A steal or an albatross

[Mike Alge]

I recently purchased a 1979 37' cutter Chreibini design. When I had it survayed I was told that it had some delamination around the salon ports on both sides and the cabin roof was satuated in the way of the mast partners. I have removed all the ports on the starboard side and nearly all the plywood was soaking wet. I suspect I willl find the same situation on the port side. The problem as I see it stems from the port lights , they are the wrong ones. They are Bomar and are not designed to drain at more than 15 deg. off vertical. The cabin sides on the Hunter is 32 deg. off vertical. I have found three suppliers so far theat can accomedate that much angle. One is in plastic and the other two are bronze. I think the bronze ports would add a lot of class to the boat and improve the value, while providing a good fix for the leaking ports  I would like to hear from other owners of 37' cutters on how they solved the problems they have incounttered

 

[Ed Schenck]

H37C

Hi Mike,I am just completing my first season with my 1979 Cutter. Like you I am having second thoughts. But I got lucky and found a boat with very little moisture problems and portlights that do not leak. Yes, a couple are cracked, they look cheap, and they don't drain. If I keep the boat I will replace with stainless steel(about $2000).My main issues are the 20HP Yanmar and the lack of space to work around it. It's hard to drain the oil and impossible to get to the stuffing box. And it doesn't help to be parked next to a brand new H380 with huge master cabin, electric winches and windlass, etc., etc. But then he paid at least $150k more for his!On the plus side she's a joy to sail. We can discuss more at "eschenck@ezo.net". Good sailing!

 

[Walter Golembewski]

37c improvements -- engine room access.

I'm no expert, but after 5 years of ownership, I can say the 37c is definitely not an albatross. It's very easy to single hand, which is often the case with me. I handles rough air and rough water very well, but is a bit pokey if winds go below about 5 kts. Regarding engine room access: try cutting out the non-structural bulkhead in the quarter berth. I did mine over the winter, and ended up dismantling a lot of paneling, but unless you look closely, you can't even notice it's there. It provides about a 1.5 x 3 ft access panel in the quarterberth, through which you can easily get at the stuffing box, transmission, coupler, and all that other stuff at the back end of the engine that's impossible to get at through the starboard side hatch. If you work carefully, you can save most of the origninal bulkhead material, and need only to add some backing strips. I don't have any hinges; the matress holds things together quite nicely, though I have thought of putting a couple of barrel bolts in for some additional security. I also organized, re-routed, and secured the engine control cables to allow a clear work area behind the engine without getting trapped in the wiring. I added an engine compartment light behind the engine, with the switch mounted near the companionway engine room hatch. No more flashlights needed to check the stuffing box, muffler, heater, and overall condition of the engine room back there -- just flip the switch and look through the companionway engine access hatch. Engine is a Yanmar 3QM30 with an aftermarket heat exchanger (now mounted on the starboard bulkhead near the engine (instead of on the engine itself), allowing better access to the oil dipstick. (Two muffler clamps fasten it to and through the bulkhead.)When I get some time, I'll write again on some other improvements I've made (windlass installation, radar, autopilot, and the like).

 

[Been there]

Gene Greunder's H37C upgrades page

Gene Greunder has a web page on the enhancements he made to his H37C, Rainbow Chaser:http://www.io.com/~edebee/chaser/chaser/boatmods/boatmod.htm

 

[Dave Simpson]

Engine Access

Access to the 3QM30 is poor at best in the H37c, but in the process of installing a Genset aft of the engine, on the pad formerly occupied by the water heater, I cut a 24"x30" hatch in the cockpit floor, giving me access to the stuffing box, muffler, steering cables, tranny, control cables, etc. I know it's a bit radical, but it sure is nice.