Overpowered... Or too much rake?

[george kornreich]

I'd like to get some ideas on how to tell whether the excess weather helm that we seem to have more often than not is due to too much sail up or the need to reduce the rake angle. The fact that our 430 carries weather helm at surprisingly low wind velocities makes me wonder about the rake, but we did check it with a plumb bob on the main halyard, got 5 inches of rake, and Hunter says that's OK. Are they right??? Thanks.

 

[Russell Egge]

Check archives

In addition to the archives here is what we have learned when close hauled and dealing with weather helm1. Tighten the halyard2. Tighten the vang and outhaul3. Pull the main and jib sheets all the way in4. Reef

 

[Vito Ciaravino]

DEpower the main

I have a hunter 40.5 and I also expirience weather helm. My solution has been to depower the main sail. It is so large in comparison to the Jib that it naturally causes weather helm. I tighten the halyard, I twist the leech a little more than normal and I let the traveler out. Suprisingly she goes faster. I hope this helps

 

[Derek Rowell]

Mast Rake

My understanding is that reducing mast rake is useful for "tweaking" weather helm by moving the center of effort forward, but has nowhere enough effect to reduce the helm that many Hunters exhibit when heeled. Use sail control/reefing to keep upripght....Good luck,Derek

 

[george kornreich]

Thanks

Thanks for the input, guys. I've been working on sail trim, but probably need to get more aggressive with it.George

 

[Simon Pickering]

Sail theory

The theory with the big roach main and small headsail is that you reef the main much earlier i.e. atleast 5 knots to depower the boat. Most people have difficulty making the adjustment from conventional wind limits for reefing to what is required with this configuration. You reef more but chage or furl the headsail less.