Looking to upgrade from my old Hunter 25.5. Saw a 1997 Hunter 340 for sale and am going to look at it Saturday. Any thoughts on the boat, good or bad. I did see where it has the same hull design as the 335 and 336 from the early to mid 1990s. Pix look nice and it has only 375 hours on the diesel, which I assume was rebuilt or replaced. Thank you. mike
hunter 340
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FG Arch
1997 Model had the fiberglass arch right? It never appealed to me but we really like our '01 340 with the stainless steel arch. Aft cabin very spacious, Vberth a little short, roomy salon.
My opinion is that it sails best at 10 to 15mph winds. Over 15 mph I reef and relax even though she can carry full sails to 20 mph.
1997 Model had the fiberglass arch right? It never appealed to me but we really like our '01 340 with the stainless steel arch. Aft cabin very spacious, Vberth a little short, roomy salon.
My opinion is that it sails best at 10 to 15mph winds. Over 15 mph I reef and relax even though she can carry full sails to 20 mph.
Re: FG Arch
After two years with our H336, which is basically the same boat minus an arch, we have found that it's a great boat for a couple. A bit small for four people for anything over a weekend outing. She sails very well in 8 to 12 knots of wind, at 20 knots we're rolling everything up and motoring. For what we do, which is weekend sailing in protected waters and the occasional week long vacation, in 5 to 15 knt winds, she's the perfect boat.
After two years with our H336, which is basically the same boat minus an arch, we have found that it's a great boat for a couple. A bit small for four people for anything over a weekend outing. She sails very well in 8 to 12 knots of wind, at 20 knots we're rolling everything up and motoring. For what we do, which is weekend sailing in protected waters and the occasional week long vacation, in 5 to 15 knt winds, she's the perfect boat.
Hi, I had the Hunter 340 mod 1999 before upgrading to the 41ds mod 2010. The 340 is an excellent boat. I sailed her in the East Med for 11 years(15000 miles) with zero problems. She never let me down. I sold her to a friend. He is really satisfied
Barrile...
I cannot recommend the boat more highly. All of the comments here echo our experience... vberth too short, spacious aft cabin and mid cabin, etc. One of the key attributes that attracted us was the huge bathtub cockpit. We specifically went looking for a 336 or 340 because of this feature. We try to spend as much time as possible in the cockpit, whether at anchor or at the dock, and it is a spacious outdoor patio.
We also specifically sought out the traditional main, as opposed to furling main, just to be old school. I suppose that someday I will regret that choice as age catches up to me but, for now, it is relatively easy to handle and, in Puget Sound light airs, we make good way on all points except DDW (as expected).
Systems are accessible and adequate. I have often cast a jealous eye at a neighboring 40+, but always come back to wondering why Hunter abandoned this spacious boat in the mid-sized package. For us, the compromise decisions work well.
I cannot recommend the boat more highly. All of the comments here echo our experience... vberth too short, spacious aft cabin and mid cabin, etc. One of the key attributes that attracted us was the huge bathtub cockpit. We specifically went looking for a 336 or 340 because of this feature. We try to spend as much time as possible in the cockpit, whether at anchor or at the dock, and it is a spacious outdoor patio.
We also specifically sought out the traditional main, as opposed to furling main, just to be old school. I suppose that someday I will regret that choice as age catches up to me but, for now, it is relatively easy to handle and, in Puget Sound light airs, we make good way on all points except DDW (as expected).
Systems are accessible and adequate. I have often cast a jealous eye at a neighboring 40+, but always come back to wondering why Hunter abandoned this spacious boat in the mid-sized package. For us, the compromise decisions work well.
Have you read these?
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=32&Itemid=170
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=32&Itemid=170
We have a 2000 340 and agree with all of the above. The rounded cockpit is one of the main reasons we bought this boat but it's spacious and comfortable overall. The short v-berth is a good point however. It's ok for one or perhaps two smaller kids but whenever we've had another couple with us they've wound up using the table/bed in the main cabin. Only other thing that I wish was different was if the jib sheets led all the way aft to make single-handing a little easier. We btw have the furling main...you give up a little performance (and yes tradition) here but boy is it easy!
thanks for input, i did look at commnts also. still bouncing
between in mast furling and regular main but leaning towards stainless steel arch and looking at crazing issues. barrile
Agreed. I looked at several 340's. I wound up purchasing my 2000 with furling and rolling this summer out of Deltaville, VA. I found that the older ones with the FG arch all had cracking issues to some extent. We love the big tub cockpit and how all the lines are set for single handed. Jib sheets are a little tricky in certain situations but all in all work well. We have spent all but one weekend on it since and several day sails with up to 6 on board. Very comfortable. We have a friend that is 150 and has stayed several times in the vee and loves it. Now if he had a girl with him that might be a different story
. Was out last Saturday in a big blow with 4 people, reefed all but 6' of main in a 30kt sustained wind making 5kts. Very stable. Does extremely well in the 10kt +/- range.This is funny. Up until a week or so ago, I didn't even know where Deltaville, Va. was. Now Mr. X-Ray tells me that he bought a 2000 340 there and I saw a 1998 340 for sale in Deltaville also. It is a haul from Southern NJ but I may go look at it. thank you for the input. That FG arch is a potentaial issue as is the serious crazing of hatches on the older ones. Did you have much crazing on your 2000?iAgreed. I looked at several 340's. I wound up purchasing my 2000 with furling and rolling this summer out of Deltaville, VA. I found that the older ones with the FG arch all had cracking issues to some extent. We love the big tub cockpit and how all the lines are set for single handed. Jib sheets are a little tricky in certain situations but all in all work well. We have spent all but one weekend on it since and several day sails with up to 6 on board. Very comfortable. We have a friend that is 150 and has stayed several times in the vee and loves it. Now if he had a girl with him that might be a different story
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