People HATE These Boats [Full Tour] Learning the Lines
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ม.ค. 2022
- Hunter yachts seem to garner a lot of hate from people that don't own them. Why is this? I personally think they fulfill their place in the market well. Hunters are affordable and comfortable coastal cruisers. Be sure to watch until the end for more discussion on the pros and cons of these boats.
What do you think? Leave a comment below
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Learning the Lines is a channel about us, an average couple in our 20's, with big dreams to be sailing the world by the time we're in our 30's. We're not afraid to jump into anything, put in the work, and learn as we go. We started out with Somnium, an O'day 272, moved onto Freebie, an Endeavour 32, and now are focusing on sailboat tours and working full time as teachers while we save up for our next boat.
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Lots of interesting comments thank you. My wife and I own a 2000 Hunter 460, ex-charter purchased in BVI in 2007. We have sailed up and down the Caribbean, the east coast of the US, crossed the Atlantic to Portugal, sailed back and forth across the Mediterranean Sea, and then back to Antigua and up the US east coast to its present home in Deltaville, Virginia. We hope to get back to it this year having missed her for two covid years stuck home in Australia. We love her and intend more blue water voyaging.
I guess nobody told you that you weren't supposed to cross an ocean with a Hunter. Twice!
Thanks I’m looking at a 40ft plus Hunter, mostly because I’m a fat Canadian and they are so comfortable. I always heard they aren’t capable of crossing oceans, but never believed it. You are proof. Thanks
I would sail the hell out it! There will be snobs in every sport. Nice boat!
I finished my 10th season on my 1983 Hunter 34. It's accommodating down below and it's considered a great club/phrf racer. We found space for a microwave and installed a new propane stove/oven with 2 10 lb. tanks below the helm seating. We added a swim platform with a ladder and steps as well as davits. She has solar and a wind generator for extended traveling. People are always polite when I tell them it's a Hunter but I know many of them look down on the brand. We sail on Lake Superior and have experienced some of its wrath in terms of weather and waves. The boat handles what the Lake tosses our way with confidence. She is 40 years young and still going strong. I am a proud and happy Hunter Owner!
We live aboard a Hunter 466 in the PNW and we absolutely love it. She's a big, solid boat and I would have no issues with buying another Hunter.
4 months ago we bought a 40.5 hunter and so far absolutely LOVE the boat. Sails amazing and it's so so comfortable.
The factory isn’t producing boats (out of alachua, fl) at least. I stopped twice in 2020 and 2021 to check in. Grass at factory is 4ft high. Thought that was salient given video comment about still producing boats. Hunter was last at a boat show in 2017 per my personal observations.
In regards to build, I have owned a hunter for 8 years, but also been an extensive delivery mate on all types of boats. The build is pretty good in comparison to Bene and Jeanneau. I recently took my interior down to fiberglass and was impressed to see that it was every bit as good as the French builds. A few things were better.
I think the negative bias comes from the classic low PHRF of having stubby keels, beamy salons, fixed props, and B&R furling rigs. Makes them piglets.
Super affordable, weekend sailors. What is not to like? My wife will spend time on the boat because it’s comfortable.
I own power boats too. I would say that the powerboat that costs 4x my hunter at 150k is basically a poorly-built, leaky, fabrege egg compared to my 35k hunter.
Lastly I want to high five this channel for this impartial video.
People can hate all they want. Hunter’s are still in the same anchorages having a great time. Maybe even better. Because they spent less, have more room, a.c., a generator, plenty of cold storage etc. I’m of the opinion of, Who cares what people have if they enjoy it. I only want them to be safe. I’m not aware of any reports of Hunters being otherwise. Fair winds to everyone out there. Whatever boat you have. You are living the dream.
We just purchased a 1996 Hunter legend 37.5 and are loving it!! Our plans are to island hop in the Caribbean and Bahamas. I think maybe the hate is because you get more bang for your buck with a Hunter.
I really like the design of that boat. Seems like you get so much with few comprises.
Just curious before purchasing a boat made in 1996 did you guys have it surveyed by a qualified marine surveyor?
@@johnbumpus7138 yes we did.
@@sailingwanderlust22 smart move ,enjoy your vessel May I suggest adding Green turtle cay to your list for bohemian island hopping it’s not far from Grand Bahama and it’s so Beautiful and tranquil! Be safe
I'm not sure why the hate because of getting more bang for the buck? They make some beautiful boats.
I love my 1983 Hunter 27. I love the way the inside is laid out, it's so roomy. I also love all the assessories,ie: Central air and heat,auto pilot, flat screen tv,stereo with Bose speakers,gps,vhs,etc.
It's great as a live aboard as well.
Thanks
Is yours a Cherubini? I love my Cherubini 33 but lately ive not been able to keep her as tidy as i want to, she's currently in need of some TLC. Years ago, I used to live aboard her with my fiance for a couple years.
In the early to mid 90's my uncle had a 46 ft Hunter sailboat in Los Angeles. It was awsome. We took 3 day trips to Catalina Island and Santa Cruz island 5-6 times a year. Loved it.
We have been live aboard a 2004 Hunter 44ds for 18 months now, cruising the east coast, Florida to Maine. We love this boat. Very comfortable and sails great. We had a MacGregor 26X for 20 years we loved. Sold it for nearly what we paid for it. People that know these boats love them.
Thanks for the review. Currently sailing my third Hunter. A 41DS with a blue hull currently. There are so many things I love about this boat. Big main, small jib making single handing much safer, stainless arch that supports the boom blocks and the Bimini. Electric main winch. Huge interior space that is better put together than current production boats, all through hulls are grouped together. Awesome Yanmar engine...... And it sails great..... I could go on. It's a shame Hunter is gone.
Hello. What are you asking for your sailboat? c
We have sailed our Hunter Legend 38 2000 from the northern archipilago of Sweden , through the North Sea, through bay of Biscay in October (awful weather) and reach Portugal in november. Never once did we feel her to be unsafe, even when the waves in Biscay reache 5m we never felt that the boat could not deal with it. We would take her across the Atlantique without hesitation.
People who hate hunters, seem to be commenters on the internet as opposed to sailors. Most haven’t got a clue. Hunters are so huge and luxurious I hope to spend much time on one in retirement
I Currently own a 2006 Hunter 38 and out of the 5 boats I owned this is the best and the 2nd hunter I owned. 18k lb Boat which is stable and sails great. Has every feature you can imagine including a bow thruster. Boats are what you make of then and how you have them setup for what you want to do with it. So far I sailed the east Coast and in big seas and strong winds it handles great Which has a lot to do with experience. I dont have the 38 marking on my boat and almost everyone who steps onboard asks be is that a 41 or 44 ft cause its so big inside .
I started with a 30' Hunter Cherrubini, it was built like a tank. It was so much fun to sail. I now own a 2004 Hunter 33. I love this boat. The interior seems very large, and is so much more comfortable. My wife and I plan to take it down the Mississippi from Pepin Wisconsin, to GulfShores this coming summer/ fall. Hunters are a great boat for coastal cruising and are at a price range that we can afford. If not for that we would have to watch other people living their dreams.
Hi, Bill! Funny running into you here! I'm now the owner of that same Cherrubini and I love it!!!
Heck. Cherubini! That's the Hunter I almost bought in the USA! Lovely boat, but had to pass on it, as Deck was sift, and there wasn't enough time left on my Visa to get it sorted before having to leave. I still regret not getting that boat tbh. Best Wishes and Fair Winds. Bob. 👍⛵️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
Our first boat was a 25 Hunter, then a McGreagor 22, then a Nor'sea 27 and now we own a 2005 Hunter 36. We didn't buy the boat to go around the world or sail the North Sea or Cape Horn. She sails well and is comfortable with many features at a good price. Given the accuracy of weather prediction, yea I would sail her from the east coast to Europe.
I'm currently looking at a Hunter 340.
I'd love to pick your brain!
Jeff Hidalgo
Also own a 2005 Hunter 36 and couldn’t be happier. And I agree with everything you said.
And I bet ya- it hasn't cost you crazy money (OK, all sailing costs are crazy money) to keep her seaworthy & a safe boat during most cruising trips either. Hunter actually designs hulls with rigs- so they can be appropriately rigged for current weather. Note: interior fittings use real wood! Although Hunters tend to use darker woods down below (generally- NOT always!) the fit & finish is usually pretty good. The boats have evolved well over time- I think that gets lost in the marketplace sometimes.
Thanks all I really like the Hunters being a fat man in need of comfort. I too believe a 40ft + Hunter will be my boat of choice for the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Now for convincing my wife…
My uncle had a Hunter 54 that he purchased in the 80s. It gave him nearly 40 great years on the water before he sold it.
I owned a 2004 33 for just under 10 years and loved it! We went offshore numerous times, but yes, it’s better suited to coastal cruising. There are sailing snobs out there who’ve never set foot aboard a Hunter. I think they are put off by the lack of a backstay. Indeed one person who came to view the boat was really keen until his rigger friend put him off. His loss because the standing rigging was less than two years old when I sold her. Prior to that I’d sailed her downwind in an F6 for 100nm without even so much as a creak! The B&R rig is tough as old boots, but I appreciate how some might be frightened by the apparent lack of structural integrity. Those fears really are unfounded!
The accommodation was fantastic, but we found she sailed very well, was swift for her size and was steady in the water. You have to learn how to modify the sail plan for the conditions and find the sweet spot to get the best out of her, but these are easy boats to sail and like any boat, you need time to get to know what works and what doesn’t. I once read a really damning review on a forum and concluded that the guy was either generally incompetent, or was spouting a pack of lies! I can heartily recommend the 33 and the only reason for me upgrading was to get something much bigger and newer. Whilst our new Hanse 418 is dreamy, I still really miss my Hunter. All boats are a compromise!
I am new to sailing, and so this is new to me. I recently acquired a 28 foot Southern Cross, and so I am learning about sailing as I re-outfit it. Thanks 😊
I have owned a Hunter 34 for 20 years and I love it! At the same time, I don't understand why anyone would necessarily hate Hunters...
We sailed on a friend’s Hunter in Pensacola and it was a very good boat. On one occasion in the Gulf we were caught in a small storm and the Hunter handled the rough seas very well. Later we owned an older Cal-24 in California and found its’ modified CB keel was a smoother offshore ride. The quality of the newer Hunter was excellent.
Their first go at driving prices down from 1980 to 1990 didn't go so well. However the approach to survey and build for the majority boat market was brilliant! Lady K sailing did a great break down of Hunter as a company, and he is looking into on of these 46s as his cruising boats . John Kreatchmer has opened my mind to boats and boat design. The one quote from him from At the Mercy of the Sea " Karl was looking at bath tubs with bowsprits and a false sense of security" I think there is a school of though for ocean going boats, and it creates boxes for our thinking.
Hunter Haters are usually old men that don't keep up with the times. We have a Hunter (our second one), and we love it. What's funny are the people that buy a Swan, and just hang out at the yacht club. Of course there are stronger, more blue ocean worthy boats, but Hunters can handle just about anything those boats can handle. Our Hunter 410 has a CE Rating of A.....the same as a Swan 😌
We own a Hunter 380 we absolutely love. I have looked at many different boats and haven't seen anything nicer in the 38 ft range. Our 380 is CE A rated for offshore sailing and would love to take it to the Caribbean. The 460 is 26000 lbs and again CE A rated. Most Hunters have lead keels and hardware and rigging are all top brands, Selden mast, lewmar, shaffer ect. No off brands. I would not hesitate to cross the Atlantic in this 46.
I've seen a couple of small, older Hunters for sale in NZ. They must have got here somehow.
I love the layout! Great video! Keep up the good work. I love window shopping on your channel 🤓✌️
I think the bad PR comes from the smaller model that was referred to as a “price point” boat. I’ve never sailed a Hunter, but they certainly look like nice vessels
I bought a Hunter 41DS in Califonia sailed it to Hawaii then to kiribati and back. I sailed it around the Hawaiian islands then down to Amertican Samoa then around Fiji during the pandemic. Then to Vanuatu then Solomon islands. Galatea is handling well with no brakeage or signs of stress. I love her. But really what do i know i press auto pilot and she gets me to perfect waves with no one out.
Bought a 2002 (Hunter) Legend 306 last year. Hunter is in brackets as it was a Dorset UK made Hunter and had to be marketed under Legend as there was already a Hunter brand in the UK, they manufactured the legend brand for 6 years. I was nervous at first due to the opinions from many on the web, and I must admit it was my wifes first choice and she loves it. The Legend was a smaller and cheaper boat than I was originally looking for, but I must say I am not disappointed. It has everything I was, looking for in a > 20 year old 34-36ft boat, but half the price and only 30ft making it cheaper to run, and viable to keep in a plush marina. Sailed it along the south coast of the UK last year topping up around 5-600 NM, and can't wait to take her to the Scilly isles this year. She sails great in light airs and got 7 touch 8 in 20knts, and managed well in 30kn gusts and choppy Solent seas. My previous boat was a small Westerly that I still own, and now plan to sell on in the spring.
S/V Artimis that you introduced me to awhile ago is a Bluewater Cruiser and all of the sailboats I have owned were able to meet my requirements.
My first, extensive long term sailing experience was aboard a 1993 Hunter 37.5 Legend back in in 1999. It was really a great boat, but I was in the Chesapeake the whole time. However, the Captain did take it to George Town in the Bahamas.
When I spoke with a US Coast Guard Captain and ASA instructor about the Hunter he used to have, he said "don't buy one." But I think his reason (and the reasons given by a broker I spoke with) are telling.
I told the broker that I want to do a lot of sailing to places like Bermuda, etc. They both said that Hunters are fine to sail around the Chesapeake, or to port hop down the Atlantic Coast. But if you want to do many passages in the ocean (like to Bermuda or none stop to the Caribbean), the hull slap of the Hunter can make for an uncomfortable week or two.
They are built for comfort at anchor, not comfort during passage.
Now, I think the reason so many people have hate for the Hunter is because they are a "tease." Hunter owners have condo like conditions at anchor, which can make others who spent more money for a less luxurious or a fortune more for an equally luxurious boat.
So the Hunter becomes infuriating for full time cruisers because it is a "luxurious boat" that only coastal cruisers can enjoy and not passage makers.
Additionally, Hunters also simply don't have all the storage space for spare equipment, tools, etc that most liveaboard passage makers want/need. Hunters typically don't have deep keels with tanks in the keels, which winds up eliminating storage options others boats have in settees, etc.
With that said, would I buy a Hunter? Yes, but only if I to only island hop or coastal cruise. If I was going to make multiple voyages to Bermuda, the North Atlantic, direct/non-stop passages to the USVI from the Northeast ---- I don't know because I'm not sure my wife would enjoy the ride. But I do know she would enjoy the comfort Hunters have at anchor.
This is it. I can stand the “slap” for a few weeks sailing no problem. I want a boat to be roomy and comfortable at anchor where it will spend 90% of its time. Thanks for the info.
Agree with you evaluation. Buy it, sail it for the purpose it was designed.
I sailed a 2006 Hunter 33 for a few years as part of a sailing club and I thought it was great for weekend coastal cruising. I thought the fractional rig and no backstay hurt the performance of the boat but it did allow for the mast to be further forward allowing a better layout. Everything in boating is a tradeoff and if you want a reasonable priced boat for coastal cruising in moderate weather a Hunter is fine.
Briefly, back in the 1990's (starting a few years before they went bankrupt) they made a 30ish footer that was buggered with quality issues AND H2O bubbling. Before that, Hunters were strictly UGLY with sort of massive superstructures instead of sleek hull to deck fittings. But, please note- the issues experienced in the smaller boats during the mid '90's were NOT found in the larger 40+ boats? ( I don't know why? Really). And, they ARE designed to be blueH2O boats- especially in the 40+ foot sizes. When Marlow purchased Hunter, it was right after they had tried to fix their reputation and they WERE building high quality, long lasting boats (some were still terribly ugly!) so, it was a few years where fit & finish on the highest volume of boats was sketchy- I think alot of those hulls/boats are no longer seaworthy though. Marlow has been a benefit to the brand, and sadly, the name Hunter has proven to be more of a liability than an asset to Marlow. Good for sailors though, because they don't hold value well and allow many to get into a larger (maybe well appointed below deck boat) boat without dying over the monthly payment. They can be wonderful boats- so, don't tell anyone that the 40+ footers never had the quality problems, cuz- it keeps a few available for poor people like me. It's sort of like Beneteau keels fall off- not true statistically, nor in any reality that I've lived in, but, they do use thinner & less glassed underlayment & have been known to not even glass them into the hull. There is a general 'snottiness' about 'production boats' versus the smaller shops that produce smaller volume serial production. Maybe it allows the general public an opportunity to own a nice boat though?
I agree, that there seems to be a lot of hate towards Hunter sailboats, however people that are sailing them, are OUT THERE SAILING THEM, unlike me who is just watching their videos. I would consider a Hunter for sailing, because I think they are laid out very nicely, and I am not one for Arctic cruising or going around the Horn. Thanks for this tour, it was very nice.
Happy New year watch your videos probably couple of years now but on firestick so not able to comment on them just like to say thanks for bringing some of the most interesting quirky boats out there and there back stories so Thank You Very Much
I loved the boat , but the main cabin has one problem , my wife needs a walk around the bedding area . So thankyou for the pleasant display and have a great new year.
Its a local snobbery kind of thing, nobody anywhere else in the world gives a shit whether a boat is a hunter or not. This particular one looks like a nice boat that could do with some minor tidying up and sure as hell is better than not having a boat. On the topic of it being a "coastal cruiser", people have sailed the world in all sorts of stuff, self made and designed catamarans, open 17ft boats sailed from Scotland to Iceland in the North Atlantic. Whats more admirable, a true bluewater boat that sits in marina's going poo poo to hunters, or hunters that get out and actualy do it. Every boat has pro's and cons. EVERY BOAT.
What a great layout. Superb review as always. Keep up the great work!
Well, it might be pointless to say this since I'm still in the investigating/learning stages for a liveaboard, I find I'm always drawn to the Hunter interiors for the reasons you mentioned -- layout and space -- but also light, light, light! When you're below with a lot of other sailboats, it looks more like living in a cave or coffin! Of course, there seem to be a million things to consider when looking to buy a boat: hull shape, keel type/shape, rudder, and importantly safety. My sense is Hunter has a good safety record. You've got folks in the comments saying they've crossed oceans in them with no problem. Maybe you wouldn't want to pound the sh*t out of a Hunter sailing the North Sea, but I wouldn't want to pound the sh*t out of me either. My sense is the hatred is coming from sailing snobs who need something to criticize. For those of us who aren't millionaires, the Hunters are attractive boats.
Great boat and video! I love it!
I love the Boat. Looks well built. Great planning. Very comfortable. If you can’t have fun on this you have issues. Great tour as always. How’s your Boat coming along?
My understanding is that they had some quality control issues in '80s and 90s. Personally, I think they are a lot of bang for the buck and wouldn't mind having one. I really like the Hunters in the 28' to 36' range.
I went from the UK over to the USA in 2016 to buy a boat like I was used to, if I could find one, had one specific boat to look at on arrival. That boat turned out to be a major major Project boat including needing a new engine, so ran away from the thing. I'm used to solid built 1960's and 1970's solid built Bilge Keel boats, and a nix of other types, including Dufour 31's and Sadlers. There was a strange attitude against Hunter Sailboats which caused me to veer away from them, but I happened to come across a few in yards that were up for Sale, so I did a pretty thorough Survey on them (I'm not a qualified Marine Surveyor, am a qualified Civil and Structural Engineer, and have been along during Marine Surveys, and picked up on critical things to check out. Frankly, those Hunters impressed me enough to come close to buying one, but the Balsa cored deck was soggy, and I didn't have enough time on my Visa to get stuck in Sorting it out. They are Nice Sailboats, and there's no getting away from it, and that Boat you did the Walk-through, for my next boat, I'd buy it, and would have no concerns compared to any other boat properly serviced and specced ready for an Ocean Crossing (as long as it is Shallow Draft and Single Rudder, I'd have no concerns about crossing Oceans in one. As usual, even for the heavily built boats of the past, only a fool imho doesn't hide from a Beaufort Force 6 wind Yacht Gale, and if it's a Hunter, the same rule applies. Force 6 plus, and even a heavy long keel boat isn't actually comfortable to be on either. But Production Yachts like Hunter, Dufour, Jeanneau, Bavaria, etc etc, if you have the Sea Room, you can ride out a Force 8 as well. How do I know? Because so many people have already done it. Sure, not advisable to actually seek out such an experience, though some people do it to test themselves more than their boat, but I'm a Cruiser, not a Racer, and I'll do my best to use the right weather windows, and if caught out - get hive to, or make steady progress towards better wind conditions. A Barometer and Weather Radar can help to avoid the worst conditions, as well as use Force 6 Winds to get to Fairer Winds. My 2c anyway. Best Wishes and Fair Winds. Bob. 👍⛵️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
I have owned two Hunters, the first a 29.5 that did not sail well and currently a 340 that sails exceptionally well. As Hunters tend to have a lot of windage, the key to Hunter's performance is the keel and rudder configuration. My 340 has a deep 6ft fin and bulb keel and a large deep rudder - she outpoints every other cruising boat in our club, and has won several inter-club races as a result. She does need some wind to move her. She easily manages 6-7 knots in 15 knots of wind across the deck. Above 15 knots of wind, understanding how to reef her is vital, depending on your point of sail. I've won races single handed in 25-40 knot winds, obvious with a generous amount of reefing. She's a comfortable cruising boat with a relatively large aft cabin and a very nice main salon. The galley is certainly adequate, and she is well powered by her Yanmar 3-cyl engine. 2500 RPM will give you 6 knots in relatively flat water. The only annoying thing I've had to overcome is a leak around the upper hatch that took some time to figure out, and she's developed a few leaks associated with the rub-rail and caulking has taken care of those. Would I buy another Hunter, absolutely, but I would look carefully at what's below the waterline.
grew up with 34s nd 40-1. my fav mono
I love all boats and most boat owners. Keep up the great work and let us in on your secret boat. :) 👍👍👍
I have a 1993 Hunter legend 37,5 and love it. Construction seems like it was great considering everything on this boat works great and it is almost three decades old. Only thing that has failed on the boat is the original Raymarine Electronics.
I had a Hunter 40.5. They are fine for coastal cruising with an emphasis on a visually pleasing interior. Most of my issues were with the design, the construction quality was actually pretty decent. For comparison I’ve owned other similar size production and semi-custom boats. The Hunter was better than most in many ways.
They are not likely to be good long range cruisers or boats for the DIY’er. The designers used every bit of space to pack in features, but that makes it difficult to repair or modify with all the pan liners and inaccessible areas. One example is both heads pump to a single small holding tank in the bilge, the hose from the forward head is over 20 ft long. The original holding tank was galvanized steel! To gain access to the holding tank or leaky underfloor water tanks required removing most of the salon furniture and part of the navigation station. Crazy! Most had CNG and there is no space for a propane locker. Running a new wire between the aft locker (where the batteries and 120v panel are located) to the breaker panel at the navigation station is virtually impossible.
It’s not a sailor’s boat. The rig is large and heavy, to add more sail area to try to drive the beamy hull with heavy but Shoal draft fin keel. The walkout stern is nice but hard to fit with davits. The cockpit table is too large and the aft cockpit seat lockers are cumbersome.
The mainsail is high and hard to reach.
I like this boat. I don't understand why some don't like it. It seems quite nice for its size and as long as you understand what it's best utilized for, shouldn't be a problem.
I have an 84 Hunter 34
Love it.
I have owned a Hunter 260 WB for the past 20 years. I love it because it is easy to single handle. I do not mind that others hate Hunter. It makes them easier to find and with less demand comes lower cost (Plus you don't have to pay the transportation from Europe). I was always dreaming of getting a bigger boat for my retirement and circumnavigate the Caribbean, but now that I am retired, sailing around near the gulf coast is fine with me.I think others may find a big boat for a quarter million dollars is fun to charter, but not fun to own. I will take a Hunter over a Beneteau or Jeanneau any day. Also, Hunter made a great WB boat. It is too bad ignorant McGreagor owns had to mess up the great trailer boat market (The Hunter is a lot more stable then the McGreagor).
I have talked with a couple of people who used to work at the manufacturing plant in Alachua, Florida and they both said basically the same thing. Hunter at various times tried a lot of different things with manufacturing procedures and materials trying to "innovate" without due diligence so the quality fluctuated a lot, plus they had poor management from time to time along with intermittent cash flow and labor issues . They also would tell you which models and what years to avoid. I also heard that quite a few boats were scrapped outright.
Can you tell us which ones to avoid please
I think much of the hate was aimed at the older boats which were flimsy designs. I think it's just boat snobs. They are fine for daysailing. As you say, it would not be my choice for long distance cruising. Otherwise, they are fine for their intended market.
Absolute luxury. Mine is a 1983 Hunter 34. What sold me, is the port/aft cabin, in just 34.5 feet. Plans to duplicate that after cabin, on the starboard side.
Who else uses Silicon-bronze keel bolts. Better than stainless, for the long haul. The B&R, hangs lots more cloth, than the boat length would indicate it could.
I have owned a 2010 Legend (Hunter) 33 for nearly 2 years and mostly I like the boat, I have done a fair few upgrades on the boat and still have a few more to do to improve downwind sailing I intend to add a whisker pole next season. My observations are it's pretty well built, and the cabinetry below is as good or better than most of the other mainstream European brands. I have done around 2000 nm around the UK coasts over the last 2 years. All boats have compromises somewhere (unless your budget stretches into Kraken territory!), with the Legend if you think you might need to reef, you probably should have done it already!
Mine has the regular stack pack sail with a lazy bag, with a shoal keel. I sail short-handed or solo a lot, and sometimes this can be a bit of a pain, as I have gone from literally zero wind to 35 knts (not in the forecast!) inside an hour. Close hauled, or on a reach, its performance is very good and equal or better I would say than most 33-36 ft yachts and I have sailed most of the usual French built stuff - that's where the B & R rig works well, the compromises being when the wind speed hits about 15 knots its time to reef! Downwind, it's not so good, hence the desired upgrade to add a whisker pole next year which I think will help a lot. I like the amount of room down below, she handles rough weather fairly well. Mine has a 19hp Yanmar on a shaft drive, which I do personally prefer to a sail drive, and I think the Yanmar is more robust than a Penta - I am fairly good with motors having been a grease monkey in my earlier days! The upgrades that I think have been really worthwhile are the jib furler, the original Selden was a bit underspecified, so I went for a Harken Ocean Mk1V which I am very happy with, Selden Vang was a solid upgrade too.
I have sailed on several Hunters so I have some basis for my comments. As you mentioned several times they are built at a price. What this leads to is undersized equipment, Winches too small, standard diesel too small. Furling gear to light to handle the load. Further they are slow sailing boats largely because they are under canvased. Have a B&R rig would allow them to have a mainsail with a full roach placing the center of effort aft of the center of the mainsail. This is conjuntion with their standard 100% foresail would be a decent rig. However most are sold with in mast furling and way undersized main. Combined with that small jib and you get a slow boat. They are also heavy for their size and usually come with shoal draft keels which makes them heavier.Lastly the build quality is not equal to a Beneteau or Catalina, boat sin the same class. I think this is why they have a bad rap.
Absolutely love love the Hunter 50 CC.
If you want to have a sail boat for holidays and coastal cruising DO NOT buy a ocean going hatch. After 10 years I have finally ditched that fantasy and bought a Lambert 37 which is perfect for my family around the East Coast of the NI of NZ. We have just had a holiday in the Bay of Islands and the easy access swim plat form, sun shade and large cock pit was brilliant. So I agree with you. Know what you will use your sail boat for and then match a boat to serve that purpose. :)
I have a 79 model hunter 27 and have enjoyed it for 12 years.other than regular maniniance no problems
You are absolutely correct. I think a big part of the reason for the bad rap is they kind of smack the water in choppy seas and will rattle your teeth out. But so will a beneteau and many other brands. Like you said... It's not meant for sailing around the world. Neither is a beneteau or oday or many other brands.
…yet, so many do…sail around the world, I mean.
We love our 2008 hunter 31,that we sail on the Ottawa River.
I have a macgregor 26x. A real love/hate boat as well. I live in central Canada with little kids. As much as people rip that model apart it’s absolutely perfect for shallow water lakes that are frozen solid for half the year. Do I wish I lived on a blue water rocket? Sure. But it wouldn’t even make it out of my local marina. So yeah. I think identifying a vessels purpose should come before rating it.
Mine is a Hunter 33 and I've been around sailing for 12 years. I've not ran into anyone who disliked mine or Hunters in general so not sure what that's about. Probably jealous i suppose, especially if it's a new Hunter, those are full of comfort and luxury. More of a luxury sailing yacht and not exactly the hard core salty dog of a sailboat. Not everyone wants to or has the time to sail around the world. Hunter has been around since the 70s and STILL around now in 2022 and for a reason, just like Catalina. They're great boats and that's the bottom line.
In 1991 I met an old friend delivering a Hunter (Legend 42?) from Miami to Cape Town direct. He needed to put into St. Maarten as they were taking water and had pumps running pretty much full time. Malcolm Meyers (RIP) was a legendary delivery skipper and he immediately hauled the boat. They pumped her dry of course, but when they woke up in the morning, ON THE HARD, the boat had taken considerable water during the night, on the hard!! MM realized that the water was entering the hull in one place externally, filling up the cored hull, and then entering the interior elsewhere, and he would never locate either without real effort...no problem for Malcolm, .....He bought several batteries, half a dozen bilge pumps, and a gas generator, launched the boat next day, and successfully made Cape Town!
This is the source of my prejudice, and my skepticism (not hate) towards any cored hull in the offshore context. In Cape Town, off any island, and in many other places, if you are 10 or 20 miles offshore, you are either Blue Water sailing or on a horror lee shore...in an instant if the weather so choses.
I am sure cored boats have improved considerably over the intervening decades, but sentiments like these last.
Guilty as charged!
I had a hunter 25 it was before the B&R rig so it was a cool little boat. Most of the people that hate hunter its because of the B&R rig. If it had back stays i think most people would like them. There buld quality is not great. Its kinda like Catarina in that way. It's an ok coastal cruiser but I would not sail it around the world or on long passages do to the B&R and quality of the build. They do have some good ideas on the inside and spaces And that's what most people like about them. They do sail good and are not bad boats for local sailing but if you buy one you have to think about selling it someday and its not going to be easy. Most people don't sale them they give up or let them go very very cheap.
Totally agree with the opinion you put forward about Hunter’s. This one is very clean and does need some TLC on the wear and tear below deck. Wish the seller luck but think the market will force him to adjust asking price expectations.
Yup it’s still listed which means there’s probably some hidden problems.
This is funny, I just set up a meeting to look at a Hunter 460 later on today.
Could not hate that luxury boat agree not deep sea well made video thank you
My first "real" sailboat was a Hunter 27 (outboard model) sailed on smaller inland lakes. After taking her to Lake Erie and motoring (sails not bent on yet) across Sandusky Bay in a 15-25 mph blow, motor cavitating all the way, we up graded to a Catalina 36 mk ll, the following season. I simply don't trust the standing rigging on Hunters. Even on the Great Lakes, I would be seriously concerned about the boats safety, and would never consider sailing even the Caribbean, on one. No back stay, and running wing-on-wing...no thank you! Thanks for your videos, and keep them coming!
I have seen more yachts with inline rigs and running backstays loose their masts than sweptback rigging. In contrast those with swept back rigging seen rock solid downwind.
Right. Maybe for day sailing small inland lakes. Maybe. Great Lakes or ocean coastal cruising? Not a chance. You want a boat that will keep you, your family and your guests safe in a blow, and this isn't it. There are 100's (if not 1000s) of boats at this price point that are way better built, with more varied sail plans, that are a horizon shot past what this boat offers. It's not about hating Hunter for the sake of hating hunter. The value to price ratio is really low on this one. Why get this when you get something that is far more robust and safe, for effectively the same price or less. Captain Q has reviewed dozens of yachts that run circles around this one, that are way better buys, that you could sail safely offshore. Even if sailing offshore isn't your goal, why would you buy a boat that can't do it when you can find and buy one that can all day long.
Great video
i liked the galley layout and lounge.
One other point; I’ve seen 3 different boats with in-mast furling that jammed. Not Hunters, but the problems they caused were enough to put me off in mast furlers altogether. Other than that, this certainly is a nice boat
Proper maintenance and proper use is the secret.
We have a 85 Hunter Legend. We spend winters on it. Id like to have this model.
I don.t think it is hate, but when I was researching for my multiple boat purchases, so my wife would not have to look for something to after me about and taking a detailed look at how diff. manufacturers build their boats, myself and other sailors I know thought they were good coastal boats, but be concerned by the fact that in the late 70s and 80s at least they used fiberglass chopper guns and not any cloth to add strength and they fiberglassed the hull and deck joint together. I prefer and purchased boats with a fiberglassed joint and then through bolted together thru a metal tow rail for strength. My brother and I did international stuff and were in some decent storms and knowing how your boat is built makes it more relaxing...me, my brother Bob, off shore at night with a full moon and some fine irish whiskey is amazing...
Very nice boat topside and below.
Everything I be heard and everyone that I’ve seen: They are Awesome! I would buy before many others.
Hunter has been around for years but I understand the stigma. Hunters were sold cheap and affordable so the average person could get into sailing without draining their life savings. I used to get shit for sailing a 22 Schock Santana so you can't please anyone.
What makes a hunter unsuitable for passage making. Specifically? Asking because I'm interested in a live a board and may want to go far eventually.
Well the only thing I can see why people would hate the boat is the mast is not keel stepped and it has a wing keel instead of a full keel ,other than that it seems to be a good boat for weekend cruising .
Hunter provided a several great innovations. I think the scoop transom was theirs. They had the best interior designs and the smartest layouts. But as several people below have commented, a buyer had to be very careful about build quality. I remember a video from a brand new Hunter 50 owner where all the cabinet doors just fell apart. And the first time he took it to a Hunter rally with the company owner, the windlass was installed backward (He said. Not sure how that could happen. Wired backwards? I don't know.) But, he was sorely grieved and the builder was not very helpful about making warranty corrections. But, the Hunters I have been on were fine boats for weekenders or sailing the Keys or the Bahamas. Fast too.
I'm looking at a Hunter 340,
Any advice?
This would be my 1st boat.
I’ve always liked the look of a Hunter. I think if you want to sail the planet, there might be better choices, but for what 90% of people do, they are great choices. Edit: You just said that exact thing. LOL.
Exactly
We are on our second Hunter. The first a 28.5 our current a 31.5. Both were built in 1987 which I think were the last of the best Hunters. The rigs are bullet proof in this era having both the B&R rigs and backstays. I also think the quality of this era is the best of the line. Later Hunters suffer from lack of woodwork down below, more fragile rigs by eliminating the backstays, poor sailing qualities (especially the later years that have massive mains and tiny jibs) These large mains are difficult to set or douse. My complaints about most hunters are the size of the cockpits in which they sacrify the space to the cabin, in this area Catalina has a better design. I also do not like the cast iron keels that need to be maintained. That said, I still have owned two.
I've never sailed nor even been aboard a Hunter boat before, but I don't see any thing to hate about it, except maybe that it wouldn't be too good for live aboard and there didn't seem to be any facility for laundry. For long weekends or week cruising it looks to me to be quite ideal.
I'd love to see a follow up on the sale of that boat. With the market being insane I'd guess it sold yesterday for $200k.
Still on market asking $169k
Looks nice and well laid out. Very worn, so the price seems excessive.
I've had my 29.5 for nearly 20 years, and I've enjoyed it with my family on Georgian Bay.
Yes I've had issues with the light construction. Namely the subfloor under the veeberth, water behind the fiberglass encased keel and 5he light spar . Yup I replaced the rig with a Clako spar extrusion designed for the C&C 36. 30% more ridged. Now most wouldn't mess with all of these problems but as a handy tool and die maker I just spent my time and fixed her .
Was all this Hunter issues?. Can't say that it couldn't or wouldn't have happened to any boat.
So to the haters I say live and let live. Every boat is a compromise, and a Hunter is not much different to most coastal cruises out there.
What about a Hunter 29. I’m looking for a boat to sail in the Puget sound, the San Juans and maybe the inside passage to Alaska. Could you do that in a Hunter 29?
I liked the living space it has . But i do want to sail the atlantic . But al in al i realy like what i saw here
I have a McGregor and those get a lot of hate. But it was perfect for what I use it for. Now I am moving to a Moody because I have different requirements now.
They're coastal cruisers that are built lightly... They do have a bad reputation from cheap builds in the 80s, but a friend had a 40' newer model that was relatively built well.
My issue is I do not want a spad rudder. Prefer skag hung rudder. I have Island Packet 370. It is fast but going slower is not an issue. If I need to be there fast I fly. The issue is the host boon as the fore deck blocked by it and no place for a dingy. Have a steering wind vane so davits not good, also do not want a dingy hanging on davits when off shore. This Hunter is a nice boat and roomy but I am a only a solo sailor.
I'm not a fan of cookie cutter plastic boats. I like the old classic boats especially the epoxy west system wood sailboats, like the one you showed with guitars in it. Spirit yachts are also great boats. The Lyle Hess & Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter fiberglass sailboats are excellent boats, but I prefer them in wood. Besides wood, I would have to say that all aluminum sailboats are great sailboats, especially when they are fully lined in good wood, by good ship wrights. Beside epoxy wood, & aluminum sailboats, the only other sailboat I would own would be a full keeled ultra-heavy dl fiberglass sailboat. Slow cruising, but built like a Sherman Tank.
Strong opinions are sometimes thought of as informed opinions and with the percentage of sailors out there that are mostly armchair sailors, the amount of hot air being spewed could fill a hot air balloon many times over.
When I was staying in Seattle at Shilshole Marina ( A very large and nice marina) I shared a slip dock with a Hunter 47. The interior seems very comfortable and well finished and certainly has the latest technology. For sailing the PNW and the West coast down to Mexico, it seems like a great boat. It makes my Skookum look like a quaint antique. For harsh conditions, I would stick with my Skookum. It does not have all the latest technology and slick modern interior features, but it has great old fashioned interior teak, and is a stout go anywhere boat.
For entertaining, the Hunter is hard to beat- even for sailing around the PNB in decent weather. In a blow, (Which I will certainly try to avoid!) my Hunter friend acknowledged that my Skookum might be his choice, which he described as "Being built to take a direct hit from an North Korean ICBM". Either way, it's just a boat folks.
@ I will totally stick with the Skookum- built like a brick shithouse and very stable, as I am sure you know.
@ Do you still have your Skookum?
I love it. ❤ 🤍 💙 🧡
Sailboat snobs do hate Hunters but I’ve found that they also hate MacGregor’s too, especially the 26M or C motorsailors. But they also hate the Mac 65 Pilothouse…I think is a great sailboat, fast and beautiful lines.
I think a lot of them seem fixated on battling Hypothermia, Skin Cancer and chronic fatigue at badly exposed helms.😉
Modern ish Hunters give great value for money . Which always begs the question , what did they leave out? But they have worked really hard to design boats that go together well with minimal labor cost...a good thing as a Factory boatyard workers can mess things up a lot if they have to think!
Hunter do a lot of innovative things too , look at the external chainplates! How many old boats get refitted like that?
Hunter are/we're part of the Lehur group that made silverton powerboats. Value for money and hold up well.
Silverton 34 are incredible value and many out there very cheap and good!
Long term durability of fittings ,furnishings and finishes always a worry with lowercost boats ...... this boat should have had a little love to show its best potential.
Cheers Warren
Oh I should have said mainship/silverton as mainship is/was the trawler style version of their boats (built in different locations).
I think the lhurs group (hunter , silverton, mainship snd others) has broken up now.
Warren
I don't own one yet, but Hunter is the brand I'm shopping for. I'm OK with all the yahoos badmouthing them as that helps to keep the price down for me.
i had H26 for a few years. 0 complaints. Most people who complain about hunters probably never had one...
The issue is, they have a history of not being built well. I remember a news story about how cleats pulled out at a mooring in rough weather on the West Coast and an owner was killed. Also the issue of flooding cockpits in rough weather. I've been told - by friends that are Hunter owners - that Hunter has beefed up their construction since, but it's not their interiors or room or layout that people have had a problem with over the years.