I am the "new owner" of a 1981 Hunter 22 and wondering about the possibility of capsizing. My girlfriend and I have been sailing on it a few times now and have had a couple of scary heelings in a 12-15 knot wind gusts. During our last outing, the toerail kissed the water and my first mate was ready about to abandon ship, swearing that once she got off, she wasn't getting back on.
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There is no easy answer to your question. All boats can capsize. The H22 is a very safe and fun boat. It takes a lot of bad luck and inexperience to get into trouble on a H22. Your boat is rated is rated CE category C. This means you should stay in coastal waters and inland lakes.
That said, I bet the more the boat heeled the more it wanted to head up into the wind and level up. There is a point where the boat is more stable upside down but to get to that point it will take more than wind blowing on the sails. It would take high waves plus strong winds well over 15 kts pushing on the windward side of the hull, and/or other external influences (like six drunks all hanging over the leeward rail) to drive it past the limit of positive stability. Prudent seamanship will minimize the risk.
If you have not taken a keelboat course you should. There you'll learn how to prevent the most common newbee mistake of becoming overpowered and you'll learn how sail the boat within it's limitations.
If you want to get technical about it, go to this webpage where you'll see how one person tried to compare his boat to others of similar size. You can use the same technique to compare the H22 to other boats.
Go to: http://h260.com/specs/specs.html
Honestly, heeling can be fun. We've all been there
In the meantime, keep the mainsheet uncleated and be ready to let the main out when he winds come up and you'll be OK.
That said, I bet the more the boat heeled the more it wanted to head up into the wind and level up. There is a point where the boat is more stable upside down but to get to that point it will take more than wind blowing on the sails. It would take high waves plus strong winds well over 15 kts pushing on the windward side of the hull, and/or other external influences (like six drunks all hanging over the leeward rail) to drive it past the limit of positive stability. Prudent seamanship will minimize the risk.
If you have not taken a keelboat course you should. There you'll learn how to prevent the most common newbee mistake of becoming overpowered and you'll learn how sail the boat within it's limitations.
If you want to get technical about it, go to this webpage where you'll see how one person tried to compare his boat to others of similar size. You can use the same technique to compare the H22 to other boats.
Go to: http://h260.com/specs/specs.html
Honestly, heeling can be fun. We've all been there
In the meantime, keep the mainsheet uncleated and be ready to let the main out when he winds come up and you'll be OK.
Keel boats will round up into the wind before they would ever go over. The only way to go over is if a hugh wave would it the boat and rolled you - it won't happen by healing over to far - enjoy the ride! But as I tell my passengers, I can't guarantee if they don't hang on that they won't fall out!
Only a breaking wave over 8 feet
If you take an 8 foot breaking wave broadside, it could roll your boat. But on a day that would generate breaking 8 footers, I think you would be in port. The worst the wind can do to you is a "knockdown" - flattening the mast on the water. But your keel would pop you right back up when the gust eased off.
The real issue here is not safety, but comfort. If you are burying the rail, you are slowing the boat down and making your crew very uncomfortable. Taking the sailing course as recommended will show you how to improve performance and comfort and safety - all things your crew will enjoy.
If you take an 8 foot breaking wave broadside, it could roll your boat. But on a day that would generate breaking 8 footers, I think you would be in port. The worst the wind can do to you is a "knockdown" - flattening the mast on the water. But your keel would pop you right back up when the gust eased off.
The real issue here is not safety, but comfort. If you are burying the rail, you are slowing the boat down and making your crew very uncomfortable. Taking the sailing course as recommended will show you how to improve performance and comfort and safety - all things your crew will enjoy.
I have a Hunter 22 and it does heel a good bit at 15 knots. Reefing early will make it more comfortable. I have a girlfriend that would have the same problem if it heeled with the toe rail touching the water.
But with that said nothing beats a keel boat course and bring your girlfriend with you for the class.
But with that said nothing beats a keel boat course and bring your girlfriend with you for the class.
Ha! The rail in the water! That is really no big deal. When we had our previous boats, putting the rail down was really no big deal. It is much more difficult to do on a larger boat.
As you have seen it is really not a big deal and normally does not stay down very long. Most of these small boats really need to think about a single reef once the wind hits about 12 kts. A double reef is in order around 15+ and maybe you should consider eliminating either the mail or the jib over 20.
Tell her (first mate) to get her butt aboard and don her life vest. It is very doubtful that you are ever going to sink this boat in most conditions.
Sailing lessons are definitely in order, lessons can instill new levels of confidence that you will never be able to convince her of.
As you have seen it is really not a big deal and normally does not stay down very long. Most of these small boats really need to think about a single reef once the wind hits about 12 kts. A double reef is in order around 15+ and maybe you should consider eliminating either the mail or the jib over 20.
Tell her (first mate) to get her butt aboard and don her life vest. It is very doubtful that you are ever going to sink this boat in most conditions.
Sailing lessons are definitely in order, lessons can instill new levels of confidence that you will never be able to convince her of.
As youngsters, one of my kids favorite sailing games was sitting on the leeward rail and asking us to heel the boat over. Sometime, although not often, we managed to get over far enough to get their rear-ends wet, prompting squeals of laughter.
Don't worry about dipping the rail, your boat will handle it better than you will.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
Don't worry about dipping the rail, your boat will handle it better than you will.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo
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