rudder

[release]

New sailor, just bought a 1994 26' Hunter. I used it this summer in the Long Island Sound, a deep body of water with usual 10-20mph winds. This boat got kicked around ALOT. Is this typical? I felt like the boat was too light and heeled way too much. Is this due to the water balast system, the size and weight of the boat?? I also had a problem with the rudder. I installed it and it wasn't locked in the down position making the boat very difficult to steer. I just found out there is a wing nut that can be tightened when the rudder is in the down position....it was loose the entire season and I'm wondering if this is the reason why there was so much tension and resistance on the tiller while steering? I ended up snapping my tiller in half from all the stress on it. Was this due to the rudder not being locked down I'm assuming? Anyone know how to go about getting a new tiller? Thanks for your time.
PS: Another question I had is what is purpose of the three tracts in the boom? I am unsure of how the rigging goes and am wondering if anyone knows what the lines in these tracts all go to. Are there any diagrams?
Thanks Again,
Pat

 

[Bob 04 H260]

this is not normal, the boat should sail well without excessive heeling, and be quite controllable, this has nothing to do with water ballast. You should not break the tiller trying to turn the boat. You need to learn how to rig the boat with all the original lines, and how adjust/tune the rigging. If the sails are old and bagged out you will need new sails. The rudder must always be kept all the way down.
You might get more information by posting on the Hunter "small boat forum".
The manual for your boat is here,
http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/Hunter/Hunter19_23_26/index.html
it will explain how to rig the boat with original lines.
good luck, Bob

 

[jtm]

You probably answered your own question. 20kts winds may be on the outside limit for this trailerable model. water ballast isn't the same as having a good solid 1000lbs. keel below you, nice and low.

Rudder: if its removeable and the "dagger" portion is swinging on a pivot,and the dagger" isn't lock into place straight down, it would tilt aft. With the resistance of the water under the boat as your sail pull you forward, its gonna be very had to steer. Maybe you are lucky the tiller stick broke and not the rudder/dagger housing, the transom mounting points or the rudder itself $$$$$.


In my younger days I had 2 Prindle 18 catamarans- after shoving off the beach and getting into deeper water, it was imperative to ensure you quickly locked down the rudder/daggers or when you pickedup wind you couldn't steer it with the daggers dragging and counterlevering your efforts!

With all the freeboard and convenience keel/ballast on that boat, also sounds like you needed to reef your main early- thats what at lease one of those line tracks in the boom are for. The second would be for your boom-end uphaul- The latter would likely need to be loosened with main up to allow your mainsail to take proper shape(ever consider a boomkicker K-1000?)- and (sailup line)bungeed so it doesn't swing and tangle in a backstay!


I'm not familiar with your exact 26, but you should be able to run the reefing line out the aft end of the boom , thru the aft mainsail reef grommet, down to boom where there's a pulley(or go under the boom) and backup to the grommet and bowline into the grommet. then you can haul in on the reef line at the mast end of the boom(it will pull the aft grommet down and aft. Adjust the main height for the forward reef hole to the gooseneck(careful not to puncture your sail in the process) and tie down the mid-sail reef lines around the boom.

You should practice run the fireing order of the reefing excercise before you REALLY need to figure out in 20kts and determine how it will work for you in a good blow.
Hope this helps.

 

[kenkindy1]

Yeah, you're doing something wrong. I've got the H240 a little sister of your boat. Maximum pressure on my tiller is around 10 lbs of force. Is the rudder tube binding somewhere? Reef early on the Water Ballast boats. Flatter is faster.

 

[George H260]

A great deal of information about the H26/260 water ballast boat is available at this link: http://www.h260.com

There are slight differences between the H26 and the H260 but they are essentially the same boat. For more on this subject go to this link: http://h260.com/h26vsh260/h26.vs.h260.html

To answer your questions: Yes, the rudder has to be vertical. There is a good paper on your rudder at this link: http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/images/rudder1.jpg

The three lines in the boom are for the topping lift, reefline and outhaul.

The first rule of sailing this boat is "reef early and often" Once you learn and practice this, you'll have more fun.

IdaSailor sells a greatly improved rudder/tiller for your boat. Check it out at http://www.idasailor.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=823.

Keep learning we're here to help you get the most out of your boat.