I recently purchased a 1992 Hunter 33.5 and need some help from fellow 33.5 owners. (Just for the record my wife and I "downsized" from a 1994 Hunter 37.5. I'm still trying to figure out if I did the right thing-though it made sense at the time). Here are the questions: More Bimini problems. For 33.5 owners who have biminis installed, is it possible to get a bimini that can be used while sailing but still fits under the boom when sailing upwind. Ijust had one installed, and am having problems with the "boom conflicting with the bimini when the bimini is open. For those (if any) who have had sucess, where are the bimini supports mounted - on the deck, coaming, stern rail or otherwise? Who manufactured the bimini and can it be connected to a dodger (if you have one). Next question: Does anyone have comments on the use of a 135% genoa vs a 100%. My 33.5 came with a "working Jib (roller furler) and I am debating changing to a larger headsail. Is there a material difference in the way the boat sails with a 135% vs a smaller headsail? Last question: My last Hunter had a 3 blade Max prop feathering propeller. It was great! One of the best pieces of gear that we added to the boat. Has anyone reading this installed a Max prop on a 33.5 with a Yanmar 3GM. If so, what is the proper prop size and pitch settings. The people at Max Prop offered some suggestions, but were not quite specific, given the price of the prop (I'd like to be right the first time if I choose to install one). As a genetral comment, these forums are a great help - another good reason why I feel glad that I choose to stay in the "Hunter family".
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Merrill Mant
33.5 Bimini
Our 1992 33.5 has a bimini installed. It was made by a company in Florida. Since the boat has always been in Upstate NY, I suspect the bimini was an option at the time of ordering...though I'm not certain. The supports (one each side) are just inside the deck cleats. We are able to sail on any point with the bimini open. The only problem that we have with our installation is that while open, the winch handle collides with the supports. In light air this is not an issue but is a pain when the wind gets up and low speed is the only speed that will turn the winch. There is a zipper along the leading edge that could be used to attach a filler section if we had a dodger. What we opted for was a rain cover that zips on to the front edge of the bimini and goes forward past the mainsheet by 3 feet. (uses a velco seam to get around the mainsheet and eyelets to attach the forward end to the likelines) This addition permits us to leave the companionway hatch open in even heavy rain and in a lighter rain permits us to use the cockpit as a larger livable area. Considering the summer we had this year this is the best $200 I have spent on the boat. (Aslo gives us room to store all the anmals that we have been collecting two by two as the ark is prepared ...grin) We have the 2 blade fixed prop installed but would be interested in the performance improvement that the feathering 3 blade gives. The genoa on our furler is a 135. Most of our sailing is in lighter air so this is a great sail. Looking to replace with the same size sail as the original equipment sail is useless once we start to furl it. The other change will be to get rid (once and for all!) the continuous line Hood system that came with the boat. Pompanette has a upgrade to a sinle line unit that does not reequire changing the foil or any of the other fittings except the drum for $475.
Our 1992 33.5 has a bimini installed. It was made by a company in Florida. Since the boat has always been in Upstate NY, I suspect the bimini was an option at the time of ordering...though I'm not certain. The supports (one each side) are just inside the deck cleats. We are able to sail on any point with the bimini open. The only problem that we have with our installation is that while open, the winch handle collides with the supports. In light air this is not an issue but is a pain when the wind gets up and low speed is the only speed that will turn the winch. There is a zipper along the leading edge that could be used to attach a filler section if we had a dodger. What we opted for was a rain cover that zips on to the front edge of the bimini and goes forward past the mainsheet by 3 feet. (uses a velco seam to get around the mainsheet and eyelets to attach the forward end to the likelines) This addition permits us to leave the companionway hatch open in even heavy rain and in a lighter rain permits us to use the cockpit as a larger livable area. Considering the summer we had this year this is the best $200 I have spent on the boat. (Aslo gives us room to store all the anmals that we have been collecting two by two as the ark is prepared ...grin) We have the 2 blade fixed prop installed but would be interested in the performance improvement that the feathering 3 blade gives. The genoa on our furler is a 135. Most of our sailing is in lighter air so this is a great sail. Looking to replace with the same size sail as the original equipment sail is useless once we start to furl it. The other change will be to get rid (once and for all!) the continuous line Hood system that came with the boat. Pompanette has a upgrade to a sinle line unit that does not reequire changing the foil or any of the other fittings except the drum for $475.
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Pete
Pompanette?
Meril, Where can I get a Pompanette furling drum? Thanks. kiddp@att.net for off line answer.
Meril, Where can I get a Pompanette furling drum? Thanks. kiddp@att.net for off line answer.
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Ron Barrow
Bimini, Genoa, and Maxprop.
Michael: Our boat is a 1989 33.5, so things are slightly different, but here are my 2 cents. 1. Bimini: We have one that works well when sailing. The wife and I are not tall (5'10") but we can move around under the bimini well. Wolf Sails of Topeka, KS. made the Bimini (and seveal others for later model 33.5's). The mounting is just aft of the primary winches and near the toe rail. Webbing straps attach to the stern rail and to the handrail on port and starboard. We have no dodger, but have used an awning similar to what Merrill described. Currently, the bimini is in storage because we prefer to sail without it. (We bought those new sails and now have we have to look at them all the time.) In heavy air when a flat depowered sail is necessary, there is minor interference with the boom. However, in those conditions, we rarely felt it necessary to deploy the bimini to keep us cool. Bimini folds up to the split backstays fore and aft and we secure with bungie cords when not deployed. There are zippers on either side and inboard of the backstays that allow flexability of backstay trim and a nice window so that the helmsperson can see the sail and the top of the mast and the pretty blue sky.... 2. Genoa: We have 3 headsales, a 110% original equipment, a 150% UK Tape drive, and a North 155% 3DL. The larger head sails really improve performance in light to moderate winds. We have no spinnaker, so the larger headsails are necessary when sailing downwind. (A whisker pole is a great addition, too.) We race every chance we get. I roll the 150% to 135% or 120% as the wind increases - we added larger primary winches (Lewmar ST 40s) this year to help the larger sails. 3. Max Prop. feathering prop is certainly money well spent - it improves performance in all conditions. Great in reverse. Our engine is the 18HP, 2GM20 so, your prop will probably be different. Ours is the 2 blade version recommended by PYI. (They have a forum on this web site.) Pitch is set to 20. This pushes the boat at 6.8 knots at WOT, 3200rpm, 6.3knots at 2800rpm. Be careful of the single line furler with the large head sail. We tried to replace our continuous line version with the single line and found that there was not enough room on the drum for all the line necessary to unroll the entire sail. (We pulled the core from 5/16" line for most of the length of the sail.) I would recommend a small diameter fruling line if you are going to go with a large head sail. (You might have better luck, stripping the cover from the first 15/20 feet of the line and splicing the cover on to the tail, like high tech jib sheets. - Layline will do this for you.) I have been able to get my continuous line unit to perform well, by keeping it serviced and using a long enough furling line to allow cleating on the stern horn cleat when reefing the headsail. It is funny how things happen.... I love the 33.5, but have always thought a next step could be the Hunter 37.5. Don't hesitate to e-mail any questions to CaptainRonB@earthlink.net. Good Luck!!! Ron
Michael: Our boat is a 1989 33.5, so things are slightly different, but here are my 2 cents. 1. Bimini: We have one that works well when sailing. The wife and I are not tall (5'10") but we can move around under the bimini well. Wolf Sails of Topeka, KS. made the Bimini (and seveal others for later model 33.5's). The mounting is just aft of the primary winches and near the toe rail. Webbing straps attach to the stern rail and to the handrail on port and starboard. We have no dodger, but have used an awning similar to what Merrill described. Currently, the bimini is in storage because we prefer to sail without it. (We bought those new sails and now have we have to look at them all the time.) In heavy air when a flat depowered sail is necessary, there is minor interference with the boom. However, in those conditions, we rarely felt it necessary to deploy the bimini to keep us cool. Bimini folds up to the split backstays fore and aft and we secure with bungie cords when not deployed. There are zippers on either side and inboard of the backstays that allow flexability of backstay trim and a nice window so that the helmsperson can see the sail and the top of the mast and the pretty blue sky.... 2. Genoa: We have 3 headsales, a 110% original equipment, a 150% UK Tape drive, and a North 155% 3DL. The larger head sails really improve performance in light to moderate winds. We have no spinnaker, so the larger headsails are necessary when sailing downwind. (A whisker pole is a great addition, too.) We race every chance we get. I roll the 150% to 135% or 120% as the wind increases - we added larger primary winches (Lewmar ST 40s) this year to help the larger sails. 3. Max Prop. feathering prop is certainly money well spent - it improves performance in all conditions. Great in reverse. Our engine is the 18HP, 2GM20 so, your prop will probably be different. Ours is the 2 blade version recommended by PYI. (They have a forum on this web site.) Pitch is set to 20. This pushes the boat at 6.8 knots at WOT, 3200rpm, 6.3knots at 2800rpm. Be careful of the single line furler with the large head sail. We tried to replace our continuous line version with the single line and found that there was not enough room on the drum for all the line necessary to unroll the entire sail. (We pulled the core from 5/16" line for most of the length of the sail.) I would recommend a small diameter fruling line if you are going to go with a large head sail. (You might have better luck, stripping the cover from the first 15/20 feet of the line and splicing the cover on to the tail, like high tech jib sheets. - Layline will do this for you.) I have been able to get my continuous line unit to perform well, by keeping it serviced and using a long enough furling line to allow cleating on the stern horn cleat when reefing the headsail. It is funny how things happen.... I love the 33.5, but have always thought a next step could be the Hunter 37.5. Don't hesitate to e-mail any questions to CaptainRonB@earthlink.net. Good Luck!!! Ron
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Stephen Ostrander
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Bob Belvin
Main too big?
I have a 6 ft, hight from cockpit floor, bimini on my 1991 33.5 and I have no interferance with the boom. It sounds like you have an oversized mainsail or some other boom problem. My bimini is mounted on the deck just in front of the stern rail attachment. I am still using the original mainsail. I have a 3 blade fixed prop on a 28 hp 3gmf Yanmar and I get 6.5 kts @ 2500rpm. My next power addition will be a 135 genny and a whisker pole. This is needed for downwind 'gentleman' sailing. Upwind, I get hull speed with the 100% at 12kts of wind. Fast, huh?
I have a 6 ft, hight from cockpit floor, bimini on my 1991 33.5 and I have no interferance with the boom. It sounds like you have an oversized mainsail or some other boom problem. My bimini is mounted on the deck just in front of the stern rail attachment. I am still using the original mainsail. I have a 3 blade fixed prop on a 28 hp 3gmf Yanmar and I get 6.5 kts @ 2500rpm. My next power addition will be a 135 genny and a whisker pole. This is needed for downwind 'gentleman' sailing. Upwind, I get hull speed with the 100% at 12kts of wind. Fast, huh?
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R. Palaia
Mike, you're in Perth Amboy
so you probably know where Jean's Canvas is on Rt. 36 in Belford. Talk to Kerry and He will fix you up with one that fits.
so you probably know where Jean's Canvas is on Rt. 36 in Belford. Talk to Kerry and He will fix you up with one that fits.
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Doug
Welcome to the mid size forum? Sail size...q
We have a 150 genny (UK tape drive) and a number 3 that we use. The number 1 is a roller reef/furl sail that we can roll down to a 125 in a pinch and still get good foil shape. We fly the whole 150 up to about 15 knots. We then roll her up as the wind pipes up. Marking the track and sail foot makes this quick and efficient. When we have the 150 out we are moving at hull speed anytime the wind is over 12 knots gusting to 15. We pass alot of boats with minimal heeling. I recommend it if you ever sail in light/moderate air. Doug
We have a 150 genny (UK tape drive) and a number 3 that we use. The number 1 is a roller reef/furl sail that we can roll down to a 125 in a pinch and still get good foil shape. We fly the whole 150 up to about 15 knots. We then roll her up as the wind pipes up. Marking the track and sail foot makes this quick and efficient. When we have the 150 out we are moving at hull speed anytime the wind is over 12 knots gusting to 15. We pass alot of boats with minimal heeling. I recommend it if you ever sail in light/moderate air. Doug
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D. Grosz
Feathering Prop
I have a 2 blade feathering adjustable pitch from CDI on my 92 33.5. Uses composite blades. I really like it. Max speed 7.2 kts @ 3400 rpm (clean hull). Cruises nicely at 6.0 kts 2,800. Vibration, which is a characteristic of these hulls (due to proximity of prop to hull) is quite acceptable with this 2 blade. I know CDI also makes a 3-blade version. Its a lot less expensive than the Maxprop.
I have a 2 blade feathering adjustable pitch from CDI on my 92 33.5. Uses composite blades. I really like it. Max speed 7.2 kts @ 3400 rpm (clean hull). Cruises nicely at 6.0 kts 2,800. Vibration, which is a characteristic of these hulls (due to proximity of prop to hull) is quite acceptable with this 2 blade. I know CDI also makes a 3-blade version. Its a lot less expensive than the Maxprop.
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