This week's product- The sailing boat that waterskies
by Nancy Knudsen on 22 Apr 2009
Showing its ability towing wake boarder - photo Mike Harker SW
What a good idea! One of the most interesting and flexible sailing boats in the world is this week's product - a sailing boat that skies. If you are both a sailor and a water skier or wake-boarder, this 26ft sailing boat could be just the thing.
How is this for powder puff? And when you are not water sking, maybe you could sail it round the world...
Here is a recent Press Release....
Hunter, that manufacturer of light and airy sailing boats that often go like the wind, has a 26-foot trailerable sailing boat called Edge that can, with its sails furled, pull a skier. It is designed to take a 3-cylinder, 75-horse Evinrude outboard. With the throttle wide open, the boat will top out at just under 20 m.p.h. and if you don't need the speed, then you'll find the best fuel efficiency at just over 8 m.p.h.
It looks like other Hunters too - that distinctive Hunter wraparound port treatment is there, which gives the light and airy feeling below. With interior measurements of 8’6' wide with 5’11' head room, it has the same good ventilation and natural light that make all Hunters attractive.
For weekends away it can sleep four, its mast easily lowers for trailering the boat, and its lifting centreboard means you can get it into many shallow anchorages that keep other boats away, and will even allow it to pull up to a beach.
It comes from the manufacturer equipped with everything needed to sail away from the dock but also has an additional premium option package modelled after the Hunter Mariner Packages that will upgrade the Edge into a mini cruiser.
Other features, such as the single VARA rudder, fathead mainsail, and the multi-morph hull, also contribute to the enhanced performance.
One of the most versatile features of the Edge is its adaptability to all boating situations. The boat will give the sailor an increased range to get to those breezy sailing grounds quick enough to enjoy them. Whether it is down a long river, through a channel, wakeboarding, or just a fast cruise to the next harbour, the Edge's motoring ability will get you there fast. It is just plain fun to operate and be on.
The dimensions allow the Edge to be very easily trailered, with a total towing weight of less than 5,000 pounds with the standard aluminum trailer..
The kick-up centre board and single-lifting rudder retracts when sailing and almost disappears when motoring. At high motoring speeds, through this design, the normal drag of the centerboard and rudder has been removed.
The recommended engine is the Evinrude E-TEC. However, the boat will accept most engines available on the market today.
Specifications:
Length Overall 26’4'
Length w/motor 28’6'
Waterline Length 24’2'
Beam 8’4'
Beam WL 7’7'
Draft – Board Down 4’11'
Draft – Board Up 1’7'
Ballast – 1600 LBS
Displacement w/out water ballast -- 3448 LBS (with 50 hp)
Displacement w/water ballast -- 5048 LBS
Towing weight – 4920 LBS
Mast Height(From DWL) – 33’1'
Sail Area–Actual (Standard) 333
I- 23’8'
J- 10’4'
P – 24’10'
E – 12’3'
Fuel Capacity 6 gal
Water Capacity 10 gal
Max Power – 75 HP
All these features mean it is the amazing compromise for a family or party group who comprise both skiers and sailors, and it's well-priced, so excellent for the first boat owner.
To get more information, by finding the closest Hunter Dealer to where you live, click http://www.huntermarine.com/europe/FindYourDealer/FindADealer.html!HERE
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/56032