Hunter duette

A friend who races (and wins) in his Folkboat brought a Duette single-handed back from the IOW to Lymington in a blow for a friend. He was most impressed with it's performance.
 
Sailed a Duette 3 and 4 up, and owned a lift keel Sonata for a while.

The Duette with the extra weight sailed better than the lift keel Sonata single handed. The fixed keel Sonata seems stiffer than either of them. However I was impressed with the Duette in some pretty unpleasant weather. Most of the Duettes around seem to have roller furling headsail which is a distinct improvement. Would definately consider one if going for a boat of this size.
 
Dunno about roller headsails being an 'improvement' on this size boat.

I have always stuck with separate headsails on my 22' boat, the sails are small enough to tuck under ones' arm at this size, and I find I use a blade headsail most of the time anyway.

This way I get best pointing ability, and the redundancy of spare sails; the only downside is one has to stow the genoa & storm jib.

Considering the lack of pointing in strong winds just when one needs it, hassle setting a storm jib ( and removing the roller genoa if it's really blowing ) + my experiences on other boats with jammed roller gear, I'm very happy with hanks thanks !

A chum with a similar boat recently ditched his rotostay and went for hanked sails too.

On larger boats I think a good roller system a boon, I'd have loved one on my masthead rigged Carter 30 whose headsails were large & heavy, but not at 22-23' for me.
 
I love my roller genoa

Seajet said:
Dunno about roller headsails being an 'improvement' on this size boat.

I have always stuck with separate headsails on my 22' boat, the sails are small enough to tuck under ones' arm at this size, and I find I use a blade headsail most of the time anyway.

This way I get best pointing ability, and the redundancy of spare sails; the only downside is one has to stow the genoa & storm jib.

Considering the lack of pointing in strong winds just when one needs it, hassle setting a storm jib ( and removing the roller genoa if it's really blowing ) + my experiences on other boats with jammed roller gear, I'm very happy with hanks thanks !

A chum with a similar boat recently ditched his rotostay and went for hanked sails too.

On larger boats I think a good roller system a boon, I'd have loved one on my masthead rigged Carter 30 whose headsails were large & heavy, but not at 22-23' for me.
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I love my Roller Genoa - it holds shape whatever the amunt rolled out - it allows me to precisely manage the power to the wind, allows me to slow down to film stuff as I go along
actually I think it makes solos sailing safe, possible and easy

I would hatre to be without it

Dylan
 
The Duette looks a much better prospect for trailering than a Pageant. Are there enough members in the HOA to flog DVDs to?
 
Seajet said:
Dunno about roller headsails being an 'improvement' on this size boat.

I have always stuck with separate headsails on my 22' boat, the sails are small enough to tuck under ones' arm at this size, and I find I use a blade headsail most of the time anyway.

This way I get best pointing ability, and the redundancy of spare sails; the only downside is one has to stow the genoa & storm jib.

Considering the lack of pointing in strong winds just when one needs it, hassle setting a storm jib ( and removing the roller genoa if it's really blowing ) + my experiences on other boats with jammed roller gear, I'm very happy with hanks thanks !

A chum with a similar boat recently ditched his rotostay and went for hanked sails too.

On larger boats I think a good roller system a boon, I'd have loved one on my masthead rigged Carter 30 whose headsails were large & heavy, but not at 22-23' for me.
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Vivid memories of raising/lowering the headsail in bouncy conditions hanging on for dear life and sea making its way up my oilies and into my boots. Personally I do not miss this experience in the least!

As you say, stowing a sail or two on a boat of that size is also a pain. Moisture down below, and the risk of taking on water when you are pushing sails down the forehatch. The genoas on these boats are reasonably big and takes up loads of useful stowage space. I used to carry a genoa, a number 1, a cruising chute and a storm jib - that's most of the front of the boat gone. Different maybe for racing it makes sense just to have the foil, but for cruising and living on the boat roller furling for me - especially short handed.
 
The only sail I have to stow extra is the genoa, not a problem ( then I have modified my boat to use all the space available ); the storm jib & chute have to be stowed below anyway...

Maybe it's an age thing, but I'm happy on the foredeck ( I do think netting on the forward guardrails is a very good move, keeps sails and people onboard ) and think that's what it's all about...

Having been stuck with roller headsails jammed out in a gale once & F6 twice - 3 different boats - I can well do without that excitement !

I've never seen a decent size headsail roll up giving a truly admirable shape - Dylan you may get away with it with Slug sized headsails - and as mentioned before, if the weather is really strong one can well do without the windage of a rolled up headsail, whether under storm jib or even at anchor; getting the genoa off the roller is not that much fun then.

With a headsail downhaul and netting on the forward rails one can still perform a few tricks on downwind approaches to moorings etc...

I've only ever used my storm jib in anger once, that was in 55 knot, long squalls which weren't forecast; the boat handled it fine, but I think it may have been a different outcome if she'd had the windage of a rolled sail, or if self or crew had tried to remove a genny from a roller.

Extreme example I admit, but it's still relevant in lesser conditions like mere gales !

Also I rather doubt a lot of boats with roller headsails actually do have a decent tried & tested storm jib set-up available, 'Iron Topsail' springs to mind...

Still as long as we're all happy with our set-ups and have a Plan B in mind should it hit the fan, that's all that matters.
 
one came into the berth next to me at Oban marina. it had just sailed round from Adfern via the Dhorus Mhor in a F6. He had sailed the whole way in 5 hours so it must go to windward well.

I also have mate that has one on Kielder. He loves it but it doesn't really get tested much there.

I think the deck is raised vs the snotty also i think the bilge keels are a more modern design and they point reasonably well.

It would be a good choice for you i think as you could put it on a trailer as well
 
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I am not a fan of my furling gear - need a good working jib for tacking

Dylan have you had a look at a trident 24 - quite comfy - excellent heads - draws 3 ft - inboard -strong lay up for bumping around - very reasonable - have a look
 
trident

Cloona said:
I am not a fan of my furling gear - need a good working jib for tacking

Dylan have you had a look at a trident 24 - quite comfy - excellent heads - draws 3 ft - inboard -strong lay up for bumping around - very reasonable - have a look
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the price on them seems great and the sail very well

I have seen them

cabin v small

long boat - so higher costs on pontoons

tall mast

no separate heads

D
 
I got my furling jammed today on a lee shore, bit of a brown stain moment! Still the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I quite like the hunter range, although I'm biased owning one. A little tender in the windy stuff, like today I had two reefs in 20 knots and we still had 20 degrees of heel.
 
tom_sail said:
I got my furling jammed today on a lee shore, bit of a brown stain moment! Still the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I quite like the hunter range, although I'm biased owning one. A little tender in the windy stuff, like today I had two reefs in 20 knots and we still had 20 degrees of heel.
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tom sail,

and the benefits outweighing are...?! :)
 
dylanwinter said:
the price on them seems great and the sail very well

I have seen them

cabin v small

long boat - so higher costs on pontoons

tall mast

no separate heads

D
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oh ...... I find the main cabin roomy with no table and even forward doable and good with hatch open -

you can get them with mast in tabernacle so you get it down ok -

but the heads are superb - with ingenious door arrangement that closes off the compartment but when open closes off forward when open with a sliding door across
to the cabin meaning when in use the heads are a narrow compartment across the width of the boat .....

anway I can tell you don;t really like them !
 
I shall look again

Cloona said:
oh ...... I find the main cabin roomy with no table and even forward doable and good with hatch open -

you can get them with mast in tabernacle so you get it down ok -

but the heads are superb - with ingenious door arrangement that closes off the compartment but when open closes off forward when open with a sliding door across
to the cabin meaning when in use the heads are a narrow compartment across the width of the boat .....

anway I can tell you don;t really like them !
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I shall take another look

nothing closed off as an option

D
 
Seajet said:
tom sail,

and the benefits outweighing are...?! :)
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As said before sub 25 foot it's horses for courses. As with everything it's the type of sailing you do which decides what equipment you use.

For me, either singlehanded or very short handed with novice crew the ease of removing canvass with a pull of a string is a benefit. Call me sissy, I really don't enjoy foredeck work with no one else on the helm.

I also enjoy sailing down a river under head sail alone, I would not be confident lowing and raising a sail in the confines of sandbanks and mooring especially with a novice or singlehanded.

Now, if I was sailing long distances with two confident crew I would get rid off the furling gear.
But for now with my type of sailing I prefer the furling set up.
 
Dylan,

one thing I found interesting recently; a Hunter Europa has just joined my club, on the half tide soft mud moorings.

As you may rcall, the Europa is related to my boat, and I'd find it hard to accept any critiscm of sailing qualities, especially handling.

However, unlike my lift keeler, this Europa has bilge keels besides the central ballast job; snag is, the bilge plates are very short longitudinaly ( Oliver Lee was great at reducing Wetted Area Drag ) but in the soft mud they simply don't present enough resistance; every low water I've seen, the boat is on her ear, and of course there's the threat that a bilge plate once near horizontal may hold her over and flood her.

I don't think it's so drastic that she will flood, but I'm afraid that particular format - very short thin bilge plates - doesn't look a good bet for your purposes !

Has to be said, any money must be on a Centaur as best bet if ruling with the head; but as I suspect your heart comes into it, that opens up all sorts of unlikely possibilities like short sparred traditional jobs...
 
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tom_sail said:
As said before sub 25 foot it's horses for courses. As with everything it's the type of sailing you do which decides what equipment you use.

For me, either singlehanded or very short handed with novice crew the ease of removing canvass with a pull of a string is a benefit. Call me sissy, I really don't enjoy foredeck work with no one else on the helm.

I also enjoy sailing down a river under head sail alone, I would not be confident lowing and raising a sail in the confines of sandbanks and mooring especially with a novice or singlehanded.

Now, if I was sailing long distances with two confident crew I would get rid off the furling gear.
But for now with my type of sailing I prefer the furling set up.
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Tom sail,

fair enough, whatever you're happy with; it's meant to be fun, not an endurance test - though sometimes one has to be reminded of that !

sj
 
dylanwinter said:
engine in a well

sort of separate heads

d
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Personally, I found an outboard in a well a brilliant compromise.

With a small older boat , to replace the inboard was a constant worry.

If you did not replace it, the boat was effectively valueless. The cost of replacement was really not worth it.

When you add the performance and modern twin keels it's a winner.

Just to drop the outboard off for service , pick it up at Easter and screw it on again was just wonderful.
 
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