Ocean crossing

[ted jensen]

a different angle

maybe the question should be, tell me why with proper crew and boat preparation, a hunter legend 35.5 cant cross an ocean safely? engineer types feel free to talk like engineers

 

[henkmeuzelaar]

Agree, Ted, but at what Latitude?

IMHO latitude and season are the most strongly defining factors. With proper preparation almost any larger Hunter can safely cross an ocean within the Tradewind belts and outside the cyclone season. At the latitudes where you live, it is an entirely different matter. Just check the pilot charts.....That does not mean it cannot be done, of course (people have survived lying down in the middle of busy highways). But with acceptable risk?I think I know where you are coming from, though. How many reports of Hunter hulls cracking, rudders shearing off (after 1990) or keels dropping, causing a Hunter to founder offshore, can anyone cite, after all? The rest are details of proper maintenance and preparation.The new chainplate construction (on which models and since when?) has me worried quite a bit, though. The average hull laminate -- i.e. without specially reinforced radial layups to properly distribute the load -- would appear to be a poor substitute for proper tie-down rods. Plus, what happens if any vessel, dock or other obstacle) rams that hull just below the chainplate attachment (a not too uncommon occurrence)?Flying Dutchman"Rivendel II"

 

[ted jensen]

per common sense

i admit that i havent followed the newer hunters as far as design and construction, but refering to the original post im spacifically refering to the 35.5 legand series which stoped production in 95.(my self i wouldnt use a 35.5 built past 89 for the trip due to interior layouts). keep in mind that a certain amount of common sense must be applied in assuming that one would start and finish the voyage in 1) a friendly trade wind lattitude and 2) outside the hurricane/cyclone seasons. a statement that i allways get a kick out of is when someone says " hunters are allright but i wouldnt want to be cought in a hurricane in one " i allways want to ask them exactly what boat do they want to be in a hurricane in? no doubt they have never witnessed the awsome force of a storm of that magnitude. henk by virtue of where you are right now, you have probly met people that have sailed the south pacific in boats that most on this board wouldnt take 5 miles offshore

 

[David Foster]

Lower latitudes reduce risk but...

most of the storms described in Heavy Weather were unseasonal, and/or unforecast. That's why so many yachts were caught in them. Several were in the trades outside of cyclone season.DavidLady Lillie