another point of view..
..I can give here , being less partial but nevertheless much involved..( not about cars or Volts..) Living and sailing in Israel and tending regulary the London Boat Show , I gave the 30 foot Hunter ( UK) a 'good look' when- few years ago- I decided to replace my old Beneteau 27 foot with something more 'substantial' and new. There was on display the "29.5 Legend"(as USA Hunters are called there)too , both being potential boats on the size range -30 foot- I was looking for. Looking at the tech data of displacement, balast, rig configuration as well as general designs related to safety and mainly heavy weather( and especially it's excelent stability curve) , I can fully understand ssteve Cronin opinion about this boat. The other side of the story is it's relatively small size in and out ( more alike the "280" but with more inner wood , more seaberths, less headroom , less ventilation, less ports and hatches, much smaller cokpit and tiller steering , just to name few feature in no particular order). I can sympatize with him , for whom a 'lovely sunny sailing day'on the English Channel would be here , on Eastern Mediteranean , a wet, windy day to be sailed reefed ,with sprayhood and protective clothing on ( not much fun for mostly far friendly preveiling conditions..). But for my intended use ( mostly coastal ,weekend/day-sailing, with just occasional once-twice a year 400-600 nm offshore sail to Cyprus/Turkey and back, (depending of lenght of vacation..), and for my money , I chose the "29.5" . 5 years later I had quit a few and anoying -mostly small- problems , dealt almost always eficiently and quickly by Hunter , but no structural faults or problems. My boat -altought not the biggest on the pier-is mostly sought after by family and friends both for both weekend sailing and in-marina 'entertaiment'( eating,swiming around,and plain fun with up to 8 bodies comfortable seated in the cockpit..). As many sailors , I too have 'a plan' (some call it a dream) to own a bigger/sturdier boat at ( early) retirement time ,and sail far away.. Even now , I am still looking for the 'perfect' 30 footer production boat.. But so far , for my money and use on last 5 years,I would definitely make again the same choice between these two Hunters.. p.s. I prefer-(for my local intended use..)-a small European('mainland') car over both USA and UK ones..
