I am in the process of planning a trip with a newly acquired Hunter 290. Does anyone know the average speed I can expect both under sail and under power?
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We plan 4 knots
Then if the wind dies down for sustained speeds below 4 knots, we fire up the iron genny. Your 290 would have a lot of sailing from 4 to 6 knots in Lake Erie. I don't know your power plant, but I would bet you could easily cruise at 5 knots in light air. If you are bucking the wind and waves, or current that number could be substantially lower. We sail a '77 h27, so you could probably make slightly better numbers. But I like to stay conservative when planning a cruise. David Lady Lillie
Then if the wind dies down for sustained speeds below 4 knots, we fire up the iron genny. Your 290 would have a lot of sailing from 4 to 6 knots in Lake Erie. I don't know your power plant, but I would bet you could easily cruise at 5 knots in light air. If you are bucking the wind and waves, or current that number could be substantially lower. We sail a '77 h27, so you could probably make slightly better numbers. But I like to stay conservative when planning a cruise. David Lady Lillie
Speed expected
Stuart, Congrats on your newly acquired h290. For a 290 you should expect a maximum speed of about 6 knots, motoring or with good wind on a reach. Under sail depending on wind velocity and direction, speeds from zero to 6.2 to 6.7 knots. Favorable current can assist your speed over the bottom as unfavorable current can limit your velocity made good toward your destination.. If you are planning a coastal voyage please be sure to consult a tide and current reference for your area.
Stuart, Congrats on your newly acquired h290. For a 290 you should expect a maximum speed of about 6 knots, motoring or with good wind on a reach. Under sail depending on wind velocity and direction, speeds from zero to 6.2 to 6.7 knots. Favorable current can assist your speed over the bottom as unfavorable current can limit your velocity made good toward your destination.. If you are planning a coastal voyage please be sure to consult a tide and current reference for your area.
6.5 knots motoring
When first put in water in spring 6.5 no problem motoring even in strong current,clean bottom,clean prop,clean mixing elbo, all these make my 2001-290 really go under power very well just like new. Sailing is another story,depends on point of sail wind conditions and of course current,I have reached 6.5 but also 4 and 5 knots even 7 plus. Anything over 15 mph start first reef.my boat does well with full jib and second reef in heavy winds. If having a hard time steering in heavy winds,reef. nick
When first put in water in spring 6.5 no problem motoring even in strong current,clean bottom,clean prop,clean mixing elbo, all these make my 2001-290 really go under power very well just like new. Sailing is another story,depends on point of sail wind conditions and of course current,I have reached 6.5 but also 4 and 5 knots even 7 plus. Anything over 15 mph start first reef.my boat does well with full jib and second reef in heavy winds. If having a hard time steering in heavy winds,reef. nick
4.5 to 5 knots
If your question is average speed for planning a cruise, the most important input from Nick and Wayne is that they motor at a maximum of 6 knots with a clean bottom. Our max is 5 knots, while our sailing speeds are similar to the ones they quote. I wonder what they feel is a good cruising speed on the motor? But it is certainly over 5 knots. So I would feel confident planning a cruising leg for a 290 at 5 knots, or 50 nm per leg. (We don't normally plan over 10 hours per leg.) My problem with this is that we really like sailing at between 4 and 5 knots. So if the wind will drive us a 4 knots, we are happy sailing. So If I had a 290, I'd feel comfortable planning a 10 hour leg of 45 nm, and planning 50 nm if I really needed to get there, and was willing to motor. We have averaged as much as 6 knots on a leg more than once, but those are the thrills we remember with joy. We have also averaged as low as 3 knots when we were enjoying the sailing, and didn't have far to go. David Lady Lillie
If your question is average speed for planning a cruise, the most important input from Nick and Wayne is that they motor at a maximum of 6 knots with a clean bottom. Our max is 5 knots, while our sailing speeds are similar to the ones they quote. I wonder what they feel is a good cruising speed on the motor? But it is certainly over 5 knots. So I would feel confident planning a cruising leg for a 290 at 5 knots, or 50 nm per leg. (We don't normally plan over 10 hours per leg.) My problem with this is that we really like sailing at between 4 and 5 knots. So if the wind will drive us a 4 knots, we are happy sailing. So If I had a 290, I'd feel comfortable planning a 10 hour leg of 45 nm, and planning 50 nm if I really needed to get there, and was willing to motor. We have averaged as much as 6 knots on a leg more than once, but those are the thrills we remember with joy. We have also averaged as low as 3 knots when we were enjoying the sailing, and didn't have far to go. David Lady Lillie
Speed will depend...
...on a number of factors. How clean and fair is the bottom? How much extra weight and where will you be carrying? What kind of prop do you have? How new are your sails and do you have enough sail controls? Bottom line: the cleaner, lighter, and more efficient the boat is the closer you will get to the boats operating potential.
...on a number of factors. How clean and fair is the bottom? How much extra weight and where will you be carrying? What kind of prop do you have? How new are your sails and do you have enough sail controls? Bottom line: the cleaner, lighter, and more efficient the boat is the closer you will get to the boats operating potential.
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