380 Owners

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Dave Derr

I'm thinking (lightly) about trading my '97 h310 for a new h380. I've read the h380 owners reviews. Seems you love your boats, however, also seems most were written during the new boat honeymoon. Now that you've had your yachts for a while. What do you think of them? Thanks
 
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Andy Hansom

Happy Birthday 380

We traded our 340 in on a 380 last March and could't be happier with our decision to trade up,we have much more room,and it's just as easy to sail as the 340. Good Luck Andy Hansom
 
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Paul Bednarzyk

Knot AGAIN!!!!!

Dave, We traded our 336 (same hull as the 340) in our 380 about 15 months ago and have absolutely no regrets. The extra space makes it a much more comfortable boat for long weekends, especially if we have another couple aboard. With the way the 380 is setup with roller furling main, windlass, etc, it is actually an easier boat to handle. The downside is that with the extra length and weight, it is a little less "sporty" and doesn't accelerate out of a tack as quickly as the lighter 336 with full batten main. However once moving, straight ahead speed is terrific. All in all, after 15 months, I'm still quite pleased. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again H380
 
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Bob Knott

Go get one

We love our 380 for what we do with it. I just went to the Boston Boat show yesterday, and the 380 there is just like mine but had an arch. I got the archless one with full battened main and power winch. I just thought selling a boat someday without an arch would be easier since many people hated the fiberglass arches. Down below accomadations are better than anything around. I went on a catalina 380 yesterday and it can't hold up in comparison to the H380 (Sorry catalina owners) Also looked at Dehler 39 which costs $225,000 or roughly 70,000.00 more than you'll spend for a new loaded 380. Back to your questions, the 380 sails like a dram although it's not a racer it's comfortable, roomy, easy to maintain and afford, and really grows on you once you go aboard. It's still my favorite layout of any Hunter made, and with two young children it's the perfect boat for now..... Now as for dreaming how 'bout the Amel Super Maramu 2000 that just won cruising boat of the year from Cruising world magazine. 53' of dreamin.... Bets of Luck Bob Knott H380 p.s. My 380's always for sale for the right price... let's see my boat plus $350,00.00 and that 53' Super Maramu could be mine :))))))))
 
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Dave Derr

Thanks for the comments

I knew that you would be happy with your boats after sailing them for a while. It's a beautiful boat. Guess I've got some decisions to make. thanks again.
 
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Les Blackwell

Boat is good but....

I've now had my H380 for 9 months. It has the fiberglass arch, deep keel and a furnace. Last summer we sailed for 7 weeks throughout Puget Sound, San Juan and Gulf Islands. It is a very good cruising boat and we had a very enjoyable time sailing her. The cockpit is excellent and I'm a convert to the arch. The arch lights, sound and a place to put the rain dodger is outstanding. Not to mention the traveler. Our problems have been with the different gear that came with the boat. I don't know if it is just me or what--I am in a quandry about this. We had a anchor winch improperly installed, a bad rudder, a wheel brake that I can't get anyone to fix, a battery charger that fried my engine battery and refrigeration that we are still working on. In buying a new boat today, I would reserve in trust about half to a third of the purchase price until the boat was completed and fixed. At present I don't know what the problem is--I feel like I have become a grouch because of this boat. On the other hand, it is well designed and enjoyable to cruise. Les
 
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Bill Sheehy

Have You?

Thats one of the reasons why I won't buy a new boat. My 33.5 (91) had a huge list of things that needed to be fixed. It should of never gotten out of the factory the way it was. Part of the problem is that it may of cost Hunter less to have the dealer fix anything wrong than to do it at the factory. The dealer was not getting enough to cover his cost so he was slow doing anything. I did get everything fixed but it took awhile. Has the dealer that you got the boat been helpful? I know which dealership you got the boat from so I would like to hear what their customer service is like.
 
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John R. Mance, M.D.

Hunter 380 Owners

My wife and I absolutely love the boat. Ours is a 2000 with the stainless steel arch, roller frurling main and most of the other goodies you can order. The boat has been with exception of the foldown table in the middle of the port settee breaking, flawless. When the topic of new boat came up, my wife's idea, not mine, I told her I would be happy with what she was happy with. I winced a little about the roller furling main. I am over the wincing phase and I would not have any other. Several reasons: 1) two minutes, sails are taken care of 2) Heading up wind in heavy winds, I keep the genoa out full, furl the main to exactly the right trim. I am able to get between 5 1/2 to almost seven knots 26-28 degrees off the wind. 3) It is so easy to reef sails to exactly the right amount of sail that winds that were uncomfortable to wife and family 25 to 30 plus knots, become average sailing. 4) I can manage the boat with ease without any help what so ever. The boat is extremely comfortable and roomy even with six or more people is not a problem. I would have liked and will install a cockpit switch for the electric windlass. Air conditioning is suprerb. I did not get the generator as I will have an additional house batteries or two installed in lieu of. The air can be run off the inverter. The number of batteries expended l is less expensive than a generator a lot of years and the batteries are quiet. Air conditoning with heat made several nights extremely comfortable rather than a muggy experince. The galley is wonderful; my wife is not permitted to cook on board. I wish there were better sound proofing around the engine. It could be quieter. A larger holding tank would help as we can't discharge in the Great Lakes and we take lots of teen age girls with us. Our daughters have a list of their friends who are dying to go. The foredeck is a perfect place to sunbath. A few have parents with power boats and the Hunter 380 has converted thier kids to sail. Call the Hunter 380 a joy and a purchase you will not regret. John R. Mance, M.D.
 
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Les Blackwell

To Bob, et.al.

Bob, The problem can be outlined thusly: I find a problem on the boat, then I tell my dealer in Seattle, who then calls Hunter in Florida, who in turn calls the product company. They ask, "is it doing thus?" and then Hunter calls the dealer who in turn calls me and asks "Is it doing thus?" The next part of the problem once we ascertain that something is not right is to find someone to fix it. I might be able to fix it but that would void the warrenty. This whole process takes weeks and weeks. Part of the problem is that good craftsmen have all the work they need. There is at least two to four weeks at best before they can get to your boat. For us the wheel brake has been the most annoying problem because we told the dealer when we first got the boat. But everything seems to get lost in the schuffle. Interestingly enough, once you have bought a boat from this dealer, you don't deal with the sales person anymore but instead, another person who deals with problems and that person seems overwhelmed at the moment. This is the first boat in about 12 new boats that I have bought in the past that I have had this many problems. And I have had 3 other Hunter boats, but bought through a different dealer. I don't know what the problem is--but it does make one want to look at RVs! Les
 
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Les Blackwell

Opps, To Bill instead. Sorry

My apologize to the group, I meant to respond to Bill's questions. Sorry.
 
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