[scottbr]

HUGE cockpits but with little to NO line controls convenient for the helmsman to single hand without leaving the cockpit/helm - therefore requiring TWO to sail one. Few ergonometric and easily reached hand holds in the interior - OK for quiet 'inshore' sailing but a potential body injury disaster when 'outside'.

Theyre good for what they are designed for .... dockside entertaining, sailing in moderate fair-weather coastal or inshore conditions. There is BIG market for such and Hunter really fills such a need/niche .... as the demographics of sailing are quickly moving to 'sailors of retirement age'.

Really ???? One of my complaints on my '05 Hunter 33 is the SMALL cockpit that if I have any more than 2 guests on board it's too crowded to really sail.

I also tend to sail "single-handed" with jib sheets & traveller lines from the arch right at hand and out of the way.

Of all the boats in all the marinas, all across North America, there are a very small percentage that actually go "off shore" and cross the oceans. Even in my area of thousands of boats, I seldom see many boats out in the main Bay.

 

[seadaddler]

GO for it

Let them criticize all they want if they think they really know all about all boats.
I am one of the many very happy Hunter owners who really loves his boat,I now live in Florida and did live in NY and did sail my Hunter 36 from Montauk,NY all off shore to east coast of Florida and than around the keys to Punta Gorda.
And I do plan to sail over to Bahama's and also back down to Key West and Dry Tortugas also.
I do have selden inmast and love and all the room and storage down below I also love the arch with the travlar mounted on it and all the lines led back to cockpit allows me to singel hand many times.
This my second Hunter and would buy another Hunter.
Nick

 

[bene40]

I am glad I didn't listen to the blogs

Just bought a 1996 280 after looking at all the others in the same division. I am not intending to race but have a stable comfortable platform for weekends.

We have been out several times and the boat gets a lot of looks even though it is not brand new.

All lines to the cockpit are great. We have owned power boats but new to sailing and think it is a great boat.

I can seee the issues that some purists have with the boat as it is too easy to operate and lacks some of the classic styling. Different was good to us.

I think it just depends on what you use it for as people always say here. Fits our needs perfectly for now and probably for quite a few years. I have seen some that really look like dogs though in fairness.

When buying after you check rigging, electronics above all she has to be pretty and we all have different tastes on what is pretty.

 

[blt2ski]

there are three Hunters on my dock, was 4 until one moved to the dock to the south, plus 3 others in YC I belong to. I can unequivocally say one thing about the 7 owners I know with Hunters. ALL, that is right ALL of them like there boats! Now that I am typing, I know of another couple from another YC too, that one has been to mexico and back once from Puget sound. The older Cherbuni 37 cutter and been down and back 4 times, twice on its own hull, twice on truck. Main reason for trucking, owners in there words, getting older, and while the sail down the coast is nice, been there done that, do not need to do that again!

If you like it, buy it!

marty

 

[Stillraining]

Why is there so many Hunter haters?

Because they are near or at the bottom end of the new boat market price wise and people are still ticked they cant afford one........

Just a theory...

 

[k1vsk]

Why is there so many Hunter haters?

Because they are near or at the bottom end of the new boat market price wise and people are still ticked they cant afford one........

Just a theory...

Not the first time I've read this which peeked my curiosity. Certainly not a statistically valid sampling but a quick search of ACTUAL SOLD prices in the last year reveals the following:

Catalina 35 - 40 ft Hunter 35 - 40
2002 - 2009 model years same vintages
sold price range from $138,000 - $170,000 $110,000 - $199,000

tried to exclude charter boats and those out of the U.S.

a hypothesis or a theory

 

[4arch]

My wife and I are planning to go on an extended cruise within the next 3-5 years. So far, sailing up and down the US east coast and island hopping around the Bahamas and Caribbean are on the itinerary but no ocean crossings (for now). We've seen some Hunter Legend 35.5's and 37.5's from the early to mid 90's that would be in our price range and I have to say appear to be very appealing contenders for the type of cruising we're thinking of doing. I think the tiny cockpits and cramped interiors of the average bluewater boat would drive us nuts and would be overkill. While there are certainly other boats we'll consider, I'm determined to judge the Hunters on their own merits before dismissing them based on opinions of the brand that are not necessarily based on reality.

 

[k1vsk]

The Legend series (35.5, 37.5, 40.5) are among the best coastal cruisers made and would serve you well for your stated purpose. For what it's worth, I agree with you about some of these "cruising" type boats - they sacrifice too much comfort for the typical boater.

 

[PicassoIII]

I've seen Hunter, Catalina and Beneteau combined into a portmanteau.
Cheap, production boats for the masses.

I do know this about Hunters, the Cherebuni designs are good solidly designed boats. Maybe not factory ready for offshore, but it could be 'modified' to do the job. For having a fin keel and spade rudder (at least tillers are common on the shorter boats).
Then the company went through some times trading quality for design and innovation.
*shrugs*
While i would not hesitate taking 'Ripple' anywhere on the great lakes (in season, fully charted and electronically equiped), she is nowhere near what i would want facing a serious ocean passage.
But then again, almost any car can be prepared for endurance racing .... YMMV.

It's a used boat, if the build/design is up to your requirements, don't let the 'stigma' stop you.
It's all about the upkeep.

 

[grube]

I have a 1999 Hunter 380. Yes it is quite different than my previous vessel (Catalina 30 with Tall Rig and Bow Sprit).
However, we acquired it to ensure we could stay in the sailing game vice switching to the "dark side." The roller furling main does that (and yes, I am aware of the downsides to this convenience). The PO was a very well-travelled sailor (CT41 around the world) who took this particular Hunter to Alaska twice and around Vancouver Island twice, the last time going well offshore. It is rated as an "A" vessel for offshore -- but I have the same concerns others do about that (lee cloths, loose floor boards, lack of handholds, the B/R rig -- am not too sure if the latter is a real problem or it just looks like one...).
However, we are not going to Fiji or even San Diego. We will be coastal cruising and, maybe this or next year, now that I am (sort of) retired, we will get to Desolation Sound. The boat was described by my sister-in-law as a "sea condo." It is extremely comfortable to say the least and a pleasure to view and to sail. So far so good.
Paul

 

[PCP]

Why is there so many Hunter haters?

Because they are near or at the bottom end of the new boat market price wise and people are still ticked they cant afford one........

Just a theory...

Well, lets add to that theory:

they can't afford them but they can afford some old 20 or 30 year's old sail boat and of course, that 20 year old sailboat will be (for them) a lot better than a Hunter that is just an expensive piece of crap

The Hunters are for many sailors like La Fontaine grapes

The Fox and the Grapes: Jean de La Fontaine's fable

Regards

Paulo

 

[Don L]

The bottom of the price thing isn't correct. Most production boats are close to each others price for the various sizes.

And they aren't crap except to people who need to say this order to justify having spendt more money on their boat so they can feel better about themselves.

 

[xxuxx]

Hunter Passage models make great blue water cruisers

From a blue water cruiser who sailed a 2001 Hunter 450 Passage. Both the 450 Passage (1999-2002) and the 456 (2003-2006) or there abouts both versions carry 100 gallon fuel takes and have Kevlar reinforced stringers in the hull. They both hold 200 gallons of water as well. The newer Hunter Passage models hold only 75 gallons of fuel and offer only as an option the larger fuel tanks. I have yet to find one outfitted with the larger tank. This tankage really helps in long passages and was well used during the Caribe 1500 rally from Hampton Va to Nanny Cay, Tortola. Also this years caribe 1500 had a Hunter Passage 420 which arrived in the middle of the fleet standings. Many boats had breakdowns, even the snob appeal boats ie Oyster, Tayana. Island Packet, but nooooooooo not the Hunter!!! I have had mine in 60 knot gale winds and she was rock solid. Yes she creaked and squeaked but so does most every boat in 25 foot seas. We sailed her with only a small piece of furled jib and the strain on the furling line was incredible. We lost part of our SSB antenna and the Magma grill cover. We saw 12 knots in a hull designed for 8 maximum. We were in a broad reach thus allowing the foresail to give us the stability that was needed. Both the rig and the hull were rock solid..........one cannot go wrong using this as both a live aboard and a bluewater sailor. Any further questions PM me.

 

[Ocarina II]

I agree with Vsk1,Hunters are no worse than Catalinas or Benetaus etc.
Thing is once you see the bottom fall out of a Hunter or here of the keel falling off another while the boat is being craned it kind of shades your opinion.

 

[RatHatDiver]

Re: Hunter Passage models make great blue water cruisers

From a blue water cruiser who sailed a 2001 Hunter 450 Passage. Both the 450 Passage (1999-2002) and the 456 (2003-2006) or there abouts both versions carry 100 gallon fuel takes and have Kevlar reinforced stringers in the hull. They both hold 200 gallons of water as well. The newer Hunter Passage models hold only 75 gallons of fuel and offer only as an option the larger fuel tanks. I have yet to find one outfitted with the larger tank. This tankage really helps in long passages and was well used during the Caribe 1500 rally from Hampton Va to Nanny Cay, Tortola. Also this years caribe 1500 had a Hunter Passage 420 which arrived in the middle of the fleet standings. Many boats had breakdowns, even the snob appeal boats ie Oyster, Tayana. Island Packet, but nooooooooo not the Hunter!!! I have had mine in 60 knot gale winds and she was rock solid. Yes she creaked and squeaked but so does most every boat in 25 foot seas. We sailed her with only a small piece of furled jib and the strain on the furling line was incredible. We lost part of our SSB antenna and the Magma grill cover. We saw 12 knots in a hull designed for 8 maximum. We were in a broad reach thus allowing the foresail to give us the stability that was needed. Both the rig and the hull were rock solid..........one cannot go wrong using this as both a live aboard and a bluewater sailor. Any further questions PM me.

Honestly, my Wife and I wanted nothing to do with Hunter boats. After spending this last weekend looking at 5 Hunters with our broker, our minds have been changed. We really liked the 456cc. I love center cockpit sail boats. Yes If I had 500k plus I would buy and IP. Im going to research the crap out of the Hunter Passage line of boats. SailNet is a great place to start.

 

[jackdale]

Re: Hunter Passage models make great blue water cruisers

Honestly, my Wife and I wanted nothing to do with Hunter boats. After spending this last weekend looking at 5 Hunters with our broker, our minds have been changed. We really liked the 456cc. I love center cockpit sail boats. Yes If I had 500k plus I would buy and IP. Im going to research the crap out of the Hunter Passage line of boats. SailNet is a great place to start.

Rather than start the war again here, I will send you a PM with some posts from here and elsewhere.

 

[hunter356]

These Hunter bashers have NEVER owned or sailed on the newer Hunter.Take it from someone whos owned several boats,34-50 feet,irwin.older hunter34,gulfstar,beneteau,My hunter 356 is better construction and a superb sailor also. Overall, I think they are the best production sailboat on todays market and represent a good value too.

 

[xxuxx]

These Hunter bashers have NEVER owned or sailed on the newer Hunter.Take it from someone whos owned several boats,34-50 feet,irwin.older hunter34,gulfstar,beneteau,My hunter 356 is better construction and a superb sailor also. Overall, I think they are the best production sailboat on todays market and represent a good value too.

People?! Do you hear this? It is true. I second the above statement. The reason I think many of the more seasoned sailors knock these vessels is that they want to feel important exbounding knowledge which shows their vast knowledge of sailing, even if it is completely erroneous. And besides, have you ever looked at the PHRF ratings on some of the models? It will surprise you.

 

[smackdaddy]

These Hunter bashers have NEVER owned or sailed on the newer Hunter.Take it from someone whos owned several boats,34-50 feet,irwin.older hunter34,gulfstar,beneteau,My hunter 356 is better construction and a superb sailor also. Overall, I think they are the best production sailboat on todays market and represent a good value too.

And don't forget...they're boneheads too.

 

[svHyLyte]

I actually like the lines, etc on the Vision 32 and am considering buying one.

Every time i mention one, i get dirty looks?

confused?

Friends of ours owned a Vision 32 and were very happy with the boat. Suffering a case of bigger-boat-itis a few years ago, they sold her and moved up and have often conceded it wasn't a great move.

While Hunter has had some problems, as have other builders, the boats really aren't bad and some are really quite good. Frankly, I wouldn't concern myself with what others may or may not think. It's what you think that matters, No?