A question for Hunter 36 owners

Oliverhg · Feb 3, 2015

I move from a 33 to the e36 three years ago.

Displacement went from 10,000 to 15,0000 lbs, a 50% increase and it is evident in terms of stability and motion out on the water.

Fuel tank is a bit larger, saving me one fuel stop out of three on longer trips.

Fresh water tank is larger, also save me one run out of four to get water.

Engine and holding tank is the same.

I think there is another inch or so of headroom.

What it comes down to is that these are all small incremental differences that may mean a lot if you happen to need it. If another inch or two of headroom saves you banging your head, then that inch is worth a lot. I use to bang my head getting in and out of bed but not in the 36. However, I still have to watch out for the bulkhead going into the front cabin.

The major difference is the displacement. But then, how big is big enough?

Oliverhg · Feb 3, 2015

I should add that the one other big difference is the fridge. The fridge in the previous 33 is very small compared to the one in the 36. Plus now we also have the freezer which we also turn low to use as a fridge. No more stresses about storing food for a trip.

woodster · Feb 3, 2015

jimlarsen said:
Do you ever wish you bought the 33 instead?

We currently own a 240 and we are looking at a 2004 Hunter 36 that is for sale. The 33 is also a nice looking boat and has some advantages being shorter (lower moorage fees, for one). I'm pretty sure I will like the extra room in the 36. Does anyone have any sage advice to help me decide?

if you are 6 ft tall get the 36 ...and dont worry about the mooring fee its only 30 to 40 dollars more a month sorta like the differance staying in a 3 star to a 3.5 star hotel

seadaddler · Feb 3, 2015

33-36

2006 I was sailboat shopping and having a 2001 Hunter 290 we wanted something a little bigger with more room,we were planning to retire in 2007
and moving to Punta Gorda Florida.
We wanted inmast windless and more room in a rear berth,I found a demo 33
and went to all the sailboat shows in the northeast and finally ready to buy the demo 33 at the newport boat show and on the dock with the salesman checking
out all the Hunters and my wife said no to buying the 33 and if we are buying
a new boat we will buy the 36.
If I remember the bathroom is small and love our bathroom and all the storage
and large cockpit and so much storage,we do alot of cruising here in Florida and
do 3 week cruise in April to the keys and another 3 weeks in oct north to Tarpon Springs and many more weekend cruises and have never looked back and some times when I go on friends 41 hunter we love it but we love and very happy we got the 36 over the 33.
Nick

Scott B · Feb 3, 2015

You maybe should be asking H33 owners if they wished they'd gone bigger.

We've had our for 7 seasons and spend at least one 2 week trip on board each year and most weekends out. We love the boat. Handles well and is comfortable.

Space-wise, it's fine for 2 people for most weekends. After 2 weeks we start to feel a little cramped. Biggest limiting factor is the holding tank, which is the same on the 36?
As mentioned above the fridge is a little small and awkward to get into. Other pet peeve is the lack of drawers in the galley, which means cutlery in a tray on the shelf above.

If we did it all over again, probably would have gone to a 36. Now we're looking either 38 or 41, but that's down the road.

Boomer54 · Feb 3, 2015

We have an e33. If I were todo it again, I'd definitely go 36. Better yet, the new 37 is basically a 40 w/I twin wheels. On the 37, interior creature comforts like headroom, storage, refrigeration and freezer are great. All the tanks on the 37 are larger which is nice. The holding tank on our e33 is quite small. With two of, we pump out every 3-5 days.

Oliverhg · Feb 4, 2015

I have to say that we never found the 33 to be too tight for two when we had it. We had a McGreger 26 before that so the 33 was very spacious by comparison.

Things are relative.

Another thing I remember now is that the hanging lockers in the 33 was a tight fit for regular size hangers so we used child size hangers which actually worked well. We can now go back to regular size hangers and more of them. It is another indication of what we get used to as "normal" because we always assume we have to make compromises when in the boat.

The house batteries are in the bottom of the huge cockpit locker instead of inside the cabin as in the 33. Resulting in even more storage in the cabin.

I like the 37 but likely will not move up any more as there are places here that are too shallow or the dock limits to no larger than 36' boats.

seadaddler · Feb 4, 2015

$$$$$$

If you have the $$$$$ than it;s a no brainer the 36 and for docking
and mooring balls it really is only 3 ft but the extra 3 ft seem to make things so much better.
I sailed my 07 H-36 from NY to Florida 99% all ocean and it really handled
great and my crew really liked the way it handled out in the ocean.
Most seem to like the galley in the older 356 but my wife like the front load ref
and she likes the large cabinet under the nav station which could have gotten
a freezer in that cabinet but decided not to and like the storage.
We carry a portable 12volt ref/freezer for long cruising.
I have solar panels and davits and we like the larger bathroom over the 33 bathroom and that extra 3 ft made the difference for us.
It really depends and if mostly day sailing than the 33 is great but we spend alot of more time with weekends and 3 -4 week cruising trips.
Nick

richk · Feb 4, 2015

We bought the Marlow Hunter 37. You may want to look at one, if there's a broker or boat show near you. What I like about it -

lots of head room 6'6"
tankage F/W/H 50/80/25 gal
large vee berth
4 hanging lockers
swim platform
folding cleats (no stub toes)