:) Rigging, Launching, Retrieving the 260

[George H260]

My experience: Bought our H260 just last week. The dealer was going to give me an orientation sail but there were small craft warnings so I just hooked it and towed it home 3.5 hours away. Towed like a dream. Next day took it to the marina and stepped the mast using a checklist I built using the manual. Took 2.5 hours but everything went together just fine. With the ballast tank valve closed, the boat just floated off. Fired up the engine and away we went. Not great in light air but I expected that with an SA/D of 17. Took the boat home and came back the next day. This time it took about 1.5 hours in and 1.0 hour out. I think I can get it down to about 45min in/30min out. Replaced the jib sheet with 60 feet of line, Replaced the horn cleats and the mainsheet cam with spinlocks and now it's no problem to singlehand. Sunday, after wife went home I noticed boat was not on the trailer straight, so I just relaunched, repositioned,and pulled it out alone. Go for it.

 

[Ron Mehringer]

Light air

Glad you're enjoying your new 260. You're already much more adept at stepping and unstepping the mast than I am.Surprised you didn't like the light air performance. When I was on a lake, there didn't seem to be a boat around that I couldn't catch with our 26 when the air was light. With these water ballasted Hunters, heavy air is usually the bigger problem.Have fun with the new toy.Ron MehringerH26 Hydro-Therapy

 

[gary verburg]

wind performance

My experience, at least compared to comparable Catalina boats, (catalina 27 for instance) is that my boat performs slightly better in winds up to a 5 mph. With heavier winds (in excess of 12 to 15 mph (depending upon your own personal fear factor) the boat becomes a bit difficult to handle and you need to reef

 

[CORKY TROTTER]

sail characteristics

I have sailed water ballasted boats for > 10 years and now have 260(before it was a McGregor). All water ballasted boats need to reef earlier than others but they sail better flat anyway. I can stay with my buddies on the lake in 20 mph winds and they have keeled boats. I have sailed alot at 20 degrees with times at 45 degrees( the limit of my inclin-o-meter). Not a lot of fun but sometimes to get home in 30+ you do what you have to. Light air is good. We get so little I do not have a large head sail. If I was in an area where I would have lots of light air and down wind I would have one. Often it is best to sail off the wind going down wind to get better boat speed and you will get there faster. As I read boat reviews they talk about reefing at 15 to 20 so we are not too far from that.ct