Today's sailing report

[Bob Cowgill]

Enjoying a little reprieve from running from the "Hurricane of the Week", we got the 216 out today.Started out in quite light winds, so we ( being neophyte mono-hull'ers) practiced getting our tacks and jibes smoother, as well as sailing up to a mooring.Then, when the wind came up, we put on the life jackets and decided to see what this boat would do.We fell off on a reach and trimmed the laundry in, bringing the heel angle higher than we've had it. I got the wife to go along with this, explaining how the boat wouldn't REALLY blow over, due to the heavy centerboard! About that time, a guy and girl on a Laser 2 with main and jib decided they wanted to race, and took off down the river. When they were about 100 yards ahead we turned on course and pursued. Within a mile, we caught them and sailed right past, much the the chagrin of the testosterone- driven captain! One note: This boat would go MUCH faster if, when the power REALLY comes on, it didn't round up into the wind so strongly that I can't counter it with the rudder.Next task was when we came upon an older Catalina 25 that had strayed from the channel and planted itself SOLIDLY on a sand bar.We attempted to jerk them off with all 2.9 KW of the little Nissan 4-stroke, but only succeeded in loosening the grip of the sand slightly.An operator from Towboats US happened by, and offered to pull them off for ONLY $500!What a deal!After we couldn't solve their problem, the captain got on his cell phone and called his buddy, the boat owner to come to their rescue. The owner showed up with a pontoon boat with MUCHO horses on the stern and yanked them clean.After that, it was back to port, and dinner.Ah, being able to actually ENJOY the boat! WooHoo!Bob

 

[Lamar Sumerlin]

Huurican Ivan Survival

Mr. Cowgill:From your recent e-mail I assume that you did survive Hurricane Ivan. If so, I'm so glad since I know from your previous e-mail you had apparently expected the worse. We also experienced Hurrican Ivan, but I'm truly thankful that we did not suffer any great damage to property or other loss.I am a recent Hunter 216 owner having had my boat delivered in May, 2004. I have really enjoyed the boat, but have had some problems. Since the boat was delivered, I've had the following modifications to the boat:Installed a bilge pump at the back of the centerboard trunk and ran the electical wires and hose to the entry to the cuddy cabin.Rudder bearings were changed out with Delrin (sp?) material from the fiberglass bearings that the boat was suppied with. (Note: In my view, this was really dumb for Hunter to provide such crappy material.)Non-skid material was applied to the cockpit area.Beefed up spreader attachments were installed.An improved mast boot was also given to me. (Note: It works much better that the "joke" that was originally supplied, but I have still not stopped the water leakaage around the mast. The Hurricane Ivan also hit us rather hard with wind gusts up to about 70 mph and ~7.0 inches of rain over September 15-16, 2004. I haven't checked the boat, but I'm sure it has a significant amount of water that has leaked in.)Upon your advice, I also ordered a swim ladder from the e-Bay site and plan to install it soon.Could you tell me what material you used for spacer material to account for the 1/2" difference in height across the back of the step?Your e-mail commentary to this site has really helped me a great deal with the boat and I do appreciate your taking the time to share your experience with everyone. Hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely,Lamar Sumerlin

 

[Tim Welsh]

Report from Lake Ouachita Arkansas

Well we feel to d@#$ good so somethings gotta go wrong cause I'm feeling way too DA@# good cause I'm feeling way toooo DDDDAAAAMMM@@@@ Good!!!!!!!! Tim Welsh H34 AKA CABO WABO

 

[Bob Cowgill]

H216 modifications

Lamar,I used flat two pieces of flat aluminum, each 1/4" thick to make up my spacer for the ladder mounting.I used 5/16" stainless bolts with nylock nuts, 1/8" aluminum backing plates and rubber washers in the installation. The rubber washers sit on top of the hull mounting surface to keep water from running into the bolt holes.Even at that, it is not EXACTLY plumb, but close enough for me. I've tried it, and it makes boarding from the water VERY easy!CAUTION: When drilling the holes for the ladder mount be VERY careful to ease off the pressure before drilling completely through the bottom of the hull! There IS a gap between the two surfaces, but a " hammer mechanic" could do the unthinkable.I will try to attach a picture to this message of how I installed the Hunter supplied mast boot, as my method differs from the instructions that come with it.Please note that the boot I installed appears to be made from heavy Sunbrella, has a collar which they intend you to attach around the mast with Velcro, and has snaps which you install on the foredeck and the hatch to secure it.I looked at the Velcro setup and determined that doing it that way would NOT stop the leak at the mast track. So, I just overlapped the ends of the collar, used a piece of duct tape to hold them while I sealed the top of the collar to the mast with a self-bonding tape similar to rigging tape.In fact, rigging tape could be used here most satisfactorily.Also, the mast track itself is sealed off with Marine Goop.I get ABSOLUTELY NO WATER in the cuddy now, in the HEAVIEST of downpours, so I have not needed the bilge pump.I directly E-mailed detailed instructions to Andrea on this board of how the ladder was installed. I have two pix of the ladder on the boat. stowed and deployed which I can E-mail you, if you wish.Last ladder note: I have installed a modified rubber chair leg over the end of the ladder leg on the starboard side, as this leg end leans directly against the transom when stowed. This protects the transom. The makeshift cap is attached with a nylon ty-wrap, and a glob of Marine Goop.I, too have the non-skid material onboard, and LOVE it!Lind at Hunter marine customer service has been VERY helpful.If you have any other questions or experiences to share, PLEASE do! We all benefit!Bob

 

[Lamar Sumerlin]

Thanks for the swim ladder information

Thanks for the information on the swim ladder spacers. And, I will continue to share what information I have about the H216 as it developes.I would appreciate you e-mailing your photos of the ladder installation. My e-mail is as follows:lamarsumerlin1@charter.net.Thanks again,Lamar Sumerlin

 

[Rock Smith]

Another perspective

Great info, very helpful. Some of my own experience on discussionI used vinyl tape to wrap the top of the Hunter supplied mast boot cover, and silicone in sail track. Still massive leaks. The boot is poorly designed, and whn I spoke with Lind at facotry, he admitted when he designed it, he neglected to allow for the mast bridle which prevents proper install of attachment points making for a huge inverted dish that is a rain collector. Hunter really screwed this one up. How did you negotiate the bridle? Pics would be very helpful.I put non skid on the forward deck and on cabin top so I am moe confident of staying upright. No ladder yet, but am tempted everytime I have to haul myself up on the transom.As to boat rounding up on gusts, I easliy correct and control the tendency with the rudder. I don't really understnad comment on not being able to correct. Perhaps anticipating gust and reacting to compensate faster makes it easier to control V. course change later?

 

[Bob Cowgill]

216 mast boot

I'm a relative newbie to the world of monohulls, so could you tell me what a mast bridle is?The only piece of hardware in the immediate area of the boot is the mast attachment point for the boom vang, but that does not interfere with the boot.I originally THOUGHT that I had the mast track sealed, but continued to get leaks until I put enough Marine Goop in the track to make CERTAIN it was sealed. Since that time, as I stated, I have had absolutely ZERO leaks in the HEAVIEST downpours. Believe me, with all of our hurricane activity, I KNOW a downpour when I see one!No real trick on the installation other than what I described in the earlier posts. The lower edge of the boot is attached to the foredeck and hatch with the factory-supplied snaps, and the top of the boot's mast collar is sealed with the tape, as you have already done.In spite of the fact that the boot itself has a wrinkled appearance when installed, the fabric from which it is made appears to be water-resistant at the least, so puddling on the boot doesn't appear to be a source of leaks.I'm guessing that you, like my own experience do not actually have the mast track completely sealed off yet. Note that the Goop must fill an area in the track from at least 1/2" below to at least that much above the top of the collar on the boot to avoid water sneaking in at that area.If you e-mail me at my home address (rcowgill@cfl.rr.com) tonight I will send you the picture of my installation.As for the rounding up problem, it occurs whenever the boat is beginning to be slightly overpowered, whether by a gust, or simply from sheeting in the main to a certain point when the wind is of a strong, constant velocity.Since it happened to me several times, and I made my best effort to avoid stalling the rudder by a sudden movement, I have to assume this anomaly is simply a characteristic of the design.In one way, it's a " failsafe" to help folks with a testosterone overload to avoid knocking themselves down, but to me for whom that sort of thing NEVER happens (!), it just acts as sort of a top speed "governor".Bob

 

[Rock Smith]

Response to Bob

Your observaiton on sealing sail slot above and below, as well as ensure enough slot contact by the sealant makes senses and is probably the source of the leak. I will try that. Thanks. Bridle, to which I referred earlier, is the metal bracket to that the halyard, and ohter lines are attached to. I can't imagine how you got a good application negotiating around it.Thanks

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Bob - rounding up

Bob - You describe rounding up on your boat as: "it occurs whenever the boat is beginning to be slightly overpowered, whether by a gust, or simply from sheeting in the main to a certain point when the wind is of a strong, constant velocity."What point-of-sail are you on when you describe this? Close-hauled, close-reach? Further off the wind then that?I'm assuming that you are at least close-reaching for these questions and comments:The effect on the apparent wind of getting hit by a gust is that the apparent wind swings to be further aft, which increases the angle of attack of the mainsail. The same is true if you sheet in the main as you mention: the angle of attack increases.At this point, the heel increases and you react by trying to head up into the wind, is that right? But by then the rudder has lost effectiveness and you round up?How much heel would you say you have when it rounds up? Can you feel the tiller/rudder go real "loose" like it's hardly even in the water?At this point, easing the main (or dropping the traveler if you have one) will depower the main greatly, and quickly. Do you ever try that instead of trying to head up (when it's too late for the rudder to help)?Or does it all happen so quickly that there's no time to react in any way?I've only experienced this in a gradual (slow) enough manner (done purposely) that I can always let the main go. This is when close-hauled or near to it. I've never actually had my boat (H23.5) round up yet. When my tool box crashes around down below I dump the main. This is the same time as the tiller feels like there's nothing but air on the rudder, so I'm probably pretty close to rounding up at that time. The heel angle seems about 40 degees or so (I'm tempted to say higher than that but in the excitement I think it seems more than it realy is). I just bought a clinometer but haven't installed it yet......RickM...

 

[Bob Cowgill]

216 rounding up

Well, we're back in the house following the initial passage of Jeanne.I was able to drive by the marina and view our boat from a distance, but couldn't go in.The police had the drive blocked due to a downed power line.The boat appeared to be still on the trailer, and the mast was in place, so I think she's OK.On the rounding up.....At the time, we were on a not-too-close reach, approaching a beam reach. When I sheeted in, the heeling angle increased to ( unknown ) degrees. It FELT ( to this novice) like our speed was continuing to increase, and we wanted to see how the boat felt at higher angles of heel, so I continued to sheet in. When the rounding up began, it was sudden, but not "light switch" quick. The bow veered toward the wind, and giving opposite rudder could not stop it.The rudder did not feel light, as if stalled, or coming out of the water. As I continued to hold opposing rudder, the boat simply slewed toward the wind and lost all speed. We fell off, picked up the wind again, and continued our impromptu drag race.This does not represent a real "problem" to me, just a point of curiosity.Bob

 

[Bob Cowgill]

Mast boot redux

I just looked back at my own picture of the boot installation, and must assume that the " mast bridle" you refer to is a piece of hardware that is either absent from my boat, or installed at a higher elevation.I'm going to try ONE MORE TIME to attach a picture to this reply so you can see what I mean.The ONLY piece of hardware on the mast in the vicinity of the collar portion of the mast boot is the aforementioned attachment point for the boom vang, and it is above the top of the collar.If this picture makes it, it should clear this point up.Bob