Hunter H31, Operator'S Manual

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Hunter 31 • Sails and Rigging
12.2
Sails & Rigging
Most sailors believe that sailing is hard work: all those lines
to tend, halyards to yank and sails to lug. Hunter Marine
has dispelled that myth once and for all! Innovations by
the crew at Hunter Marine have made sailing easier, safer
and more comfortable. The result - much more sailing fun!
Whether you are ready to set sail for the islands or just
around the buoys, your Hunter can really make a differ-
ence. Starting with the tall, fractional rig, which is a direct
descendent of the B&R rig, Hunter has engineered the
mast to carry less weight aloft with a smaller sections.
This is accomplished by utilizing swept-back spread-
ers and reverse diagonals. This combination provides
superior strength without a backstay and increases the
stability at the same time. By using a large roach main
as the power sail, Hunter has eased the effort in sail
handling and allowed for real versatility for all wind and
sea conditions.
Your benefit: better performance with less effort. The
deck layout reflects the innovation that accompanies the
rig. An integrated arch protects the cockpit from snapping
main sheets and blistering sun with the optional bimini.
This arch keeps the cockpit clear and open.
Refer to Boating Safety, and the Getting Underway
chapters for safe boat handling information.
If this is your first boat of this type or you are changing
to a new boat you are not familiar with, please ensure
that you obtain handling and operating experience before
assuming command of the boat. This document is not a
course on boating safety or seamanship. Your dealer or
national sailing federation or yacht club will be pleased
to advise you of local sea schools, or competent instruc-
tors.
Never underestimate the potentially dangerous power of
wind, tide and the sea. Always ensure there is sufficient
trained and proficient crew on board to handle the boat
and its operating systems even in adverse conditions.
NOTE: Standing rigging will stretch slightly when initially
loaded. Therefore, the rigging may have to be further tensioned
slightly after a few sails in a strong breeze to compensate for
this initial stretch. Once the mast is tuned and initial stretch is
taken out, the rig should need retuning only at the beginning of
each season.
12.1 Main Rig Components
Anodized B&R Rig Mast
Boom
Dual Single Line Reefing System
Furling Jib
Inboard Jib Track w / Adjustable Cars
Internal Halyards led to Cockpit
Jib Furling System
Large Roach Mainsail w/Flaking System
Mainsheet on Arch
Self-Tailing Jib Winches w/Handles
Self-Tailing Rigging Winches w/Handles
Line Stoppers & Organizers
Over the course of the next few pages we will outline
some of the components featured here, along with some
of the optional components of your sails and rigging
aboard your Hunter sailboat.
12.2 The Mast
Your main and most vital rig component is the mast. It
carries the sails and is supported by the standing rigging
as shown on page 12.11.
Your Hunter features the B&R rig; a design by Lars
Bergstrom and Sven Ridder. The design was born in the
70’s and has been used on ocean racers as well as world
cruisers producing tremendous success. The B&R rig is
designed to eliminate inner forestays, backstays, and
running backstays. The 30-degree sweptback spreaders
and reverse diagonals support the mast sideways, fore,
and aft and the shrouds are discontinuous. Weight is
minimized and using a smaller mast section maximizes
airflow to the main. The angles between the shrouds and
forestay equal an even 120-degree triangle that evenly
spreads the load of the mast.
12.3 The Boom
The boom carries the lower sheeting point of your main
sail and is controlled by the main sheet, the vang and
the optional traveler lines. Page 12.12 contains illustra-
tions demonstrating the boom with reefing layout and the
Mainsheet Purchase layout.
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