Quote:
Originally Posted by Simplicity2020
I have a couple 10-foot paddle boards and would like input on how and where to best to secure them aboard our Hunter 40 (1984) while sailing. Right now Im thinking of having brackets welded inside the lifelines/stanchions somewhere between the beam and bow. Any Hunter owners out there who can weigh in?
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OK, it is very common these days to use commercially available brackets, such as Garhauer or Magma, on stanchions to carry paddleboards, kayaks, or surfboards, either midships or forward.
Docking and windage issues aside, you should consider the potential for damage if you happen to be sailing in heavy
weather. This is a settled weather configuration at best.
Maybe you have no intention of ever sailing in heavy weather. Maybe you see all these other boats with paddleboards on the side like that. However, other boats have had significant damage, damage that is a risk to the boat and crew, when heavy seas come aboard and hit those boards.
For example our friends on the yacht Totem, a Stevens 47, carried their Kayak inside the
lifelines and a large wave came over the bow and carried away the kayak and the stanchions.
I don't really expect you to accept this
advice, by my
advice to you is to set your boat up to be
blue water capable, and that means able to withstand heavy sea conditions. When the going is tough you don't want to be on the foredeck struggling to cope with loose
equipment. Get
inflatable paddleboards and carry them in a safe manner. You'll be selling them in two years anyhow.