Hunter 420 Passage???

BayMan

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
I was on a "Hunter 420 Passage" last weekend - It was stenciled on the side of the boat. When I go to Sailboat Data i find a "Hunter 420" listed at 43.5 LOA and a "Hunter 42 Passage" listed at 42 LOA. They each have quite different displacment/length ratios (which I refer to for my quick reference to what kind of boat I am looking at). When I go to the Hunter site listing of older models I do not find a Hunter 420 at all and nothing (that I could see) listed as a Passage. What gives?
 
BayMan

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
BayMan said:
I was on a "Hunter 420 Passage" last weekend - It was stenciled on the side of the boat. When I go to Sailboat Data i find a "Hunter 420" listed at 43.5 LOA and a "Hunter 42 Passage" listed at 42 LOA. They each have quite different displacment/length ratios (which I refer to for my quick reference to what kind of boat I am looking at). When I go to the Hunter site listing of older models I do not find a Hunter 420 at all and nothing (that I could see) listed as a Passage. What gives?
Click to expand

Searched the archives here and found links to a Hunter 420 Brochure (LOA of 43'5") and a Hunter 420 Owners Manual (LOA of 40'8"). What is going on here?
 
Phil Herring

Phil Herring

Alien
Mar 25, 1997
4,923
- - Bainbridge Island
The 420 was built in the late 90's and morphed into the 426 around 2000. It's a completely different boat than the 42, which was built from around 1991 through 1998.

The Passage and Legend designations you see on some of the boats should be ignored. It wasn't consistently applied and gets misused all the time.

Originally, the Passage name applied to Hunter's center cockpit designs: the 42, and I think the 420 and 450 carried it, too, but then it was dropped.

If you google images of Hunter 42 and Hunter 420 you'll see substantial differences.
 
BayMan

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
"If you google images of Hunter 42 and Hunter 420 you'll see substantial differences."

Yes. But I am seeing three feet difference in the same Hunter 420 (not Hunter 420 -vs- Hunter 42- although the Hunter 42 is the only one I see in writing called a Passage - even though I was actually on one called a Hunter 420 Passage).

Moving from confused to confounded. Next stop is certifiable.
 
Rick D

Rick D

.
Jun 14, 2008
7,186
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
I think it's just an elongation game. In other words, IF I recall correctly, the 410 and 420 are actually the same hull, for example. I suspect the difference you are trying to figure out is length on deck vs. length overall. Since the anchor platform extends way out (see photos) it may be just a different measurement of the same basic boat. You will see minor differences in water line length, beam and LOA, but they are certainly not different hulls, rather they are differences in deck molds, displacement, etc. I think...
 
Buck420

Buck420

.
Apr 22, 2001
497
Hunter 420 Norfolk, VA
Hunter 420 Passage?

BayMan said:
"If you google images of Hunter 42 and Hunter 420 you'll see substantial differences."

Yes. But I am seeing three feet difference in the same Hunter 420 (not Hunter 420 -vs- Hunter 42- although the Hunter 42 is the only one I see in writing called a Passage - even though I was actually on one called a Hunter 420 Passage).

Moving from confused to confounded. Next stop is certifiable.
Click to expand
I think you're possibly making too much of the "Passage" 'designation'.
All 420s, 450s, 456s, and at least some 42s (which are all center cockpit Hunters) were delivered with the "Passage" decal on both sides of the hull (above the number).
IMHO, the "Passage" 'moniker' was simply a marketing tool.

As far as the discrepancy in measurements, I suspect that Rick's comments
are the most reasonable explanation.

If you're looking for a good live aboard/cruising sailboat, there are FAR more important things to consider than a bit of confusion about the actual boat length, and a decal.
 
BayMan

BayMan

.
Sep 12, 2012
203
Hunter 450 Unspecified
Buck420 said:
I think you're possibly making too much of the "Passage" 'designation'.
All 420s, 450s, 456s, and at least some 42s (which are all center cockpit Hunters) were delivered with the "Passage" decal on both sides of the hull (above the number).
IMHO, the "Passage" 'moniker' was simply a marketing tool.

As far as the discrepancy in measurements, I suspect that Rick's comments
are the most reasonable explanation.

If you're looking for a good live aboard/cruising sailboat, there are FAR more important things to consider than a bit of confusion about the actual boat length, and a decal.
Click to expand
Its not a minor difference in LOA. It is

- With all of the confusion (a lot from Hunter itself) how do I know if the boat I am looking at is really a Hunter 42 or a Hunter 420 except by actually measuring the boat or weighing it?

- There is a significant difference in the 42 -vs- 420 with respect to the Disp/L and SA/Disp ratios. I would like to know what I may be buying.

- How in the world can Hunter put out two documents, both on the 420, that lists the LOA 3 feet different?




-
 
Buck420

Buck420

.
Apr 22, 2001
497
Hunter 420 Norfolk, VA
Hunter 420 Passage?

BayMan said:
Its not a minor difference in LOA. It is

- With all of the confusion (a lot from Hunter itself) how do I know if the boat I am looking at is really a Hunter 42 or a Hunter 420 except by actually measuring the boat or weighing it?

- There is a significant difference in the 42 -vs- 420 with respect to the Disp/L and SA/Disp ratios. I would like to know what I may be buying.

- How in the world can Hunter put out two documents, both on the 420, that lists the LOA 3 feet different?




-
Click to expand
Aside from looking at the Vin # & CG Doc. information, which will give you the year the boat was built, there are numerous, easily visible, differences between a H-42 and a H420. For example, the 42 has a mast head rig, the 420 has a 7/8 fractional rig..... 42's has an angled stern as seen from the side, 420's, a rounded stern..... 42's and 420's have different arrangements of opening and fixed ports.... etc.
 
E

eianm

.
Jul 7, 2010
523
Hunter 42 Sydney
why not go look??

There is no shortage of either model for sale across America- I suggest you go look at one of each- I did and the choice was really simple for me- I chose an older 42 and remain delighted with my choice! Let your eyes and your brain connect to your heart and I think you will find the choice is easy! Another huge benefit of buying any Hunter is the truly exceptional customer support offered by the guys at Hunter- OUTSTANDING!
 
D

doctorbill

.
Feb 22, 2013
25
Hunter 420 Passage Center Cockpit Marina Del Rey
You're definitely right about the inconsistencies of the LOA documentation. I have a 420 Passage (2003 model) and truly don't know my LOA.

Never took the time to measure it, but I suppose I could...
 
Bill Kahn

Bill Kahn

.
Jun 25, 2004
7
Hunter 42 Passage Channel Islands, CA
The easiest way to tell

All of the Passage 42s had a backstay and the 420 does not since it is a true B&R Rig. They are both good boats!
 
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