Like a kid in a candy store, I've got my nosed pressed so hard on the glass I can't see anything but the Hunter 44DS. My wife and I are finally getting there, that place where retirement and you're life's finances are starting to line up like the stars. A lifelong dream of buying that cruiser and heading for blue water is not so far fetched any longer. Here's my my question, would those of you who know about such things, consider the 44DS a strong enough horse to saddle up, point the compass southwest, cross the Pacific and see if the islands are still there. Or, like that kid in the candy store am I being blinded by my eyes/heart? Thanks, MAtthew & Donna
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Hi Matthew and Donna, Patti and I have a...
P42, which I believe uses the same hull mold as your boat. There are several P42s blue water cruising and have had no problems. If we were so inclined I would not hesitate taking our boat around the world. It is a very strong and sea worthy boat. There are several things we would do to the boat to equip it for such an adventure. Some of these follow mainly because they are 14 years old: 1. New sails. 2. New shrouds. 3. Life raft. 4. Reinforce through hulls with SS plates. 5. Hard dodger. 6. New bimini. 7. Blue water training. 8. etc. For now I'm happy as a clam cruising the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Inside Passage, Puget Sound, etc. Maybe some day... Terry P.S. Keep in mind there have been women who have crossed the Atlantic solo in a 23 foot sloop without any kind of self steering system and did just fine.
P42, which I believe uses the same hull mold as your boat. There are several P42s blue water cruising and have had no problems. If we were so inclined I would not hesitate taking our boat around the world. It is a very strong and sea worthy boat. There are several things we would do to the boat to equip it for such an adventure. Some of these follow mainly because they are 14 years old: 1. New sails. 2. New shrouds. 3. Life raft. 4. Reinforce through hulls with SS plates. 5. Hard dodger. 6. New bimini. 7. Blue water training. 8. etc. For now I'm happy as a clam cruising the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Inside Passage, Puget Sound, etc. Maybe some day... Terry P.S. Keep in mind there have been women who have crossed the Atlantic solo in a 23 foot sloop without any kind of self steering system and did just fine.
Capsize screen
At 2.04, the capsize screen of the 44DS argues against blue water cruising. According the specs on this site, at 14' 6", the beam of the 44DS is wider than the older 42 which has a capsize screen below the threshold of 2.00. In fact the hull appears to be the same as the new 44. David Lady Lillie
At 2.04, the capsize screen of the 44DS argues against blue water cruising. According the specs on this site, at 14' 6", the beam of the 44DS is wider than the older 42 which has a capsize screen below the threshold of 2.00. In fact the hull appears to be the same as the new 44. David Lady Lillie
430
I have the 430, its capsize screen is just under 2.0. really close to the 44ds. I have felt that the trade offs with hunter are less sea way stability for more speed and comfort in accomodations. I wouldn't intentionally go out into the winter weather on the pacific with her but I would sail downwind to hawaii in a heartbeat. I have read of several modifications that I would probably install such as removable back stay, reinforced chain plates, additional fuel, be sure you have a heavy duty autopilot, I have the 700 series and it has done well in pretty saucy conditions on the pacific and in the straights of JDF and Georgia, I have also been looking at wind driven steering devices to reduce power consumption and to have a spare rudder system. i have read about adding a skeg in front of the rudder but have not actually seen on installed on a hunter. personally I love the room in the boat and am willing to put up with a bumpier ride for that comfort at other times.
I have the 430, its capsize screen is just under 2.0. really close to the 44ds. I have felt that the trade offs with hunter are less sea way stability for more speed and comfort in accomodations. I wouldn't intentionally go out into the winter weather on the pacific with her but I would sail downwind to hawaii in a heartbeat. I have read of several modifications that I would probably install such as removable back stay, reinforced chain plates, additional fuel, be sure you have a heavy duty autopilot, I have the 700 series and it has done well in pretty saucy conditions on the pacific and in the straights of JDF and Georgia, I have also been looking at wind driven steering devices to reduce power consumption and to have a spare rudder system. i have read about adding a skeg in front of the rudder but have not actually seen on installed on a hunter. personally I love the room in the boat and am willing to put up with a bumpier ride for that comfort at other times.
More emotion than statistics, but...
if you look at Cruising World magazine or other such publications, I don't think you will ever find a group of experienced cruisers who consider any Hunter boat a world cruiser. If your plan is true long distance oceaning sailing, I believe you need to let the Hunter go and look elsewhere. If you want a dockside condo, the Hunter 44DS is spectacular and I would heartily recommend it. We bought (and still own) a H356 and love it, but are realistic in its capabilities. Good luck in your search.
if you look at Cruising World magazine or other such publications, I don't think you will ever find a group of experienced cruisers who consider any Hunter boat a world cruiser. If your plan is true long distance oceaning sailing, I believe you need to let the Hunter go and look elsewhere. If you want a dockside condo, the Hunter 44DS is spectacular and I would heartily recommend it. We bought (and still own) a H356 and love it, but are realistic in its capabilities. Good luck in your search.
Capsize screen?
I am not familiar with this term capsize screen. A brief explanation please. Thanks, John
I am not familiar with this term capsize screen. A brief explanation please. Thanks, John
Capsize Screen
During the Fastnet race from England to Ireland and back years ago, an unexpected storm struck the racing fleet. A number of boats were capsized, some were lost, and a number of lives were lost. A very thorough investigation was held, including tank model testing. The conclusions were: - Any boat design will probably capsize if struck broadside by a breaking wave higher than the beam of the boat. - Seaworthy boats will bob back upright when a following wave rocks them out of their stable inverted position. - Boats that are wide and light have a lot of "form" stability. They are also usually quite fast, since they can carry more sail in the same wind, and often plane. Unfortunately, these hull forms are also quite stable when inverted. So once turned over, they tend to stay that way. Think of a catamaran. Their broad beam (across two hulls) makes them the fastest hull shape. Bu once they are over, they are there to stay. Big cats have a hatch in the bottom to allow crew escape when they are inverted. - The investigators came up with the capsize screen to roughly measure which boats are too wide and light to expect a rapid recovery from a rollover. The formula imagines the displacement volume of the boat is a cube, then compares the side of that cube with the beam of the boat. If the beam is more than twice as long as the side of the displacement cube, then the boat is likely to stay inverted when rolled. - The angle of vanishing stability is a more exact measure of this characteristic. It defines the angle from verticle at which a boat no longer has a righting force to bring it back to verticle. A decent angle of vanishing stability for an ocean going yacht is 140 degrees. That says until the boat has its mast pointed 50 degrees (140-90) beyond horizontal, it is still trying to roll back on its feet. More importantly, a following wave only has to roll an inverted boat 40 degrees (180-140) to get it started to recovery. Unfortunately, many popular boat manufacturers do not publish this statistic, so we have to use the capsize screen. - But all of this has been well known for over 20 years. So when Hunter deliberately designs the 44 DS with a capsize screen over 2.00, they are saying recovering from a rollover at sea was simply not very high on their priorities for that hull. If you are really going to cross the Pacific, I'd look for a design with capsize screen below 2.00. If you want a modern, fast, design, the Hunter 42 is a candidate. Henk Meuzelaar has cruised his in the Pacific for years. But if you really intend coastal cruising, and visits to the Caribbean, the 44 DS is a great choice. If you took her across the Pacific, you would use weather history to avoid expected storms that would put you in any danger. Mostl likely you would have a great cruise. But your boat would not be good protection if it was rolled over in an unexpected storm. David Lady Lillie
During the Fastnet race from England to Ireland and back years ago, an unexpected storm struck the racing fleet. A number of boats were capsized, some were lost, and a number of lives were lost. A very thorough investigation was held, including tank model testing. The conclusions were: - Any boat design will probably capsize if struck broadside by a breaking wave higher than the beam of the boat. - Seaworthy boats will bob back upright when a following wave rocks them out of their stable inverted position. - Boats that are wide and light have a lot of "form" stability. They are also usually quite fast, since they can carry more sail in the same wind, and often plane. Unfortunately, these hull forms are also quite stable when inverted. So once turned over, they tend to stay that way. Think of a catamaran. Their broad beam (across two hulls) makes them the fastest hull shape. Bu once they are over, they are there to stay. Big cats have a hatch in the bottom to allow crew escape when they are inverted. - The investigators came up with the capsize screen to roughly measure which boats are too wide and light to expect a rapid recovery from a rollover. The formula imagines the displacement volume of the boat is a cube, then compares the side of that cube with the beam of the boat. If the beam is more than twice as long as the side of the displacement cube, then the boat is likely to stay inverted when rolled. - The angle of vanishing stability is a more exact measure of this characteristic. It defines the angle from verticle at which a boat no longer has a righting force to bring it back to verticle. A decent angle of vanishing stability for an ocean going yacht is 140 degrees. That says until the boat has its mast pointed 50 degrees (140-90) beyond horizontal, it is still trying to roll back on its feet. More importantly, a following wave only has to roll an inverted boat 40 degrees (180-140) to get it started to recovery. Unfortunately, many popular boat manufacturers do not publish this statistic, so we have to use the capsize screen. - But all of this has been well known for over 20 years. So when Hunter deliberately designs the 44 DS with a capsize screen over 2.00, they are saying recovering from a rollover at sea was simply not very high on their priorities for that hull. If you are really going to cross the Pacific, I'd look for a design with capsize screen below 2.00. If you want a modern, fast, design, the Hunter 42 is a candidate. Henk Meuzelaar has cruised his in the Pacific for years. But if you really intend coastal cruising, and visits to the Caribbean, the 44 DS is a great choice. If you took her across the Pacific, you would use weather history to avoid expected storms that would put you in any danger. Mostl likely you would have a great cruise. But your boat would not be good protection if it was rolled over in an unexpected storm. David Lady Lillie
Yes, people can sail in a bathtub around the world
that said, if you want blue water sailing look at a blue water boat. Too many people are trying to make these Hunters into something they are not. I love my H36. But, if I were going out to the North Sea, I want a Hallberg Rassy, Hylas, Regina, or something that I know will be forgiving for my lack of sailing skills. Yes, the sailor is the most important factor. But all else being equal, give him/her the best equiptment possible. my 3 cents abe
that said, if you want blue water sailing look at a blue water boat. Too many people are trying to make these Hunters into something they are not. I love my H36. But, if I were going out to the North Sea, I want a Hallberg Rassy, Hylas, Regina, or something that I know will be forgiving for my lack of sailing skills. Yes, the sailor is the most important factor. But all else being equal, give him/her the best equiptment possible. my 3 cents abe
Hey David!!!
Your last post is one of the very BEST I've read on this site. Your composition is professional. I can't say enough. Great writing!
Your last post is one of the very BEST I've read on this site. Your composition is professional. I can't say enough. Great writing!
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