For those of us that sail in the snowbelt we sit around thinking of those summer days on the lake. So how do you set up your rig tension? I do some racing so mine is a little tighter than others. Has anybody done any testing to see if there is any difference? Dick Vance I know you sail in lighter winds so you may be different than mine on Lake Erie. Cliff
- Status
San Diego Jim
I just bought a 1984 25.5. As you can guess, we sail 12 months a year here in Southern CA. It has a jib, 120 and main. The winds are usually 12-15 knots most days. The seas run 2-3 ft swells, and 1-2 ft wind waves. It seems to sail well with just the jib, down to 10 knots wind. The 120 is good up to 15, but above that there is too much heeling. The traveller helps. Question on the interior: does yours have a separating curtain between the head & the v berth? Mine is open but I see a track in the roof for something? Love the boat. I have had many sizes and makes, but this one for single handing on the open ocean is great. Takes the swells with ease, and has high freeboard for a dry ride. Any quirks I should look for? Has anyone put an opening port in the cockpit port side to give the aft berth some light & air? Jim
I just bought a 1984 25.5. As you can guess, we sail 12 months a year here in Southern CA. It has a jib, 120 and main. The winds are usually 12-15 knots most days. The seas run 2-3 ft swells, and 1-2 ft wind waves. It seems to sail well with just the jib, down to 10 knots wind. The 120 is good up to 15, but above that there is too much heeling. The traveller helps. Question on the interior: does yours have a separating curtain between the head & the v berth? Mine is open but I see a track in the roof for something? Love the boat. I have had many sizes and makes, but this one for single handing on the open ocean is great. Takes the swells with ease, and has high freeboard for a dry ride. Any quirks I should look for? Has anyone put an opening port in the cockpit port side to give the aft berth some light & air? Jim
Jim
The 25.5 is a great boat we have sailed ours on Lake Erie and Lake Mich.. I do have the port window in the quarter berth and it works great. The boats need a back stay adjuster and I added track to for the headsails the T track did'nt seem to come back far enough. Ther is a shoal draft and a deep draft boat on the shoal draft the rudder is deeper than the keel I had mine shortend I have the shoal draft the deep draft points a little higher but not much that a good racer can make up. Also if you want more controls led aft to the cabin winches you will need to ad the plate that goes under the mast step so you can add the turning blocks. I ran the main outhaul and the reef line to the cock pit when the wind comes up you will need to run the out haul to a winch. Cliff
The 25.5 is a great boat we have sailed ours on Lake Erie and Lake Mich.. I do have the port window in the quarter berth and it works great. The boats need a back stay adjuster and I added track to for the headsails the T track did'nt seem to come back far enough. Ther is a shoal draft and a deep draft boat on the shoal draft the rudder is deeper than the keel I had mine shortend I have the shoal draft the deep draft points a little higher but not much that a good racer can make up. Also if you want more controls led aft to the cabin winches you will need to ad the plate that goes under the mast step so you can add the turning blocks. I ran the main outhaul and the reef line to the cock pit when the wind comes up you will need to run the out haul to a winch. Cliff
Summer In February
Cliff & Jim, Yesterday was like summer in East Tennessee; 75 degrees and sunny!! Only trouble was no wind to speak of! See my latest pic of Honey Bear, taken last August, in Owners Photo Album
The water is a bit too cold for swimming yet! My 85 has the curtain track but no curtain. I have long thought about adding a port in the aft berth. That's where I sleep and it does get stuffy on hot summer nights. I have a couple of Hella fans and pointing the rearward one toward the berth does help. Cliff, I keep my rig fairly firm for our usual 5-10 conditions but not overly tight; about 1-1/2" deflection at shoulder height with hand pressure. I do crank it down some before a race when the wind is really honking. A second reef for the main would be a big help for singlehanding. Its a lot easier to reef than to change headsails. Does your boat still have the original spring loaded pin stop traveler controls? I modified mine for line adjustble controls and it really helps in playing the gusts without using the mainsheet. You've found one of the best 25+ foot production boats out there! I wish Hunter still made them! Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Cliff & Jim, Yesterday was like summer in East Tennessee; 75 degrees and sunny!! Only trouble was no wind to speak of! See my latest pic of Honey Bear, taken last August, in Owners Photo Album
The water is a bit too cold for swimming yet! My 85 has the curtain track but no curtain. I have long thought about adding a port in the aft berth. That's where I sleep and it does get stuffy on hot summer nights. I have a couple of Hella fans and pointing the rearward one toward the berth does help. Cliff, I keep my rig fairly firm for our usual 5-10 conditions but not overly tight; about 1-1/2" deflection at shoulder height with hand pressure. I do crank it down some before a race when the wind is really honking. A second reef for the main would be a big help for singlehanding. Its a lot easier to reef than to change headsails. Does your boat still have the original spring loaded pin stop traveler controls? I modified mine for line adjustble controls and it really helps in playing the gusts without using the mainsheet. You've found one of the best 25+ foot production boats out there! I wish Hunter still made them! Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"Dick And Jim
I replaced my traveler last season and it was really nice here also but was just a teaser for Im sure there is some more cold weather instore for us soon. The port for the quarter berth is a great thing to have my son sleeps there and says it really helps. My seat that covers the head was extended and a cushion made for it and it gives alot more room to stretch out in the V-berth. Its a small berth anyways so any more room was a bonus. I tend to keep the rig alittle tight Lake Erie is known to have storms come up real fast. I talked with Hunter about this and was told that these were real tuff boats and I would not hurt a thing with a tight rig. Cliff
I replaced my traveler last season and it was really nice here also but was just a teaser for Im sure there is some more cold weather instore for us soon. The port for the quarter berth is a great thing to have my son sleeps there and says it really helps. My seat that covers the head was extended and a cushion made for it and it gives alot more room to stretch out in the V-berth. Its a small berth anyways so any more room was a bonus. I tend to keep the rig alittle tight Lake Erie is known to have storms come up real fast. I talked with Hunter about this and was told that these were real tuff boats and I would not hurt a thing with a tight rig. Cliff
- Status