Stability of Hunter 23

[Wendell Stevens]

As this is our first season sailing our 1989 Hunter 23 on Cayuga Lake, and everything is new to us, the wife was concerned about the stability of the boat. The main concern was taking wakes from large motorboats on the beam when the sails are down. We were in such a situation and it was a bit hairy. Has anyone capsized a Hunter 23 due to this or should it not be an issue?

 

[John]

Turn into the wake

My solution is to look out for those jokers and turn into or away from their wake depending on other trafic in the area. The idea being that I take the wave on the forward or aft quarter.

 

[David Foster]

Breaking waves higher than your beam?

A wake would have to generate a _breaking_ wave higher than 7 feet to put you in danger of a capsize. So the real issue is comfort, and maintaining forward momentum. Thus John's advice of turning toward the wake to avoid the maximum roll experience beam on.Lady Lillie (a '77 h27) does a good job with even a 30 degree angle into the wave. So figure out what works for your boat and crew.We find the best solution is to sail a couple of miles offshore. In a good breeze, most of the power boaters on Lake Erie hug the shore! And most of the fishermen are anchored.DavidLady Lillie

 

[Ward]

Not an issue (not an expert)

While I am no expert, I really don't think you could capsize that boat in the conditions you describe. I have had mine layed over so far waves broke in the cockpit. I was deliberately seeing how far we could heel. My ONLY concern with conditions you describe is taking on water into the cabin from major waves and not having the companion way closed. The previous owner of my boat had it in serious (10-12ft) seas and said the boat took it with no hesitation. I would never have the nerve to do that but it serves the point. Having said this, I would heed the advice of the previous post because it is the cautious and safe thing to do. The boat may take the broadside wake fine, but quartering into it will be a MUCH smoother ride.Ward

 

[Joel]

It can get scary.

The biggest problem that I have had from power boat wakes with the H23 is when taking one (or should I say receiving one) aft of the beam. Forward of the beam, as well as right on the beam, the boat seems to be very easy to control and recover. The few times that I've been hit by wakes aft of the beam but not on the stern, the H23 just seems to lose it. It was never close to capsizing. It just really rocked and rolled in ways I can't explain. The worst times seem to be when the wakes comes from the port side-aft. That's also where much of the weight is centered on the "stock" H23's (motor, battery, water, etc.) so I wonder if that has something to do with it.Just hang in there and enjoy the boat! The first year I had the H23, I barely was able to get out of the harbor (it is a large one) since I had to spend so much time trying to dodge / tack through powerboat wakes.