Am considering a Hunter (the 44DS makes my pulse race). I've been talking to everyone I can think of, including non Hunter fans, you know their out there! I'm trying to get a balance of opinions and that brings me to this question, which one non Hunter person went on and on about. The spreaders, if you left San Diego, and after 14 days of sailing down hill arrived in Hawaii, would you're main be shreaded by constant contact with the swept back design of the spreader?? Would greatly appreciate any thoughts you might have on this.
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Get a Spinnaker
That is why they make Spinnakers ! We have a h450 and when down wind sailing for a long time we use the Spinnaker. Don't less this stop you from buying the boat.
That is why they make Spinnakers ! We have a h450 and when down wind sailing for a long time we use the Spinnaker. Don't less this stop you from buying the boat.
The key to sailing downwind
Matt, Unless you are going to buy a boat designed primarily for high performance racing, which Hunters are not, there is a saying in sailboat racing that goes "DDW equals DFL". In most situations, any direct downwind sailing will produce the slowest rate of advance, thereby making you dead f-ing last. You'll find that as you head up from a DDW situation, you will increase your speed toward the target, known as VMG, or velocity made good. Therefore, there is no need to worry about spreader wear on the main. Tantamount to these points of sail is to learn how to gybe the boat correctly. The best gizmo you will ever purchase for this type of cruising is an asymmetrical spinnaker. Best wishes, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Matt, Unless you are going to buy a boat designed primarily for high performance racing, which Hunters are not, there is a saying in sailboat racing that goes "DDW equals DFL". In most situations, any direct downwind sailing will produce the slowest rate of advance, thereby making you dead f-ing last. You'll find that as you head up from a DDW situation, you will increase your speed toward the target, known as VMG, or velocity made good. Therefore, there is no need to worry about spreader wear on the main. Tantamount to these points of sail is to learn how to gybe the boat correctly. The best gizmo you will ever purchase for this type of cruising is an asymmetrical spinnaker. Best wishes, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Spinacker
Spinackers are more then the size of a main and jib together so running a spinacker is better then running a main and jib winged on other boats. Two types...symetrical and asymeterical. They say Symeterical is better for DDW but asymeterical is safer and easlier to handle and better for a broad reach. A few weeks ago I was watching a race from my cockpit and noticed that two boats were flying spinackers, the one in back was the Asymeterical and the one in front was the Symeterical. I though...that seems about right. As I watched longer, I noticed that the seperation between the two didn't change. That surprised me. The wind that day was about 8 knots true and the boats were about the same size. I assume neither were a heavy blue water boat...if so I don't think they would be racing on such a light day. Question: Anybody use both types of spinackers? Speaking of blue water boats...I saw one have all it's sails up Saturday and get beat by a hunter with just his jib up...that made me grin (winds about 12-15 knots true).
Spinackers are more then the size of a main and jib together so running a spinacker is better then running a main and jib winged on other boats. Two types...symetrical and asymeterical. They say Symeterical is better for DDW but asymeterical is safer and easlier to handle and better for a broad reach. A few weeks ago I was watching a race from my cockpit and noticed that two boats were flying spinackers, the one in back was the Asymeterical and the one in front was the Symeterical. I though...that seems about right. As I watched longer, I noticed that the seperation between the two didn't change. That surprised me. The wind that day was about 8 knots true and the boats were about the same size. I assume neither were a heavy blue water boat...if so I don't think they would be racing on such a light day. Question: Anybody use both types of spinackers? Speaking of blue water boats...I saw one have all it's sails up Saturday and get beat by a hunter with just his jib up...that made me grin (winds about 12-15 knots true).
Spreader Wear
Matt, After 10 seasons 'normal' sailing with my 376 the original fully battened mainsail is still okay for wear. Where the battens contact the shrouds it wore a small hole within the first season and I was for ever replacing stick on patches. Then I gave up and the holes remained at about 1/2" in diameter with no sign of getting bigger. They are on the batten pockets anyway. This summer I put soft white pvc sleeving on the shrouds. The spreader patches were applied by the sailmaker and are still perfect. I have no spreader end chafe devices and always allow my sail to be in full contact with the spreaders when sailing deep or on a run. No worries then?
Matt, After 10 seasons 'normal' sailing with my 376 the original fully battened mainsail is still okay for wear. Where the battens contact the shrouds it wore a small hole within the first season and I was for ever replacing stick on patches. Then I gave up and the holes remained at about 1/2" in diameter with no sign of getting bigger. They are on the batten pockets anyway. This summer I put soft white pvc sleeving on the shrouds. The spreader patches were applied by the sailmaker and are still perfect. I have no spreader end chafe devices and always allow my sail to be in full contact with the spreaders when sailing deep or on a run. No worries then?
Donalex
I've been told that the problem with chafe is mainly a problem on extended downwind runs. Something about the constant rubbing generating heat over a long period of time. So day and weekend sailing it will not be a problem, but going from Cali to Hawaii it would be. That's what spinackers are for though.
I've been told that the problem with chafe is mainly a problem on extended downwind runs. Something about the constant rubbing generating heat over a long period of time. So day and weekend sailing it will not be a problem, but going from Cali to Hawaii it would be. That's what spinackers are for though.
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