Red Fox/Hunter 20 downsize

[sealegsjim]

I am thinking of downsizing from my Beneteau First 285 which I keep on Lake Ullswater to a trailer sailor and the one I like the look of is the Red Fox now known as the Hunter 20. Does anyone have any practical knowledge of these boats? Are they easy to launch and recover?
Are they stable - if the ice in my wife's G&T clinks to the side of the glass when we are sailing she gets nervous. And what about the twin bargeboards?

 

[Fantasie 19]

I am thinking of downsizing from my Beneteau First 285 which I keep on Lake Ullswater to a trailer sailor and the one I like the look of is the Red Fox now known as the Hunter 20. Does anyone have any practical knowledge of these boats? Are they easy to launch and recover?
Are they stable - if the ice in my wife's G&T clinks to the side of the glass when we are sailing she gets nervous. And what about the twin bargeboards?

They reviewed it in PBO this month but I'm guessing you knew that, and are looking for second opinions from someone who actually owns one... so I'll shut up and make room...

 

[seumask]

You might consider the Jeaneau Sun 2000 similar in many ways

 

[RobF]

As you're probably aware, there are 3 versions of the Red Fox (RF200). The RF200T with twin keels, the RF200S (sport version) and the standard RF200E. I've had an RF200E for the last year or so and have used her extensively this season. I've been really impressed by the boat, so there may be some positive bias in my reply, but...
a) boat is easy to launch (I haven't tried recovering her yet). You really need two people to put the mast up and this should be done on the trailer. The mast raising kit helps if you get one with the boat. Other than this, launching is a simple matter of putting the trailer wheels in the water (up to the hubs with a breakback trailer or just over the tops of the wheels without) and the boat floats off easily. Recovering is apparently much easier if there is a pontoon right next to the slipway. Alternatives are to fit docking arms onto the trailer (which the author in PBO did), lifting out via boatlift (expensive) or lining up the boat on the trailer in the water and bouncing it the last couple of cm into position.

b) the boat is probably the best 20 footer for members of the fairer sex. Red Foxes best sail upright and is therefore stable. It's probably the only 20 foot boat with an enclosed heads and the accommodation is generally very good for a boat of this size. The only negative I've found is she slams a bit in a heavy seaway - understandably because she is flat bottomed.

c) twin BILGE boards aren't a problem if you've done any dinghy sailing. As part of the tacking process you need to lower the windward board. As you tack this becomes the leeward board and the you can raise the new windward board in your own good time. If you're being lazy you can leave down both boards and suffer the 0.5knot hit on performance. If you enjoy performance, you can have the added fun of working out how far down the board needs to be for optimum performance, and even raise both boards for downwind sailing.

d) it's probably worth noting that whilst the quoted weight for the boat is 1160Kg, once it's got some furniture and cruising kit in it it comes up to 1400Kg. With a 300Kg trailer on top of this you will need something reasonably strong to tow the 1700Kg.

e) maintenance is very easy and pretty cheap. I particularly like being able to winter my boat in a secure caravan park over the winter and save myself about £800 on marina storage fees.

Hope this helps,

Rob

 

[Tidewaiter2]

As you're probably aware, there are 3 versions of the Red Fox (RF200). The RF200T with twin keels, the RF200S (sport version) and the standard RF200E. I've had an RF200E for the last year or so and have used her extensively this season. I've been really impressed by the boat, so there may be some positive bias in my reply, but...
a) boat is easy to launch (I haven't tried recovering her yet). You really need two people to put the mast up and this should be done on the trailer. The mast raising kit helps if you get one with the boat. Other than this, launching is a simple matter of putting the trailer wheels in the water (up to the hubs with a breakback trailer or just over the tops of the wheels without) and the boat floats off easily. Recovering is apparently much easier if there is a pontoon right next to the slipway. Alternatives are to fit docking arms onto the trailer (which the author in PBO did), lifting out via boatlift (expensive) or lining up the boat on the trailer in the water and bouncing it the last couple of cm into position.

b) the boat is probably the best 20 footer for members of the fairer sex. Red Foxes best sail upright and is therefore stable. It's probably the only 20 foot boat with an enclosed heads and the accommodation is generally very good for a boat of this size. The only negative I've found is she slams a bit in a heavy seaway - understandably because she is flat bottomed.

c) twin BILGE boards aren't a problem if you've done any dinghy sailing. As part of the tacking process you need to lower the windward board. As you tack this becomes the leeward board and the you can raise the new windward board in your own good time. If you're being lazy you can leave down both boards and suffer the 0.5knot hit on performance. If you enjoy performance, you can have the added fun of working out how far down the board needs to be for optimum performance, and even raise both boards for downwind sailing.

d) it's probably worth noting that whilst the quoted weight for the boat is 1160Kg, once it's got some furniture and cruising kit in it it comes up to 1400Kg. With a 300Kg trailer on top of this you will need something reasonably strong to tow the 1700Kg.

e) maintenance is very easy and pretty cheap. I particularly like being able to winter my boat in a secure caravan park over the winter and save myself about £800 on marina storage fees.

Hope this helps,

Rob

RobF,
You forgot the trick with the reversed foils- leeward up, windward down to sail down towards the Inshore Boat Channel when the wind wouldn't let you go there neatly.
Definitely a Tardis- Alice & I cruised Vulpes Expeditus for 3 weeks at a time for some 5 seasons-Woolverstone to Truro from base in Chi Hbr and over to Normandie.

Whilst our current Southerly is wonderfully comfortable, I do miss the performance of Vulpes sometimes, the Class camraderie and the cheaper Solent berthing costs too.
DickT