I currently own a1986 Hunter 34, but I've been looking at the 33. Would like to hear from owners rather than sales people. A newer boat looks very attractive.
Thinking of buying a 2005 Hunter 33
- Thread starter Chet Knights
- Start date
Well that's an interesting question.
I can speak to the 33 specifically but I do have experience of older vs new. We had a 1987 Catalina 34 that we bought when it was 5 years old and we owned it 17 years until we traded it in on a brand new Hunter 38.
The older boat pros
We knew its history and over the years had dealt with the inevitable things that any boat will have when it's brand new. Punch list things if you will
It had been lovingly and meticulously maintained and upgraded. I'm fussy and had replaced sails, lifelines, running rigging and a lot more.
It was paid for
We knew its performance characteristics and had learned how to sail it.
For many older boats that go back to the early years of FRP when then didn't know how long fiberglass would last they made it thick so they are built like tanks. Very solid.
The older boat cons
Stuff was getting older and more things like standing rigging will need attention.
We never experienced engine issues but as the hours accumulate more attention will be needed eventually
Depending on brand some boat builders in their early years didn't build them as solidly as they should have. Things like undersized winches, heard stories of stuff being mounted with screws rather than through bolted, etc.
Older technology on many of the components.
So for us as we looked at new here were the biggest driving forces
The obvious in our situation was that going from 34 feet to 38 feet was getting us a lot more boat to live on as we head toward retirement years and start spending more extended time aboard. We picked up almost 8,000 pounds more displacement and longer water line making the boat more comfortable in conditions where we might get bounced around more in the older boat. These wouldn't be relevant in your scenario but these might be
As we contemplated wanting to be able so sail until we are well into our really elderly years, ease of sail handling and not having to fuss with reefing was a big factor. A furling main has made life so much easier. Roll it out, roll it in, we find we adjust to conditions much more because it's easier. We don't wait too long to reef or be reluctant to shake out the reef because of the effort. And this will get even more pronounced as we get older and as friends who are older say - their agility diminishes.
We see in the newer boat a lot more thought put into good design and engineering. Things like all our through hulls are in one place and not spread all over the boat. All the wiring runs through conduit making it more organized and a lot easier to pull new if you need to. Refrigeration is hands down better as the older boats like our Catalina had a fiberglass box with no insulation whatsoever. Seriously no insulation on a refrigerator - what were they thinking? The refrigerator is not only insulated it has higher efficiency technology so it draws less.
The new boat has air conditioning / heating built in. OK this is really spoiled I know. But here's the deal, my wife has a hard time with the heat and if it's too miserable she is reluctant to be at the boat. Air conditioning solves that and we both get to spend more happy time there.
Engine technology as really advanced since our 1987 model. Don't get me wrong - our Universal diesel was a work horse and amazingly reliable but it was 22 year old technology. The Yanmar with newer technology fires over and starts with easily. No glow plugs, no cranking, just zip and it starts. And it's much quieter.
New boat has windlass and my back appreciates that immensely.
Electronics are so advanced compared with the 22 year old stuff.
Linear drive autopilot as opposed to the old belt driven one.
Advances in hull shape
Battery capacity improved dramatically. We have 2 house batteries and a separate starting battery. Makes unplugged time a lot better and knowing that even if the batteries go down you still have ability to start engine to recharge is great.
Larger cockpit and sun shading of better dodger and Bimini are huge. My wife's family is all fair skinned and skin cancer history isn't good so it's the only way we can boat is if she can get out of the sun.
I'm sure there are more things but you get the idea.
That said, there are some potential downsides.
Money and potential loan payments
With anything new there are kinks to work out. We've not had a ton of warranty issues but a few. A few significant voids in the glass work that had to be fixed. One was a 4 inch diameter Birdseye that appeared in the hull after the first year. I'm getting 6 more pops fixed this summer and the boat in 5 years old now. Most minor but one is pretty good sized.
We also had a couple of the opening ports where Hunter could have spent 50 cents more on the bedding compound to have actually sealed the opening. Seriously it leaked and we found no sealant in the gap when we got it opened.
We have Flexiteek panels in the cockpit and here again Hunter didn't do it right. They used a double sided step to adhere them and it's all letting go. We need to pull it all up and put it back down using the adhesive that Flexiteek specifies. Now why wouldn't Hunter have followed the manufacturers specification? It's not huge deal but its not a small project to redo this.
I can speak to the 33 specifically but I do have experience of older vs new. We had a 1987 Catalina 34 that we bought when it was 5 years old and we owned it 17 years until we traded it in on a brand new Hunter 38.
The older boat pros
We knew its history and over the years had dealt with the inevitable things that any boat will have when it's brand new. Punch list things if you will
It had been lovingly and meticulously maintained and upgraded. I'm fussy and had replaced sails, lifelines, running rigging and a lot more.
It was paid for
We knew its performance characteristics and had learned how to sail it.
For many older boats that go back to the early years of FRP when then didn't know how long fiberglass would last they made it thick so they are built like tanks. Very solid.
The older boat cons
Stuff was getting older and more things like standing rigging will need attention.
We never experienced engine issues but as the hours accumulate more attention will be needed eventually
Depending on brand some boat builders in their early years didn't build them as solidly as they should have. Things like undersized winches, heard stories of stuff being mounted with screws rather than through bolted, etc.
Older technology on many of the components.
So for us as we looked at new here were the biggest driving forces
The obvious in our situation was that going from 34 feet to 38 feet was getting us a lot more boat to live on as we head toward retirement years and start spending more extended time aboard. We picked up almost 8,000 pounds more displacement and longer water line making the boat more comfortable in conditions where we might get bounced around more in the older boat. These wouldn't be relevant in your scenario but these might be
As we contemplated wanting to be able so sail until we are well into our really elderly years, ease of sail handling and not having to fuss with reefing was a big factor. A furling main has made life so much easier. Roll it out, roll it in, we find we adjust to conditions much more because it's easier. We don't wait too long to reef or be reluctant to shake out the reef because of the effort. And this will get even more pronounced as we get older and as friends who are older say - their agility diminishes.
We see in the newer boat a lot more thought put into good design and engineering. Things like all our through hulls are in one place and not spread all over the boat. All the wiring runs through conduit making it more organized and a lot easier to pull new if you need to. Refrigeration is hands down better as the older boats like our Catalina had a fiberglass box with no insulation whatsoever. Seriously no insulation on a refrigerator - what were they thinking? The refrigerator is not only insulated it has higher efficiency technology so it draws less.
The new boat has air conditioning / heating built in. OK this is really spoiled I know. But here's the deal, my wife has a hard time with the heat and if it's too miserable she is reluctant to be at the boat. Air conditioning solves that and we both get to spend more happy time there.
Engine technology as really advanced since our 1987 model. Don't get me wrong - our Universal diesel was a work horse and amazingly reliable but it was 22 year old technology. The Yanmar with newer technology fires over and starts with easily. No glow plugs, no cranking, just zip and it starts. And it's much quieter.
New boat has windlass and my back appreciates that immensely.
Electronics are so advanced compared with the 22 year old stuff.
Linear drive autopilot as opposed to the old belt driven one.
Advances in hull shape
Battery capacity improved dramatically. We have 2 house batteries and a separate starting battery. Makes unplugged time a lot better and knowing that even if the batteries go down you still have ability to start engine to recharge is great.
Larger cockpit and sun shading of better dodger and Bimini are huge. My wife's family is all fair skinned and skin cancer history isn't good so it's the only way we can boat is if she can get out of the sun.
I'm sure there are more things but you get the idea.
That said, there are some potential downsides.
Money and potential loan payments
With anything new there are kinks to work out. We've not had a ton of warranty issues but a few. A few significant voids in the glass work that had to be fixed. One was a 4 inch diameter Birdseye that appeared in the hull after the first year. I'm getting 6 more pops fixed this summer and the boat in 5 years old now. Most minor but one is pretty good sized.
We also had a couple of the opening ports where Hunter could have spent 50 cents more on the bedding compound to have actually sealed the opening. Seriously it leaked and we found no sealant in the gap when we got it opened.
We have Flexiteek panels in the cockpit and here again Hunter didn't do it right. They used a double sided step to adhere them and it's all letting go. We need to pull it all up and put it back down using the adhesive that Flexiteek specifies. Now why wouldn't Hunter have followed the manufacturers specification? It's not huge deal but its not a small project to redo this.
Never liked the interior cabin layout of the h34; you will find the one on the h33 to be more roomy. The stern berth on the h33 is way superior in accommodation than the one in the h34. Have sailed both and do not really find one more seaworthy than the other. The h33 has an open transom with a swim platform and a wide suitable for entertainment cockpit while the h33 has a smaller enclosed cockpit which may be more suitable for offshore sailing. Neither of the models is a blue water boat but both are most suitable for extended coastal cruising. The h34 is usually paired with the 3GM engine while I believe it is an option on the h33. The one I sailed on had the 2GM and was underpowered while the h34 powered very well. The h33 had a tendency to sail at anchor while the h34 was better behaved in that regard. I believe the h33 would be an improvement in roominess and comfort but it is also more money. On the h34 we hated the stern berth with no headroom, the V-berth was too high and converting the booth table to a bed and vice versa got old after a while.
I purchased a 2005 Hunter 33 just twelve months ago and I am extremely happy with my purchase. I had owned a Catalina 30 which I sold about 10 years ago so looking to get back into sailing was an interesting exercise.
I started looking at Catalina's due to past history but came across the yacht I ultimately purchased during the process. I wanted a yacht that could be handled easily with my wife, but also had good living space below, as we tend to spend days at a time on the wonderful waterways around Sydney.
The 33 has a good cabin forward which we tend to use, as we prefer the airflow provided through the front hatch. The rear cabin is massive for those who prefer heaps of sleeping room. The u shaped galley was also a big factor, as many yachts this size, even some new ones have nothing like the bench space for food preparation. The electric fridge plus a good size ice box are also very good.
Cupboard space is plentiful but the galley lacks any drawer space for cutlery etc.
One downside of the 33 is the location of the two fold out table leaves, as in the stored position when sailing they restrict easy movement around the cockpit. In the opened out position they make moving around almost impossible and prevent easy access to the companionway.
As I back into a Marina berth I find the step through transom very convenient for loading supplies and people on board. It also makes for easy access from the tender whist on the water.
A big feature, which I had on the Catalina and which the Hunter also has is the two raised seats built into the stern rails. These add valuable extra seating in the cockpit.
The yacht was fitted with a Furlex furling jib as well as a Selden in mast furling main sail, both of which are easily controlled from the cockpit. As we only use the Hunter for cruising this sail combination is perfect and pushes the yacht along nicely. I really like the B & R rig and the location of the traveller over the top of the cockpit. The sheets for the traveller are easily controlled from the helm.
I have fitted a folding steering wheel to improve the ease of movement around the cockpit whilst at anchor.
I would suggest that if possible you try and buy a 33 with the optional 30 hp Yanmar, as I have heard from other owners that the standard engine is underpowered for the 33. I find the 30 hp fitted to my Hunter to be more than adequate.
My 33 runs a 3 blade prop on a shaft and I find it backs very well when returning to my Marina berth.
As my Hunter will be 10 years old next year I will need to replace the standing rigging, otherwise I will be unable to insure it here in Australia. This maybe something to consider when negotiating the purchase of a 2005 Hunter.
I hope this info is helpful. Happy hunting!
We've had ours for 7 seasons. Anchor out most weekends and at least 1 trip 1-2 weeks each year. Typically sail out and then anchor for the night.
Really like the layout, with all lines lead to the helm. Handles winds up to 15 knots easily without reefing. Is very repsonsive and quick.
Interior layout is good, lots of room for 2 people for 2 weeks and we often have 2 couples on board for a weekend.
Make sure Yanmar heat exchanger has been upgraded. 2005 was the cut off for the switch to the larger exchanger.
I could go on more, but we're heading out for 1 1/2 weeks tonight and need to wrap up work to get away. What I can say is we've enjoyed the 7 years and had very few issues. Checked the log last weekend and have over 5,000 nm.
Search the Boat info at the top of the page. It has lots of reviews by owners. Also search the Hunter forum for Hunter 33, lots of discussion there too.
Really like the layout, with all lines lead to the helm. Handles winds up to 15 knots easily without reefing. Is very repsonsive and quick.
Interior layout is good, lots of room for 2 people for 2 weeks and we often have 2 couples on board for a weekend.
Make sure Yanmar heat exchanger has been upgraded. 2005 was the cut off for the switch to the larger exchanger.
I could go on more, but we're heading out for 1 1/2 weeks tonight and need to wrap up work to get away. What I can say is we've enjoyed the 7 years and had very few issues. Checked the log last weekend and have over 5,000 nm.
Search the Boat info at the top of the page. It has lots of reviews by owners. Also search the Hunter forum for Hunter 33, lots of discussion there too.