Hunters aren't well regarded for serious offshore use. I
wouldn't feel safe in one in serious seaway.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Keith" wrote in message
om...
Is there anybody with experience sailing the Hunter 336 on longer
voyages at open sea?
I'm especially interested in the behaviour of the boat in rough
weather and the trips that owners made at open sea or ocean (atlantic
crossings or suchlike).

Thanks,
Keith

I own a Hunter 336. They are fine as coastal cruisers, but aren't
really designed for offshore use.

That doesn't mean you can't take one offshore, people are sailing
around out there right now in leaky 24-footers. But I wouldn't take
mine any further than the occasional trek out into Block Island Sound.

That stuff about the thickness of the hull and the placement of the
stringers doesn't mean much to me. The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.

But, this Hunter doesn't have a through-bolted hull and deck joint. It
isn't made to heel in a blow, there's too much freeboard. I don't
think that the deck fittings are adequately backed to stake your life
on them.

There are boats that cost the same, a little older probably, that
maybe aren't as cushy in port, that would do much better in a seaway.

And, the boat doesn't need a backstay. It's fairly easy to prove that
tripod rigs are *stronger* than conventional rigs because of reduced
catenary forces. However, I think that no-backstay rigs are a pain in
the ass and I'd never have one again.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Paul

Wow. An honest man. Most guys would like to pretend the boat they
chose to buy is Absolutely the Best Thing Going In All Sea States.

You seem, by contrast, refreshingly realistic.

I have got flak on occasion for being crtical in print of a lot of
today's designs for ignoring things like excessive beam, proper
backing of deck gear, excessive freeboard, and so on. I've been
accused of only liking dark, dank and narrow older designs.

On the contrary, I like designs that won't kill me and will sail
effectively. I am sure your Hunter does that admirably in the
conditions in which you sail. I dock beside a Hunter 336 (I have a '73
Viking 33, which is exactly the same length) and the contrast is
stunning. My boat looks like a pup tent next to a condo. I see (and
hear) quite a bit of partying on the Hunter next slip over, but I
think I miss most of it....I'm usually off sailing.

Glad to hear you are, too.

R.

On 9 Feb 2004 12:24:35 -0800, (Paul) wrote:

I own a Hunter 336. They are fine as coastal cruisers, but aren't
really designed for offshore use.

That doesn't mean you can't take one offshore, people are sailing
around out there right now in leaky 24-footers. But I wouldn't take
mine any further than the occasional trek out into Block Island Sound.

That stuff about the thickness of the hull and the placement of the
stringers doesn't mean much to me. The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.

But, this Hunter doesn't have a through-bolted hull and deck joint. It
isn't made to heel in a blow, there's too much freeboard. I don't
think that the deck fittings are adequately backed to stake your life
on them.

There are boats that cost the same, a little older probably, that
maybe aren't as cushy in port, that would do much better in a seaway.

And, the boat doesn't need a backstay. It's fairly easy to prove that
tripod rigs are *stronger* than conventional rigs because of reduced
catenary forces. However, I think that no-backstay rigs are a pain in
the ass and I'd never have one again.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Paul

Wow. An honest man. Most guys would like to pretend the boat they
chose to buy is Absolutely the Best Thing Going In All Sea States.

You seem, by contrast, refreshingly realistic.

I have got flak on occasion for being crtical in print of a lot of
today's designs for ignoring things like excessive beam, proper
backing of deck gear, excessive freeboard, and so on. I've been
accused of only liking dark, dank and narrow older designs.

On the contrary, I like designs that won't kill me and will sail
effectively. I am sure your Hunter does that admirably in the
conditions in which you sail. I dock beside a Hunter 336 (I have a '73
Viking 33, which is exactly the same length) and the contrast is
stunning. My boat looks like a pup tent next to a condo. I see (and
hear) quite a bit of partying on the Hunter next slip over, but I
think I miss most of it....I'm usually off sailing.

Glad to hear you are, too.

R.

On 9 Feb 2004 12:24:35 -0800, (Paul) wrote:

I own a Hunter 336. They are fine as coastal cruisers, but aren't
really designed for offshore use.

That doesn't mean you can't take one offshore, people are sailing
around out there right now in leaky 24-footers. But I wouldn't take
mine any further than the occasional trek out into Block Island Sound.

That stuff about the thickness of the hull and the placement of the
stringers doesn't mean much to me. The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.

But, this Hunter doesn't have a through-bolted hull and deck joint. It
isn't made to heel in a blow, there's too much freeboard. I don't
think that the deck fittings are adequately backed to stake your life
on them.

There are boats that cost the same, a little older probably, that
maybe aren't as cushy in port, that would do much better in a seaway.

And, the boat doesn't need a backstay. It's fairly easy to prove that
tripod rigs are *stronger* than conventional rigs because of reduced
catenary forces. However, I think that no-backstay rigs are a pain in
the ass and I'd never have one again.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Paul

The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.

So, are you a structural engineer, numb-nuts? If so, let's have some data
and references. Furthermore, find me one documented case of a modern
cruising sailboat "breaking up" at sea. It's allegedly weak hull just
breaking apart.

Or is it once again the case that you, like every other asshole walking the
dock, have an opinion?

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong
enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is
stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.

So, are you a structural engineer, numb-nuts? If so, let's have some data
and references. Furthermore, find me one documented case of a modern
cruising sailboat "breaking up" at sea. It's allegedly weak hull just
breaking apart.

Or is it once again the case that you, like every other asshole walking the
dock, have an opinion?

thanks for your ever so kind words.

my remarks come from my personal experience going back 45 years, and from the
people working in the business long term to maintain boats, and from brokers of
potentially ocean going and non-ocean going boats, and naval architects of my
personal aquaintence, and indeed structure engineers, including one -- my
brother -- who used to write technical articles for the Experimental Aircraft
Association.

sorry about your Hunter, dude, but most brokers won't handle one for resale
that has been taken offshore. If you don't believe me, you certainly are free
to ask a few brokers yourself.

btw, glass over plywood (makes for one ugly boat usually, but is rather easily
built in a bach yard) is in fact stronger pound for pound than steel or
aluminum or fiberglass. You have to get to the (damned expensive) exotics to
get a stronger boat pound for pound.

again, sorry about your Hunter.



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong
enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is
stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.

So, are you a structural engineer, numb-nuts? If so, let's have some data
and references. Furthermore, find me one documented case of a modern
cruising sailboat "breaking up" at sea. It's allegedly weak hull just
breaking apart.

Or is it once again the case that you, like every other asshole walking the
dock, have an opinion?

thanks for your ever so kind words.

my remarks come from my personal experience going back 45 years, and from the
people working in the business long term to maintain boats, and from brokers of
potentially ocean going and non-ocean going boats, and naval architects of my
personal aquaintence, and indeed structure engineers, including one -- my
brother -- who used to write technical articles for the Experimental Aircraft
Association.

sorry about your Hunter, dude, but most brokers won't handle one for resale
that has been taken offshore. If you don't believe me, you certainly are free
to ask a few brokers yourself.

btw, glass over plywood (makes for one ugly boat usually, but is rather easily
built in a bach yard) is in fact stronger pound for pound than steel or
aluminum or fiberglass. You have to get to the (damned expensive) exotics to
get a stronger boat pound for pound.

again, sorry about your Hunter.



"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong
enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is
stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.

So, are you a structural engineer, numb-nuts? If so, let's have some data
and references. Furthermore, find me one documented case of a modern
cruising sailboat "breaking up" at sea. It's allegedly weak hull just
breaking apart.

Or is it once again the case that you, like every other asshole walking the
dock, have an opinion?

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong
enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is
stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.

The cheapest fiberglass boat has
enough hull strength, fiberglass is tremendously strong compared to
its predecessor, wood.


not even close to true. a.) cheap fiberglass boats are not "strong enough" for
anything other than lite conditions, and b.) pound for pound wood is stronger.
In fact, glass over plywood is *much* stronger than glass.