We have an opportunity to purchase a 1981 Hunter 33 at a very good rate. What would someone look for in this boat? As a current Hunter 240 owner we're a bit starry eyed and want to know what other owners of this boat think.
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Check the archives and get a survey
Eric: What may appear to be a good deal may be because the owner knows the REAL value. Check out the NADA and the price for boats on the HOW site. Find a surveyor to go over the boat in detail. They are great boats but you want to have it checked out. If the boat is out of the water how will you have the engine checked out and how will you test sail the boat?
Eric: What may appear to be a good deal may be because the owner knows the REAL value. Check out the NADA and the price for boats on the HOW site. Find a surveyor to go over the boat in detail. They are great boats but you want to have it checked out. If the boat is out of the water how will you have the engine checked out and how will you test sail the boat?
S
steven f.
agree
As the owner of a 1981 H33 I agree competely with Steve. Have an out of H2O survey done by a good surveyer. As for the boat itself, I love mine. One big upgrade on mine that was a selling point was a new(er) engine. The original Yanmar was upgraded to larger Westerbeke 24 HP engine with a three bladed prop. What a difference! Under sail she is very nice, handles well, especially with good sails instead of the original rags she came with. Just keep in mind they are not racing boats but cruising boats that will get out of their own way better than many other similar boats. We've sailed her in two gales off shore (why are the storms always at night?) and the boat did great, crew was questioning why were sailors instead of golfers. For me the biggest issue is the location of the cockpit wenches. They prevent stretching out in the cockpit but they make it easier for the driver to handle the boat alone, trade-off's with everything. Overall they are a very good boat for the money you will spend as long as you get a fairly well maintained boat. Keep in mind that if you pay an unusually low price now you will often, not always, pay for it later in fixing the things you missed during the pre-sale inspections, pay now or pay later.
As the owner of a 1981 H33 I agree competely with Steve. Have an out of H2O survey done by a good surveyer. As for the boat itself, I love mine. One big upgrade on mine that was a selling point was a new(er) engine. The original Yanmar was upgraded to larger Westerbeke 24 HP engine with a three bladed prop. What a difference! Under sail she is very nice, handles well, especially with good sails instead of the original rags she came with. Just keep in mind they are not racing boats but cruising boats that will get out of their own way better than many other similar boats. We've sailed her in two gales off shore (why are the storms always at night?) and the boat did great, crew was questioning why were sailors instead of golfers. For me the biggest issue is the location of the cockpit wenches. They prevent stretching out in the cockpit but they make it easier for the driver to handle the boat alone, trade-off's with everything. Overall they are a very good boat for the money you will spend as long as you get a fairly well maintained boat. Keep in mind that if you pay an unusually low price now you will often, not always, pay for it later in fixing the things you missed during the pre-sale inspections, pay now or pay later.
PS:
If you get a survey be sure to ask for an insurance survey as well as a structural survey. You will need it for the bank and insurance co.
If you get a survey be sure to ask for an insurance survey as well as a structural survey. You will need it for the bank and insurance co.
D
david Mccollough
33 hunter
Eric, I'm in my third year as the proud owner of the 33. mine's older than yours but I couldn't be prouder of her. We went from a 26 trailerable boat and the slip rent is a shock. 5.50/ ' is the cheapest we can find. The boat is great. we generally smoke everyone around and we really aren't expert racers. funny how if there are two boats out there they're racing! You could easily live aboard, there's that much room. I'm lacking some luxuries like roller furling but that's okay for now. I've got a 20 hp Yanmar that I've got to have checked cause it doesn't appear to use fuel. May have come up with some sort of perpetual motion engine. We do hull speed and I'm worrying about how she's gonna handle when she gets up on a plane. I need A/C but I guess your need would be opposite. Other than furling and a/c there's nothing we really need. All the other ammenities are there. I've got 17 grand in her including a haul out and new bottom job. There has never been better spent money around my house. When you think about it the older boats probably have more resins than new boats. Ours is sure strong and looks like new. Only thing I've really done is convert the stove, oven and Hot water to propane vs. CNG. Hope you buy yours. You won't regret it.
Eric, I'm in my third year as the proud owner of the 33. mine's older than yours but I couldn't be prouder of her. We went from a 26 trailerable boat and the slip rent is a shock. 5.50/ ' is the cheapest we can find. The boat is great. we generally smoke everyone around and we really aren't expert racers. funny how if there are two boats out there they're racing! You could easily live aboard, there's that much room. I'm lacking some luxuries like roller furling but that's okay for now. I've got a 20 hp Yanmar that I've got to have checked cause it doesn't appear to use fuel. May have come up with some sort of perpetual motion engine. We do hull speed and I'm worrying about how she's gonna handle when she gets up on a plane. I need A/C but I guess your need would be opposite. Other than furling and a/c there's nothing we really need. All the other ammenities are there. I've got 17 grand in her including a haul out and new bottom job. There has never been better spent money around my house. When you think about it the older boats probably have more resins than new boats. Ours is sure strong and looks like new. Only thing I've really done is convert the stove, oven and Hot water to propane vs. CNG. Hope you buy yours. You won't regret it.
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