Sadler26 or Hunter Channel 27?

[Twister_Ken]

but I've no personal experience of trying to sail a masthead sloop with large overlapping jennie single handed

Not a problem if the sheet winches are close enough to the tiller (and on a 26' they probably will be). Tiller between your legs, working jib sheet in one hand, lazy sheet in the other, centre the main traveller, then tack the boat slowly by shuffling across the cockpit a little. Free the working sheet just before head to wind, whip in the other as she comes slowly through the wind, concentrate on steering to the new tack, then grind in the last few inches if necessary. The main will self-tack. Even easier with a tiller pilot.

 

[obmij]

Hi simon14b (or anyone else who knows) - would you elaborate on the similarities / differences between Hunter Channel 27 and Hunter Horizon.

And what about the Ranger, and the 272..?

They all seem to be roughly the same size, have twin keels, self tacking headsails and to be honest they all look pretty similar on the internet - although the Channel seems substantially more expensive

 

[Cloven]

Extract from Hunter Association website

Channel 27

Built From: 1999
Built To: Present
Number Built: 26+
Designer: David Thomas
Specification
Length Over All (m): 7.625
Length at the water line (m): 7.15
Beam (m): 2.795
Draft (m): Fin 1.54, Twin 1.05
Air Draft (m): 10.18
Displacement - fin (kg): 2538
Displacement - twin (kg): 2590
Ballast (kg):
Sail Areas (sq m): Main + Jib 28.52
Berths: 4 to 6
Engine:

Horizon 272/273

Built From:
Built To:
Number Built: Incl. in H27 OOD
Designer: David Thomas
Specification
Length Over All (m): 8.15
Length at the water line (m): 6.52
Beam (m): 2.74
Draft (m): Fin 1.37, Twin 0.96
Air Draft (m):
Displacement - fin (kg): 2218
Displacement - twin (kg): 2218
Ballast (kg): 723 fin 882 twin
Sail Areas (sq m): Main + Jib 26.0
Berths: 5 to 6
Engine: Yanmar 1GM10 or 8 HP O/B in well
Other Information
Reviews: PBO Jan 89
Remarks: ST jib

 

[Lucky Duck]

Hi simon14b (or anyone else who knows) - would you elaborate on the similarities / differences between Hunter Channel 27 and Hunter Horizon.

And what about the Ranger, and the 272..?

They all seem to be roughly the same size, have twin keels, self tacking headsails and to be honest they all look pretty similar on the internet - although the Channel seems substantially more expensive

The Hunter Horizon 272 was based up on the hull for the Hunter Delta 25 with a different lid increasing the internal volume by raising the deck level and a 'suger scoop' stern, rather than the transom hung rudder arrangement on the Delta, plus a 'twin fin' arrangement instead of a lifting keel.

In the mid-1990s Hunter comissioned David Thomas to produce a new design - the Ranger 265 - which had a longer waterline length and and a chine running for the final quarter of the length towards the stern. Both these features gave a significant increase in the internal volume compared with the earlier Horizon. When I first started looking at 'proper' boats I spent a lot of time looking at Horizon 272/273 before happening upon a Ranger 265 within my price range and my recollection is that the different in space was immediately apparent.

The Channel 27 shares the same hull and layout as the Ranger 265 but has a different coachroof profile.

Otherwise all three have similar rigs and mostly will have been ordered with Twin Keels.

I have seen Ranger 265's advertised between £20-25k which might be worth considering if the price premium for the Channel 27 doesn't appeal.

 

[NigelCraig]

Hunter ranger 265 has amazing AVS

Re. possible suggestions that the Hunter is a lesser sea boat than the Sadler, that might apply to the earlier boats but the David Thomas designed Ranger hull, also used in the Channel, has a very high AVS of 139degrees.

BTW, is the wheelhouse Pilot model based on the earlier Horizon, or the Ranger hull?

 

[Laurie]

Later Ranger type hull.........

ps later Ch 27s have a different rig to the 265.

 

[Lucky Duck]

ps later Ch 27s have a different rig to the 265.

I'm intrigued, what are the differences?

A bit more sail area would have been welcome from my experiances but the Hunter association gives very similar sail areas for the two boats.

 

[Laurie]

I'm intrigued, what are the differences?

A bit more sail area would have been welcome from my experiances but the Hunter association gives very similar sail areas for the two boats.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the later Channel 27 (I think?? they relaunched the model with a few tweaks....) then had a taller mast with a slightly larger sail area? I think it may have been in PBO?

 

[doug748]

Currently day sailing (gaff sloop - single handed most of the time) out of drying mooring in cramped south west coast harbour. Although will do this for at least one more season, I am preparing for having more scope to go coast hopping, probably single handed 80% of the time. Looking at bilge keeler - good sea boat that sails well, is dry and stiff but is easily manageable by one person, particularly at close quarters and also caught in a blow. Harbour constraints limit to 26/27ft.
I thought Sadler 26 or Hunter Channel 27. Westerley Centaur I would rule out for aesthetic reasons! Hunter is attractive because of self-tacking jib, but has mainsheet block attached to a pedestal instead of a track - is that a problem when the main is so important (v.small jib)? What about build quality ?
Any thoughts on this welcome

Well, the usual Punch and Judy show as to which is the "best" "fastest" boat.

I should pay particualr attention to any poster with structural difficulties, it might be worth a PM to them.

A chum of mine, female, has sailed extensively on her Sadler 26 twin keel, out of Plymouth, always singlehanded. She is a very experienced and enthusiastic sailor. I think she plans to buy a little bigger maybe 29 ft, no criticism of the boat, just an observation. I don't think you would consider either boat if your top priority was speed or racing, but as it is not, it hardly matters.

I should bear it all in mind and buy on price and condition. Was there a Moody 27 bilge keel?

 

[Laurie]

Well, the usual Punch and Judy show as to which is the "best" "fastest" boat.

I should pay particualr attention to any poster with structural difficulties, it might be worth a PM to them.

A chum of mine, female, has sailed extensively on her Sadler 26 twin keel, out of Plymouth, always singlehanded. She is a very experienced and enthusiastic sailor. I think she plans to buy a little bigger maybe 29 ft, no criticism of the boat, just an observation. I don't think you would consider either boat if your top priority was speed or racing, but as it is not, it hardly matters.

I should bear it all in mind and buy on price and condition. Was there a Moody 27 bilge keel?

Yes there was...again, I'll throw the Jaguar 27 into the mix......

 

[sandbankpete]

Sadler 26 and Hunter 272 cross channel

Just spotted this thread. Hope this contribution helps. I sail a Sadler 26, always single-handed. She is a doddle to sail. Last year sailed to Guernsey accompanied by another Sadler 26 and a Hunter 272 (two crew). All three boats handled the conditions well,(force 5 on the beam) but the Sadlers sat flatter and seemed to need less tweaking than the accompanying 272, whose crew spent considerable time leaning out to balance her. I am sure though that appropriately reefed, with the traveller eased, the Hunter would have sailed faster and equally safely.

Best of luck with your choices. You'll now the right boat when you see her!

Pete