Advice on 98-00 Hunter 34

[Soon2BeSailor]

Finally sold my power boat and am currently looking for my first sailboat. I have been shopping for about a year and I really like the Hunter 34. I have found a few in my price range that are 1998-2000. I am looking to use it for cruising in the great lakes (Huron, St. Clair, Erie). Ran into a guy who basically said, "don't get that hunter, does not go." In other words, he was very critical of the performance.
Does anyone have any advice for me on the performance of Hunter 34's in those year models? Again, not looking to race but don't want to buy a boat that does not sail well either.

 

[Richard Bryer]

You did not find any H34s from 1998-2000. The 34 was only made from 83-87. Do you mean a H340? They are very different. If some one is trying to sell you a H34 that is 1998-2000 run away!

 

[Dan Johnson]

What Richard Said X 2!

NC.

 

[Soon2BeSailor]

Yes, Hunter 340. Sorry.

 

[Soon2BeSailor]

Any advice on the H340?

 

[robertsapp]

We just purchased an H336, which is the same hull and layout, but without the arch. The hull is supposed to be very quick, and the few times we've had the boat out so far she's been quite speedy. Apparantly it comes down to the sails. The advantage to the B&R rig is that it allows you to use a large battened main with a full roach, which powers the boat along nicely. Hunter started offering a mast furling main on the 340, which is easier to use, but has less area because of little to no roach. I suspect if you get a 340 with a conventional main, you'll have a bit more work handling the sail, but a quicker boat, than if you get the mast furler. Just my opinion based on limited experience, certainly subject to correction by others actually sailing 340's.

 

[Soon2BeSailor]

Thank you. That is good to hear.

 

[steve stark]

We purchased a 2001 H340 last May and have used it a fair amount this summer in Puget Sound. We intentionally looked for a model with a standard full-sized main and avoided the furling mains. The performance is outstanding... points very high, reaches beautifully. The upside to the fully battened main is this kind of performance. The downside, of course, is that in future years, when the body is creaking a bit more, that main is going to be a handful to raise/dowse. We have a tubular stainless arch but I would have been just as happy with the fiberglass one which came on models previous to 2000. The arch affords much more flexibility in length of the traveller (assuming end-boom sheeting) than the 336, which we had also looked at. We couldn't be happier with the sailing performance of the 340.