I Say Avoid The Bay Hen....

Posted By: Gerald Donaldson
Date: 6/29/08 1:22p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: looking at a Cat... (pensacola Bob)

And it's the Voice Of Experience talking. Owned a somewhat smaller Mud Hen for a few years, same design. A poor sailer. Unlike a SunCat the flat bottom will slam you even in one-footers. They are also famous for pivoting on a run and broaching beam-on to the waves and wind. Easy to capsize. Basic judgment of some owners and others who have sailed Bay Hen/Mud Hen is that the rig is a cardinal mistake with a gaff like a catboat. The original version was called a Marsh Hen and had a Marconi sail, no gaff, the mast was stepped instead of folded on a stub. Sailed one of those also back in the late 1970s. Unimpressed is the only word that comes to mind. Finally, the mast is basicall a thick-walled, unstayed flag pole that, in the Bay Hen, will come close to rupturing you raising it without additional leverage other than sheer arm strength. I ripped the left rotator cuff muscle raising the mast on the Mud Hen, had to get it repaired. I unloaded my Mud Hen after three years at a significant loss. And, oh yes, I was dismasted in Buzzards Bay, not a good place for a Hen, especially shooting the Hole. Not even close to the same league as a Compac.