Looking at a 1980 36' hunter tomorrow

Ed Schenck · Dec 13, 2013

It is posted in "Cherubini Hunters", the perfect place. We have several very knowledgeable H36 owners here. If you like I could mention a few things because the H36 is very similar to my 1979 H37C. And/or you can use "search" but it seems you may have already done that. Then there is "Hunter Owner Modifications" under the "Boat Info" tab that could prove helpful.

rardiH36 · Dec 13, 2013

Hi Actel:

As an owner of an 1980 Cherubini H36 that I bought 27 years new in 2007, I've got a lot of knowledge. But really, much-too-much to just start typing about.

However to summarize, it's a good sturdy boat. Sails very well. Although won't be the fastest in your local yacht races.

Problem areas: None really that I have encountered. Not any more so (probably less) than other production boats of this vintage. The hull is strong. And well designed/constructed in most every respect. Other than normal things, I haven't really spent for anything major over the last seven years and several hundred outings in generally heavy San Francisco Bay weather. Aside from what looks to be a rebuild of the rudder/stern post/quadrant, everything structural looks same as ex-factory -- never changed by previous owners.

As to books, check this link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/179-3467455...ode=qs&sourceid=Mozilla-search&tag=mozilla-20

"Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" is a must for your pre-survey inspection guide. In fact, my surveyor only ID'd a couple of items that I didn't flag myself using the book -- And I never owned a boat before! One item is the toe rails. The bolts will need to be tightened for hull/deck joint integrity and to seal from water leaks. If you buy the boat, let me know and I can steer you to the previous threads on this topic.

Regarding the engine: If it is a Yanmar 2QM20 that was originally converted to anti-freeze (rather than raw seawater) cooling and been maintained well, it should be good to go for quite some time yet. Mine performs wonderfully with no smoke or any oil consumption. The only downside is that the engine is heavy and also major repair parts I think will be hard to come by.

Price: I can't really comment other than 1) seems that north of the border, boat prices are more than in the US. 2) I paid US $22k in 2007. 3) Check "Yachtworld.com" for an indication of asking prices. (Maybe this is the one you are looking at? http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1980/Hunter-Sloop-2604129/Ladner/Canada#.Uqu-dyeWaSo) 4) A couple of years ago, on Craig's List, I was following for several months a Hunter Cherubini 37 (Ed's model) that was for sale in the San Francisco Bay Delta region. Looked wonderfully maintained and in the mid $30k asking range. Price continued to fall with no takers. Eventually the owner posted $19k firm with no negotiating. The listing was canceled a couple of days later. Soon after that, someone joined this forum saying he had a great heavy weather voyage from California to Oregon. I private messaged him and he confirmed it was the same boat.

All-in-all the Cherubini Hunters are under-appreciated boats which really have no downsides at all compared to the Catalina, Ericsons, Pearsons, Columbia, etc of the same era. But they re-sale for a lot less. If you have good a inspection impression 1980 H36 and the price is good -- go for it.

okanogan mike · Dec 13, 2013

Hi Actel. I bought my 82 Hunter 36 2 years ago and I love the boat. Shes fast enough not to be last but like rardi said she not the fastest in the fleet. I would be looking at the mast step and bilge step. Thats where the trouble on these boats start. Next would be all of the sea cocks and drains below the waterline.The prop shaft seal can also be a problem.Mostley wear and tear that occurs on any good old boat. The decks also are prone to water damage (as all boats that have balsa core decks)Also was the boat abandoned or was it lost from moorage debt. Im sure you survey will tell all of the other reg problems rigging/running and standing, blisters on the bottom ect... Other wise this boat sails very well in all types of weather .I have sailed all over van Isalnd .From Sooke to Big bay ,Stuart Island and everywhere in between. The 36 really makes a good choice for BC waters . Good luck on your purchase /negotiations . Look forward to seeing another 36 on the water down here. Mike ps. this is a great site for info and advice on any hunter !!

Ed Schenck · Dec 15, 2013

Wow! That is some present. Merry Christmas. But especially, Happy, Happy 2014!!

rardiH36 · Dec 15, 2013

Alctel said:
Thank you all for the advice. I ended up putting an offer on which was accepted - so if the survey is ok then I guess I'll be reading this forum a bunch in the future!

Don't only read ... Also post away with questions ... And contribute with your solutions for issues (hopefully not too many!) you encounter.

The 1980 H36 a good boat. Hope that the survey goes well. Ask here about any survey items that are flagged. Surveyors are very competent, but they can't be expected to know every situation for each model/manufacturer.

Reading the responses to your original post, one item caught my attention. That is the 1980 Cherubini 36's deck core material is marine grade plywood, not balsa. Upon my purchase in 2007, the deck areas checked out fine in regards to moisture. But the cockpit sole had been compromised. I did remove the top skin to repair. But upon doing so, I found that the plywood was not rotted at all. Just the glue joints between the plies had failed. In retrospect, drilling a number of holes, allowing to dry out with the help of injecting acetone, and then flooding the core with thinned epoxy to whisk between the plies would have restored the sole's integrity. If your survey indicates the deck is in good condition except for a few limited areas, keep my experience in mind. Oh, the hull is solid 1/4" or more thick frp. No core. If the boat you offered for has a cockpit sole engine access hatch, it's moisture seal can be a problem. There are solutions to make water tight.

Jim Legere · Dec 16, 2013

Yes, welcome aboard!

I was recently on an H36 in Halifax that was just getting ready to head to the Bahamas. The owner had been living aboard for several years and said he had put almost 30,000 miles under the keel - more than a circumnavigation!:dance:

FredV · Dec 16, 2013

Besides the excellent This Old Boat, two other of my favorites include:

The Ocean Sailing Yacht by Donald Street (1997), and Sailor's Secrets by Michael Badham and Robby Robinson (1973). You should be able to find both on biblio.com.

Welcome to the world of wonderful Hunters!

Chief RA · Dec 24, 2013

Merry Christmas and congratulations on your new boat! Chief

rufus1138 · Dec 24, 2013

congrats, welcome to the 'bini club, we are a misunderstood and sometimes misguided lot but we love our old girls and boys like family, you will enjoy discovering the personality of yours as much as the rest of us, mine (ballerina) got mad at the bascule bridge on our way out of ponchatrain during the delivery trip, the breakwater sustained more damage than the boat. good luck and happy journeys with your new vessel, never forget to thank a cherubini for each safe trip and they will take care of you.

rardiH36 · Dec 26, 2013

Actel:

Thanks for keeping us updated on the state of affairs of the thread you started, "Looking at a 1980 36' hunter tomorrow". Exciting event! Certainly was for me six years ago when I purchased.

Hope to "see" you on the forum frequently as you start to modify/repair/upgrade your Cherubini 36 to ready for duty and to suit your style. Is your boat in a location close enough to home so that you can visit frequently? Is the winter weather on Southern Vancouver Island mild enough that you can start working on it soon?

If you do think you will be frequenting SBO's forums often, a suggestion. Use the Cherubini forum for stuff specific to Cherubini design and construction. For more general topics such as best type of paint for an application, or cleaning mold/dirt off of deck or interior surfaces, or what type of running rigging material is favored these days to replace old rigging, then the larger community of knowledgeable folks on "Ask All Sailors" is the best choice. And also SBO has engine and sail trim forums for those issues.

My 1980 36 is Hull#36? Yours?

rardi

rufus1138 · Dec 27, 2013

yes. i believe it should be HUN### first two digits after hun are the hull #

rardiH36 · Dec 28, 2013

Hello Alctel:

Looks like your "guess" is correct. My hull # is:

H U N 3 6 0 3 6 M 8 0 G

Referring to my Don Casey's "inspecting the aging sailboat", the last letter of the HIN signifies the month that the boat was certified. The convention is "A" = January and "L" = December. So my Cherubini Hunter 36 ("G") was certified in August 1980. Yours ("J") would be October 1980.

Being only 2-3 months apart, I expect that both our boats would have been on the production line at the same time. Although since Hunter would have observed "the errors in their ways" as the production sequence progressed, undoubtedly yours has got to be the better boat!

rardi

Jim Legere · Dec 29, 2013

rardiH36 said:
Hello Alctel:

Looks like your "guess" is correct. My hull # is:

H U N 3 6 0 3 6 M 8 0 G

Referring to my Don Casey's "inspecting the aging sailboat", the last letter of the HIN signifies the month that the boat was certified. The convention is "A" = January and "L" = December. So my Cherubini Hunter 36 ("G") was certified in August 1980. Yours ("J") would be October 1980.

Being only 2-3 months apart, I expect that both our boats would have been on the production line at the same time. Although since Hunter would have observed "the errors in their ways" as the production sequence progressed, undoubtedly yours has got to be the better boat!

rardi

In the case of Hunter, I believe their new model year started in August (but I can't remember where I discovered this) - so a 1980 model with an A in the HIN would in fact have been built in August 1979, in order that the 'new 1980 model' could be rolled out during the fall/winter boat shows. I will try to find the backup info for this assertion...

rardiH36 · Dec 29, 2013

Jim Legere said:
In the case of Hunter, I believe their new model year started in August (but I can't remember where I discovered this) - so a 1980 model with an A in the HIN would in fact have been built in August 1979, in order that the 'new 1980 model' could be rolled out during the fall/winter boat shows. I will try to find the backup info for this assertion...

Jim:

I also remember at some point reading something about not all manufacturers following the "convention" cited in the Don Casey book. But I wasn't inclined to research before I made my post.

Please let us know what you find out! 33 years after manufacture, a few months +/- wouldn't seem to be important. But with techniques and fittings and materials constantly being changed during the production process, maybe it does ...