hunter 18 sailboat review

We seem to live in a sailing world where the emphasis is on the extreme. I'm not complaining. I love to watch the videos of those AC45 cats screaming across the bay. High-powered sprit boats rule the monohull one-design classes, providing planing speeds and exciting upwind rides dependent upon a skilled crew and skipper. The boat that is neglected today is the good old "utility" daysailer, designed for a fun afternoon where no one will wind up going swimming.

LOA 18'4"; LWL 16'6"; Beam 7'2"; Draft 6" (board up), 4'4" (board down); Weight 836 lbs.; Sail area 170 sq. ft.; SA/D 30.65; D/L 83.08; L/B 2.56.

Hunter Marine Route 441, PO Box 1030, Alachua, FL 32615 (800) 771-5556 www.huntermarine.com

Our Best Estimate of the sail-away price o.b.e. $8,900

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Small Craft Advisor

Hunter 18.5

Simple, fun and forgiving—perfect for the sailing family.

We’re all romantics. Some of us have it worse than others, of course—those with the proverbial wandering eye—and our backyards are a visual testament to both our passion and our lack of impulse control. We’ve got a small marina’s worth of vessels in various states of repair—the sprit-rigged dinghy, the leaky catboat, and the sweet little double-ender that just needs some cosmetic work—in truth we own more boats than we could restore in three lifetimes. Despite what we tell ourselves (and our spouses), not all boat purchases are especially rational decisions.

But the same thing that seems to draw us to certain boats blinds us to others that might, arguably, be a better fit. Some of the more common production fiberglass trailersailers are good examples. Staring at them probably won’t make your heart sing— no portlights, no sweeping sheer line, and not much wood—just angular windows, predictable lines, and lots of white fiberglass. But over the years we’ve found that many of these popular factory boats—which typically aren’t great in any one category but are pretty good in most—deserve more consideration. The Hunter 18.5 is one we felt warranted a closer look.

The buxom little 18.5 was produced from 1987 to 1993 (a quite different water-ballasted Hunter 19 superseded the 18.5 and was built from 1993 to 1996). The 18.5 featured a modern-looking cockpit and a cabin with as many as four berths. The sliding cabin hatch could be slid forward and hinged up, potentially offering something akin to standing headroom below, and the optional “Weekender Package” included a galley with ice chest, stove, and bucket sink. There was also a portable head located beneath the aft end of the V-berth—everything a small family might need for cruising.

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Marlow-Hunter, LLC

The 18 – much more than a daysailer.

The Marlow-Hunter 18 is easy to trailer, rig and launch, and will carry a crew of four. An optional spinnaker package will add even more performance. This is a fun, versatile boat for the family on the go, starting at $15,839 retail. However, by buying direct, big savings are currently available with our manufacturer’s discount. Contact us for details. So, hurry, go get on the water!

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Hunter Sailboat Quality?

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I'm looking at purchasing a 1986 Hunter. Is this a well built boat and are there any costly items that I should consider? Any comments would be a great help.  

Intended Usage? That is a pretty broad question? Just curious what your have budgeted for a boat purchase? What your intended use of the boat would be? What is the general condition of the hunter 36? It is a 22 year old boat and I would ask what has been replaced and how recent? Personally, I an looking at multi hulls so any mono hull is out of the question.. That being said, My dad purchased a hunter 33 04' and maintains it well and it has had no problems. In fact He is leaving Tomorrow for three weeks of WA state and Canada sailing. My Aunt owns a Hunter 420 (older) and has had no problems. She will also be out sailing as well.. I have attended the annual Hunter marine get to gatherings for the past three years in the PNW and have had the oppotunity to go on many of the boats and also talk to many of the owners. Very few seem dissappointed in thier purchase. To my knowledge most purchased new or relatively new boats and have maintained them. A 22 year old boat will probably have had many owners and many systems should have been replaced after 22 years usage... If I was buying a 22 year old car, RV or home I am thinking how it was maintained might tell me if the item will be a head ache... As far as Quality, well that is a pretty subjective question... After 22 years any boat could be a piece of crap if neglected... Like wise a 20 year old sedan might meet my needs- then again if I was pulling a boat or RV, I am thinking I might desire a 4x4... Goes to usage... That hunter will not take you across the ocean. It should be pretty inexpensive and might make a fun boat sailing in protected waters... If your looking for Hunter bashers- there are no shortage of them on the net.. Many of them I have noticed get real OVER sensitive when the same is said about the boat they own, ie: The Spendy Tartan and its recent mess ups to include the company cover up... Another thread.... The same people will be quick to boat bash Hunters, Catalina and the Bene's however, lol... Hope you find the Boat that meets Your Needs in your price range... Have Fun and enjoy... Best of Luck....  

serenity4u2 said: If your looking for Hunter bashers- there are no shortage of them on the net.. Many of them I have noticed get real OVER sensitive when the same is said about the boat they own, ie: The Spendy Tartan and its recent mess ups to include the company cover up... Another thread.... The same people will be quick to boat bash Hunters, Catalina and the Bene's however , lol Click to expand...

XJ...whatever you do...get a survey and get a separate engine survey. Hunters of that era were not particularly well made and were designed to hit a price point and serve well for basic sailing needs in protected waters. As such they can be an excellent value today if they have been kept well and your need are for a boat in protected waters and weekend cruising.  

Iflyka200s said: ...If your looking for Hunter bashers- there are no shortage of them on the net... Just like Catalina bashers... Great and well reasoned post BTW... Nicely done.. Click to expand...

I've been cruising the Bahamas and FL Keys on my 1981 Hunter 30, mostly single handed, since 2000. My boat has proven perfectly adequate for my needs. That being said, any older boat should be surveyed before purchase. I would point out that the problems I have had with my boat; broken prop strut (electrolysis), water pump, alternator, exhaust hose, shifter cable, standing and running rigging, chain plates, bow pulpit, etc., were replaced because of age, not quality of construction. The only unusual repair I had was making an epoxy container to fit around the corroded metal block my mast was stepped on. I have found my Hunter 30 to be more than suitable for coastal cruising and trips to the Bahamas. I would not hesitate to purchase another Hunter product.  

I also have the 1981 Hunter 30 with a 2qm15. I am new to sailing and boats in general. I would like to talk to you about this boat when you have a chance  

I've had a 34 foot '83 Hunter for two years without any real complaint. Most of my issues have been with PO "upgrades". Like some of the other posters have said get a good survey. Like the birds say the nice thing with Hunters is they are cheap, cheap, cheap. Sailing in the Cheasapeake bay I couldn't see spending big $ on a boat. Now if you are talking long distance ocean crusing you might want to look at something else.  

My father had a late 70's hunter 33 that he bought new. It was totally neglected all of its life. It got a haul out every 4 or 5 years. And my dad does not believe in preventive anything, so nothing got touched unless it was broken. After 20 plus years of ownership he finally sold the old girl to someone more caring and I am told she is still sailing around Lake Ponchatrain. We never had any real problems even though we never took care of our boat. Used boats or like used cars (IMO), Check them out as much as you can, try to negotiate a good deal for yourself and hope for the best. Good Luck!  

As other have implied, it's all about the condition of the boat; not the nameplate on it. A derelict Morris or Alden will cause problems for you, regardless of where or how you sail, much moreso than a well-maintained Hunter or any other brand for that matter. One of the reasons most people avoid this forum is the apparent density of self-proclaimed experts who seem to enjoy bashing anything other than what they currently own and I seriously doubt any of them have sailed a Hunter extensively offshore enough to form an informed objective opinion. I've had the opportunity to cruise extensively when younger and can tell you first-hand that no one anchored in any S Pac motu spend any time talking about which brand boat is best/worst suited for cruising - they all spent all their time talking about repair and maintenance issues regardless of who made it. It should be apparent to you how seriously you should take anyone who makes generalized criticisms of anything.  

k1vsk said: I've had the opportunity to cruise extensively when younger and can tell you first-hand that no one anchored in any S Pac motu spend any time talking about which brand boat is best/worst suited for cruising - they all spent all their time talking about repair and maintenance issues regardless of who made it. Click to expand...

Mike...welcome. The 20 is a decent boat to learn on but carefully check the keel centerboard trunk for leaks and the winch for proper operation. This seems to be a real problem spot on these boats but it is not a big deal to fix. Some owner reviews here: Hunter 20 owner reviews  

camaraderie said: Mike...welcome. The 20 is a decent boat to learn on but carefully check the keel centerboard trunk for leaks and the winch for proper operation. This seems to be a real problem spot on these boats but it is not a big deal to fix. Click to expand...

I posted a review in the hunters forum for all the interested in a Hunter boat. It is too long to repeat here.  

Remember the Original Post The original post was regarding a 32 y/o boat... Hunter or any 32 y/o boat will obviously need a survey. A 32 y/o hunter will probably be a very inexpensive price... As posted in earlier post, I sail on two family owned Hunters... Both newer and also maintained well... As I posted earlier- be it a Boat, RV, Auto or even a Home... Many people buy what they "think" they can afford... Meaning they can afford the payment and not much more.... I know people who buy expensive cars and have not enough money to properly maintain them, where as some Dodge owners do the regular scheduled maintenace... A Dodge Intrepid is No BMW... Yet, I'd prefer a well maintained used Dodge over a poorly maintained BMW... As a home owner, I change my central air filters every month- I have a friend who when seeing me purchase a new filter asked how often it should be changed... He had not changed his in FIVE years- it was black... Like wise I have my AC & Heating serviced by the company that installed it every Six months.... I am amazed at how dirty the inside of my Gas furnace is after SIX months as well as the heating and the cooling element / coil... In reality a 32 y/o Hunter is a low end production boat that in ALL likely hood will have had numerous owners. A real likely hood that you will not have a 32 y/o well documented history of boat upkeep... That being said, it should be a fairly inexpensive boat and may meet coastal and sailing in protected waters... If the boat meets your needs and "real" cost (not just purchase price)- enjoy it and take care of it for the next buyer... Best of Luck.....  

Bummer What a bummer, although I have met no unhappy hunter owners on the past three or four hunter gatherings here in the PNW.... I know that 45CC is pretty spendy-mmm thinking 300K.... Thinking if I was spending that kind of money I'd look elsewhere then a hunter. At least they service it lol... Depending on your location- thinking I could do better on a water front condo in the 300K range and be content with my 37' tayana...  

serenity, it was 478,000 when all was said & done and yes, I am very, very content with my Tayana  

Wow Wow Pappy, that is very spendy and about 100K more then I would have thought... Like I said, I would have boaugt a waterfront condo on land and kept my tayana... Thinking a 30 y/o tayana 37 probably lists for around 75K- Just a Guess.... I have had family and people I know who have had great luck with thier hunters... I still would NEVER spend 475K on a hunter 45CC... I have not priced Tayana's.. I am thinking tayana's are comprable to Valients- sorry if they are not and that offends any out there... I am thinking you could have boaught a slightly used Tayana or Valient in the 45 foot range for a half a million... Or better- ditch ALL three and get the new PSC 40PH.... Just my bias and not meant to be offensive...  

Thanks for all the input. I've heard around the Yacht Club the same talk I'm hearing in this forum. How then would a Hunter compare to a Tartan, Irwin or Ericson? Mid 1980's, 30 to 35 ft. I'll be using it to sail the Great Lakes and a little dock condo-ing! Thanks again!  

Apples to Oranges Xj, You get what you pay for, in the case of Tartan's and Ericson's you pay more you get more. My 1986 Hunter 31 (previous boat) was a very nice Ches. Bay boat worth every penny I paid for it, I know simply because that is what I paid for it. Personally I could have lived on it, after I put 5k into the interior and some much needed maintenance it was a fine old boat worth exactly what I sold it for- again, I know that because that's what I got when I sold it. Now, show me two boats for the exact same price, same length, same intended usage and then we can compare red apples to yellow apples.  

Love my Vintage Hunter In part it may be because I know no other boat as well as I know my own, but I love my 77 Hunter. The PO didn't do much in his last years of ownership but at least he did no harm. While I have not faced a hurricane on her on open water in the Chesapeake she has brought me home when I have heard others mounting distress calls. When I brought her home after I bought her 2 years ago we left the quiet waters of the Putexent into the teeth of a 40 mph wind with gusts into the 60's. If we'd known what we were heading into we would have never left port, but as it was it brought us home safe. Being a green sailor, its only my 4th year on the water after a 40 plus year layoff I have done my share of stupid things, but she has always forgiven me and gotten us both home. There are no doubt stronger better boats out there but there are few as forgiving. I also would point out virtually nothing its age can go to wind like this boat does. Several times I have out run far newer longer boats when heading to wind, that with a green sailor at the helm so don't let people talk you out of an older Hunter.  

The one Hunter I would avoid is a 1975 to 1977 27 footer. On this boat Hunter made a huge design flaw. On mine the entire bottom of the boat delaminated around the keel and it nearly fell off while they were launching it! It was 6 years old at the time. The flaw was that rather than molding a keel stub on the hull which increases the thickness of the internal stringers, they molded a recess in the hull to fit the top of the keel. This recess cut into the stringers at the center and made them way too thin to support the keel stresses. The problem got fixed on the 1978 version. Gary H. Lucas  

I would be very interested in hearing about the details on why you would not purchase a Hunter. I can see why someone would navigate towards a Bristol. Yet, a Hunter is one boat that I have never tillered. On the Sailboat Data website they don't list what the ballast was/is. As these are often 1970s and 1980s boats, that makes me nervous as I have owned two late 1960s Columbias and I knew exactly what that keel was. I have zero experience on Hunters and want to learn more so I know more about what what I am looking at. Thank you.  

Well, if the Korean War can end after almost 70 years, then maybe there's hope for ending the Hunter bashing. Naaaaaaahhhh!  

As others have mentioned, condition is the most important consideration when buying a 30 year old sailboat. One very costly item is sails. I can't over-emphasize the importance of having sails with a good shape. They are the "engine" of the boat. The shape of dacron sails deteriorates long before they start to fall apart. The structure may appear to be sound (ie no rips), but the shape might be old and baggy to a skilled eye. Unless the dacron cloth is crispy and new and clean, and are less than 5-10 years old (depending on how much they have been used), they are probably due for replacement sooner or later. Shape is hard to evaluate for an untrained eye. If you want help evaluating the shape of the sail, you may want to snap a few pictures during the sea trial. Take pics looking up from under the middle of the foot and post them here and PM me and I'll take a look at the shape for you. Judy Sailmaker  

Sock puppet perhaps.  

When buying an 30+ year old boat, - a boat has been constantly upgraded and maintained is a better choice.  

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Are Hunter Sailboats Any Good? (My Honest Experience)

There are a ton of different sailboat brands in the world today. Trying to decide which one is best, is no easy task. It comes down to a bit of fact and personal opinion, but that’s my opinion.

Hunter is a very well-known brand of sailboats. Hunter sailboats are a good boat depending on your needs and what you will be using your boat for primarily. They were designed as a more budget-friendly boat with all of the basic features needed for good coastal cruising.

The debate about whether a Hunter sailboat is good or not has been going on since the company started and there are a lot of pros and cons out there on the sailboat forums. This article is going to go over Hunters and cover as many of the pros and cons as possible. There will be facts and my personal opinion throughout this article. I just want to cover as much as possible so you will have the knowledge you need when considering a Hunter.

The History Of Hunter Sailboats

In the 1800s Henry Luhrs, a German immigrant, outfitted trading ships. He continued to work on boats his whole life and eventually passed the skills on to his grandson. His grandson was also named Henry and continued the family trade on the Jersey coast, building and repairing recreational and fishing boats. After a while, Henry and his sons started the Hunter Company in 1973 in Alachua, Florida, as a sailboat manufacturer.

Luhrs was the owner of the company, but the early boat designs were done by a man named John E. Cherubini. One of the most recognizable boats of the Hunter legacy is the Cherubini Hunter 30. In my opinion, this is a fantastic boat.

Towards the end of the 1980s, the company did run into trouble. Luhrs was not necessarily running the company at this time, he was out sailing the world and had let a board of management take over. The management team had started to run the company into the ground. They did this by only offering a 1-year warranty, poorly built boats, and terrible customer service for its customers. This would be sure to end any company. Luhrs, with fear his company would go under, decided to return immediately and address the issues at hand. He decided to do a whole restructuring of production and decided extending the warranty from one year to five years would be a good start. Luhrs also hired Canadian designer Rob Mazza in 1991 to take over the design and coordinate the production process. These many steps and others helped get the company back on track.

Hunter is responsible for several market innovations, including their trademark stainless steel cockpit arch and their use of the B&R rig. The B&R rig uses swept spreaders that are usually angled aft, together with “stays” running diagonally downward from the tip of the spreaders to the attachment of the next pair of spreaders to the mast or to the intersection of the mast with the deck, that facilitates a pre-bend of the mast (curving aft).

In 2012 Hunter Marine entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company was sold in August 2012 to David E. Marlow, owner of Marlow Yachts and the name changed to Marlow-Hunter, LLC.

Marlow-Hunter continues to produce sailboats to this day and I must say….they are beautiful designs.

Before we start the debate about whether Hunter sailboats are good or not, let’s look at one or two of their better models.

Cherubini Hunter 30

The Cherubini Hunter 30 is one of the most recognizable Hunters out there today. They were first built in the year 1973 and were made until the year1983. Roughly a thousand of these boats were made and you can find them all over the world.

Here are some more facts about the Hunter 30.

• Hull Type: Fin with rudder on skeg
• Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop
• LOA: 30.40 ft / 9.27 m
• Displacement: 9,700 lb / 4,400 kg
• Beam: 10.17 ft / 3.10 m

I have personally sailed on this boat and I found it to be very solid and a great all-around boat. I sailed it in the Gulf of Mexico and the bays around the area and it was always a great experience.

When sailing it felt very sturdy in the water. I never got the feeling that we were being pushed off course in the slightest. There were also a few times that we heeled over and put the rails in the water and it handled that just fine. From the outside, the boat is very recognizable with its unique design, but the cabin below is quite a common layout and design.

I feel like the cabin resembles most 30-foot boats of that time period. There might have been a touch more space in the overall design than other boats but the look and feel are all the same if you compare it to a Catalina or O’Day of the same time period. That is my personal opinion of course.

Would I purchase one of these for myself? I would definitely consider it. They are a great design and very solid. I don’t think I would have any problems with this boat, whether I was sailing it on a lake or across the Atlantic. Some will say it is not a bluewater boat, but I have read plenty of articles about people actually sailing in the bluewater. It just comes down to the captain and what you are comfortable with.

Let’s look at another type of Hunter, the Hunter 37 Legend!

The Hunter 37 Legend

This boat is a less commonly seen Hunter but still a very impressive one. Warren Luhrs was the designer of this vessel. It was not in production long just from 1986 to 1988, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good design. This design gets great reviews from the internet and has a great design for speed and comfort. I have only researched this one and watched videos about it. I would very much like to sail one of these someday, but they are not very common as I mentioned.

• Hull Type: Fin w/spade rudder
• Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop
• LOA: 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
• LWL: 31.33 ft / 9.55 m
• Beam: 12.83 ft / 3.91 m
• S.A. (reported): 704.00 ft 2  / 65.40 m 2
• Draft (max): 6.67 ft / 2.03 m
• Displacement: 14,900 lb / 6,759 kg

To get a better look at this boat please take a look at the video below. It is a quick overview of the boat itself.

After researching this boat, I would very much like to have it. This one has a ton of great features and would be perfect for some long weekend sail trips with a good group of friends. If you find a good deal on this one, I would take a second look.

Let us address one of the bigger issues in the next section, which is the bad reviews Hunter sailboats get.

Why Do Hunter Sailboats Get Such Bad Reviews? Personal Opinion

I have done a lot of research and read a lot of forums about Hunter sailboats online and they tend to get a bad rap. There are a lot of discussions about how they are cheaply made and won’t handle open ocean sailing, but I have seen videos of them handling it just fine. Maybe people have had bad experiences with a Hunter before?

There are also bad reviews on certain designs which make sense. Not every sailboat that Hunter has produced, is something I would consider. That can be said about every boat company. I’m sure even Catalina (my favorite brand) has a bad design here or there. One of the complaints was a Hunter sailboat designed without a backstay. This is very upsetting to some sailors and I would have to agree.

The backstay is what helps hold up the back end of the boom when sailing. Technically the mainsail does this as well but the backstay helps keep the shape much better. I have lowered the sail before without a backstay and you have to be very careful because your boom is going to drop right into the cockpit if you don’t have some other means of support. Some people may have a good reason for no backstay, maybe in a racing condition, but for casual life on the water, I definitely want one.

I wouldn’t rule out Hunters just for this or maybe one bad experience on one, you need to give the Hunter brand a chance. Everybody has an opinion on the internet and a lot of them will be against Hunter sailboats. That’s the internet for you though. The internet can say whatever it wants about anything in this world, even if it doesn’t have good evidence. That’s why I think personal experience is the best evidence here.

Take car brands for example. So many people will say don’t buy a ford or a chevy or dodge because it will break down on you. To be clear, every brand of car has had models broken down on them. It is not necessarily the brand, it’s the improper care of the vehicle or a random breakdown of an engine part. The brand itself still makes good vehicles you just had bad luck.

That is why I say you need to try out a few Hunters before claiming them to be a terrible boat.

The last thing I will say about this subject is that I have met multiple Hunter sailboat owners and they have loved their boats. I have not met one captain who owned a Hunter and did not like it. I only found out about their bad reviews by going online and researching them. Take all of this with a grain of salt though, I am just giving you my honest opinion. Check out the video below for another opinion on Hunter sailboats. This is a great video, be sure to check out his channel as well.

Final Thoughts

This article talked about Hunter sailboats and if they are any good. The history of the Hunter brand was discussed and is currently named Marlow-Hunter because the Marlow Yacht company purchased Hunter in 2011. We discussed the Cherubini 30 and the 37 Legend, both of which are great boats in my opinion. That was a big topic in the last section of this article, opinions. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that’s what keeps these great sailboat discussions going. We need these great discussions to keep going and fill our minds with as much knowledge as possible. Get out there and talk to people with Hunter sailboats to get the most information you possibly can. I hope this article provided you with some Hunter knowledge to help you in your sailing life. Cheers!

Boatlifehq owner and author/editor of this article.

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HUNTER 18.5 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of HUNTER 18.5. Built by Hunter Marine (USA) and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 1987. It has a hull type of Wing Keel and LOA is 5.61. Its sail area/displacement ratio 20.63. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

HUNTER 18.5 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about HUNTER 18.5 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who builds hunter 18.5.

HUNTER 18.5 is built by Hunter Marine (USA).

When was HUNTER 18.5 first built?

HUNTER 18.5 was first built in 1987.

How long is HUNTER 18.5?

HUNTER 18.5 is 4.72 m in length.

What is mast height on HUNTER 18.5?

HUNTER 18.5 has a mast height of 6.4 m.

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• Sailboat Guide

Marlow Hunter 18'

• Description

Seller's Description

Marlow Hunter 18’ Cocoa Florida

Hunter 18’ LOA 18’4” Water line length 16’6” Beam 7’2’ Draft board up, 6” Draft board down, 52” Mast height, 24’6” Sail Area 170 sq Basic weight 836 lbs Max capacity 935 lbs

In excelant condition ready to Sail Away! Easy to rig for one or two people, Powerful main sail, with roller furlering head sail.

Single axel trailer with spare tire, Forward cockpit cover with battens Small anchor Trailer tiedows Torqeedo Electric motor, used three times $1300 value or phone 321 223 6825

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Draft – Shoal 4’5″ 1.35 m Displacement – Shoal 12,000 lb 5,443.1 kg Ballast – Shoal 3,525 lb 1,598.9 kg Mast Height – Standard 46’6 3/4″ 14.19 m Mast Height – Furling 51’11” 15.82 m Sail Area – Furling 542 sq ft 50.4 sq m P – Furling 40’11 3/4″ 12.49 m E – Furling 14’7″ 4.45 m Headroom 6’3″ 1.91 m Holding Tank Capacity 20 gal 75.7 l Water Heater 5 gal 18.9 l

This listing is presented by SailingTexas.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.

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Just How Good Are Hunters?

• Thread starter Caribbeanknight1
• Start date Aug 1, 2013
• Hunter Owner Forums
• Ask A Hunter Owner

Caribbeanknight1

I realize I am asking a biased audience but I know many here have owned other makes of sailboat. I have only limited sailing experience but I have been so impressed with my H240 vs the other boats on the lake. I know Hunter are considered "production boats" but you get so much boat for the price and they seem to sail as fast as anything in the same class yet the simplicity of the boat allows a beginner like me to sail like a pro. What am I missing? Where do Hunters not stack up to the much more expensive competition?  

When crossing an ocean. Hunters can do it and do but most prefer a blue water boat. Many can argue this subject but Hunters are not "blue water boats." I love mine and it is great for coastal cruising. However, I would not want to cross an ocean in it.  

Consider this that Ferrari cars are "production cars" even though they may make only twenty-four of that model. I'm in the September of my years now and have grown up with sailboats since the late nineteen fifties. I've had ten new boats, the last five have been Hunters because of the quality of construction that I have observed. They are a good company and made in America. Years ago at the beginning of the dawn of fiberglass right after WWII, sailboats were hulls with decks and minimal interiors. When you looked under the interior seats of the Cal there was raw fiberglass. The hot boat at that time was the plywood Thunderbird or T-bird, an excellent 26 footer that could be built at home. It took a while for sail boat companies to learn how to design and use fiberglass. And building the interior was a work of art with each piece of wood being measure for that individual boat. Some companies still build their boats that way but it is labor intensified. Some of our boat companies couldn't compete with the Asian boat companies with their cheaper labor and we began to import Fugis, Yamaha's, etc. So our boat companies responded with learning how to build boats like old Ford cars with every piece fitting every boat on the line. A company could cut ten pieces for ten boats at one time and have them all fit. Hunter was one of those companies that lead the way in modern day boat construction. But one of the things that convinced me to buy Hunter was their program of checking back with owners and asking what is working--what is not working. Then they would make adjustments in the plant and construction of their new models. I have watch improvements on all of my five Hunters. I suspect the new models are even better and have passed me by. "How can we make it better" seems to be the mantra of Hunter company and indeed, they have been one of the most innovating boat companies during the past twenty five years. Look at the B and R rid, roller furling mains and jibs, sugar scoop sterns, "tourist" seats in the stern, and the list goes on. Even where you can't see things they made improvements such as all plastic tankage or all through hull fittings in one place accessible for checking. Some of these same innovations and/or improvements you cannot find on some of the more expensive boats....however individual perception is a fascinating study. To complete my point, I drive a Subaru Forester which gets me to the store quite well. Would I like a Ferrari? I'm sure I would have fun going to the store in one but I doubt if it would get me there quicker (we have stop lights in my town) or anymore comfortable..... I suspect I would enjoy the purr of the Ferrari motor or the smell of the interior. I suspect I could enjoy sailing an Oyster sailboat but quite frankly I am in love with my Hunter 27. At my age it is a delight to sail and I can sail it by myself. And I don't have to repair or add items to make it sailable. It may be that the owner of a Ferrari will look down at me as might the owner of an Oyster. But the end result is that I'm having as much fun as they are sailing. So if you think your H240 is well made, you are correct. If you think your H240 is a good investment, you probably are correct as well. The end result is how much you enjoy sailing and cruising in your boat. I hope you get as much satisfaction from your Hunter as I do mind. I wish you well. By the way, I'm eighty in years and have sail many, many boats over the years. I still think of my Hunter 27 as a MGA of the boating world....a fun boat.  

I am new here and just purchased a 2006 Hunter 33.1. I have owned an ODay 25, a Hooks Marine Custom 34,Heavy Bluewater Boat. and also own a Nimble Nomad. Sailing for over 20 years. I do my own work and have read several books on boat construction. I was a Machinist Mate in the Navy and operated a 1200 lb Super Heated Steam Main Propulsion engine room. A Hunter is a production boat which seems to have it's fair share of detractors but from what I have seen and inspected it is a well built boat. The boat I bought had a owners manual which detailed every system on board in detail, which is not something I saw on any other boat, I also found the manual on line. All thru hulls are centrally located easy to close which is what you should do when you leave the boat. I found all the equipment installed up to the intended and installed properly. BTW I am perfectly qualified to survey the boat myself but hired a qualified survey to do a survey and he found no construction issues and only minor gear issues. I had used the same surveyor last week on a Catalina 30 which I walked away from at a cost of $800.00 for survey and lift, money well spent. Bang for the buck the boat is a great boat. As on all boats you have to balance the boat you buy with the intended use and your skill level. Good luck on your hunt for a boat, sometimes it takes time to find the boat that loves you. Jim  

Les said: I still think of my Hunter 27 as a MGA of the boating world....a fun boat. Click to expand

The Italians do not use Ferraris to go to the store either, they keep them in the garage and drive a Fiat. Each engine is hand assembled by a single highly trained and experienced individual. The seats are hancrafted from selected cuts of leather. That is not a production automobile. The use of computers has revolutionized manufacturing processes, we can now reach tolerances that before were to expensive to achieve. The difference observed between specialty builders and production manufacturers mostly rest in the quality of the materials being used and the quality controls. While the first may accept the cost of having to redo a job the other may decide to overlook it. Ferrari engine blocks undergo rigorous testing with a rather large percentage being scrapped and the metal recycled. The quality on production automobiles and boats has been improving but there are still a number of lemons reaching the marketplace. Don't get me wrong Hunter puts out a "Ferrari" of a design, uses good matrials and good components and price the boats fairly. Production errors that do not affect the safety of the boat are routinely overlooked but that is the tradeoff we are willing to accept between Price and Quality.  

Crazy Dave Condon

The Hunter water ballast sailboats were designed for the trailerable sailor as I was very much involved with them from the start. The 23.5 is my baby and I outsold all other dealers of the 240. I also sold Catalina, Beneteau, ComPac, Precision, MacGregor and many others over the years. I have heard all the Fiddlesticks about boats and so on. All to include the Hunters have their good points. When you say this is a blue water boat of course referencing the 240, it was not designed to cross an ocean. As to a productin boat, well guess what, so are the rest of the crowd as I have been in all the plants except for the MacGregor. If the two of you want to contact me, please feel free thru the forum email and I will be glad to help. My info is based on information and experience. crazy dave condon  

Not "blue water boats"? Don't know about the newer Hunters, but I bought a Cherubini 37-C specifically to be my "blue water boat". It's built like a tank and reported by far-too-many-to-ignore owners as surprisingly fast. I wouldn't think twice about cruising the oceans in Fred V - the boat is fine, it's the captain that's questionable!  

FredV said: Not "blue water boats"? Don't know about the newer Hunters, but I bought a Cherubini 37-C specifically to be my "blue water boat". It's built like a tank and reported by far-too-many-to-ignore owners as surprisingly fast. I wouldn't think twice about cruising the oceans in Fred V - the boat is fine, it's the captain that's questionable! Click to expand

Hunter Quality I spent the last year repairing and replacing parts on my 2002 H456. Eighty percent done by professionals and everyone of them from the diesel mechanic to the electrical engineer to the plumber has commented on how well this boat is built and with quality parts. Just be prepared to add 50K of offshore equipment and go where you want to go.  

wifeofgonzo

A Biased Reply I have a 2005 Hunter 36. In my opinion, the 36 is one of the best designed boats Hunter has made. I agree that the company does listen to owners and make changes. Lately it is their downfall. Go to the sail show - I don't think anyone leaves the dock. No storage space, difficult to do things underway, all designed to be at the marina not on the hook. Finding the right boat boat is like buying house. You know when you're "home". New is just as much of a pain as not, still bugs to work through. Our friends spend more time fixing their brand new Beneteau than sailing. I also agree I would not take our boat blue water. Not because she isn't seaworthy, but because of the keel. She is perfect for the coastal cruising that we do. Easy to single hand, perfect for two to be very comfortable, but big enough for friends to join us every now and then.  

John Murphy

CRBKT 1, I looked at all kinds of boats from Fla,to Apls, to New Eng. in the 37-40 range. I stayed away from Hunters 'cuz of my late 70's experience w/ them where they were a "Package Boat": carpeting not only on the cabin sole but UP THE BULKHEADS & ACROSS THE CEILING !!! REALLY!!, & a plastic "garbage bag" filled w/ 2 PFDS, some lines & a couple other items that made it; "Ready To Sail". I bought an Ericson back then & loved the John Holland designs & quality materials ( real, thick teak not vinyl over plywood ) & craftsmanship. Had it 30+years. Anywho, I had to swallow my pride & got a rude come-uppance. I bought a 1997 Hunter 376!! : o Learned it had been The Boat of the Year!! I am constantly comparing it w/ similar Catalinas ( who also have come a long way since the 70's) & Benateaus,etc. $ for $, spaciousness, brightness below ( Benateaus are "bat caves"), comfort, ( the pass-thru stern stateroom ( 2 doors, to galley & head ) surpass the other boats. I'm a USNA Offshore Instructor & USPS Safety Officer. I agree w/ my fellow sailors that Hunters are NOT Offshore boats, but Coastal Cruisers. Mine has been to Maine & back & all over the Chesapeake Bay, whose summer squalls can get pretty nasty. They're not Tartans, nor Sabres, but if you're not going Offshore, they're a GREAT boat. "Fair Winds & Following Seas...." " Murph "  

I have one of those 1970's package Hunters, a 1977 30 with the carpet everywhere. These boats were built to meet a price point and they did. They were well made and still do what they were intended to do. Amazingly much of that carpet is intact and as she is a dry boat not moldy and while not as attractive as teak, its ok. I sail the boat not its interior and more than 36 years after she left the factory she is still a fast boat for her class. My crew member who owns a Catalina 30 marvels over the standing room and comfort below. She is no Ferrari, she will never cross an ocean but she gets me a round the Cheaspeake and the Delaware and that's what I bought her for.  

My first boat was an 85 Hunter 25.5. I also looked at the 24 foot ODay but liiked the separate bulkhead going into the V berth on the Hunter, making it seem bigger. . It only drew 3'3', you needed a porta potty but it sailed well. When looking for a newer boat, I was directed to both Catalina and Beneteau. Both nice boats but I liked the style and the amount of light coming thru on the Hunter along with the lighter wood. The boat sails great, even in higher winds and the in-mast furling doesn't cost you a lot of speed. I frequently get over 7 knots and topped out at 8.4 kts. It does have the North Sails. Boats are personal preference but I'll put the Hunter up there with the other producton boats anyday.  

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• By Dieter Loibner
• Updated: June 6, 2005

Hunter 38 Boat Review

As we stepped aboard the new Hunter 38 last fall in Annapolis, something seemed different. At first glance, all of Hunter’s trademark details were there: the stainless-steel arch that carries the mainsheet traveler, the comprehensive bimini, the corner seats in the stern rail. Yet the hollow waterlines and fine bow sections indicated that designer Glenn Henderson and his team had refined the Hunter hull form to bring out more pep and agility. Henderson’s written brief for the boat describes a “very responsive and maneuverable yacht that would be very forgiving to sail in a breeze and easy to maneuver in close quarters such as docking.” He highlighted two performance-related objectives: to minimize the pitching motion and improve boat speed in midrange conditions, and to boost the boat’s pointing ability with a low-drag keel and a large rudder that helps generate lift. All these attributes needed to be wrapped into a package that offered exceptional comfort and easy handling and that was suitable for shorthanded sailing and for newcomers who might like to explore Catalina, Martha’s Vineyard, or the Bahamas.

Cruising World’s Boat of the Year judges immediately picked up on the look and feel during the dockside inspection, which revealed well-conceived ideas and good execution, all focused on the purpose of the vessel and the target audience. “I’m more impressed with this than with any other Hunter I’ve seen,” said Steve Callahan, a BOTY judge whose career background includes boatbuilding and yacht design.

Hunter builds the hull with balsa-cored sandwich above the waterline and solid glass with Kevlar reinforcements below. It’s a cost-effective and proven method that keeps weight down and increases impact resistance where it matters. The deck is bonded to the hull and through-bolted on an outward flange. Hunter protects the hull/deck joint from bumps and bruises with a stainless steel-capped vinyl rubrail. The lead/antimony keel is connected to the structural hull grid with stainless-steel bolts. The test boat had the shallow-draft version, with a bulb that keeps the center of gravity low without creating excessive drag. Augmenting the efficiency of the lateral plane is a large, balanced spade rudder that has a composite stock.

Deck and Cockpit

Hunter continually talks to its customers; based upon those conversations, comfort, low maintenance, and ease of use figure prominently on its boats. Molded-in nonskid surfaces on deck are complemented by low-maintenance Flexiteek surfaces on the cockpit seats. Precut into sheets and precaulked, this material might not meet the aesthetic standards of dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists, but it’s easy to replace at the end of its useful life, which, according to Hunter, is expected to be about 15 years.

What registered with the BOTY judges was Hunter’s attention to important details, which put the 38 a step ahead of other boats in the same category. “The chocks and cleats were fine, the emergency steering was very functional, deck flow and handholds were good,” noted BOTY judge Alvah Simon. “The anchoring drills went very well. The 38 had twin rollers that can both be used, and everything worked properly. There was a cleat behind the fairlead of the port roller and a pin placement on the roller; you can quickly lock down the anchor until everything’s set up right. The well was good, and the electric windlass had up/down switches, which you don’t expect in this price range.”

As with other Hunters, the integrated stainless-steel arch and bimini over the cockpit is a defining trait. While the judges felt that mounting the traveler track on top of this arch removed clutter from the cockpit, they all agreed that the canvas bimini could be improved with more see-through panels to give a better view of the sails.

Aside from this issue, which also surfaced on several other boats, the cockpit was a good workplace, once one got used to the concept of reaching up for traveler adjustments. “I just love to see things, and not knowing where the traveler is took me a while to get used to,” said Simon. Kibitzers sat in the corner seats on the stern rail, watching the skipper work the Lewmar folding wheel and the crew trim the sails at the self-tailing winches. The primaries were mounted well aft, so the cockpit layout satisfied an important requirement for safe shorthanded sailing: easy access to the sheets for the person at the helm so he or she doesn’t have to step away from the wheel to execute a tack or an emergency maneuver.

Making his way into the saloon, judge Bill Lee noted that the first step of the companionway was deep, well sized, and properly surfaced with nonskid. “A big top step is really nice because people like to stand in the hatch,” he said.

Belowdecks, the emphasis on practicality and comfort is evident in the laminated Everwear sole, which is designed to withstand abuse much better than teak and holly, without fuss or varnish. Headroom in the main saloon is a generous 6 feet 6 inches. On the inside of the cabin top, Hunter uses a light headliner that offers easy access to deck hardware and wiring and helps keep the center of gravity low. The living space is divided between the dinette to starboard and a settee to port, ahead of the forward-facing nav station. BOTY judges noted that the saloon table lacked fiddles, but the separate stall shower in the head to port of the companionway drew praise. Lee, a noted yacht designer in his own right, pointed out that in this size of boat, designers usually have to make a choice: “It’s either a forward-facing nav station, in which case the skipper wins,” he quipped, “or it’s a separate shower stall, in which case the first mate wins. Here, both of them win.”

Both settees in the saloon can be converted into sea berths, at least in theory. The L-shaped galley to starboard pleased judge Tom Prior, who has a background in professional food service: “This is one of the few smaller boats we saw that had two stainless-steel sinks. I think that’s real positive.” Still, he would have preferred a properly gimbaled three-burner stove instead of the two-burner model installed on the test boat. He appreciated the easy access to the bronze through-hulls under the galley floorboards. “They’re all in one compartment and have proper labels,” he said. “If you hear water sloshing in the bilge, you look here first to see where it could be coming from.”

The test boat was equipped with the Mariner package, which features the folding wheel, a more powerful engine, and a Bose entertainment system complete with DVD player and bass subwoofer under the port settee. It can be expanded with a 15-inch flat-screen TV. The master cabin in the owner’s version is aft, dominated by an athwartship double berth, two lounge seats, and private access to the head and shower. Hunter also offers a three-cabin layout with two staterooms aft. Bill Lee was smitten with this part of the boat. “The aft cabin was very well-done for a 38-foot boat,” he said. “I liked the passageways on both sides because such an arrangement it really helps the ventilation.”

Peeking underneath the floorboards, he noted something else: “The engine has the old-fashioned shaft drive with the old-fashioned stuffing box, which is much easier to repair than a saildrive.”

Surprising Performance

The positive impression the judges had of the Hunter 38 at the dock was reinforced when the time came to take a spin on Chesapeake Bay. The test boat had three of what Bill Lee calls “performance inhibitors”: a 5-foot shallow-draft keel, a fixed three-bladed propeller, and an in-mast mainsail furling system.

Still, under the three-point Bergstrom & Ridder rig, the boat moved at a good clip on all points of sail, even in light air. “Hunter is really consistent with this concept,” Steve Callahan said of the mainsail-driven rig featuring swept-aft spreaders and a small blade jib. “It’s good for Hunter’s envisioned customers, including sailing couples and novices, who benefit from the easy handling of a small headsail.” Callahan also praised the feeling at the helm. “The boat performed extremely well under main alone, and it also was incredibly maneuverable.” During a chance encounter with a J/80 that sailed along behind us, he noted that we were “doing basically the same speed.” Measured speed over ground averaged 4.5 knots under main alone, 5.8 knots closehauled with a headsail, and close to 7 knots on a beam reach, all in about 10 knots of true wind.

Under engine, the boat kept up its good manners and maneuverability. With the optional 40-horsepower Yanmar, it managed an average speed over ground of roughly 6.5 knots at 2,500 rpm and 7.2 knots at 3,000 rpm.

In the end, the hunch about the Hunter 38 proved to be correct. Hands down, the boat convinced the judges that it was the unanimous choice to win the class of production cruisers under 40 feet. It did it with better-than-expected performance, good design ideas, and follow-through in their execution. And tellingly, value didn’t enter the discussion until the final stages. With a suggested sailaway price of $160,000, “it’s a hell of a lot of boat for the buck,” said Bill Lee. “Hunter is getting better design, better construction, and has price control,” Alvah Simon said in summary. “I enjoyed sailing the boat, and I think other people are going to as well.”

Dieter Loibner is a Cruising World associate editor.

LOA 38′ 2” (11.63 m.) LWL 34′ 8” (10.57 m.) Beam 12′ 11” (3.94 m.) Draft (shallow/deep) 5′ 0”/6′ 6” (1.53/1.98 m.) Sail Area (100%) 758 sq. ft. (70.19 sq. m.) Ballast (shallow/deep) 6,552/6,128 lb. (2,978/2,785 kg.) Displacement (shallow/deep) 17,674/17,250 lb. (8,006/7,814 kg.) Ballast/D (shallow/deep) .37/.36 D/L (shallow/deep) 189/185 SA/D (shallow/deep) 17.84/18.13 Water 75 gal. (285 l.) Fuel 35 gal. (133 l.) Mast Height (std./furling) 59′ 1”/60′ 9” (18.00/18.47 m.) Engine 29-hp. Yanmar (40-hp. option) Designer Glenn Henderson/Hunter Design Team Sailaway Price $160,000

Hunter Marine Corporation (386) 462-3077 www.huntermarine.com

• More: 2001 - 2010 , 31 - 40 ft , Coastal Cruising , hunter marine , keelboat , marlow-hunter , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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