Have been sailing a 326 all summer and have had a great time - but next summer may want to live aboard for some extended periods like two or three weeks at a time - also sail further distances. To that end the 326 as equiped is a litle lacking as a live aboard, also found it a little tender in higher winds and seas. This brings me to the thought of moving up to a 356, larger but still not so big to be a problem sailing it short handed. I am looking for comments from owners of 356s as to what they have found to be pluses and minuses of their current boat over their previous one, especially if they had a different Hunter model prior to this model. I am hoping to sail a 356 at the boat show, or just prior and hope to find the extra tonage to make it a little less tender with out sacrificing the acceptable light air performance. If I go this way I would consider a generator, refrigeration,windlass, gimbaled stove, three blade prop, none of which is on the current boat. Any input appreciated. Thanks in advance Ed
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Great Choice
We had similar problems and moved up from a Laguna 26 to a Hunter 356. We have refrigeration, electric windlass, gimbled stove, air conditioning, autohelm etc. This is a great boat and with inmast furling is easy to sail. It is handles easily and yet has adequate speed. The inmast furling makes reefing easy and we have found it more stable than several of the Hunter's that we have been on. The large cockpit and well designed salon make living aboard comfortable. Remember to install a TV antenna to service the color television. Good luck with your decision.
We had similar problems and moved up from a Laguna 26 to a Hunter 356. We have refrigeration, electric windlass, gimbled stove, air conditioning, autohelm etc. This is a great boat and with inmast furling is easy to sail. It is handles easily and yet has adequate speed. The inmast furling makes reefing easy and we have found it more stable than several of the Hunter's that we have been on. The large cockpit and well designed salon make living aboard comfortable. Remember to install a TV antenna to service the color television. Good luck with your decision.
One small thing....
The deck height on a 356 is...well HIGH! Maybe not a problem for you, but I single hand my 326 all the time and often I need to leap from the deck to the dock in a hurry when docking. I could see an injury in my future doing that with a 356.
The deck height on a 356 is...well HIGH! Maybe not a problem for you, but I single hand my 326 all the time and often I need to leap from the deck to the dock in a hurry when docking. I could see an injury in my future doing that with a 356.
Hey neighbor
Ed: Can't promise you when, but our 356 is in Noank and we could take you for a ride some time. We moved from an O'Day 302 to the 356 for many of the same reasons you are considering. The boat is fast, stiff, lives well (we sail about 1000 miles per summer) and oh yes as to Scott's point has a lot of freeboard to consider when docking
)! E-mail me at dmdstc@aol.com if you're interested. We have the standard (non-furling) main, 3 bladed feathering prop, AC, stove with oven, self-leveling radar, autopilot etc. I don't cook much so figured refrigeration would just make me feel guilty. Kinda glad we didn't when I read some of the other posts.
Ed: Can't promise you when, but our 356 is in Noank and we could take you for a ride some time. We moved from an O'Day 302 to the 356 for many of the same reasons you are considering. The boat is fast, stiff, lives well (we sail about 1000 miles per summer) and oh yes as to Scott's point has a lot of freeboard to consider when docking
)! E-mail me at dmdstc@aol.com if you're interested. We have the standard (non-furling) main, 3 bladed feathering prop, AC, stove with oven, self-leveling radar, autopilot etc. I don't cook much so figured refrigeration would just make me feel guilty. Kinda glad we didn't when I read some of the other posts.Live aboard a 356
The 356 is large enough for a good time but not large enough to live aboard due to the absence of sufficient locker space for storage of your belongings. Definitely could not install genset but comes with nice refer, micro and great galley. The 356 is a wonderful boat, don't mistake me, but not a live aboard. Hope this helps. Bill
The 356 is large enough for a good time but not large enough to live aboard due to the absence of sufficient locker space for storage of your belongings. Definitely could not install genset but comes with nice refer, micro and great galley. The 356 is a wonderful boat, don't mistake me, but not a live aboard. Hope this helps. Bill
356 genset
Bill, There is a space set up in the port side lazarette for a genset. It would be tight as a live-aboard, but many have done so in smaller boats. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
Bill, There is a space set up in the port side lazarette for a genset. It would be tight as a live-aboard, but many have done so in smaller boats. Dan Jonas (S/V Feije II)
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