Hunter Build Quality?

[Sailormann]

Regardless of whether or not its a Hunter, it seems like this may be the first largish boat that you are buying. If this is so, a case can be made for you to find the least expensive boat that still floats and can still do what you need it to do, and then make all your mistakes on it. Beat it up, bang into the jetty, learn the hard way what does and doesn't work, and then sell it and get something a little better.

Perhaps I'm a little too sentimental, but sometimes I worry when a newbie buys a beautiful piece of floating history, and proceeds to (quite unintentionally) trash it through lack of experience.

Please don't think that I am being condescending here, and if my assessment is off the mark, I apologise in advance... but if you (and the wife) are quite new to this whole thing, then consider a "trainer" for a while. You may get a bit of a shock when you find out what it can cost to keep an older boat in tip-top shape...

[Sailormann]

One boat you should really look hard at is the Aloha 28... well-built, roomy and sail faster than they look...
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

[BarryL]

Hello,

With a budget of 15K you should also look at Newport 28 (and 30)
O'day 28, 30, older Catalina 30, Pearson, etc.

I just sold a 1986 Newport 28 for $14,500. It had brand new sails,
excellent diesel inboard, wheel steering w/autopilot, very nice
interior with hot and cold pressure water, excellent cushions,
many new parts, etc. etc.

Like you, I originally looked at a Catalina 27 but found it too small.
It seems silly, but the Newport 28 was big enough.

Good luck,
Barry

[T34C]

I just have to say that the idea of not worrying about build quality in an older boat seems like a mistake to me. As boats age the differences in build quality get more significant not less. You should look strongly at the upkeep and general condition of the boat. However, as repairs have been done over the years you have no guarantee that they have been done correctly. (look at the thread about how to change a lightbulb) A boat from a higher quality builder is likely to hold its condition longer and been subjected to less bailin' wire and bubble gum repairs.

[sailh34]

I am going to be the lone voice of dissent... For what it sounds like you will be using the boat for, the Hunters will be just fine. A lot of the Hunters from that era sail pretty well and are fast boats. They are a great value regardless of what anyone here would have you believe. Also, I would rather have a 20 year old well cared for Hunter than a neglected 20 year old higher initial quality boat any day (especially for the price I would pay). The survey should tell you what you need to know.

There are a ton of happy hunter owners out there - they are the largest manufacturer in the US and have a lot of repeat business (Catalina is probably close to same size as well).

You would be well served to ask the same question on the hunterowners forum - Hunter Owners.com for owners sailing production sailboats. You may get an answer there from actual owners of those particular boats which may help in your decision making process.

[olson34]

Some of the posters here have really nailed it. You must make an *educated* buying decision based on your own needs and realistic sailing goals. Lots of people do this, and that's the real reason that "HuntaCataBenalinas" sell so well. Heck, I used to wonder if people were ill-advised to buy all these Bayliners-With-A-Mast, but after seeing friends do this very thing over the decades came to understand that 98% of the owners are getting *just* what they need.

They want a roomy boat for "gracious dockside living" and occasional anchoring out. They sometimes want to sail, albeit with a limited amount of allowed discomfort in winds of 10 to 16 kts, in small seas. They want high freeboard and a cockpit clear of "ropes" and sailing clutter, expecially when not actually proceeding somewhere under sail. And, finally, they truly do *not* value an interior designed for spending any significant time under way, and will almost never make an overnight passage.

Boats, very much like airplanes, all have "performance envelopes" -- I chose a model with real offshore credentials, and we plan to eventually make a significant passage.
Not meaning to sound too pretentious, and admittedly our future is unwritten... and plans can change...

And then we might someday wish we had spent 20K less and bought a cheapie boat..
but not this year and not this week. (!)

After owning a "high end" good quality sailboat for 13 years, there is no way we would have wanted to try and maintain a cheap-built boat. It's just not worth the time, money, and hassle.

Opinions rendered cheerfully, YMMV.


LB

[sailingfool]

We should all remember what SEMIJim's criteria was:
"(To me: Competent engineering and high build quality trumps everything but my ability to pay, regardless of the product.)" and offer advice accordingly.

Maybe he doesn't really mean it...but you should keep it in mind in offerring your opinions.

[sailh34]

Good point - if high quality trumps, then a smaller boat from a higher end manufacturer would best serve his interests. You are correct on that one - the Hunter would not be the best boat for that set of criteria - my bad.

I guess I just jump to the defense of Hunters blindly sometimes.

------------------------

OK, I have to comment on those other remarks... I can't resist (sorry to hijack the tread).

Heck, I used to wonder if people were ill-advised to buy all these Bayliners-With-A-Mast

LMFAO - that description is a little harsh. Some would say they wonder why some folks would want a cramped bomb shelter with an undersized mast that needs 30 knts of breeze to sail for a boat for coastal sailing as well... Not to say this about anyone specific, but just in general terms like that Bayliner remark...

They want a roomy boat for "gracious dockside living" and occasional anchoring out.

99% of the time "gracious dockside living" = gracious anchoring out living.

They sometimes want to sail, albeit with a limited amount of allowed discomfort in winds of 10 to 16 kts, in small seas. They want high freeboard and a cockpit clear of "ropes" and sailing clutter, expecially when not actually proceeding somewhere under sail.

16 knts - discomfort? I am having a ton of fun, maybe having to put in the first reef, and some of those full keel beasts are finally getting to turn to engine off to get more that 2 knts of boat speed. Guarantee you where I sail (Chespeake Bay), the Hunters have the motors on less than the IP's, Cape Dories, etc. Especially if they are actually going anywhere. We call 'em "ropes" huh?

My comments are all in good fun too... I just had to respond.

[greggus]

Hunter....racer....performance, I am just having hard time reading those words in the same sentence. But then I am a Pearson Boy. I know you said your wife doesn't like the lines of a Pearson, check this out:
YachtWorld.com Boats and Yachts for Sale

The Pearson 10m is a hearty wellbuilt boat and a big on performance for it's size. Points well and does fine cutting through waves. A little bigger than the 28 feet you mentioned, but check it out.

[jorgenl]

IMHO - it all depends on what you want to do. Sail a lot or spend your time fixing the boat. As a rookie I prefer to sail a lot and learn from doing.

Buy a well maintained boat that is clean and ready to go sailing! If that happens to be a Hunter - fine.

I bought a Hunter 30 about a year ago. I looked at a lot of boats in the same price range and most were dirty and not well maintained.
The boat I bought had had 2 owners, the last owned it for 11 years. He maintained it meticiously (sp?), always serviced engine, replaced the standing rigging a couple of years ago, relatively news sails, everything in good order and super clean.

That means that I could spend a lot of time sailing and learning. I use my boat a lot, every weekend either for longer day sails or cruises. Most weeks I also get out at least one week night.

Of course, I coulda bought an older so called "higher quality" boat for the same $$$ and spent the last year fixing it up instead.

I guess what I am saying here is that this is your first boat, buy a boat that is well maintained and ready to go sailing! Use the time when the weather sucks to improve and maintain it. Maximize time on water, that is the fun part.

There is a lot of Hunter bashing going on, I am not defending Hunter, I am not that knowledgabe (yet) but to me my 15 year old boat seems perfectly fine with no quality problems. OK the joinery etc is not Passport, IP or Nauto r standard but in good nick and it works.

I live next to the Marina and everyday I see those expensive high quality passagemakers nicely docked and hardly ever out on the big dangerous Chesapeake.