Were any 260's built with a fixed keel?

[Stan Linado]

We have, in our marina, a h260 who's owner claims that he was dragging on the bottom when trying to leave the marina. Our minimum depth at low tide is generally 3 feet. According to any information I could find on the 260, with the board up it draws 1'9", and the rudder is a kick-up. He claims the need to use his boat "at will" and because he can't get out "at will" he wants us to dredge the canal regardless of the cost. Could he possibly have a version of the 260 with a fixed keel that might cause him a problem?

 

[Jackdaw]

Even if he did, I would be shocked if your agreement does not include a 'force majeure' clause that limits your required actions to at worst refunding his money. At WORST.

 

[Benny17441]

There is a model with similar specs (23' 3'WL and 8' 11" beam) but with a fixed keel, wheel steering and an inboard diesel called the h270. Is that in Florida, you kidding me, tell him to raise his centerboard or find another marina. We have gotten used to sailing the tides and wind driven tidal components. We plan our departures and arrivals according to channel depths and we have a shallow draft vessel. Never heard of down here that a marina would guarantee access at all times.

 

[Kermit]

Try this link. http://sailingmagazine.net/article-462-hunter-260.html

Also, Crazy Dave Condon knows everything there is to know about the H260. I hope he'll see this thread.

Does your agreement include allowing a tenant to demand crap like that? Seems to me he didn't do his homework.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I thought H260s were water ballast centerboard boats like our old Mac26S.. Sounds like a prima donna. We have depth problems at our marina, especially since we're a reservoir and the level drops as the season wears on. We would be happy to have his "problem". It is the responsibility of the boat owner to know the limits of their boat, including tides, keel depth etc. In our case, hauling it out before the channel to the crane is too shallow.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

They did sell a 270 that I think drafts 3.5 ft, lead keel. Otherwise looks like a 260 in the water. A friend has one, it was built with tiller steering and outboard motor no diesel. There are 24 registered owners of 270s on this site.
Bob

 

[Tata duende]

This might help:
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=6199

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I bought a new 1998 H260 with a fixed keel, outboard motor and wheel steering. My outboard was a 4 stroke Hond 9.9HP. It was not a water ballast model. I think the draft was 3 feet, might have be n 3'-6". There was also a H270 with an inboard diesel. I don't remember the horsepower.

 

[Stan Linado]

FWIW this vessel (h260) does have a fixed keel, draft of 3'6", kick up rudder, outboard and wheel steering. This might have been a great boat for sailing on Lake Michigan where he came from but the west coast of Florida does not have the same sailing conditions. His complaint is that he hasn't been able to get away from the dock. (Hard to understand since he was able to get his boat into the slip and we have had some really high tides lately.) We are going to try to relocate him to another slip that is in a deeper location.

 

[Kermit]

Great report. Thanks for the update.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Both the Hunter 260 (water ballast) and the fixed wing keel (Hunter 270) are identical in many ways but different ballast systems. However with the 270 you are able to lower the table all the way down and in addition there was an optional inboard diesel with the 270 that the platform ladder entering the cable was a little different. Same water displacement, sail area, same width, same length and so on. Both were introduced in Annapolis in 1997 at the show by me.