How well does the 23.5 handle withthe center board partially extended. I sail in shallow areas (sometimes only 2') and am told that I can raise or lower the centerboard to accomadate shallows. I'd like to hear from some sailor not trying to sell me a boat!!!!
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Centerboard up
I have a H240. Very similar boat the 23.5 was made first. It will not go to weather with only 2' of the board deployed. will motor fine in those conditions. You have to consider that you will also have to raise the rudder up to accomodate the 2'. Under sail this would make horrible weather helm. That being said I cant think of any boat that can be sailed in 2' of water. If it is only shallow getting in and getting out its not a problem.
I have a H240. Very similar boat the 23.5 was made first. It will not go to weather with only 2' of the board deployed. will motor fine in those conditions. You have to consider that you will also have to raise the rudder up to accomodate the 2'. Under sail this would make horrible weather helm. That being said I cant think of any boat that can be sailed in 2' of water. If it is only shallow getting in and getting out its not a problem.
i have a 23.5
i sail in some shallow areas let me describe what usually happens we go to this big sandbar alot its very shallow as you aproach it first the board hits (sand) i raise the board then a few yards further the rudder hits so i raise the rudder too. this is when it becomes a bear to continue sailing so we usually drop sail and motor the rest of the way to the sand bar.basically what im saying is that if the water your in is shallow enough for you to raise the board the rudder is going to hit bottom also and once you raise the rudder your going to have weather helm from hell
i sail in some shallow areas let me describe what usually happens we go to this big sandbar alot its very shallow as you aproach it first the board hits (sand) i raise the board then a few yards further the rudder hits so i raise the rudder too. this is when it becomes a bear to continue sailing so we usually drop sail and motor the rest of the way to the sand bar.basically what im saying is that if the water your in is shallow enough for you to raise the board the rudder is going to hit bottom also and once you raise the rudder your going to have weather helm from hell
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Depends on point of sail
I have a Hunter 26, similar setup to the 240/23.5 (water ballast, CB, kick-up rudder); I usually haul up the CB completely when sailing downwind, and partially when on a beam reach (when I remember to do it!) You only need the board fully down when close to the wind. But as others have said, when the board is up the rudder becomes the limiting factor, and it is hard to manage unless fully down. This means draft is closer to 3 or 4 feet. I use the motor in those conditions, just to be safe. That said, I doubt you'll find a production monohull in this size range that can sail in shallower water than the water-ballasted Hunters can.
I have a Hunter 26, similar setup to the 240/23.5 (water ballast, CB, kick-up rudder); I usually haul up the CB completely when sailing downwind, and partially when on a beam reach (when I remember to do it!) You only need the board fully down when close to the wind. But as others have said, when the board is up the rudder becomes the limiting factor, and it is hard to manage unless fully down. This means draft is closer to 3 or 4 feet. I use the motor in those conditions, just to be safe. That said, I doubt you'll find a production monohull in this size range that can sail in shallower water than the water-ballasted Hunters can.
Don't do this
Years ago (1967)in a fixed keel Corinthian (20-21ft ?) racing on White Rock Lake in Dallas we learned to "cheat" in shallow water by 3 of us sitting on the lee side, water to the edge of the rail, while beating along the shoreline in shallow water while the other boats tacked away. Soon as we got to deeper waters, we tacked and were always ahead of the fleet. Whatever works!!
Years ago (1967)in a fixed keel Corinthian (20-21ft ?) racing on White Rock Lake in Dallas we learned to "cheat" in shallow water by 3 of us sitting on the lee side, water to the edge of the rail, while beating along the shoreline in shallow water while the other boats tacked away. Soon as we got to deeper waters, we tacked and were always ahead of the fleet. Whatever works!!
Arturo, reminds me of the time
we entered our daggerboard Macgregor 26 in our harbor's distance race on the Alton Pool of the upper Mississippi. The winds were light, and we were sneaking upriver in the counter-current along the bank. To make our mark, we cut across the sunken island. (Sunken when the Corps of Engineers built the dam that makes the Alton Pool.) We had the board up and the rudder dragging. What we didn't realize was that our nearest competitor, a Cape Dory Typhoon, had been following us for over an hour, and kept following us. We drew about a foot and a half with everything up, he had a full length fixed keel at just over three feet. We made the mark and headed back downstream for the trophy, they spent about 45 minutes trying to get out of the river mud before throwing in the towel and starting the motor. And they really think we got them stuck on purpose! Hate to put a Mac photo on the Hunter board, but this was when they still made sailboats, not hybrids!
we entered our daggerboard Macgregor 26 in our harbor's distance race on the Alton Pool of the upper Mississippi. The winds were light, and we were sneaking upriver in the counter-current along the bank. To make our mark, we cut across the sunken island. (Sunken when the Corps of Engineers built the dam that makes the Alton Pool.) We had the board up and the rudder dragging. What we didn't realize was that our nearest competitor, a Cape Dory Typhoon, had been following us for over an hour, and kept following us. We drew about a foot and a half with everything up, he had a full length fixed keel at just over three feet. We made the mark and headed back downstream for the trophy, they spent about 45 minutes trying to get out of the river mud before throwing in the towel and starting the motor. And they really think we got them stuck on purpose! Hate to put a Mac photo on the Hunter board, but this was when they still made sailboats, not hybrids!
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Gosh, Arturo, with the blizzard outside
today and icy roads on the way home, a photo of any boat looks good tonight. THANKS !! I am SO READY to be vback on the water. Less than a month now. Jim S/V Grizzly Bear
today and icy roads on the way home, a photo of any boat looks good tonight. THANKS !! I am SO READY to be vback on the water. Less than a month now. Jim S/V Grizzly Bear
Small world
I sailed on White Rock Lake in the '70s with my father on #212,that he purchased from Norm Watkins
I sailed on White Rock Lake in the '70s with my father on #212,that he purchased from Norm Watkins
Rehoboth Bay
I sail just north of you in Rehoboth Bay De. on my H240. You cannot effectively sail the boat unless you are in very light winds in less than three feet. As mentioned previously the problem is more the rudder than the centerboard. To get in and out of my marina (Rehoboth Bay Marina) I have to put the rudder all the way up and motor in because of the depth. It is still great sailing in my area, because of the close proximaty to the ocean there is almost always good wind. Look me up on the owners website if you want to discuss this more in detail as to the Assawoman Bay and the Rehoboth/Indian River bay sailing areas.
I sail just north of you in Rehoboth Bay De. on my H240. You cannot effectively sail the boat unless you are in very light winds in less than three feet. As mentioned previously the problem is more the rudder than the centerboard. To get in and out of my marina (Rehoboth Bay Marina) I have to put the rudder all the way up and motor in because of the depth. It is still great sailing in my area, because of the close proximaty to the ocean there is almost always good wind. Look me up on the owners website if you want to discuss this more in detail as to the Assawoman Bay and the Rehoboth/Indian River bay sailing areas.
Harvey, I think they forgot Rule No. 1
NEVER follow another boat if you're not sure of their draft! Boats run aground every year during the Mug Race on the St Johns River by following wing-keeled H23's across charted shoals. The H23 only draws 27 inches and the rudder is deeper than the keel, so you can feel it drag bottom before the keel touches. Peter H23 "Raven"
NEVER follow another boat if you're not sure of their draft! Boats run aground every year during the Mug Race on the St Johns River by following wing-keeled H23's across charted shoals. The H23 only draws 27 inches and the rudder is deeper than the keel, so you can feel it drag bottom before the keel touches. Peter H23 "Raven"
Small World Indeed!
I demasted Norm in his Lone Stare 13 with the Corinthian boom...going in opposite directions..or course I had the right of way..and that old rascal Norm attempted to force me off course in my race so he could make the mark in his race! He didn't believe I would hit him, and neither did I!! Those were the days!!
I demasted Norm in his Lone Stare 13 with the Corinthian boom...going in opposite directions..or course I had the right of way..and that old rascal Norm attempted to force me off course in my race so he could make the mark in his race! He didn't believe I would hit him, and neither did I!! Those were the days!!
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