weatherhelm on hunter 26 bilge

[John West]

My boat is very unbalanced. As the wind gets up Iam continually moving the helm for every gust. As she heals I get tremendous weatherhelm that actually is unstopable and screws me around. Freeing the Main off completely does not always stop this once it has started. I may be slightly over canvased in these conditions, but up to the point were I actually screw round the boat is going along nicly and comfortably. I even screw round on a reach, and sometimes I can not get the boat round at the gybe mark, because of the force of the weatherhelm.Help please.

 

[Tom Hultberg]

John, Weatherhelm is mostly in the tunning of

your standing rigging. I can tell you that if your forestay is too long after you installed a roller furler, that will really increase your wh. Make sure that your mast isn't raked too for aft. It makes a lot of difference. Also make sure that your rudder is all the way down. Hunter 26's have a reputation of the rubber cheeks in the rudder housing coming loose and aht rudder can pull out an inch or twom which can make steering very difficult.Good luck!

 

[Ray Bowles]

Tom's points are right on!! Start with a total

checkout of your rigging and tensions. To do a good job you must use a gauge as without good values your just guessing and there is a hell of a lot of difference in different peoples guesses.The rudder is also a major point (I am speaking of a tiller style boat) and I found this out one day when I forgot to tighten up the wing bolt after beaching. The rudder slipped back about 6" and the boat was unsteerable. Make sure it is totally forward which means it will almost look like it goes under the boat.

 

[Don Barber]

Mast Rake is Everything

John,My H-26 had the same problem when I purchased it last November. A rollerfurler was installed on the tang intended for the jib tack. This caused the mast to be raked back about 10 degrees. I checked out the specs. regarding mast rake in the owner's manual. I had to have the forestay shortened, and then purchased hardware to allow it to be attached to the bow dead-eye. I was able to get the boat into perfect balance, with neutral helm much of the time. My rudder has a tendency to work its way up, even though I have tightened the wing nut with a hammer! Just make sure your wing nut is a tight as possible. Good luck!Don BarberS/V Third Degree

 

[Debra Blatnik]

Your overpowered

Weather helm is usually sail trim (ease the mainsheet) or if you have a rail burried, then it is time to reduce sail...