aloha to all, i am in the process of purchasing a 1998 hunter 450 passage and trying to get the boat ready for a passage form newport beach to hawaii. my experience with the boat is limited to a cruise up and down the bay in in light air since my time on the mainland was limited, none the less shes mine! so i am looking for advise on setting the boat up for a passage. i was told the the boats have a huge main and 110 headsail so on a long passage they have a tendincy of rounding up, any comments? also i want to set it up for a storm sail on a removeable innerforestay, any comments i still need all of the passage gear so any advise would be greatly appreciated. does any other 450 owners know of things that they would definetely change before making a trip like that. mahalo, jim
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One Reference
might be the link below for Chris Oldham's Atlantic voyage on his 450. He did not have a stock rig, however, but I believe the sailplan was unchanged. You may want to contact him directly. FWIW, we know a couple who took their's to Mexico, and decided to keep on going. Last contact was them heading south to Cartagena from the Carib to duck the Hurricane season last year. Their boat is basically stock and I am not aware of any non-maintenance problems. Congrads on your purchase and have a great sail home. I assume you had a competent survey. A really good rig survey and engine survey are probably in order if you have not already done so. You may want to get a drifter/reacher at Minney's Marine for the trip. Rick D.
might be the link below for Chris Oldham's Atlantic voyage on his 450. He did not have a stock rig, however, but I believe the sailplan was unchanged. You may want to contact him directly. FWIW, we know a couple who took their's to Mexico, and decided to keep on going. Last contact was them heading south to Cartagena from the Carib to duck the Hurricane season last year. Their boat is basically stock and I am not aware of any non-maintenance problems. Congrads on your purchase and have a great sail home. I assume you had a competent survey. A really good rig survey and engine survey are probably in order if you have not already done so. You may want to get a drifter/reacher at Minney's Marine for the trip. Rick D.
Try the archives
Use "blue water" or "offshore" as search terms. There are some good threads on this subject. You want to: Inspect and/or strengthen the rig. Add heavy weather sails, and appropriate rigging. Provide autopilot and or windvane. Strengthen any weak spots in the hull. Waterproof hull openings, including lockers. Secure stowage in case of an extreme roll. Upgrade electronics - epirb, radio/satellite phone. Liferaft and safety gear. That's not complete, just what occurred to me. There are also some owner reviews that describe preparations for blue water, but I don't remember a specific one offhand. Enjoy your preparations and sailing! David Lady Lillie
Use "blue water" or "offshore" as search terms. There are some good threads on this subject. You want to: Inspect and/or strengthen the rig. Add heavy weather sails, and appropriate rigging. Provide autopilot and or windvane. Strengthen any weak spots in the hull. Waterproof hull openings, including lockers. Secure stowage in case of an extreme roll. Upgrade electronics - epirb, radio/satellite phone. Liferaft and safety gear. That's not complete, just what occurred to me. There are also some owner reviews that describe preparations for blue water, but I don't remember a specific one offhand. Enjoy your preparations and sailing! David Lady Lillie
Check This Site
http://home1.gte.net/amykirk/hitransit.html A buddy of mine just made the trip and while it gives no specific details on what you are asking it is a fun read.
http://home1.gte.net/amykirk/hitransit.html A buddy of mine just made the trip and while it gives no specific details on what you are asking it is a fun read.
innerforestay
Dear Jim: I have a 460 in Newport Beach and installed an innerforestay last year. The complete stay with mast attachment and quick release handle plus the chain plate are available for purchase at Hunter. I did the work myself and not very difficult. The stay sail was cut by UK Sails (Rick) in Newport Beach. It's 9 oz and has one reef point and lives in a jib bag attached to the innerstay when I go on extended trips. For day sailing or going to Catalina for the weekend, the staysail is removed and the innerstay is retracted. The 460 rig is identical to the 450. Hope this helps.
Dear Jim: I have a 460 in Newport Beach and installed an innerforestay last year. The complete stay with mast attachment and quick release handle plus the chain plate are available for purchase at Hunter. I did the work myself and not very difficult. The stay sail was cut by UK Sails (Rick) in Newport Beach. It's 9 oz and has one reef point and lives in a jib bag attached to the innerstay when I go on extended trips. For day sailing or going to Catalina for the weekend, the staysail is removed and the innerstay is retracted. The 460 rig is identical to the 450. Hope this helps.
SEAT TIME
JIM ... A WINSLOW 6 MAN EMERGENCY LIFE RAFT IS IN ORDER. INSTAL SOME DAVITS TO HANG A DINGY SO THAT THE FORE DECK IS OPEN. GET THE STORM LINES INSTALLED AND A SS BAND RADIO OR SAT PHONE WOULD BE IN ORDER. THAT'S A BIG LONG TRIP AND PERHAPS SOME MORE OFFSHORE TIME IS IN ORDER. ADD BIGGER SEA STRAINERS AND SOME RAYCOR FUEL FILTERS. INSTAL A CHART PLOTTER AND RADAR AND MOUNT THE RADAR REFLECTOR ON THE MAST. YOU'LL NEED A 12VOLT WINDGENERATOR AND MAKE SURE THE HOUSE BATTERIES ARE LIKE NEW. BIMINI AND STRONG DODGER OR FRONT WINDOWS ARE IN ORDER. BOSMAN CHAIR AND SPARE IMPELLER PUMPS. TWO WEEKS IS LONG TIME OUT. LOTS CAN GO WRONG. LET ME KNOW IF YOU MAKE IT. I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT TRIP SOMETIME.
JIM ... A WINSLOW 6 MAN EMERGENCY LIFE RAFT IS IN ORDER. INSTAL SOME DAVITS TO HANG A DINGY SO THAT THE FORE DECK IS OPEN. GET THE STORM LINES INSTALLED AND A SS BAND RADIO OR SAT PHONE WOULD BE IN ORDER. THAT'S A BIG LONG TRIP AND PERHAPS SOME MORE OFFSHORE TIME IS IN ORDER. ADD BIGGER SEA STRAINERS AND SOME RAYCOR FUEL FILTERS. INSTAL A CHART PLOTTER AND RADAR AND MOUNT THE RADAR REFLECTOR ON THE MAST. YOU'LL NEED A 12VOLT WINDGENERATOR AND MAKE SURE THE HOUSE BATTERIES ARE LIKE NEW. BIMINI AND STRONG DODGER OR FRONT WINDOWS ARE IN ORDER. BOSMAN CHAIR AND SPARE IMPELLER PUMPS. TWO WEEKS IS LONG TIME OUT. LOTS CAN GO WRONG. LET ME KNOW IF YOU MAKE IT. I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE THAT TRIP SOMETIME.
JIM, GO TO YOUR LOCAL WM STORE AND...
purchase, "Voyager's Handbook", by Beth Leonard. This is a very good book on blue water cruising preparation. She and her mate sailed around the world in their ketch during the past decade. The book is out of print, but WM should be able to get you a copy. I highly recommend that you study the book and equip your boat accordingly. Her book contains several hundred pages of very valuable experiences that she recorded for her book. Things that worked, did not work, medical supplies, spares parts, sail plans, etc. You should plan on at least a year to prepare you, your crew and your boat for the journey. Good luck on your adventure. Terry
purchase, "Voyager's Handbook", by Beth Leonard. This is a very good book on blue water cruising preparation. She and her mate sailed around the world in their ketch during the past decade. The book is out of print, but WM should be able to get you a copy. I highly recommend that you study the book and equip your boat accordingly. Her book contains several hundred pages of very valuable experiences that she recorded for her book. Things that worked, did not work, medical supplies, spares parts, sail plans, etc. You should plan on at least a year to prepare you, your crew and your boat for the journey. Good luck on your adventure. Terry
Preparing takes a lot of time and forethought
We have twice taken our Legend 43 to Hawaii, first in 1994 (from Santa Barbara) and again in 1997 (from San Carlos in the Sea of Cortez). If this is the first significant offshore passage for both vessel and skipper you should count on minimally 2 years of preparation. If either one has done this before, you may be able to cram preparations into one year. The most to-the-point book on how to prepare a sailing vessel for this particular journey appears to be the West Marine Cup manual written by Jim and Sue Corenman. Over the years I have submitted quite a few posts to this forum on how to prepare a medium-light cruising vessel for offshore passages. Just search the archives under "meuzelaar". The advice given by the previous responders is very good but I would only carry a dinghy in davits if it was quite light, the davits very strong plus mounted relatively high, and the dinghy pulled up all the way while fully covered to prevent accidental swamping. Important DON'Ts: Do Not tempt fate by going offshore during the North Pacific hurricane season (June through November); Do Not needlessly make offshore passages in the higher latitudes, i.e. above 25-30 degrees North. Sail South along the Baja Coast and then try to pick up the trades. Returning to the US; try ducking under the Pacific High rather than following the old square-rigger route and going over the top. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
We have twice taken our Legend 43 to Hawaii, first in 1994 (from Santa Barbara) and again in 1997 (from San Carlos in the Sea of Cortez). If this is the first significant offshore passage for both vessel and skipper you should count on minimally 2 years of preparation. If either one has done this before, you may be able to cram preparations into one year. The most to-the-point book on how to prepare a sailing vessel for this particular journey appears to be the West Marine Cup manual written by Jim and Sue Corenman. Over the years I have submitted quite a few posts to this forum on how to prepare a medium-light cruising vessel for offshore passages. Just search the archives under "meuzelaar". The advice given by the previous responders is very good but I would only carry a dinghy in davits if it was quite light, the davits very strong plus mounted relatively high, and the dinghy pulled up all the way while fully covered to prevent accidental swamping. Important DON'Ts: Do Not tempt fate by going offshore during the North Pacific hurricane season (June through November); Do Not needlessly make offshore passages in the higher latitudes, i.e. above 25-30 degrees North. Sail South along the Baja Coast and then try to pick up the trades. Returning to the US; try ducking under the Pacific High rather than following the old square-rigger route and going over the top. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
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