We are thinking of buying a new boat and the 320 bilge keel (being manufatured in England from November) is high on our list. We would appreciate any views on the 320 (fin) as to suitabilty for coast cruising with ocassional English Channel crossings. We are particularly interested in perfomance and stabilty in high winds/heavy seas, reliabilty of equipment and the B&R Rigging Any comments would be much appreciated Thanks Melvin
- Status
320 bilge keel
Bought a 310 (same as 320) from opal in april this year & sailed back to n ireland in april. Allsorts of seas-no problem. Nice dry boat in seaway, though maybe a bit over-canvassed in anything over force 6. Bilge keeler should be of little disadvantage. The yanks will like them, tho goodness knows what they will end up calling them!
Bought a 310 (same as 320) from opal in april this year & sailed back to n ireland in april. Allsorts of seas-no problem. Nice dry boat in seaway, though maybe a bit over-canvassed in anything over force 6. Bilge keeler should be of little disadvantage. The yanks will like them, tho goodness knows what they will end up calling them!
Confusion
British Hunters are not the same as American Hunters, which are sold under the name Legend in England. I believe a bilge keel is a twin fixed keel with a shallow draft. Big advantage is that they can sail in thin water and dry out level in the mud. Disadvantge is that they don't point as well as a single keel. They are more than capable of the type of sailing the poster asked about.
British Hunters are not the same as American Hunters, which are sold under the name Legend in England. I believe a bilge keel is a twin fixed keel with a shallow draft. Big advantage is that they can sail in thin water and dry out level in the mud. Disadvantge is that they don't point as well as a single keel. They are more than capable of the type of sailing the poster asked about.
Bilge keel has 2 keels but....
I believe there is little advantage in areas without drastic tides. Will this Hunter actually sit on it's keels or is it an affectation? Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
I believe there is little advantage in areas without drastic tides. Will this Hunter actually sit on it's keels or is it an affectation? Greg H23 Faster- S2 9.2C Impulsive
Thanks and an explanation of bilge keel
Thanks for the quick responses. Just to clear up the confusion. As Bill said the bilge keel is a twin keel boat which has a shallower draft and means we can sail in to rivers and if we want to dry out on the beach when the tide goes out. We get some pretty dramatic tide differences between high and low water which means we can sail in to some very pleasant areas on the tide and then dry out and explore, have lunch or sleep over. The bilge keel does not do much to weight or ballast, but does affect perfomance slightly. And yes to answer Greg's question, it will sit on the keels and is stable. But back to my original question - what do you think of the boats?
Thanks for the quick responses. Just to clear up the confusion. As Bill said the bilge keel is a twin keel boat which has a shallower draft and means we can sail in to rivers and if we want to dry out on the beach when the tide goes out. We get some pretty dramatic tide differences between high and low water which means we can sail in to some very pleasant areas on the tide and then dry out and explore, have lunch or sleep over. The bilge keel does not do much to weight or ballast, but does affect perfomance slightly. And yes to answer Greg's question, it will sit on the keels and is stable. But back to my original question - what do you think of the boats?
Love my 320
The only type of tidal range I have on the lake I sail is the lake drying out, so if the tide goes out, it will take more than a few hours to get back afloat
That being said, I really enjoy my boat, quality of the boat is excellent, stability is great (Deep Keel), as some one pointed out, reefing early is the way to go. Since there are no sizable swells on the lake, can't speak to how she handles under those conditions. The only issue with the B+R is sailing dead down wind, think jybe more than DDW. If you have specific questions email me, I will be happy to try and answer them. Regards. Bruce. Neon Moon
The only type of tidal range I have on the lake I sail is the lake drying out, so if the tide goes out, it will take more than a few hours to get back afloat
That being said, I really enjoy my boat, quality of the boat is excellent, stability is great (Deep Keel), as some one pointed out, reefing early is the way to go. Since there are no sizable swells on the lake, can't speak to how she handles under those conditions. The only issue with the B+R is sailing dead down wind, think jybe more than DDW. If you have specific questions email me, I will be happy to try and answer them. Regards. Bruce. Neon MoonResponse from Hunter Marine
The Hunter 320 (known as Legend in the U.K., as there is a small sailboat builder named Hunter in the U.K. which is not affiliated) will be offered next spring in a bilge keel configuration (twin keels). We will be manufacturing this new version in our U.K. factory which is just now beginning production. We will be producing the Hunter range for distribution throughout Europe, and will be offering the bilge keel option for the 290 and 320 primarily for our customers in the U.K. and western France, where the tidal conditions favor a boat that can rest level on her keels. For further details, please feel free to contact us at <luhrsmarine@lineone.net>. Stephen Cutsforth
The Hunter 320 (known as Legend in the U.K., as there is a small sailboat builder named Hunter in the U.K. which is not affiliated) will be offered next spring in a bilge keel configuration (twin keels). We will be manufacturing this new version in our U.K. factory which is just now beginning production. We will be producing the Hunter range for distribution throughout Europe, and will be offering the bilge keel option for the 290 and 320 primarily for our customers in the U.K. and western France, where the tidal conditions favor a boat that can rest level on her keels. For further details, please feel free to contact us at <luhrsmarine@lineone.net>. Stephen Cutsforth
Beneteau challenge
I'm wondering if this is Hunter's response to the Beneteau that has twin rudders and a single keel that are designed to sit on the same tripod style setup as this new bilge keel Hunter? I saw one at a dealer that sells both Hunters and Beneteaus and when I looked at the brochure it stated that the twin rudders were reinforced to accomodate the supporting of the boat in tidal conditions-must be some real megga reinforcing! I think if I had a choice ,I'd go with the bilge keel instead.
I'm wondering if this is Hunter's response to the Beneteau that has twin rudders and a single keel that are designed to sit on the same tripod style setup as this new bilge keel Hunter? I saw one at a dealer that sells both Hunters and Beneteaus and when I looked at the brochure it stated that the twin rudders were reinforced to accomodate the supporting of the boat in tidal conditions-must be some real megga reinforcing! I think if I had a choice ,I'd go with the bilge keel instead.
Bilge Keelers
Bilge keels, which are 2 keels, one each side of the boat have been around in Europe for many a year. They have the advantage that they can dry out at low water, which implys they can get to where a conventional fin keel boat cannot. We have a fin keel boat which we keep in Florida, a hunter 310. There have been times when I wish that she had this arrangement of bilge keels, Florida waters being notoriously shallow. On the other hand bilge keeler will not point as well as a conventional fin keel boat. John & Carol Davies Hunter 310 Dublin Dotty
Bilge keels, which are 2 keels, one each side of the boat have been around in Europe for many a year. They have the advantage that they can dry out at low water, which implys they can get to where a conventional fin keel boat cannot. We have a fin keel boat which we keep in Florida, a hunter 310. There have been times when I wish that she had this arrangement of bilge keels, Florida waters being notoriously shallow. On the other hand bilge keeler will not point as well as a conventional fin keel boat. John & Carol Davies Hunter 310 Dublin Dotty
- Status