I have just become a hunter 216 owner after 6 months with a small catamaran. I am curious as to what level of heel does there become a capsize risk. I was told that I can't turn it over, but after sailing in 20 know winds this weekend, it sure was catching my breath!
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heel
I was out a couple of weeks ago (with my H216) with full sail in too-strong conditions and was worried a couple of times with the amount of heel. It would lean way over (which dumps the air from the sails) and head up... the heeling caught my breath too. Finally I got smart and reefed the main. Later I furled up the gib. Then it was quite manageable. I was single-handling the boat. Be sure to reef early. I might investigate getting a second reef point in the main. I'd be curious as to what conditions would lay the boat over on its side... and if the keel would right the boat again (if the sales didn't scoop up water). But I'm not going to try this on purpose...
I was out a couple of weeks ago (with my H216) with full sail in too-strong conditions and was worried a couple of times with the amount of heel. It would lean way over (which dumps the air from the sails) and head up... the heeling caught my breath too. Finally I got smart and reefed the main. Later I furled up the gib. Then it was quite manageable. I was single-handling the boat. Be sure to reef early. I might investigate getting a second reef point in the main. I'd be curious as to what conditions would lay the boat over on its side... and if the keel would right the boat again (if the sales didn't scoop up water). But I'm not going to try this on purpose...
Capsize potential of H-216
This was mentioned in an earlier thread but I was unable to find it. We have found that long before the 216 heels far enough to take on water, the rudder looses its effectiveness and the boat will round up into the wind no matter what you try to do. In discussing this with the folks at Hunter Composites, I stated that I thought that the only way the boat would capsize was for the boat to be almost still in the water and get hit with a huge puff. They said that this actually happened to a dealer (out on the West Coast I believe) and the boat took a knockdown but that it floated high enough until it righted itself that no water got into the cuddy at all. The dealer said that he had never seen a boat do that before and he didn't even get wet.
This was mentioned in an earlier thread but I was unable to find it. We have found that long before the 216 heels far enough to take on water, the rudder looses its effectiveness and the boat will round up into the wind no matter what you try to do. In discussing this with the folks at Hunter Composites, I stated that I thought that the only way the boat would capsize was for the boat to be almost still in the water and get hit with a huge puff. They said that this actually happened to a dealer (out on the West Coast I believe) and the boat took a knockdown but that it floated high enough until it righted itself that no water got into the cuddy at all. The dealer said that he had never seen a boat do that before and he didn't even get wet.
G
GKuffner
I bought my H216 last year and as a first time sailor I was initially concerned about its potential to capsize – at least until a friend of mine (a very experienced sailor) and I were out in a real blow. I was surprised and impressed at how the boat turned into the wind if the sails became overpowered. It got to the point where we were each trying it just to see it happen over and over again. That really gave me a lot of confidence in the H216s handling ability. Now that I’m more familiar with the boat and have a little more experience I know what to do to keep control during a gust. I also know how well the boat handles under a partially furled jib, a completely furled jib and a reefed main. There are a number of sail combinations that you can use to adapt to a variety of wind conditions and still feel in control. The h216 is a fast boat but I find that it sails faster in stronger breezes when you reef, it just that it doesn’t feel as fast as when your dipping the rail. Gary
multihull vs. monohull
My first boat was a small trimaran which by its design didn't heel much. It takes a while to get used to the heel of a monohull when you were used to the flat sailing of a multihull.
My first boat was a small trimaran which by its design didn't heel much. It takes a while to get used to the heel of a monohull when you were used to the flat sailing of a multihull.
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