the first model year for the boat. Do have it surveyed for your assurance. Remember that you do not have to heel over max 13-15 degrees. It sails faster and flatter. Thank you for the other posts on this subject. Crazy Dave
The year you mentioned was the first model year for the boat. Do have it surveyed for your assurance. Remember that you do not have to heel over max 13-15 degrees. It sails faster and flatter. Thank you for the other posts on this subject. Crazy Dave
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Elaine
You can do it.
You say you've been sailing for 30 years so you're more than qualified to sail the H26 alone. I was the biggest "chicken of the sea" for most of the ten years I've sailed with my husband. Then I got the bug to take our H26 out alone. I waited about 2 weeks for the perfect weather window and for a night when my husband was working late, then rushed to the dock after work, undid everything, and motored down the river onto Lake Erie. I put up the sail and used my cell phone to call my husband at work and tell him of my situation. He was totally surprised and wished me a safe docking. I asked that he say a prayer for the boat, and then one for me too ( I figured I knew the order ). The winds were perfect and I sailed till sunset, grinning all the time. A friend of our happened to sail by (first time ever) and took my picture so I now have an 8 x 10 of my first solo sail hanging next to my desk. I'm an inner city high school teacher and have had some rough days at work, but after that experience, I go to work knowing that if I could handle a 26 foot boat alone on the lake, I can handle anything the kids can muster up. By the way, the docking was perfect. Good luck with your decision. You'll love the 26 and are more than qualified to handle it alone.
You say you've been sailing for 30 years so you're more than qualified to sail the H26 alone. I was the biggest "chicken of the sea" for most of the ten years I've sailed with my husband. Then I got the bug to take our H26 out alone. I waited about 2 weeks for the perfect weather window and for a night when my husband was working late, then rushed to the dock after work, undid everything, and motored down the river onto Lake Erie. I put up the sail and used my cell phone to call my husband at work and tell him of my situation. He was totally surprised and wished me a safe docking. I asked that he say a prayer for the boat, and then one for me too ( I figured I knew the order ). The winds were perfect and I sailed till sunset, grinning all the time. A friend of our happened to sail by (first time ever) and took my picture so I now have an 8 x 10 of my first solo sail hanging next to my desk. I'm an inner city high school teacher and have had some rough days at work, but after that experience, I go to work knowing that if I could handle a 26 foot boat alone on the lake, I can handle anything the kids can muster up. By the way, the docking was perfect. Good luck with your decision. You'll love the 26 and are more than qualified to handle it alone.
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Gary Gunderson
Single hand a Hunter 26
I am a first time sailboat owner. Sailing the boat alone is no problem. The only trouble I've had with the boat is getting in on and off the dock. The boat sits high out of the water and with a narrow keel it won't track at low speeds. I have countered this by keeping my speed up and being agressive while in a cross wind. Good luck...
I am a first time sailboat owner. Sailing the boat alone is no problem. The only trouble I've had with the boat is getting in on and off the dock. The boat sits high out of the water and with a narrow keel it won't track at low speeds. I have countered this by keeping my speed up and being agressive while in a cross wind. Good luck...
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