I am thinking about buying a 1983 hunter 34. The asking price is 35k. I want to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly. Any comments appreciated.
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Ed
We've owned one for 1.5 years.
So we aren't as well qualified to respond as others, but heres our two cents anyway. ;^) The boat sails well, but will heel over to 20 degrees in 15 knots winds from abeam. At that level, weather helm can be rather intense which can be deminished by reducing sail, and/or moving the traveler leeward. As a result of our experience last year, earlier this year I tuned the standing rigging. This has allowed the sails to be set flatter, and we've noticed that the boat sails more efficiently (doesn't heel as much as last year). With regard to boat hardware, be sure the thru-hull fittings are not gate-valves and that they're made of bronze. The bilges are rather shallow, but on our boat they stay relatively dry (which is good). The bilge in the v-berth is not connected to the other bilges, but it too is almost always dry. The nice part about it is that if the speed or depth transducer ever fails, they can be taken out (while the boat is in the water) and the water in that bilge will not get into the main cabin. The down-side is you'll need to (hand) pump it out. The engine is a three cylinder Yanmar, which is nearly bullet-proof. Ours starts right up and runs flawlessly. It has sputtered to a stop, but only because the secondary fuel filter got clogged, or a fuel pump fitting vibrated loose. In both cases, after spending a little time purging the fuel lines of air, it started up as if nothing had occured. The only negative I have about the boat has to do with the windows. I've replaced three so far, and it appears two more will need to be replaced in the off-season. Overall, we like our boat and think we made a smart buy. However, we paid considerably less than the price you mentioned. I guess we were lucky to find a well-kept 19 year old boat whose owners decided their sailing days were over. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
So we aren't as well qualified to respond as others, but heres our two cents anyway. ;^) The boat sails well, but will heel over to 20 degrees in 15 knots winds from abeam. At that level, weather helm can be rather intense which can be deminished by reducing sail, and/or moving the traveler leeward. As a result of our experience last year, earlier this year I tuned the standing rigging. This has allowed the sails to be set flatter, and we've noticed that the boat sails more efficiently (doesn't heel as much as last year). With regard to boat hardware, be sure the thru-hull fittings are not gate-valves and that they're made of bronze. The bilges are rather shallow, but on our boat they stay relatively dry (which is good). The bilge in the v-berth is not connected to the other bilges, but it too is almost always dry. The nice part about it is that if the speed or depth transducer ever fails, they can be taken out (while the boat is in the water) and the water in that bilge will not get into the main cabin. The down-side is you'll need to (hand) pump it out. The engine is a three cylinder Yanmar, which is nearly bullet-proof. Ours starts right up and runs flawlessly. It has sputtered to a stop, but only because the secondary fuel filter got clogged, or a fuel pump fitting vibrated loose. In both cases, after spending a little time purging the fuel lines of air, it started up as if nothing had occured. The only negative I have about the boat has to do with the windows. I've replaced three so far, and it appears two more will need to be replaced in the off-season. Overall, we like our boat and think we made a smart buy. However, we paid considerably less than the price you mentioned. I guess we were lucky to find a well-kept 19 year old boat whose owners decided their sailing days were over. ;^) ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
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Scott
Nice boat. Fast in Light Air.
Ours is an '85 and we bought it in August '01. The only Bad per se is the same problem that plagues most production boats-the hull/liner combo which ultimately traps water between the two in inaccessible spaces where it rots and stinks. See my bilge rebuild photos in the photo area for more. Suffice it to say, when you lift up the main bilge cover in the cabin floor, the bilge bottom you see on our '85 model is not the real bilge bottom. It lies beneath that and on ours was filled with old rotted plywood and water. I could only access and pump it out by cutting out the false interior bilge bottom and rebuilding it. We keep a single reef in the main for most sailing in 10-15Kt winds. Else it heels too much. Being really critical, I guess I'd like to have a bigger cockpit. This one gets crouded at 3 or 4 people. You need to plan on renovation costs when you buy an older boat. Since we bought ours we: -Replaced the gate valves with seacocks -Replaced many worn out or leaking hoses -Added a Mack Pack sail cover -Replaced the hot water heater when it sprung a leak. -Replaced the worn, smelly interior upholstery -Replaced the rotted, dirty carpeting on all the walls with closed-cell foam covered with naugahyde -Upgraded the battery/switch/charging systems replaced the opening port lenses -Refrigerated the Icebox -Replaced the Gib (main was new when we bought it) -Replaced the worn faded Dodger with a full enclosure Halyards and running rigging are next. We've looked at many boats (most considerably newer and larger) since and have found nothing with the space and ammenities to price ratio. Our boat listed for $39.9 and we bought it for $37.5 Some people have reported problems with the wood compression post rotting out beneath the deck-stepped mast. You may want to have your surveryor concentrate on this part of the inspection.
Ours is an '85 and we bought it in August '01. The only Bad per se is the same problem that plagues most production boats-the hull/liner combo which ultimately traps water between the two in inaccessible spaces where it rots and stinks. See my bilge rebuild photos in the photo area for more. Suffice it to say, when you lift up the main bilge cover in the cabin floor, the bilge bottom you see on our '85 model is not the real bilge bottom. It lies beneath that and on ours was filled with old rotted plywood and water. I could only access and pump it out by cutting out the false interior bilge bottom and rebuilding it. We keep a single reef in the main for most sailing in 10-15Kt winds. Else it heels too much. Being really critical, I guess I'd like to have a bigger cockpit. This one gets crouded at 3 or 4 people. You need to plan on renovation costs when you buy an older boat. Since we bought ours we: -Replaced the gate valves with seacocks -Replaced many worn out or leaking hoses -Added a Mack Pack sail cover -Replaced the hot water heater when it sprung a leak. -Replaced the worn, smelly interior upholstery -Replaced the rotted, dirty carpeting on all the walls with closed-cell foam covered with naugahyde -Upgraded the battery/switch/charging systems replaced the opening port lenses -Refrigerated the Icebox -Replaced the Gib (main was new when we bought it) -Replaced the worn faded Dodger with a full enclosure Halyards and running rigging are next. We've looked at many boats (most considerably newer and larger) since and have found nothing with the space and ammenities to price ratio. Our boat listed for $39.9 and we bought it for $37.5 Some people have reported problems with the wood compression post rotting out beneath the deck-stepped mast. You may want to have your surveryor concentrate on this part of the inspection.
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Bob Talley
H34 Review
I owned a 1986 H34 for 5 years. Great boat and usually they sell at a great price (low to mid 30s, depending on condition). I agree with all the prior comments, particularly reefing the main at winds above 15 knots. Also need to reef the 150 Genny above 20 knots. Make sure you have the surveyor check the compression post and the side decks. Boat is exceptionally roomy, great stowage, and sails and motors fast. Good luck.
I owned a 1986 H34 for 5 years. Great boat and usually they sell at a great price (low to mid 30s, depending on condition). I agree with all the prior comments, particularly reefing the main at winds above 15 knots. Also need to reef the 150 Genny above 20 knots. Make sure you have the surveyor check the compression post and the side decks. Boat is exceptionally roomy, great stowage, and sails and motors fast. Good luck.
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Dale Wilson
Great Boat
We've had our 34 on Lake Perry for almost 10 years. It's a wonderful boat. A little wind sensitive, but that means it sails well in light winds as well. Very few problems.
We've had our 34 on Lake Perry for almost 10 years. It's a wonderful boat. A little wind sensitive, but that means it sails well in light winds as well. Very few problems.
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Bo DePena
1984 H34 Bought Right
We have a 1984 h34 that we just love. It sail like a dream especially to windward it will literally sail its self with zero weather helm. We bought it in Clearlake, TX (Houston) and transported it to Austin ($2,200-expensive but worth it) we bought it dirt cheap from a captain that moved to the West Indies and swore he would never come back to Texas (he's fiancé broke off their wedding plans). As a result of the survey the seller rebuilt the engine heads as part of the deal. I paid the mechanic $500 extra to replace all the hoses, replace the Dahl water separator with a Raycor system (self priming), all the sensors and switches. He did not charge me labor because he had to remove old the parts and replace them any way (He also checked the electrical panel-OK). I have replaced the water heater, painted the mast and had it professionally tuned since it had to be decommissioned and had to be recommissioned due to move. The boat is completely dry and every thing works. It had a bottom job 4 months before I bought it. I have done other things to the boat because I am meticulous about having everything perfect. For example I replaced the faucets, replaced the head shower area wood work and cabinets with Starboard-will never rot or need to be refinished from use or absorb water, replaced the dodger, added carpeting to the interior, had cockpit cushions made and replaced all the cushion covers inside and I had curtains made. The boat looks, sails and runs great. I had a complete survey done ($368), also had an engine survey ($65) and rigging survey ($45) done. Before the survey he was asking He had lowered the price from $36,000 to $32,000 on his own for a fast sale. After the survey, I paid and the engine work was done complete, I paid $22,000 for the Boat.
We have a 1984 h34 that we just love. It sail like a dream especially to windward it will literally sail its self with zero weather helm. We bought it in Clearlake, TX (Houston) and transported it to Austin ($2,200-expensive but worth it) we bought it dirt cheap from a captain that moved to the West Indies and swore he would never come back to Texas (he's fiancé broke off their wedding plans). As a result of the survey the seller rebuilt the engine heads as part of the deal. I paid the mechanic $500 extra to replace all the hoses, replace the Dahl water separator with a Raycor system (self priming), all the sensors and switches. He did not charge me labor because he had to remove old the parts and replace them any way (He also checked the electrical panel-OK). I have replaced the water heater, painted the mast and had it professionally tuned since it had to be decommissioned and had to be recommissioned due to move. The boat is completely dry and every thing works. It had a bottom job 4 months before I bought it. I have done other things to the boat because I am meticulous about having everything perfect. For example I replaced the faucets, replaced the head shower area wood work and cabinets with Starboard-will never rot or need to be refinished from use or absorb water, replaced the dodger, added carpeting to the interior, had cockpit cushions made and replaced all the cushion covers inside and I had curtains made. The boat looks, sails and runs great. I had a complete survey done ($368), also had an engine survey ($65) and rigging survey ($45) done. Before the survey he was asking He had lowered the price from $36,000 to $32,000 on his own for a fast sale. After the survey, I paid and the engine work was done complete, I paid $22,000 for the Boat.
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Charlie
Warts, Th e bad and the ugly
The boat has warts. The limber holes don't work and water gathers in the bilge between the hull and the liner and smells bad. There are compression post problems. I can't get my boat to go to weather but that may be my stupidity. HOWEVER, ALL BOATS HAVE WARTS. I JUST HAPPEN TO KNOW A FEW OF THE HUNTER 34'S. Boat per Dollar it can't be beat. Get a survey of the boat. Get a survey of the rigging. Have the engine surveyed. Check the bottom for moisture and if a peal job is required. Know what you are buying. REMEMBER, BROKERS WORK FOR THE SELLER. MAKE SURE THE SURVEYORS ARE REPUTABLE. MINE WASN'T. I love my Hunter 34 warts and all. Fair winds and following seas, Charlie
The boat has warts. The limber holes don't work and water gathers in the bilge between the hull and the liner and smells bad. There are compression post problems. I can't get my boat to go to weather but that may be my stupidity. HOWEVER, ALL BOATS HAVE WARTS. I JUST HAPPEN TO KNOW A FEW OF THE HUNTER 34'S. Boat per Dollar it can't be beat. Get a survey of the boat. Get a survey of the rigging. Have the engine surveyed. Check the bottom for moisture and if a peal job is required. Know what you are buying. REMEMBER, BROKERS WORK FOR THE SELLER. MAKE SURE THE SURVEYORS ARE REPUTABLE. MINE WASN'T. I love my Hunter 34 warts and all. Fair winds and following seas, Charlie
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