I am ready to purchase a 170. Any negatives? What options should I purchase? 2.5hp Nissan motor? Enough power? Sail cover? Cushions? Mast float? Should I buy from dealer or on my own? Do I really need one? Any other options I would find useful ? Is the 170 a good choice? Pls. respond asap as I would like to select a boat this week. Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Fret Not....
..and buy it as a package, IMHO. I had a Chrysler 16, which was no lightweight, and it was pushed well by a 1.2 hp OB. I had a 2.5 Nissan long shaft on my dinghy that I loaned a friend to push his 27 O'Day at 4.5 knots in open ocean 45 miles. Great engine (generic Tohatsu). Seriously, I would buy it all, full package with all the ground tackle, canvas, cushions, safety gear, etc. Don't forget a handheld VHF. Use it; get out on the water and enjoy it. Ample time to customize and add things later. PS: I know little about the 17, but that is a real nice size and you are buying from a reputable builder. Rick D.
..and buy it as a package, IMHO. I had a Chrysler 16, which was no lightweight, and it was pushed well by a 1.2 hp OB. I had a 2.5 Nissan long shaft on my dinghy that I loaned a friend to push his 27 O'Day at 4.5 knots in open ocean 45 miles. Great engine (generic Tohatsu). Seriously, I would buy it all, full package with all the ground tackle, canvas, cushions, safety gear, etc. Don't forget a handheld VHF. Use it; get out on the water and enjoy it. Ample time to customize and add things later. PS: I know little about the 17, but that is a real nice size and you are buying from a reputable builder. Rick D.
Options vs. Funds
Just one thought on a sail cover: On a smaller boat like the 170, the mainsail is relatively easy to handle and (from what I've seen) most people secure the sail completely. That is, they take it completely off the boom and stow it. I don't think the 170 has any "stowage" so you would have to have a dock box (if you're buying a slip at a marina) or take it home with you. If you will be trailering every time you go sailing, you still would NOT want a sail cover; the mast must be down and you wouldn't want the sail flapping in the breeze going down the highway. For a 170, I would go through the dealer and try to get them to throw in something else like the cushions or mast float. The sail cover (IMHO) is a waste of your time on a 170. Definitely recommend a dealer if buying anything still in warranty. You can gain valuable information just by asking questions; they usually do not charge you for answers. Be aware though, that a 170 does not represent a great deal of profit for the dealer and he may not be willing to spend tons and tons of time with you like he would if you bought, say, a 460.
Just one thought on a sail cover: On a smaller boat like the 170, the mainsail is relatively easy to handle and (from what I've seen) most people secure the sail completely. That is, they take it completely off the boom and stow it. I don't think the 170 has any "stowage" so you would have to have a dock box (if you're buying a slip at a marina) or take it home with you. If you will be trailering every time you go sailing, you still would NOT want a sail cover; the mast must be down and you wouldn't want the sail flapping in the breeze going down the highway. For a 170, I would go through the dealer and try to get them to throw in something else like the cushions or mast float. The sail cover (IMHO) is a waste of your time on a 170. Definitely recommend a dealer if buying anything still in warranty. You can gain valuable information just by asking questions; they usually do not charge you for answers. Be aware though, that a 170 does not represent a great deal of profit for the dealer and he may not be willing to spend tons and tons of time with you like he would if you bought, say, a 460.
Have You Considered a 212?
Have you looked at/sailed the 212? Perhaps it is more than you want to spend (I really have no idea about the price difference) but it is a lot of boat for the money and offers a great deal more versatility (with the cabin). If you are sticking with the 170, my advice is get the seat cushions. We test sailed a 240 for an afternoon last summer without cushions. This experience convinced us to order the cushions when we bought our own 240. Best purchase we have made. Plus, all of our marina neighbors who don't have seat cushions in their sailboats are envious
. Paul Jordan Mithrandir, H240
Have you looked at/sailed the 212? Perhaps it is more than you want to spend (I really have no idea about the price difference) but it is a lot of boat for the money and offers a great deal more versatility (with the cabin). If you are sticking with the 170, my advice is get the seat cushions. We test sailed a 240 for an afternoon last summer without cushions. This experience convinced us to order the cushions when we bought our own 240. Best purchase we have made. Plus, all of our marina neighbors who don't have seat cushions in their sailboats are envious
. Paul Jordan Mithrandir, H240170
Bob; The Hunter 170 is a fast little boat to be enjoyed as it can sit many folks comfortably and is fast. Some question the open transom; however, that is a plus. First, you can get out and back into the boat easily without a transom wall. Some question if wwater will come in without a transom. Look at the hull shape which to describe best is a bannna shape. IF a following sea touches the back of the boat, it lifts the boat gently up with out any water comeing in. On the other side of the coin, water will exit fast better than alot of daysailors. As for engine size the Tohatsu which is also the Nissan 2.5 is a good engine but let me suggest the 3.5 as it has a neutral and foward which allows you to turn the engine around without the prop running. The 2.5 does not have a neutral and the prop will run all the time. Not good if around the dock for a newcomer. If drysailing which is leaving the mast up while the boat sits on the trailer for storage, mainsail cover is a good idea. If you decide to leave the sail on the boom for transport, the cover will flap unless you tie it down with several bungies. If extended sailing time is involved, consider seat cushions at the time of purchase. It is true that the dealer profit may not be as great as the larger boats, but any dealer worth his salt and is in the long haul to stay and wishes to cultivate his/her customers will spend the time answering all your questions. I know as I am a dealer who cares about customers. I enjoy what I do and the biggest reward was the gentleman who is able to sail a Hunter 260. He is 60 and had a stroke paralyzing him on the left side. I modifed the boat so he could sail it himself. You should have seen his smile which is one major reason I stay in this business. If you find that your local dealer is helpful, you got a good one. Happy sailing By the way, the Hunter 170 will turn on a dime when tacking which we proved one night with it in a motel pool. Crazy Dave
Bob; The Hunter 170 is a fast little boat to be enjoyed as it can sit many folks comfortably and is fast. Some question the open transom; however, that is a plus. First, you can get out and back into the boat easily without a transom wall. Some question if wwater will come in without a transom. Look at the hull shape which to describe best is a bannna shape. IF a following sea touches the back of the boat, it lifts the boat gently up with out any water comeing in. On the other side of the coin, water will exit fast better than alot of daysailors. As for engine size the Tohatsu which is also the Nissan 2.5 is a good engine but let me suggest the 3.5 as it has a neutral and foward which allows you to turn the engine around without the prop running. The 2.5 does not have a neutral and the prop will run all the time. Not good if around the dock for a newcomer. If drysailing which is leaving the mast up while the boat sits on the trailer for storage, mainsail cover is a good idea. If you decide to leave the sail on the boom for transport, the cover will flap unless you tie it down with several bungies. If extended sailing time is involved, consider seat cushions at the time of purchase. It is true that the dealer profit may not be as great as the larger boats, but any dealer worth his salt and is in the long haul to stay and wishes to cultivate his/her customers will spend the time answering all your questions. I know as I am a dealer who cares about customers. I enjoy what I do and the biggest reward was the gentleman who is able to sail a Hunter 260. He is 60 and had a stroke paralyzing him on the left side. I modifed the boat so he could sail it himself. You should have seen his smile which is one major reason I stay in this business. If you find that your local dealer is helpful, you got a good one. Happy sailing By the way, the Hunter 170 will turn on a dime when tacking which we proved one night with it in a motel pool. Crazy Dave
First Production Year Owner
Crazy Dave sold me a 170 at the Annapolis Boat Show the first model year. It's been a good buy. I'm glad they've fixed some things, like the cup holders. Get the cushions. I've got a sail cover, since I "dry sail" it here in the Solomons. The 3.5 horse Tohatsu/Nissan is a good engine. I've been looking for a four cycle engine, but been put off by the price and additional weight. Open transom is no big deal at all. The only time I've had water over the back is on sunny Sunday when some boozed up power boat with twin 250 Mercs ripped past my stern, up on the step, leaving a wake that looked like the surf at Atlantic Beach. It also drained up quickly. Kappa Sails is sewing a cruising spinnaker for it, so there should be no air so light I can't sail. Buy it. I think you'll like it. We have.
Crazy Dave sold me a 170 at the Annapolis Boat Show the first model year. It's been a good buy. I'm glad they've fixed some things, like the cup holders. Get the cushions. I've got a sail cover, since I "dry sail" it here in the Solomons. The 3.5 horse Tohatsu/Nissan is a good engine. I've been looking for a four cycle engine, but been put off by the price and additional weight. Open transom is no big deal at all. The only time I've had water over the back is on sunny Sunday when some boozed up power boat with twin 250 Mercs ripped past my stern, up on the step, leaving a wake that looked like the surf at Atlantic Beach. It also drained up quickly. Kappa Sails is sewing a cruising spinnaker for it, so there should be no air so light I can't sail. Buy it. I think you'll like it. We have.
GREAT BOAT
I bought a 99 model and have not had any problems. Get the seat cushions or you will regret it. Forget the mast float. The boat is very stable. Also very dry. We have been out in 3 to 4 ft.seas in Galveston Bay with no water coming in the transom. The best 17 ft. daysailor I have seen.
I bought a 99 model and have not had any problems. Get the seat cushions or you will regret it. Forget the mast float. The boat is very stable. Also very dry. We have been out in 3 to 4 ft.seas in Galveston Bay with no water coming in the transom. The best 17 ft. daysailor I have seen.
170 = fun
I am very satisfied with the 170. I had purchased it to sail with my wife or daughter as second mate, but recently they decided they preferred to do other things, so I have gone out alone exclusively. I bought the 170 in the spring of 1998, when the boat was a new model. Hunter has since replaced the rudder with a new, better one. Sailing the boat is just great. I sail on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut, north of Danbury. It is very difficult sailing, usually, because mountains surround the lake. As a result, gusts of wind are frequent, and the wind direction often changes in a gust by as much as 45 degrees. Nevertheless, I have not yet tipped over with the 170. It doesn't seem to want to tip over, thank goodness. Maybe it is its wide beam. One very minor addition I made this summer was to extend the length of the line to the roller furling jib. With that modification, I can easily furl the jib when I see a nasty gust of wind coming. It has worked like a charm. I now sail single-handedly in whitecaps without problem, though some extra weight from a crew member on the rail would be nice at times. I find in strong winds I sit on the rail, rather than on the benches. That way I can take more wind without heeling too much. Because I sit on the rail, I would think that cushions would be a waste of money, and actually a bother on board. I have the boat docked for the summer so all I have to do is pull up the sail and off I go. If you plan to dock or moor the boat when not in use, I would order the sail cover if you get the boat. It's about $150 but well worth it if you ever plan to dock or moor the boat. The sail cover would be silly if you trailer the boat all the time. Trailer is fine. Strong steady. It has a mast support at the front too. However, I use it minimally since I launch the boat in April and retrieve it in September. I would say a motor is necessary. It's much easier to launch, unlaunch, moor and dock. I have a Yamaha 3.5 which is very adequate. Don't need anything bigger. Might be able to get by with a smaller motor. Get the motor mount, even if you don't buy a motor immediately. Harder to add later. I really do like the 170. It's nice that no water can stay in the boat due to the open transom. And it works whether the boat is in the water or in your driveway! However, when the boat is docked, and I am trying to get out, water comes in from motorboat wakes, or if it's wavy and I go in reverse with the motor. So, barefoot sailing is sometimes best. No water comes in when I sail, though, unless the wind dies and the motorboats don't. Improvements I am thinking of making are minor. I'd like to extend the jib sheets and have each one a different color. For single handed sailing, tacking or jibing is tough when it's hard to pick out the right rope to pull in a hurry. Best of luck
I am very satisfied with the 170. I had purchased it to sail with my wife or daughter as second mate, but recently they decided they preferred to do other things, so I have gone out alone exclusively. I bought the 170 in the spring of 1998, when the boat was a new model. Hunter has since replaced the rudder with a new, better one. Sailing the boat is just great. I sail on Candlewood Lake in Connecticut, north of Danbury. It is very difficult sailing, usually, because mountains surround the lake. As a result, gusts of wind are frequent, and the wind direction often changes in a gust by as much as 45 degrees. Nevertheless, I have not yet tipped over with the 170. It doesn't seem to want to tip over, thank goodness. Maybe it is its wide beam. One very minor addition I made this summer was to extend the length of the line to the roller furling jib. With that modification, I can easily furl the jib when I see a nasty gust of wind coming. It has worked like a charm. I now sail single-handedly in whitecaps without problem, though some extra weight from a crew member on the rail would be nice at times. I find in strong winds I sit on the rail, rather than on the benches. That way I can take more wind without heeling too much. Because I sit on the rail, I would think that cushions would be a waste of money, and actually a bother on board. I have the boat docked for the summer so all I have to do is pull up the sail and off I go. If you plan to dock or moor the boat when not in use, I would order the sail cover if you get the boat. It's about $150 but well worth it if you ever plan to dock or moor the boat. The sail cover would be silly if you trailer the boat all the time. Trailer is fine. Strong steady. It has a mast support at the front too. However, I use it minimally since I launch the boat in April and retrieve it in September. I would say a motor is necessary. It's much easier to launch, unlaunch, moor and dock. I have a Yamaha 3.5 which is very adequate. Don't need anything bigger. Might be able to get by with a smaller motor. Get the motor mount, even if you don't buy a motor immediately. Harder to add later. I really do like the 170. It's nice that no water can stay in the boat due to the open transom. And it works whether the boat is in the water or in your driveway! However, when the boat is docked, and I am trying to get out, water comes in from motorboat wakes, or if it's wavy and I go in reverse with the motor. So, barefoot sailing is sometimes best. No water comes in when I sail, though, unless the wind dies and the motorboats don't. Improvements I am thinking of making are minor. I'd like to extend the jib sheets and have each one a different color. For single handed sailing, tacking or jibing is tough when it's hard to pick out the right rope to pull in a hurry. Best of luck
Great Boat
The Hunter 170 is a good day sailer for two to six people. We have a Honda 2HP 4-stroke on our boat and love it. It easily does the job. A mainsail cover is worth getting if you keep your boat moored or docked like we do all summer. The boat is easy to care for being made out of plastic just like my JY15 sailboat which I have had for many years.Good Sailing!
The Hunter 170 is a good day sailer for two to six people. We have a Honda 2HP 4-stroke on our boat and love it. It easily does the job. A mainsail cover is worth getting if you keep your boat moored or docked like we do all summer. The boat is easy to care for being made out of plastic just like my JY15 sailboat which I have had for many years.Good Sailing!
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