Stability of Water Ballasted Boats

[Imanuel Portalatin]

I've owned a 1974 Columbia 23 since last fall which I haven't even sailed due to some repair work that needs to be done. Even before sailing the boat it has become apparent that the accomodations are not suitable for a 6' 2", 250 pound guy like me.I've decided to look for something newer that doesn't need a lot of fixing and has more spacious accomodations. I also want to be able to tariler the new boat with my current vehicle, a 2000 Toyota Tacoma SR5. I've looked at the Hunter 260 and have been impressed by the amount of space below decks. Still I am unsure of the safety of water ballasted boats and their suitability for occasional open water passages. Can anybody tell me of their experience with water ballasted boats in heavy weather or of articles that have been written about the stability of such boats, specifically the Hunter models?Thanks for your help,Imanuel Portalatin

 

[Mike Pajewski]

Good seamanship is the key

I've had two water ballast Hunters and have found them to be safe and dependable. Would I take one offshore to Bermuda - No. Would I sail my 26 across Lake Michigan - yes. But I would still check weather forecasts, have the appropriate equipment and not take any foolish chances. The 26 is a good boat for its intended purpose, which is coastal cruising. If you search the archives, you will find 26 sailors who have crossed the stream to the Bahamas, sail Alaska's coast and trailered to Baja. I,ve been out in some rough weather here in the Great Lakes, and I always give up long before the boat would be in trouble. It's a safe boat but you must use common sense too. Mike PajewskiH26 "Loon"

 

[Mickey McLaughlin]

Mac & Hunter

Before I bought my H26, I had a MacGregor 26 (water ballast) and sailed it in Lake Norman,NC, Chesapeake Bay, and Galveston Bay without any stability problems. I sail my H26 in a central Texas lake that gets some severe winds, and I mostly singlehand.

 

[Jim Loats]

Water ballast OK Toyota probably not.

I am a new 26 owner and am getting used to how the boat handles. (Came from Catalina 22) The biggest difference is the need to reef the main very early. (I almost never reefed the main on the Catalina.) Just dowsing the jib isn't enough...AND after reefing the main, the boat is feels quite solid and stable. (I have two sets of reefing points and have used them both.)But ...I think you will find that your Toyota will not be enough to pull and 26 or 260 if you plan to go very far. (My V6 Chevy S-10 will get it from storage to the lake and back, but NO trips.) After hashing through all the archives here on towing these boats it is clear to me that I will need a full size V8. Check out the archives for lots of discussion on this topic.Jim "Grizzly Bear" Loats

 

[chris sammons]

Jim is right

Jim is right you will need a V8 to pull it any distance at all, we have a F150 with a 302 engine. Last year I weighted it coming home from the lake after a weeks Vacation and all up it was just over 5000lbs. Hey Jim drop me a line, cdsam@yahoo.com We kept ours at Chatfield last year.

 

[Rob Lytle]

4.0 I-6 just enough for h19

Imanuel,I own a Hunter 19 (the later of the two series) - a much scaled-down version of the 260. The 4.0L inline 6-cylinder in my standard Jeep Cherokee is adequate to pull the boat. However, I wouldn't want to take on anything bigger than the 19 (I've towed with a lot of different combinations over the last 25 year!). Another concern is brakes. A pickup (that's what I assume your vehicle is) doesn't have the weight - especially on the back end - to handle a fishtailing trailer or a panic stop without jackknifing. Breaks are a must for anything over 3,000#! My favorite combination over the years was a Hunter 23 ('86 wing keel model) pulled with a full-sized K-5 Chevy Blazer with a V-8. To be safe, stick to a boat that's no more than 1/2 to 2/3 the towing capacity the vehicle manufacturer claims.Happy sailing and safe towing.