Thinking of purchasing a Hunter 356

Ed Schenck · Feb 15, 2010

No way will the H356 be as fast as your C&C. Not even with the longer LWL. But IMHO it will be way better for socializing.

chuckwayne · Feb 15, 2010

You'll love the 356, it's a great boat for what you're planning to do-roomy, comfortable and seaworthy, and she sails really well. I hate to sort of disagree with Ed, but the answer is really "it depends". The C&C 30-2 has a base PHRF rating of 144, the 356 usually rates at around 150. But, although in light air the in-mast furling will be slower (less area), as the wind picks up you can reef exactly to the amount of sail you want instead of in big chunks. In our local informal races, we've found the 356 to be quite fast, especially when we can set the chute.

petersea · Feb 16, 2010

David Manley said:
I have a 1988 C&C 30 Mark II. I am thinking of purchasing a 2002 Hunter 356 with in-mast furling. It would be a weekend boat for my wife and I. Our needs are mosting social, hanging out in the Thousand Islands and some sailing. No racing. That being said, will it sail faster than my C&C 30.

Is this a good choice for us. Will I be disapointed with this choice?
All comments appreciated.

The 356 was almost desiged for your needs !! While it is not a "racer" it is still a very good performer and should be at least as fast as your C&C and maybe faster depending on wind speed. Nice Choice !

CaptainJB · Feb 16, 2010

I also own a 2002, 356 ...........bought it new

It is a wonderful boat, I would buy it again

The in mast furling makes sailing easy. You loose a little speed but gain comfort and ease of sailing

You will be happy with it

Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi · Feb 16, 2010

356 Great boat!

We biought our 2003 356 new and have spent 7 seasons having a great time on it, spending an average of 76 days per year. As for racing, on Kentucky Lake, the wind is not generally strong enough for the 356 to really shine, get up to 12 to 15 knots and the 356 is a good competitor, but light air the way we are loaded and we don't move as well.

As for socializing, it is a great boat! We are the committee boat for all our regattas and we have no problem getting helpers because of my wife's penchant for good food!

I think you will really like the 356. I think it is one of the best designed overall boats ever made for the way we use it.

Alex Dare · Feb 16, 2010

It may not point quite as high as the C&C depending on the keel version but I'd be surprised if you didn't like the way the 356 sails. It's quite a good performer. The designer actually worked at one time for C&C.

Ken13559 · Feb 16, 2010

David, my H326 cockpit is large compare to most sailboats of same and one size larger. So the cockpit area of H356 will be even larger. Its great for soicalising. So I think the H356 will fit your needs nicely.

Paul356 · Feb 16, 2010

I echo all of the above. We've had our 356 since 2002, and just love it. It's the kind of boat that just feels right. Not too large, not too small. Can handle 4 or 6 or 8 for socializing, and we've had 11 or 12 for fireworks. Very nice for weekends and longer cruises, for 2, 3 or 4. Handles well, sails well, esp in light air, if you keep it flat. I have the full main, rather than furling, and like it. I'll also say that it's seems to have held its value well. It handles Lake Michigan very nicely.

petersea · Feb 16, 2010

As a reference the hull speed of a 356 is 7.4 and the hull speed is 6.5 ( ish) on the C&C. Wind speed clearly will be the deciding speed factor but the 356 should do hull speed(or very close to) in 15 knots of wind. Just as info.............

chuckwayne · Feb 16, 2010

I should add we also bought our 356 new in 2002. She's Glenn Henderson's first boat for Hunter and he paid a lot of attention to improving performance. We frequently sail against a very fast 33.5-very similar to the C&C-and her owner knows how to make her move. Last summer she got new sails and in-boom with battens and a large roach, and we cruised together for 2 weeks and tuned against each other-picture a 2 week match race! at low windspeeds, 0-6kts, the much more slender 33.5 was faster;6-10kts we were pretty evenly matched. Above 11 kts, there was no contest-the 356 just took off. In heavier winds,even reefed, the 356 stands up in gusts and you can reach off instead of feathering-she's very stable and fast

Thinking of purchasing a Hunter 356

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