Advice on 37 Cutter pre purchase needed

[captjacknles]

Hi All,
I have the opportunity to purchase a 1984 37 CT at a very reasonable price and need advice on what to look for on pre purchase. I know I should get a survey done, but just need your expert advice on what things I should look for myself.
I am looking for an 'escape vessel' to cruise in and not really given this model a look before.
Thanks for you time and advise in advance!

 

[smittyssi]

I enjoy mine, but they are hard to steer in reverse gear.

Of course, check the usual, thru hull fittings, cabin holley sole rot, sail and engine condition, bottom inspection.

It's a great vessel.

 

[RB]

Hunter 37c

I have a 1979 model that I bought new. It has been a great boat. If performance is important to you, I would only consider the deep draft boat. Br prepared to change all the plastic ports and hatches. I am on my third set after finally realizing that it would be more cost effective in the long run to get aluminum ports. All mine are now Lewmar.

We race my boat hard and just set the new corrected non-spinnaker record in the Regatta Del Sol al Sol. (St Pete,FL to Isla Mujeres Mexico 456 miles) If you are going to race the boat, take the staysail boom and baby stay off and throw them away. You can also get rid of the runners. This makes it a whole new boat. Much faster, open foredeck etc. You do need to put a rail over the dorades though, or you will put them in orbit every time you tack.

Any questions, feel free to call me at 941.518.8815. I am in the eastern time zone.

Blaise Pierson

 

[aboardduet]

Probably already done on a 30-year-old boat, but the holding tank under the shower is a real problem area. Mine held out for 7 years of light use and 20 years of 24/7/365 liveaboard use, but finally gave up last year.

 

[Ed A]

On an 1984 look for leaks on the forward bulkhead, The deck dorades can leak into the liner. its an easy fix but a pain it the butt. The aft cabin is really a single bunk unless you date twiggy. some of the 84 models had rudder delamination. where is the boat your looking at, someone here may know its history.

The fin keels are pretty fast and are forgiving. they are good sea boats and built pretty well compared to some other hunter designs.

be sure to look at the engine and transmission closely, mine had a 40 hp yanmar - great motor lots of power. most have smaller enginges.

 

[dvideohd]

I have a paranoid view of things...

A Moisture Meter is fairly inexpensive.. with it, you can do a careful deck scan around all the major fittings and the ports.. I have a LOT of water in the deck (and with good reason)... but as I work - I have seen why that is... I took an eraseable (white board marker) and got numbers about every 6" on the deck... you could see where the water would come into the deck - and then how it flowed...

Blaise - as always - gives excellent advice. Fun watching him race - even over the 'net.

Short comment.. I have been pretty amazed at how strong the hull is... I have a LONG break to repair in the hull to deck region... 20++ feet of separation. Yet the deformation along the gap was LESS than 1/4"... pretty amazing... very strong...

As was also pointed out in past discussions - look for corrosion on the mast base and on all standing rigging.... check inside the hull for mounting and potential corrosion spots..

All that said... I have seen what hurricane can do to a boat on land... the H37C can take a LOT of punishment.. and still be pretty solid.... Can't say that about many boats...

--jr