Strange Helm Action

Status
Not open for further replies.
henkmeuzelaar

henkmeuzelaar

.
Jun 5, 1997
659
Coleman scanoe Irwin (ID)
Marcel; where were you when we needed you?

Just kidding, of course. That is great news! I will send you my e-mail address and am sure that Calvin will be even more delighted. The puzzling thing is that none of the other Hunter 260 owners on this board has fessed up to having similar problems! I guess they must either be too busy raking and bending their masts in order to try and solve the "lee helm problem" or they all crashed and burned long ago because of the tendency of a light sailing vessel with overbalanced rudder to quickly broach and jibe when the tiller is left untended for a moment ;o)) Calvin sure is to be commended for carefully and objectively reporting his observations when many of us would probably have been too prejudiced or embarrassed to do so. Have fun! Flying Dutchman
 
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

.
Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
Marcel send it to me!

Marcel, If you would email it to me, I'll put it up on the my web site for everyone and future readers. seamans@ayesail.net BTW, I had wheel steering on Java and didn't notice this with the wheel. I was able to balance the boat fairly well. Though there were times we had to much sail up and were to weather helm a LOT! Jim S/V Java
 
T

Tom

No helm problem here

Since Henk is taking a poll, my 1999 H260 with wheel steering doesn't have the "Strange helm" described by Calvin in his original post. With proper sail trim, the helm balances well so that I can lock the helm in place and the boat will maintain course just fine unattended for at least a few minutes. Boats, esp. sailboats, humble us all at times with the diverse set of situations and problems they present us with - regardless of our number of years of experience. I gain quite a bit from the experiences and solutions shared on this site, and I contribute when I feel I have something to offer. I offer what I can (based on 12 years of trailer-sailing experience) as "food for thought", no warrantee on accuracy or relevance given. Fair winds, Tom
 
M

Marcel

Article sent

I can't speak for the 260, but on my 26 the position of the rudder in the cage was important. I found this out when I did not tighten down the wing-nut enough one time. Halfway thru the trip the tiller balance changed from fingertip control to deathgrip. The rudder had moved back about 3/4 of an inch while sailing and made a noticeable difference. The fix was using a waterproof magic marker to put a small line along the rudder cage on both sides. After that, rudder movement became obvious. The engineer's article drawings show that a fraction of an inch movement has an effect.
 
Jim Seamans

Jim Seamans

.
Mar 21, 2004
2,175
Hunter 356 Cobb Island, MD
Article Online at ---

Marcel, Sent the article and I've put it up on the web site in two sizes. If anyone thinks these still to large for downloading let me know and I'll strink it again. Jim S/V Java http://www.ayesail.net/sailing/ManualsForHunter.html
 
M

Mark

No problems here!

Well we have a stock standard 260 with outboard. The rigging was set exactly to the book. The only adjustment made was to wind up the reverse diagonals to flatten the sail. This was done prior to setting the rigging. It sails perfect! No other modifications have been made to the keel or rudder. (Tiller steering)
 
M

Mark

Henk

To answer your post 02/20 ( I hope) If there is weather helm on a yacht then the tiller should at least move to windward. The more aft the top of the mast is the more helm you have. If the mast is too far forward then the opposite happens. Every time the rig is overpowered the tiller will want to point the yacht to leeward. When we are sailing in 5-10 knots of wind there is very little weather helm. Get to 10-15 and there is some. 15-20 there is quite a bit. 20-25 knots the reef is in and there is some helm. 25-30 knots and she is wanting to round up. 30 knots and we are on the way home. Its one of the features of most if not all yachts. Let go of the tiller or the wheel and she should round up.
 
J

Jim Honeyman

manual for H22

The artical is great. Any one have this info for a Hunter 22? Jim Honeyman
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top Bottom