Hello felow sailers, I just sold my 25' Megregor with a swing keel & am going to buy a 2000 to 2006 25' or 26' Hunter, but I haven't decieded if I should go with a swing keel or the fixed shoul draft keel. Im sure your input will help me decied. Does the cable on the swing keeled hunter sing like my Megregor's did? besides the draft difference of 1'6" on the swing & 2' on the fixed & the weight diffrence on the trailer, is there anything else about the two you could tell me about that would help? THANK YOU
to swing, or not to swing
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I have a 2005 Hunter 25. I initially was going to purchase a Mac, but I liked the Hunter and the fact that I didn't have to contend with a centerboard and water ballast. This was just a personal preference and there are trade off's.The Hunter 25 is heavy and not as big as a Mac. My boat and trailer weighs in over 5000 lbs.
If you want a larger boat you should consider the Hunter 260, which is water ballast and has a swing keel.
If you want a larger boat you should consider the Hunter 260, which is water ballast and has a swing keel.
Where are you planning to sail? Are you going to be in mostly shoal water? Do you plan on beaching the boat often? Are you going to trailer the boat? Are you going to be in open water or protected bays?
Decide what you need in a boat, then decide which boat best fits those needs. There are a lot of trade offs between a fixed keel or a swing keel. Every boat design is a series of compromises. You need to find the which compromises best fit your needs.
Decide what you need in a boat, then decide which boat best fits those needs. There are a lot of trade offs between a fixed keel or a swing keel. Every boat design is a series of compromises. You need to find the which compromises best fit your needs.
one point about the water ballasted boats is that they have positive boyancy, I don't know if they will continue to float right side up 
but at least you will not be swimming. On my 260 I do not hear the cable or usually even the center board when it touches the bottom, never hear it at anchor either, even with the board part way down.
Bob
but at least you will not be swimming. On my 260 I do not hear the cable or usually even the center board when it touches the bottom, never hear it at anchor either, even with the board part way down.Bob
I used to hear my cable all the time on my Catalina 22. As Bob stated, I never hear it on the H260.
There is a tremendous cabin on the H260. You pay for it with high freeboard that makes for difficult low speed handling. Every boat is a series of compromises. The H260 is family friendly, sacrificing performance.
As you pointed out yourself, the trade-off for swing keel compared to fixed keel are most pronounced when the boat is on the trailer, and at the launch ramp.
There is a tremendous cabin on the H260. You pay for it with high freeboard that makes for difficult low speed handling. Every boat is a series of compromises. The H260 is family friendly, sacrificing performance.
As you pointed out yourself, the trade-off for swing keel compared to fixed keel are most pronounced when the boat is on the trailer, and at the launch ramp.
Thump...Thump...Thump...
All good comments, but one point should be made.
The 260 WB does not have a swing keel, it has a centerboard that only weighs about 70 pounds. Big difference. That allows me to sail upwind with the CB up when necessary. You would not do that with a swing keel. Also the CB tells me when I'm getting into water less than 6 feet deep and you can hear it going thump, thump, thump along the bottom...
All good comments, but one point should be made.
The 260 WB does not have a swing keel, it has a centerboard that only weighs about 70 pounds. Big difference. That allows me to sail upwind with the CB up when necessary. You would not do that with a swing keel. Also the CB tells me when I'm getting into water less than 6 feet deep and you can hear it going thump, thump, thump along the bottom...
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