What where the quality control issue years for Hunter?

CharlieCobra · #1 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

I know the earlier boats, while cheap, were built decently and that the latest boats have gotten much better. What years to stay away from? I found two nice Hunter 54's that I'm eyeballing.

Valiente · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

I would think it's fair comment that any Hunter ever made is fine for a reasonably limited sort of sailing, so if you state your intended use of the boat, you might get some opinions.

I have heard Hunter has gotten on top of some quality control issues in the last decade, but they sure built some crappy, flimsy boats (in my extremely biased toward ocean-level seaworthiness-driven opinion!) that sold in the thousands to a lot of people who are obviously happy with them. I see people enjoying Hunters every day...at the dock or in 10 knots of wind on summer days. I happened to note one day that the cabin height on a Hunter 33 was about three to four feet higher than on my 33...I found the effect displeasing and the idea of all that windage a little offputting.

Nonetheless, I really liked that Hunter 50 of a few years ago. It looked wicked fast, as I might have said as a teenager, and I thought they were brave to clap a tiller in it. But I don't know if they held together in a blow. I have also heard that the Cherubini Hunters are fine. They've really had a mixed bag of designs.

CharlieCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

Yeah, the 37 C's were good boats and I know the H54's were fast, rated at 45 PHRF I think. The H54 had a funky garage in the stern that had the rudder moved forward about 8-10 feet which made them a bit squirrely downwind, as I've been told but production stopped on these boats in '93 I believe. The two 54's I'm looking at are both '92 models.

PBzeer · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

You might check at HunterOwners.com for more info specific to the 54.

dohenyboy · #5 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

Hunter 54 has one thing to look out for. The brackets for the steering are not attached very well. This will eventually break on you, so if the boat has not had this replaced it should be done. Had mine beefed up with carbon fiber. Also look at the keel plate, not built very strongly and had to put in a new one.
My 54 is rated at 51. I'll be in the Newport Ensenada race this year.
The dighny garage is a neat idea but on any serious passage needs to be sealed up. If you put a dighny in there its really hard to pull out.
My 54 holds course very well while sailing but while motoring you need an autopilot. Will turn on a dime though.
If you are looking at a Hunter 54 and being told they are 1992 models, you are getting fooled. This model was only produced for a few years in the early 80s.

CharlieCobra · #6 (**permalink**) 04-12-2007

They might've been '82's. It's been awhile since I looked at them.

sailh34 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

From what I remember reading, the quality control problems started in the mid-80's to late 80's when the owner left the company to do some offshore racing. This makes me feel good since I own a mid-80's Hunter which I guess it one of the lemons (though I like it just fine). I have no idea if this is true or not, but I just remember reading it. Our mid 80's Hunter has not yet fallen apart and seems to be in better shape than the older ones that I have looked at, so take it with a grain of salt I guess.

CharlieCobra · #8 (**permalink**) 04-13-2007

That sounds par for the course. I think it's a per boat thing. Everybody talks down the Macs but when I take my '76 Venture out to play, I routinely run by newer, larger or supposedly faster boats. I'm almost tempted to get the new Carbon sails and a Assym on her to go be a PHRF killer locally. I'll probably just go ahead and spend that money on the new boat instead.