Racing the Hunter 216

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A

Angus

I have just started racing my Hunter 216 in Club races on Loch lomond . It is fast and fun !! easily keeping up with larger Sonatas and Trappers and Achilles especially down wind or on broad reach. Does anyone have information if a handicap rating has been calculated? In the UK this would be a PY Number . Also I find it is not so good when beating, as other boats point higher. This may be due to how I have tensioned the standing rigging . Has anyone an advice ?
 
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Bill Perry

Pointing ability

Angus, I believe that part of the problem is that the 216 boom cannot be brought up to centerline because of the lack of a traveler. Hunter allegedly has an optional one available but I have not seen any data on it.
 
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Robert Avent

Loch Lomond

To change the subject a little, I used to have some Scots for drinking buddies (down in Jamaica) and when they got dead drunk, they would sing a song about Loch Lomond. I haven't heard that name for a few years.
 
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Scott Narum

Pointing 2

I think Bill has something about the lack of a traveller...I once had a Catalina 18 that also had no traveler, and it was the worst pointing boat I have even sailed. My current Hunter 326 points very well.
 
May 11, 2004
273
RAPTOR Hotfoot 20 Ghost Lake
No Traveller

Read up on Vang Sheeting.This is a workable alternative to having no traveller and would probably help your pointing.I,m pretty sure the archives contain info.
 
J

Jacktar

Hello Angus! Understand there is a traveler available for the 216 from Select Yachts, Denver, NC. They're a large Hunter dealer. Try them at www.select-yachts.com. Good Luck! Jacktar
 
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Ernie

Traveler

We have rigged a rope/block traveler system across the stern and it looks like an add-on but is working well for us. We have been told that Hunter will be offering a mid cockpit traveler system (Est $1500 US) but as we use the boat more for daysailing we wanted the extra cockpit space also felt that a midboom traveler would probably not provide as much adjustment as our current arrangement.
 
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Ernie

Handicap Rating

On a couple of inland lakes here, we are currently racing under the same handicap as a Catalina 27 std rig OB. If we keep winning as we have been we are probably have to either lower it or they will probably throw us out of the club.
 
May 11, 2004
85
- - Richmond, VA
Can you post a picture?

Can you post a picture of your stern rope/block traveler system? If I get the 216, I might want to think about doing something like that. And what was your approximate cost of materials for your traveler system? Thanks,
 
E

Ernie

Rope Traveler

I will be glad to post a picture or two of the rope traveler just as soon as my Digital camera returns from the shop. Send me your e-mail address at Mr.Ernie@TwinHulls.com and I will also email a copy to you. I will try to include an approximent cost as well I also have replaced the floor mounted mainsheet block assembly as the OEM version was much too difficult to uncleat quickly. This is one problem that the mid-cockpit traveler would solve although I'm still not willing to give up the extra cockpit space for our daysailing.
 
Jun 8, 2004
6
- - Loch Lomond
Thanks Ernie

Thanks for the help all especially Ernie I will certainly investigate the idea of a traveller. Hope Ernie that if I post my email address you will send a picture of your set up . I agree about the floor mounted mainsheet block is is frightening when you are sitting out and a squall hits and you cannot quickly free the main sheet What did you replace it with
 
Jun 8, 2004
6
- - Loch Lomond
vang sheeting (Ken)

Ken I am trying to find out more about vang sheeting but am find lots about how can help trim sails but not exactly what it is. Can you help? what modifications would I need to make? Angus
 
K

Ken

Vang Sheeting

With a traveller and sailing on the wind the main sheet pulls the boom down controlling leech tension (twist) and the traveller adjusts the boom position relative to the center line of the boat (eased to spill air in gusts).Because the leech tension is maintained the sail shape is maintained.If you don't have a traveller you can pull the boom down with the vang to set leech tension. Then when the main sheet is eased the boom can swing out but sail shape is maintained. This is "Vang Sheeting". You don't have to make any modifications if you have enough purchase in your vang. At least 8:1 is recommended.Most vangs are probably 4:1 but these can easily be increased with the addition of a block. The Harken catalogue has a good diagram of this. I sail a Hunter 18.5 and because of the cockpit design a traveller is pretty much out of the question.Good luck.
 
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Ernie

Floor Mounted Main Sheet Block

Here is the swivel block that we are using. It is a Harken Swivel Base/150 Cam-Matic Part #144
 
May 11, 2004
273
RAPTOR Hotfoot 20 Ghost Lake
Floor mounted main sheet (Ernie)

What block did you use with the Harken swivel cam.
 
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Ernie

Floor Mounted Sheet Block

Ken, I used the same Harken ratchet block that came with the boat. I just removed the cam cleat assembly. I hope to have the pictures to you sometime tomorrow evening of both the travler arrangement and also the way that I've re-rigged the main sheet. As we can only place one 80K picture on this forum, it is almost impossible to get enough detail in such a small picture to make it worth while so I will email them to you and any others who are interested. I might just go ahead and post them up on my website but I'll let you know either way.
 
E

Ernie

Rope Traveler Assmb & Sail Cover Fix

I finally took a couple of pictures of our stern rope traveler arrangement and have posted them at: http://www.TwinHulls.com/hunter216 I've also included a pix of the velcro strip that we added along the bottom of the main sail cover. We have a mudwasp problm here and this keeps the pests from messing of the sails with our Georgia red clay stains. Hope this helps............Ernie
 
Jun 8, 2004
6
- - Loch Lomond
re:rope traveller

Thanks for the pictures Ernie they are very clear. I think I will try this system .My only concern would be. How much tension will be put on to the two stern cleats? Are these bolted through onto a metal plate or just scewed into the plastic/foam sandwich
 
Jun 8, 2004
6
- - Loch Lomond
Fixing the harken swivel cam

Ernie I bought a Harkem swivel cam like the one you use. What kind/length of screws did you use to secure this or did you bolt it right through with some kind of backing plate What is the material under the raised toe rail to which the main sheet block is attached.
 
May 16, 2004
139
Hunter 216 Lake Hartwell GA
Screws for Harken Block

I don't remember the exact size or length but the current screws are tapped into an embeded solid aluminum plate so I just centered the new base over the old holes and tapped in the 4 new ones. I think that I used the largest diamiter screws that would fit through the holes in the base and that they were probably 1 1/2" 10-24 stainless. While you are getting the screws, you might want to get a couple of longer screws that hold the cams in place so that you can install the extra tapered riser that fits under the cams. This will make it a little easier when cleating the main. .........Ernie
 
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