Last year my wife and I and two of our friends bare boated in the Bahamas. We charted a Hunter 410. As a past owner of a Hunter 29.5 Iam very familiar with the fractional rig and no back stay rig. We found the 410 to be a great boat. We experienced some big wind and some big swells on the trip and the 410 handled everything very well. Like all the Hunters with the B&R rig reefing early about 18 knots is what the boat likes in terms of a comfortable sail. But she was fast and stable. One of the reasons we chose the 410 was the couple we were with was about to purchase a 2002 Hunter 420 Passage centercockit. Since both boats share the same hull, we figured that the 410 would sail similar to the 420. My friends bought the 420 and now live and sail in Charlotte Harbor out of Punta Gorda. Recently we sailed with them on their boat. The conditions were blustery, with winds 15-20 gusting to 25. The boat seemed somewhat tender. Initially we had the roller main all the way out, with a little jib. The boat seemed to heel more than the 410. We finally pulled in some main which helped. We went out to the Gulf where the conditions were rough. Six foot seas and winds about 25. The boat seemed to be rocked, especially when the waves were at our beam. I know that the conditions were not the best, but I just got the feeling that the boat seemed more tender than what we experienced in the 410. It also seemed to have a shimmy or mast pumping while under sail that vibrated through the whole boat. This boat in in like new condition so I was somewhat surprised by its performance in these somewhat rough conditions. Any thoughts or impressions would be appreciated---Clint
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I like mine
The 420 centerPit passage is my first boat, so I'm far from having enough experience to address this, but I'll give you my opinion. So far, it's been a great boat, I have no problems single handing her and I have been out in similar wind conditions as you mentioned. 15kts. and the boat really takes off, yes there was heeling but with more sail trimming experience I prolly woulda been fine without reefing into the 20s. When it started gusting into the 20's I reefed a little and things settled down. I have never felt out of control except for maybe once trying to dock in my super skinny slip while fighting a crosswind, but thats just user error. As far as the mast shimmy you mentioned, I dont remember getting any of that but I'll keep my eye on it next time. Possibly the boat you were on could use a rig tune-up. Even with my limited trimming skills, I will easily hold a little over half the wind speed on most reaches. So for like 10kts of wind i'm averaging close to 6kts. boat speed on a beam, which I guess isn't too bad? Oh yeah, the teak floors are kinda soft so I tend to dent them often as I don't stow very comprehensively. I don't use the showers very often because I'm 6'1" but when I need them they do just fine. Acessing all the nooks and cranny's is kinda tough especially when your large, but I think thats true in all boats.
The 420 centerPit passage is my first boat, so I'm far from having enough experience to address this, but I'll give you my opinion. So far, it's been a great boat, I have no problems single handing her and I have been out in similar wind conditions as you mentioned. 15kts. and the boat really takes off, yes there was heeling but with more sail trimming experience I prolly woulda been fine without reefing into the 20s. When it started gusting into the 20's I reefed a little and things settled down. I have never felt out of control except for maybe once trying to dock in my super skinny slip while fighting a crosswind, but thats just user error. As far as the mast shimmy you mentioned, I dont remember getting any of that but I'll keep my eye on it next time. Possibly the boat you were on could use a rig tune-up. Even with my limited trimming skills, I will easily hold a little over half the wind speed on most reaches. So for like 10kts of wind i'm averaging close to 6kts. boat speed on a beam, which I guess isn't too bad? Oh yeah, the teak floors are kinda soft so I tend to dent them often as I don't stow very comprehensively. I don't use the showers very often because I'm 6'1" but when I need them they do just fine. Acessing all the nooks and cranny's is kinda tough especially when your large, but I think thats true in all boats.
Reef Earlier
I normally reef our 420 at 18 to 20 knots of wind. 25 is kinda high with full sails. The mast pumping/vibrating doesn't sound good. Your friend may want to have the rigging checked out. We've been out in 30-40 knot winds and the waves seem like they are beating the boat apart, but it comes though it. I don't know about the 410, but the 420 takes a lot more wind than our old Legend 37 before reefing. I've never noticed that the boat is tender. The cockpit is a little wide for a comfortable ride at 30 degrees of heel. It's hard to brace yourself against the lee side of the boat. Bill
I normally reef our 420 at 18 to 20 knots of wind. 25 is kinda high with full sails. The mast pumping/vibrating doesn't sound good. Your friend may want to have the rigging checked out. We've been out in 30-40 knot winds and the waves seem like they are beating the boat apart, but it comes though it. I don't know about the 410, but the 420 takes a lot more wind than our old Legend 37 before reefing. I've never noticed that the boat is tender. The cockpit is a little wide for a comfortable ride at 30 degrees of heel. It's hard to brace yourself against the lee side of the boat. Bill
Even tho It's New...
...doesn't mean that the rig may need to be tuned. That is one consideration that I would have. Also, because it has the same hull as the 410, the balance, layout and rigging of a P420 would be entirely different that that of a h410. Thereby, the performance would be different for the P420.
...doesn't mean that the rig may need to be tuned. That is one consideration that I would have. Also, because it has the same hull as the 410, the balance, layout and rigging of a P420 would be entirely different that that of a h410. Thereby, the performance would be different for the P420.
Clint
I haven't noticed any mast pumping or shimmying w/ my 420 either. With the roller furling main, I prefer to jib sail and use the main trimmed as wind conditions dictate. From my experience, too much main (upwind) just overpowers the boat, causes excessive healing and doesn't help boat speed... (but isn't this true with any sailboat) ?? In any case, upwind, I reef the main by 15kts and have most of it in by 20. Although they have the same hull and rig, 410's (apparently) sail better upwind than 420's. Apparently the additional windage resulting from the center cockpit design reduces the 420's upwind performance. But, as a cruiser, I will take the tradeoff for the center cockpit's better "live-aboard-ability". Like other 420 owners, I think it ( and Passage 42's) are the best cruising boats for the money available... I like my 420 better than Hunter's new(er) 45 ... their only current center cockpit. I would trade it only for a 456. Hopefully Hunter will make a center cockpit version of the new 49 in the near future. Buck "L'Attitude"
I haven't noticed any mast pumping or shimmying w/ my 420 either. With the roller furling main, I prefer to jib sail and use the main trimmed as wind conditions dictate. From my experience, too much main (upwind) just overpowers the boat, causes excessive healing and doesn't help boat speed... (but isn't this true with any sailboat) ?? In any case, upwind, I reef the main by 15kts and have most of it in by 20. Although they have the same hull and rig, 410's (apparently) sail better upwind than 420's. Apparently the additional windage resulting from the center cockpit design reduces the 420's upwind performance. But, as a cruiser, I will take the tradeoff for the center cockpit's better "live-aboard-ability". Like other 420 owners, I think it ( and Passage 42's) are the best cruising boats for the money available... I like my 420 better than Hunter's new(er) 45 ... their only current center cockpit. I would trade it only for a 456. Hopefully Hunter will make a center cockpit version of the new 49 in the near future. Buck "L'Attitude"
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