I recently purchased a 1983 Hunter 34. What are the major differences between the Hunter Design Team's boat and a Cherubini Hunter?
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Compare the specs.
Tom: Check out the specs on these similar sized boats. Check out the capsize screen, S/A to Displacement, etc. The mast heights, beam etc. The Cherb's were/are very stiff boats. When you go aboard you will quickly see the differences in usable space. The new models have a much more *liveable* space aboard but have sacraficed sailing ability in exchange. The older models were slightly underpowered. I have had a H'25 and sailed on a H'30 (both Cherubini designed) and can personally say that they are wonderful sailing boats. Not the most functional cockpits (but they work). The finish in some of the areas was less than satisfactory, but many boats from that era aren't much different. They were not rigged as well as the newer boats from the factory either. The newer boats have most everything brought back to the cockpit. The older boats did not. Hunter was one of the designers that determined that open ports were very important. Look at the older Catalinas of the same era and you will see they have very few open ports. I still like the looks of the older Hunters. They look good with a more traditional design. These boats were very reasonably priced when they were new. Consider that they came complete with the cruise pak, it made them an outstanding value. You could go sailing the day the delivered the boat. Now many of the manufactures have decided that this was a good idea and include most of the items with a base boat. I think it depends on where you sail and how you use the boat to determine if they are *better* than the later models. We have a 1985 H'31 and really like the boat. It has served us well for the past 15 years and would like to move up some day but get sticker shock every time I look.
Tom: Check out the specs on these similar sized boats. Check out the capsize screen, S/A to Displacement, etc. The mast heights, beam etc. The Cherb's were/are very stiff boats. When you go aboard you will quickly see the differences in usable space. The new models have a much more *liveable* space aboard but have sacraficed sailing ability in exchange. The older models were slightly underpowered. I have had a H'25 and sailed on a H'30 (both Cherubini designed) and can personally say that they are wonderful sailing boats. Not the most functional cockpits (but they work). The finish in some of the areas was less than satisfactory, but many boats from that era aren't much different. They were not rigged as well as the newer boats from the factory either. The newer boats have most everything brought back to the cockpit. The older boats did not. Hunter was one of the designers that determined that open ports were very important. Look at the older Catalinas of the same era and you will see they have very few open ports. I still like the looks of the older Hunters. They look good with a more traditional design. These boats were very reasonably priced when they were new. Consider that they came complete with the cruise pak, it made them an outstanding value. You could go sailing the day the delivered the boat. Now many of the manufactures have decided that this was a good idea and include most of the items with a base boat. I think it depends on where you sail and how you use the boat to determine if they are *better* than the later models. We have a 1985 H'31 and really like the boat. It has served us well for the past 15 years and would like to move up some day but get sticker shock every time I look.
E
Ed Schenck
While we are waiting. . .
for Mr. Cherubini to respond you can do some comparing. Two other sites that contain Cherubini drawings and pictures are: http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tlyons/tdl/hunter/index.html and http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=204587#a=1888331 (replace the '#' with a real ampersand, a character that will not properly display here). We have quite a few H34s at Harbor North and they seem more "stylish" with more sheer and long, racy portlights. And I think this was a start toward bigger mainsails and putting at least part of the quarterberth under the cockpit. Not sure if the H33 had a keel-stepped mast where your H34, I think, does not. The H34 is a pretty boat.
for Mr. Cherubini to respond you can do some comparing. Two other sites that contain Cherubini drawings and pictures are: http://people.ne.mediaone.net/tlyons/tdl/hunter/index.html and http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=204587#a=1888331 (replace the '#' with a real ampersand, a character that will not properly display here). We have quite a few H34s at Harbor North and they seem more "stylish" with more sheer and long, racy portlights. And I think this was a start toward bigger mainsails and putting at least part of the quarterberth under the cockpit. Not sure if the H33 had a keel-stepped mast where your H34, I think, does not. The H34 is a pretty boat.
Cort Steck
I liked Mr Dion's comments about the appearance of my dad's boats and also their seakindliness. The H-34 is Cort Steck boat. Hunter brought him on in about 1981, after they relieved my father of design and consulting responsibilities simply by not assigning him any new work. I have never met nor even seen Mr Steck but believe him to be about my age (starting at that time in his late 20s or so). I know nothing about where he received his training but I would GUESS a big east-coast college NOT specialising in yacht design... but this is just my opinion and don't repeat it. I was working for a Hunter dealer at this time and when the new H-22 came in I liked it, not for its looks, which were pedestrian at best, but from a utility standpoint. It was a very practical little starter boat. In fact I took a lot of ideas from Steck's H-22 interior layout to revamp that of one of my dad's old boats, the 31-ft yawl on 1961 (tells you something about my dad's use of interior space, doesn't it?!). The H-34 was one of the earliest Steck boats and was produced concurrently with the Cherubini designs. I always thought it looked like someone'd sat on it– but again, that's just me. I think sometimes we get used to what something is like and resist change simply because it is different. The objective affection I have for my dad's work from the position of being a scholar of it leaves me a little judgemental on its replacement. However the certain Cherubini 'look', even in the 34-ft Mainship and other boats of that period, tends to be unmistakable and widely appreciated by owners and wanna-bes. You will never hear me take anything away from the 'Hunter Design Team' (which started as Mr Steck and the Hunter marketing department) because they have really capitalised on the notoriety Hunter gained through the production of my dad's successful designs. Hunter has done everything right to position themselves in the market and has a right to be a major player in the production sailboat business. However... that said– you shall leave me to my own preferences. [wink] J Cherubini II
I liked Mr Dion's comments about the appearance of my dad's boats and also their seakindliness. The H-34 is Cort Steck boat. Hunter brought him on in about 1981, after they relieved my father of design and consulting responsibilities simply by not assigning him any new work. I have never met nor even seen Mr Steck but believe him to be about my age (starting at that time in his late 20s or so). I know nothing about where he received his training but I would GUESS a big east-coast college NOT specialising in yacht design... but this is just my opinion and don't repeat it. I was working for a Hunter dealer at this time and when the new H-22 came in I liked it, not for its looks, which were pedestrian at best, but from a utility standpoint. It was a very practical little starter boat. In fact I took a lot of ideas from Steck's H-22 interior layout to revamp that of one of my dad's old boats, the 31-ft yawl on 1961 (tells you something about my dad's use of interior space, doesn't it?!). The H-34 was one of the earliest Steck boats and was produced concurrently with the Cherubini designs. I always thought it looked like someone'd sat on it– but again, that's just me. I think sometimes we get used to what something is like and resist change simply because it is different. The objective affection I have for my dad's work from the position of being a scholar of it leaves me a little judgemental on its replacement. However the certain Cherubini 'look', even in the 34-ft Mainship and other boats of that period, tends to be unmistakable and widely appreciated by owners and wanna-bes. You will never hear me take anything away from the 'Hunter Design Team' (which started as Mr Steck and the Hunter marketing department) because they have really capitalised on the notoriety Hunter gained through the production of my dad's successful designs. Hunter has done everything right to position themselves in the market and has a right to be a major player in the production sailboat business. However... that said– you shall leave me to my own preferences. [wink] J Cherubini II
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