Draught debate

I too have been concerned about the draught of my yacht (Ask the Experts, PBO August 2018). I’ve had my Hunter Horizon 23 since buying it new in 1992. Before buying I read the Hunter literature and several magazine reviews and all had the same 3ft 1in figure for draught. I suspect that no reviewer measured it and it could be that Hunter’s office just quoted the same figure as for the Duette that used the same hull.

I’ve since raised the waterline by about 4in to cover the fouling area. I believe the weight specified does not include any of the listed extras in the Factory Completed Full De-Luxe pack: ie battery, lights, heads, engine, petrol tank, water tank, sink and cooker.

Successive crane drivers have told me her weight is 1.9 tonnes. This includes all the items above and hot water system, books, charts, anchors, chains, inflatable dinghy and various other things. I’ve not weighed all the extras but they’re unlikely to be half a tonne. Then there is crew weight with food and kit – easily 250kg.

So after owning my lovely boat for 26 years I ignore Hunter’s literature, I use the echo-sounder set to display actual distance from the transducer to the bottom and remember that I am afloat when it reads 0.9m and stuck at 0.8m. This would correspond to draught of approx 1.1m or 3ft 7in. Alan Bew, via email