My wife and I are looking to take our 2006 Hunter 36 offshore. Many of our friends consider us nuts, and I am looking for any other Hunter 36's stories, lessoned learned, equipment additions, hull modifications, etc. Thanks!
Offshore capabilities of 2006 Hunter 36
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Offshore where? Around the world? Victoria Island?
need more specifics before people can give you and educated guess. I have a H36 and take it to the channel islands, san diego...I feel comfortable going to Seattle. Coastal cruiser it is.....Blue Water....I don't think so. And I don't want to hear how Mary Jane took her bathtub around the world and its the sailor that counts.
need more specifics before people can give you and educated guess. I have a H36 and take it to the channel islands, san diego...I feel comfortable going to Seattle. Coastal cruiser it is.....Blue Water....I don't think so. And I don't want to hear how Mary Jane took her bathtub around the world and its the sailor that counts.
Put Your Hands Over Your Ears, Abe...
...of course, the areas Abe is describing as areas in which he feels comfortable sailing are some of the more challenging you would likely encounter in most of the world's cruising areas...
Rick D.
...of course, the areas Abe is describing as areas in which he feels comfortable sailing are some of the more challenging you would likely encounter in most of the world's cruising areas...
Rick D.
Colgate Offshore Sailing program uses Hunter 36
Rick is right! If you can negotiate the US West Coast without too many disasters or near-disasters you will find that most tropical bluewater destinations are a walk in the park by comparison. Just stick religiously to the cyclone calendar and avoid making long passages in the extratropical latitudes (where staying out of the cyclone season does not offer adequate protection. Most of all, remember: "there be no dragons". Yes, even with the best preparation there is a minute (though not completely negligible) chance that you might run into a maverik storm or a rogue wave. Moreover, even with a much stronger vessel, you could still be run over by a large vessel (especially closer to the coast), or become victim of a myriad other mishaps. BTW, Steven and Doris Colgate, owners and operators of what is probably the largest US offshore sailing school, have chosen the Hunter 36 for their program and have a lot of nice things to say about it (see link). Apparently, you can first take their course and then claim a US $ 2,000 rebate from Hunter Marine if you buy a new Hunter larger than 30ft. (Just for the record: neither Hunter nor the Colgates are business associates of mine). Have fun Flying Dutchman Rivendel II (Hunter Legend 43, hull #1) Port Vila, Vanuatu (RII is currently dry-berthed for the cyclone season)
Rick is right! If you can negotiate the US West Coast without too many disasters or near-disasters you will find that most tropical bluewater destinations are a walk in the park by comparison. Just stick religiously to the cyclone calendar and avoid making long passages in the extratropical latitudes (where staying out of the cyclone season does not offer adequate protection. Most of all, remember: "there be no dragons". Yes, even with the best preparation there is a minute (though not completely negligible) chance that you might run into a maverik storm or a rogue wave. Moreover, even with a much stronger vessel, you could still be run over by a large vessel (especially closer to the coast), or become victim of a myriad other mishaps. BTW, Steven and Doris Colgate, owners and operators of what is probably the largest US offshore sailing school, have chosen the Hunter 36 for their program and have a lot of nice things to say about it (see link). Apparently, you can first take their course and then claim a US $ 2,000 rebate from Hunter Marine if you buy a new Hunter larger than 30ft. (Just for the record: neither Hunter nor the Colgates are business associates of mine). Have fun Flying Dutchman Rivendel II (Hunter Legend 43, hull #1) Port Vila, Vanuatu (RII is currently dry-berthed for the cyclone season)
bathtub sailer
i think comfort is the only real factor that makes the hunter 36 not a blue water boat. it will take you where you want to go.ive traveled much of the world in my 1984 hunter 34, been blown by hurricanes, encountered huge rogue waves that appear out of no where, and still im here. i try as best i can to avoid such situation now.fear is another factor.if you dont fear the seas, then the storms will pass,and on you on. i have equipped my 16 foot sugarsand jet boat with an extra 20 gal. fuel tank and often take it up to 100 miles out in the gulf of mexico to dive the reefs. people say that is insane,but we only live once. bathtub sailer.
i think comfort is the only real factor that makes the hunter 36 not a blue water boat. it will take you where you want to go.ive traveled much of the world in my 1984 hunter 34, been blown by hurricanes, encountered huge rogue waves that appear out of no where, and still im here. i try as best i can to avoid such situation now.fear is another factor.if you dont fear the seas, then the storms will pass,and on you on. i have equipped my 16 foot sugarsand jet boat with an extra 20 gal. fuel tank and often take it up to 100 miles out in the gulf of mexico to dive the reefs. people say that is insane,but we only live once. bathtub sailer.
I love it when people say I rather be.............
..poor and happy than rich and unhappy. Well, what happened to rich and happy. I rather be a good sailor and be in a big blue water boat. Leave the bathtub at home where it belongs. abe
..poor and happy than rich and unhappy. Well, what happened to rich and happy. I rather be a good sailor and be in a big blue water boat. Leave the bathtub at home where it belongs. abe
H36 seaworthiness
I've only put 3200nm on my 05H36, mostly singlehanding in the Gulf of Maine - mostly with winds between 3-30kts and seas no more than 8ft. While it's a comparable number of miles, it's not a lot of abuse compared to an Atlantic crossing. But, the boat is dry as a bone. However, I have experienced a knockdown from the 48kt+ gusts of a thunderstorm that gives me a lot of confidence in her (see link). Obviously, there are limitations to the stock boat, but without knowing how you've equipped yours, it's hard to comment on what you should add. The lifelines are rather low, and clearly, the lack of a bridge deck is an issue for any offshore use. Having had a previous boat's cockpit boarded by a quartering breaker and filled hip-high, I know I'm a bit sensitive on the issue. Nevertheless, keeping the dropboards in and slide closed at all times offshore is not hard to do. I find that just taking the top board out momentarily and stepping over the bottom two is not difficult for me (or my wife - and we're not kids). It quickly becomes habitual. Things like the stock boat's inadequate cabintop grab rails and lack of bottom hold-downs on the companionway steps are easily fixed. The narrow sidedecks and minimal lifelines can be lived with by installing a permanent ss wire jackline from the center of the arch to the mastbase and using the cabintop to go forward (with a short tether). While un-jamming a Furlex in 6ft seas is not pleasant, installing wire lacing on the lifelines makes it a bit less insecure. Temporary jacklines from the stern cleat to the bow cleat on each side are easy to rig. There's a lot of storage space for two people, but it's in big spaces that mandate lots of smaller sealable containers packed into them so they won't slop around. I've not added hold-downs on the lids of the settee lockers, but the contents of mine did stay where they were during the knockdown. The stock UK mainsail is 426sq-ft and only has 2 full battens on the top, with 2 leach battens below. The in-mast furling mainsail is only 384sq-ft, and the thoughts of dealing with a furler jam in heavy conditions I find daunting. I'm much more comfortable with the custom sails I had Doyle make for me from 8.8oz type 52 Dacron, including an all-full-batten, full-roach (490sq-ft) mainsail with 3 reef points. Even triple-reefed, the mainsail shape is excellent. To closehaul less than 28 degrees off the wind does require the use of the lazy sheet as a Barbor-hauler, but the boat does point pretty well with these sails, shoal draft notwithstanding. Knowing I can beat off a lee shore is important to me. The H36 weighs 7tons, and requires a lot of sail area for Force 2 conditions. Obviously, that area will get you in a lot of trouble in Force 6. I need both capabilities in the Gulf of Maine between April and November. A mainsail downhaul led back to the cockpit is a nice compliment to lazy jacks in heavy weather. Having 3 reef lines and the vang led aft does require more spinlocks on the cabintop, but they're not difficult to install. Hunter's fabric cabin liner is cleverly designed to allow easy access to the cabin roof. (I ordered the boat with ST40 winchws on the cabintop, just like the coaming winches. Not only do they give my wife more mechanical advantage, but a single set of spares covers all winches.) Your conditions may differ, but whatever they are, I'd suggest that you above all make sure you're confident in the durability and usability of your sails (and running rigging) for the conditions you expect to prepare for. 38gal of diesel is only 3 days worth, and you do only have a single primary fuel filter in a pretty clumsy location. (Matching ground tackle to expected use also requires a little thought. I've found a 35lb delta and 275ft of 5/16 HT chain quite adequate, with a fortress with a mixed rode for backup/kedge. However, I've never had to anchor for anything like a Hurricane.) Fair winds.
I've only put 3200nm on my 05H36, mostly singlehanding in the Gulf of Maine - mostly with winds between 3-30kts and seas no more than 8ft. While it's a comparable number of miles, it's not a lot of abuse compared to an Atlantic crossing. But, the boat is dry as a bone. However, I have experienced a knockdown from the 48kt+ gusts of a thunderstorm that gives me a lot of confidence in her (see link). Obviously, there are limitations to the stock boat, but without knowing how you've equipped yours, it's hard to comment on what you should add. The lifelines are rather low, and clearly, the lack of a bridge deck is an issue for any offshore use. Having had a previous boat's cockpit boarded by a quartering breaker and filled hip-high, I know I'm a bit sensitive on the issue. Nevertheless, keeping the dropboards in and slide closed at all times offshore is not hard to do. I find that just taking the top board out momentarily and stepping over the bottom two is not difficult for me (or my wife - and we're not kids). It quickly becomes habitual. Things like the stock boat's inadequate cabintop grab rails and lack of bottom hold-downs on the companionway steps are easily fixed. The narrow sidedecks and minimal lifelines can be lived with by installing a permanent ss wire jackline from the center of the arch to the mastbase and using the cabintop to go forward (with a short tether). While un-jamming a Furlex in 6ft seas is not pleasant, installing wire lacing on the lifelines makes it a bit less insecure. Temporary jacklines from the stern cleat to the bow cleat on each side are easy to rig. There's a lot of storage space for two people, but it's in big spaces that mandate lots of smaller sealable containers packed into them so they won't slop around. I've not added hold-downs on the lids of the settee lockers, but the contents of mine did stay where they were during the knockdown. The stock UK mainsail is 426sq-ft and only has 2 full battens on the top, with 2 leach battens below. The in-mast furling mainsail is only 384sq-ft, and the thoughts of dealing with a furler jam in heavy conditions I find daunting. I'm much more comfortable with the custom sails I had Doyle make for me from 8.8oz type 52 Dacron, including an all-full-batten, full-roach (490sq-ft) mainsail with 3 reef points. Even triple-reefed, the mainsail shape is excellent. To closehaul less than 28 degrees off the wind does require the use of the lazy sheet as a Barbor-hauler, but the boat does point pretty well with these sails, shoal draft notwithstanding. Knowing I can beat off a lee shore is important to me. The H36 weighs 7tons, and requires a lot of sail area for Force 2 conditions. Obviously, that area will get you in a lot of trouble in Force 6. I need both capabilities in the Gulf of Maine between April and November. A mainsail downhaul led back to the cockpit is a nice compliment to lazy jacks in heavy weather. Having 3 reef lines and the vang led aft does require more spinlocks on the cabintop, but they're not difficult to install. Hunter's fabric cabin liner is cleverly designed to allow easy access to the cabin roof. (I ordered the boat with ST40 winchws on the cabintop, just like the coaming winches. Not only do they give my wife more mechanical advantage, but a single set of spares covers all winches.) Your conditions may differ, but whatever they are, I'd suggest that you above all make sure you're confident in the durability and usability of your sails (and running rigging) for the conditions you expect to prepare for. 38gal of diesel is only 3 days worth, and you do only have a single primary fuel filter in a pretty clumsy location. (Matching ground tackle to expected use also requires a little thought. I've found a 35lb delta and 275ft of 5/16 HT chain quite adequate, with a fortress with a mixed rode for backup/kedge. However, I've never had to anchor for anything like a Hurricane.) Fair winds.
bahttub sailor
i agree with being rich and happy and having a big blue water boat.however i wasnt born rich,but im working on it and ive got to live a little in the mean time.at this time im stocking up on materials to build my big blue water boat,a steel and concrete hull 39 ft. ketch. i was a welder for years before i got into realestate so it seems pretty simple. i would feel much safer in something i built too. bathtub sailor.
i agree with being rich and happy and having a big blue water boat.however i wasnt born rich,but im working on it and ive got to live a little in the mean time.at this time im stocking up on materials to build my big blue water boat,a steel and concrete hull 39 ft. ketch. i was a welder for years before i got into realestate so it seems pretty simple. i would feel much safer in something i built too. bathtub sailor.
Answers
We've taken her so far into the Gulf Islands and the San Juans. For our first long trip, we plan on taking her down the West Coast, Mexico, thru the Panama Canal and into the Caribbean. We haven't outfitted her with anything that didn't come with her at purchase yet. We are trying to determine, and from many of the posts, it sounds like the boat's hull is capable, though as with most boats in this price range, we will have to extensively upgrade many of the systems. For those that have gone on long passages, what are the luxuries versus what are things you felt you couldn't live without? Cheers!
We've taken her so far into the Gulf Islands and the San Juans. For our first long trip, we plan on taking her down the West Coast, Mexico, thru the Panama Canal and into the Caribbean. We haven't outfitted her with anything that didn't come with her at purchase yet. We are trying to determine, and from many of the posts, it sounds like the boat's hull is capable, though as with most boats in this price range, we will have to extensively upgrade many of the systems. For those that have gone on long passages, what are the luxuries versus what are things you felt you couldn't live without? Cheers!
One Passage Experience for Island Passage
Take this for what little it’s worth from an example of a 1200 NM nine-day non-stop passage with four crew. 1. Watermaker: It was sure nice to take a shower every couple of days. The 100 gallons of water might have been OK without them. 2. Salt water into galley. We used an ungodly amount of water just washing dishes. It sure didn’t need to be fresh water. 3. Radar. Even though in most cases it was clear and offshore you don’t run into much traffic, it was sure beneficial when nearing port. 4. Fishing gear. Although I personally don’t like fish, the crew sure did and catching a couple of fish made the trip more interesting and the diet varied. 5. Tools. We had a very complete set of tools on board and some raw materials. We shaped a gooseneck slide when one broke and rigged an outhaul when the car decided to jump ship. 6. Good dodger, cushions and bimini. Those long night watches are much more comfortable out of the wind and spray. We didn’t have a bimini and it sure would have been nice when the weather warmed up. You really want some cushions that won’t absorb water, dry easily with a chamois some backrest cushions softer than those cast-iron throwable cushions. 7. We had a SSB with a Proctor modem for e-mail. That was really handy, but only marginally reliable as to the marine operator. I would have liked to have had a sat phone for the trip. 8. A very reliable head and a spare pump. Nuff said. 9. Good cockpit and mast lights. We found those to be really important for night work and trouble-shooting. Also, good-quality small, personal flashlights and extra batteries. 10. Masthead tri-color and strobe. It was certainly more comfortable to have the nav lights up high and we used the strobe a couple of times to alert ships to us (not an authorized practice, but one used often, I’m told). 11. Packing and trash. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make a menu for each day, remove all plastic and as much packing as possible, replace with zip-locks, and pack in the order to be used. You don’t want to dispose of plastic overboard. Paper (shredded) and cans holed to sink are OK. You have limited trash storage, and you want to us that for the plastic you had to dispose of. 12. Back-up navigation. We had paper charts, a chartplotter and a laptop with a charting system. We used all three. 13. Safety gear. A locator beacon will help you sleep better. Inflatable vest/harnesses are a standard as should be some places in the cockpit to clip on. The other typical stuff, except the first aid-kit. Get a good one. Make sure it has things for dental too. You will certainly need more Band-Aids than are in the kit. Also, dressings and adhesive. I doubt many passages are made that something doesn’t rip into your flesh. Don’t forget cold medication, eyewashes, allergy meds, etc. 14. Spares. We had some rigging replacements of shackles and lines in addition to that previously mentioned and an alternator belt. You would probably want a spare pressure pump unless you had manual back up. That and the hundred other things. 15. Let me add a good preventer and reaching pole are worth their weight in gold for broad reaching and DDW sailing. There are a lot of other items too; these are just the ones that came first to mind. Notice I didn’t say much about the boat itself. I think any decent boat with good gear; sails and rig would have done just fine. Sorry for running on… Rick D.
Take this for what little it’s worth from an example of a 1200 NM nine-day non-stop passage with four crew. 1. Watermaker: It was sure nice to take a shower every couple of days. The 100 gallons of water might have been OK without them. 2. Salt water into galley. We used an ungodly amount of water just washing dishes. It sure didn’t need to be fresh water. 3. Radar. Even though in most cases it was clear and offshore you don’t run into much traffic, it was sure beneficial when nearing port. 4. Fishing gear. Although I personally don’t like fish, the crew sure did and catching a couple of fish made the trip more interesting and the diet varied. 5. Tools. We had a very complete set of tools on board and some raw materials. We shaped a gooseneck slide when one broke and rigged an outhaul when the car decided to jump ship. 6. Good dodger, cushions and bimini. Those long night watches are much more comfortable out of the wind and spray. We didn’t have a bimini and it sure would have been nice when the weather warmed up. You really want some cushions that won’t absorb water, dry easily with a chamois some backrest cushions softer than those cast-iron throwable cushions. 7. We had a SSB with a Proctor modem for e-mail. That was really handy, but only marginally reliable as to the marine operator. I would have liked to have had a sat phone for the trip. 8. A very reliable head and a spare pump. Nuff said. 9. Good cockpit and mast lights. We found those to be really important for night work and trouble-shooting. Also, good-quality small, personal flashlights and extra batteries. 10. Masthead tri-color and strobe. It was certainly more comfortable to have the nav lights up high and we used the strobe a couple of times to alert ships to us (not an authorized practice, but one used often, I’m told). 11. Packing and trash. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make a menu for each day, remove all plastic and as much packing as possible, replace with zip-locks, and pack in the order to be used. You don’t want to dispose of plastic overboard. Paper (shredded) and cans holed to sink are OK. You have limited trash storage, and you want to us that for the plastic you had to dispose of. 12. Back-up navigation. We had paper charts, a chartplotter and a laptop with a charting system. We used all three. 13. Safety gear. A locator beacon will help you sleep better. Inflatable vest/harnesses are a standard as should be some places in the cockpit to clip on. The other typical stuff, except the first aid-kit. Get a good one. Make sure it has things for dental too. You will certainly need more Band-Aids than are in the kit. Also, dressings and adhesive. I doubt many passages are made that something doesn’t rip into your flesh. Don’t forget cold medication, eyewashes, allergy meds, etc. 14. Spares. We had some rigging replacements of shackles and lines in addition to that previously mentioned and an alternator belt. You would probably want a spare pressure pump unless you had manual back up. That and the hundred other things. 15. Let me add a good preventer and reaching pole are worth their weight in gold for broad reaching and DDW sailing. There are a lot of other items too; these are just the ones that came first to mind. Notice I didn’t say much about the boat itself. I think any decent boat with good gear; sails and rig would have done just fine. Sorry for running on… Rick D.
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