Well, the 290 is in at the local dealership, great looking boat,plenty of room below, plenty of storage, good deck layout, huge head (compared to my 28), overall I am impressed. This boat mirrors my '91 28 with a lot of wood work and some clasical aspect that have been lacking on the newer Hunters. All that being said, how does she sail. My dealer is land locked and generally doesn't show the boats on the water (he normally sells them too quick). So does anyone have one in the water? My biggest concern is the 110 jib, here in Texas we get some fluky winds, and during the summer, very light winds. So generally, we go for a 140/150 genoa or spinakers. For the small amount of racing I do, I can't justify a spinaker, so I am concerned with the small jib. I think that if the boat had a standard rigging as opposed to the B+R I would have a new boat. (That wasn't a slam, just my feelings on the limitation of the B+R for the headsail) So I think that I will pretty much have to wait for my dealer to sell the one he has in stock and then try and get a test drive, but if anyone has experience with this boat, I would love to hear from you. Thanks for any input. Bruce. Neon Moon
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Large main, small jib.
Although I don't have a 290, I do have a 1999 H310 with the same set up. If you take a close look at the specs for the 290 you will see a whopping 400+ sq.ft. of sail area for a boat that is 28.5 ft. "WOW" Please keep in mind that the boat is a fractional rig and "NOT" a masthead sloop! Athough I have a greater sail area and a bigger boat, boat for boat I feel it evens out. I sail on a inland lake in Wisconsin and it too can have very fluky wind. But with the large roach main it makes a big difference. I feel it can be safe to say that the 290 will fly. In the right conditions on the water and boat load, in 5-6 knot winds, I can and do see boat speeds of 4.5 to 5.5 knots (really!!!) Take a close look at the America's cup sail boats, All of the Whitebread boats, "ALL" are fractional rig with smaller head sails and large mains with a large roach. FAST!!!! "All" of the Whitebread boats had B&R rig on them. That should tell you something right there!!! True, the B&R is rather poor in down wind runs but I have a asym spinannker that makes a very big difference. My 310 has a hull speed of 7.1 knots and I have sailed at 8.4 for over a half hour. At 2800 rpm's (3/4 throt)I motor at 7.6 to 7.8 knots. The 290 has the same motor less weight and is a smaller boat than the 310, I am very sure you can expect that kind of motoring speeds. Buy the boat, you will be very glad you did. I bought mine without ever sailing a 310, let alone a fractional rig. Small learning curve, you'll do well! and out run all of your friends. Enough said, hope this helps you out. Btw, in 18 to 22 knot winds with 4-5 foot breaking waves and just my 110%, by my self, I was doing 7.2 to 7.6 knots!!! What a ride that was and also my last sail of the season. Good luck, Steve, a very happy 310 owner!!!
Although I don't have a 290, I do have a 1999 H310 with the same set up. If you take a close look at the specs for the 290 you will see a whopping 400+ sq.ft. of sail area for a boat that is 28.5 ft. "WOW" Please keep in mind that the boat is a fractional rig and "NOT" a masthead sloop! Athough I have a greater sail area and a bigger boat, boat for boat I feel it evens out. I sail on a inland lake in Wisconsin and it too can have very fluky wind. But with the large roach main it makes a big difference. I feel it can be safe to say that the 290 will fly. In the right conditions on the water and boat load, in 5-6 knot winds, I can and do see boat speeds of 4.5 to 5.5 knots (really!!!) Take a close look at the America's cup sail boats, All of the Whitebread boats, "ALL" are fractional rig with smaller head sails and large mains with a large roach. FAST!!!! "All" of the Whitebread boats had B&R rig on them. That should tell you something right there!!! True, the B&R is rather poor in down wind runs but I have a asym spinannker that makes a very big difference. My 310 has a hull speed of 7.1 knots and I have sailed at 8.4 for over a half hour. At 2800 rpm's (3/4 throt)I motor at 7.6 to 7.8 knots. The 290 has the same motor less weight and is a smaller boat than the 310, I am very sure you can expect that kind of motoring speeds. Buy the boat, you will be very glad you did. I bought mine without ever sailing a 310, let alone a fractional rig. Small learning curve, you'll do well! and out run all of your friends. Enough said, hope this helps you out. Btw, in 18 to 22 knot winds with 4-5 foot breaking waves and just my 110%, by my self, I was doing 7.2 to 7.6 knots!!! What a ride that was and also my last sail of the season. Good luck, Steve, a very happy 310 owner!!!
Trade up !?!?
Bruce - I agree completely with your observations of the new 290. Really nice looking. Much more traditional, more wood, the privacy of doors, all the latest features in a handy size, etc.... That said, let me know if you want to unload your 28 for a new 290. I can't afford a new boat and have thought a 90-94 H-28 would offer everything the new 290 does for much less. Also, the 290 I've seen had in-mast furling which has a "small roach" main so must have somewhat less than to 400+ sq. ft. sail area. Trade-off is easy handling vs. some speed. Is that worth $2,000 extra? I have been looking for a early 90's 27 or 28 if you decide to trade up. Good luck!!
Bruce - I agree completely with your observations of the new 290. Really nice looking. Much more traditional, more wood, the privacy of doors, all the latest features in a handy size, etc.... That said, let me know if you want to unload your 28 for a new 290. I can't afford a new boat and have thought a 90-94 H-28 would offer everything the new 290 does for much less. Also, the 290 I've seen had in-mast furling which has a "small roach" main so must have somewhat less than to 400+ sq. ft. sail area. Trade-off is easy handling vs. some speed. Is that worth $2,000 extra? I have been looking for a early 90's 27 or 28 if you decide to trade up. Good luck!!
Trade up Reply
If my dealer has a good trade-in policy, I won't have a boat to sell, but I will let you know who has it. If there isn't a good trade-in and I want to sell it myself, I will let you know (and list it here on the site) Regards. Bruce. Neon Moon
If my dealer has a good trade-in policy, I won't have a boat to sell, but I will let you know who has it. If there isn't a good trade-in and I want to sell it myself, I will let you know (and list it here on the site) Regards. Bruce. Neon Moon
Got One. Love It!.
I f i n a l l y took delivery of 3 weeks ago and have only had the boat out 3 times - in light fluky air on S.F. Bay. In 10 - 12 kt breeze on a broad reach sailed 5.8 knots (with my 8 year old at the helm). I have made a point of observing other boats close by when close hauled to see how the boat pointed compared to others. Boat pointed as high as any although it seems to perform best a bit off the wind. I have really not had a chance to really "sail" the boat in any wind - still getting the wife, kids, etc. use to the boat. Hope to get out this week and see what she can do. I'll post comments. The boat is very comfortable for a family with the large cockpit, and kids love forward berth. My boat had the deep keel and does not have furling main. The main is Hunters "stack pack" configuration and is really easy to handle. Buy the boat!. More later. Gary
I f i n a l l y took delivery of 3 weeks ago and have only had the boat out 3 times - in light fluky air on S.F. Bay. In 10 - 12 kt breeze on a broad reach sailed 5.8 knots (with my 8 year old at the helm). I have made a point of observing other boats close by when close hauled to see how the boat pointed compared to others. Boat pointed as high as any although it seems to perform best a bit off the wind. I have really not had a chance to really "sail" the boat in any wind - still getting the wife, kids, etc. use to the boat. Hope to get out this week and see what she can do. I'll post comments. The boat is very comfortable for a family with the large cockpit, and kids love forward berth. My boat had the deep keel and does not have furling main. The main is Hunters "stack pack" configuration and is really easy to handle. Buy the boat!. More later. Gary
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