After attending the boat show in Boston I was generally impressed with the Hunter design. I found it to be the most inovative of the boats I saw at the show which included a good number of high prices sailboats. In any case I have this new fantasy, to buy a 41' and live on it. I've heard a number of things about Hunters i.e. structural problems and leaking. Are there issues with structure. Could this be used as an offshore sailboat? Are there problems with water leaking into the cabin when it rains, if so what kinds of things can be done to remedy this? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
- Status
410 is a geat boat
Sonny, The 410 is a great sailing boat! It doesn't leak, and if it did Hunter would fix it under their warranty. Hunter's customer service department is great too! which is a big relief to owners of new boats. New boats are not like cars, you don't drive it off the lot perfect (though we often wish it could happen that way) It was best described to me by my dealer when I bought my 380 as being more like building a house than buying a car. lots of decisions of make, process never seems to end and it always goes over budget, frequently is delivered late, and then needs more work after that! Can be as exasperating experience but well worth it. Hunter make great liveaboards and Cape Yachts Sales is great to deal with. I've purchased five boats from them now, some small, some large, and they are great people. Good Luck in your search. Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
Sonny, The 410 is a great sailing boat! It doesn't leak, and if it did Hunter would fix it under their warranty. Hunter's customer service department is great too! which is a big relief to owners of new boats. New boats are not like cars, you don't drive it off the lot perfect (though we often wish it could happen that way) It was best described to me by my dealer when I bought my 380 as being more like building a house than buying a car. lots of decisions of make, process never seems to end and it always goes over budget, frequently is delivered late, and then needs more work after that! Can be as exasperating experience but well worth it. Hunter make great liveaboards and Cape Yachts Sales is great to deal with. I've purchased five boats from them now, some small, some large, and they are great people. Good Luck in your search. Bob Knott H380 S/V Serenity
Offshore?
You must define your terms much more closely. Hunter has made many, models in the last 20 years. Some are ideal for lakes, bays, and what is commonly called coastal cruising. Some are quite capable of voyaging. Of the models over 34', most (appropriately equipped) are capable of passages as far as Bermuda with little worry. Leaks, structural problems, and other quality issues are, I feel, no worse than similarly priced competition. In my experience, there are more expensive (what the CE bulletin board denizens would call "quality") boats that have the same or worse problems. Each model boat, Hunter or Hinckley, is an individual. Don't judge all Hunters by the stories told by sombody who knows somebody whose brother in law had the rudder fall off his Hunter while it was sitting in its slip. Find the boat you are interested in and ask here to get the real scoop.
You must define your terms much more closely. Hunter has made many, models in the last 20 years. Some are ideal for lakes, bays, and what is commonly called coastal cruising. Some are quite capable of voyaging. Of the models over 34', most (appropriately equipped) are capable of passages as far as Bermuda with little worry. Leaks, structural problems, and other quality issues are, I feel, no worse than similarly priced competition. In my experience, there are more expensive (what the CE bulletin board denizens would call "quality") boats that have the same or worse problems. Each model boat, Hunter or Hinckley, is an individual. Don't judge all Hunters by the stories told by sombody who knows somebody whose brother in law had the rudder fall off his Hunter while it was sitting in its slip. Find the boat you are interested in and ask here to get the real scoop.
Hunters and the 410
Sonny, I own a 340 (that I love) but had the opportunity to sail a new 410 out of Miami over a weekend last summer. Based on my experience with Hunter and as an owner of two Hunters I would agree with the two previous replies. If I were ready to trade up (I actually am but you know who isn't) I would probably buy a 410. I think you would be very hard pressed to find a better value. Without trying (read that weak crew) we were able to get 8.5 knots on 15 knots of wind. The boat balanced out very nicely and was a real pleasure to sail. The cabin layout is very room. The two full heads are a real plus. The boat we used had two rear cabins which were OK but not wonderful. The single rear cabin layout is very nice for a stern cockpit boat. Access to the generator, etc., in the three cabin model is a real pain. This is a great boat for the money. There are much larger and significantly more expensive boats that aren't as liveable. With regard to Huner I have found them to be great both with service issues and parts/accessories. However, make sure that you find a dealer with a good reputation. Regards, Johnnie Engesser s/v Grace
Sonny, I own a 340 (that I love) but had the opportunity to sail a new 410 out of Miami over a weekend last summer. Based on my experience with Hunter and as an owner of two Hunters I would agree with the two previous replies. If I were ready to trade up (I actually am but you know who isn't) I would probably buy a 410. I think you would be very hard pressed to find a better value. Without trying (read that weak crew) we were able to get 8.5 knots on 15 knots of wind. The boat balanced out very nicely and was a real pleasure to sail. The cabin layout is very room. The two full heads are a real plus. The boat we used had two rear cabins which were OK but not wonderful. The single rear cabin layout is very nice for a stern cockpit boat. Access to the generator, etc., in the three cabin model is a real pain. This is a great boat for the money. There are much larger and significantly more expensive boats that aren't as liveable. With regard to Huner I have found them to be great both with service issues and parts/accessories. However, make sure that you find a dealer with a good reputation. Regards, Johnnie Engesser s/v Grace
Some biased opinion
First and foremost, buy the boat, not the company. A large production company, over a five year period, will make dozens of models that vary significantly in purpose, quality, problems, etc. Ignore all brand bashing. Or brand praise. You aren't buying a name plate, but one specific boat. Second, read, look at boats, talk to surveyors, charter, and read some more before you make such a large investment. Write down twenty to thirty criteria that YOU have selected as important, from your own investigation and experience. You should give these priority according to use (liveaboard, safety, offshore sailing) and category (aesthetics, construction quality, convenience, etc.) Don't buy until you can make your own checklist and rank different boats by it. In my biased opinion, if you're planning on cruising out of the states, buy the boat, not the warranty and customer service department. These are great if you keep the boat within fifty miles of your dealer. They don't help you much when you are in Isla Mujeres. Sure, if the bottom develops terminal boat pox, you can interrupt your cruise, return to the states, and demand that Hunter fix it. You won't do this for problems that are most likely to occur after a short passage, such as a leak or a circuit that no longer works or a vibration while motoring. Hunter is unlikely to fly out a mechanic under warranty service. You will have to find some mix of living with the flaw, fixing it yourself, or dealing with foreign boat yards. Since I tend to fix things myself, I have always ranked construction quality and accessibility as very high on my requirements. I want the hull-deck joint, the wiring runs, the hoses, the through-hulls, and all internal systems within reasonable reach. I want to know that I can replace stanchions, find and fix a leak, and upgrade deck hardware, using standard tools. This is biased opinion. You must form your own.
First and foremost, buy the boat, not the company. A large production company, over a five year period, will make dozens of models that vary significantly in purpose, quality, problems, etc. Ignore all brand bashing. Or brand praise. You aren't buying a name plate, but one specific boat. Second, read, look at boats, talk to surveyors, charter, and read some more before you make such a large investment. Write down twenty to thirty criteria that YOU have selected as important, from your own investigation and experience. You should give these priority according to use (liveaboard, safety, offshore sailing) and category (aesthetics, construction quality, convenience, etc.) Don't buy until you can make your own checklist and rank different boats by it. In my biased opinion, if you're planning on cruising out of the states, buy the boat, not the warranty and customer service department. These are great if you keep the boat within fifty miles of your dealer. They don't help you much when you are in Isla Mujeres. Sure, if the bottom develops terminal boat pox, you can interrupt your cruise, return to the states, and demand that Hunter fix it. You won't do this for problems that are most likely to occur after a short passage, such as a leak or a circuit that no longer works or a vibration while motoring. Hunter is unlikely to fly out a mechanic under warranty service. You will have to find some mix of living with the flaw, fixing it yourself, or dealing with foreign boat yards. Since I tend to fix things myself, I have always ranked construction quality and accessibility as very high on my requirements. I want the hull-deck joint, the wiring runs, the hoses, the through-hulls, and all internal systems within reasonable reach. I want to know that I can replace stanchions, find and fix a leak, and upgrade deck hardware, using standard tools. This is biased opinion. You must form your own.
What you see is what you get
I've been sailing on many production boats for the past 35 years, and each manufacturer has their ways to keep the costs down, acroding to P>S> the Hunter line are at the bottom of the run, in price, they labeled the line "CHEVY'S, well I rather own this chevy than all those fords out there, I have a 1982 27 footer, it has 16" side decks, 8 opening ports, 2 hatches, a T shaped cockpit, pedestal steering, high aspect rig, dbl lwr shrouds, split backstay, full coaming cockpit, builtin sea spray hood,and desiel aux. pwr, dbl life lines stern ladder, and built in achor well, try to find a for with those std items, as options.
I've been sailing on many production boats for the past 35 years, and each manufacturer has their ways to keep the costs down, acroding to P>S> the Hunter line are at the bottom of the run, in price, they labeled the line "CHEVY'S, well I rather own this chevy than all those fords out there, I have a 1982 27 footer, it has 16" side decks, 8 opening ports, 2 hatches, a T shaped cockpit, pedestal steering, high aspect rig, dbl lwr shrouds, split backstay, full coaming cockpit, builtin sea spray hood,and desiel aux. pwr, dbl life lines stern ladder, and built in achor well, try to find a for with those std items, as options.
BT: good advice
Well taken. Clearly, the best way to buy a boat is to identify what *you* need and then find it in a specific boat at the right price. if you're oing to be offshore a lot, the warrant and service *will* have minimal impact. But if you're going to be around home alot, I'd put some stock inthe company and dealer you're buying from.
Well taken. Clearly, the best way to buy a boat is to identify what *you* need and then find it in a specific boat at the right price. if you're oing to be offshore a lot, the warrant and service *will* have minimal impact. But if you're going to be around home alot, I'd put some stock inthe company and dealer you're buying from.
It's the reality that's sobering, not the boat
My wife and I are recent Hunter owners, having purchased a pristine 3year old Passage 42 at the end of last season, this after years of proclaiming we would never own a Hunter. Spent many years looking for THE boat, had basically been looking for 15-20 year old bluewater cruisers. Saw the Hunter at a boat show, bought it a week later. Truly met all our criteria: Technology-fast, well rigged, easy to sail for 2 people Comfort-Stand up heads and showers, queen birth, great galley, air conditioning don't hit my head on nearly anything Fun- Fridge, freezer, stereo, the greatest "back deck" for BBQ I have seen in a boat in this size range Bluewater ready-Hell, I don't know, but there's a lot of sailing between here and there before I decide to take her to another world. If we ever get to the east edge of the Carribean, I'll probably go west insted of "over" So, she doesn't say Hinkley or Swan, she doesn't have that romance of the sea look, but on our list, she far outperformed all that was in our price range. I've even fallen in love with the arch. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I'll head to Maine with my $1.5MM budget, but until then, this is my last boat.
My wife and I are recent Hunter owners, having purchased a pristine 3year old Passage 42 at the end of last season, this after years of proclaiming we would never own a Hunter. Spent many years looking for THE boat, had basically been looking for 15-20 year old bluewater cruisers. Saw the Hunter at a boat show, bought it a week later. Truly met all our criteria: Technology-fast, well rigged, easy to sail for 2 people Comfort-Stand up heads and showers, queen birth, great galley, air conditioning don't hit my head on nearly anything Fun- Fridge, freezer, stereo, the greatest "back deck" for BBQ I have seen in a boat in this size range Bluewater ready-Hell, I don't know, but there's a lot of sailing between here and there before I decide to take her to another world. If we ever get to the east edge of the Carribean, I'll probably go west insted of "over" So, she doesn't say Hinkley or Swan, she doesn't have that romance of the sea look, but on our list, she far outperformed all that was in our price range. I've even fallen in love with the arch. If I win the lottery tomorrow, I'll head to Maine with my $1.5MM budget, but until then, this is my last boat.
fantasy became reality
A little over a year ago I decided to trade up from my beautiful 1980 Cherubini H33 to a new H410. Having lived on the H33, the H410 is a palace - there is so much space on the boat and over half the storage is still empty. She's been put through her paces out here and has come through flawlessly - winds, waves and currents are handled easily (we sail in Paul Cayard's training grounds which offer a wide variety of conditions, and prefer offshore sailing as sailing any boat onshore is messy and costly when you have to keep replacing the keels!) and I've never felt any concern regarding the structural integrity of the boat. That feeling was further supported after I visited Hunter Marine and saw the boat production process. And as a believer that all boats must leak somewhere, it has been a nice surprise to have weathered the last two very wet months without a single leak. If you are serious about living on a boat, I think you'll find the H410 to offer the most comfort of comparable boats in that size range in addition to outstanding sailing performance. She tracks incredibly well with the full roach main and is quite fast. Fair winds, /c s/v Twilight, H410
A little over a year ago I decided to trade up from my beautiful 1980 Cherubini H33 to a new H410. Having lived on the H33, the H410 is a palace - there is so much space on the boat and over half the storage is still empty. She's been put through her paces out here and has come through flawlessly - winds, waves and currents are handled easily (we sail in Paul Cayard's training grounds which offer a wide variety of conditions, and prefer offshore sailing as sailing any boat onshore is messy and costly when you have to keep replacing the keels!) and I've never felt any concern regarding the structural integrity of the boat. That feeling was further supported after I visited Hunter Marine and saw the boat production process. And as a believer that all boats must leak somewhere, it has been a nice surprise to have weathered the last two very wet months without a single leak. If you are serious about living on a boat, I think you'll find the H410 to offer the most comfort of comparable boats in that size range in addition to outstanding sailing performance. She tracks incredibly well with the full roach main and is quite fast. Fair winds, /c s/v Twilight, H410
Carol, why did you believe ..?
Why were you a believer that all boats leak somewhere? Both my previous boat and my current boat, a 1980 model, became dry, from both sea and rain, after I did some maintenance on them. My own biased view is that it should be reasonably easy to make any fiberglass boat dry, regardless of age. When I hear an owner frustrated that they cannot make their boat dry, I always wonder why that is. It IS true that boats develop leaks over the years. Gaskets dry, sealants eventually fail, and water will find a way in. A new boat should be dry. Of course. But don't expect that to last several years without ever having to fix a leak. More important than a new boat not leaking, it should be easy to trace and fix leaks when they eventually occur. And they will occur.
Why were you a believer that all boats leak somewhere? Both my previous boat and my current boat, a 1980 model, became dry, from both sea and rain, after I did some maintenance on them. My own biased view is that it should be reasonably easy to make any fiberglass boat dry, regardless of age. When I hear an owner frustrated that they cannot make their boat dry, I always wonder why that is. It IS true that boats develop leaks over the years. Gaskets dry, sealants eventually fail, and water will find a way in. A new boat should be dry. Of course. But don't expect that to last several years without ever having to fix a leak. More important than a new boat not leaking, it should be easy to trace and fix leaks when they eventually occur. And they will occur.
Never had a new boat before
BT: Have never been fortunate enough to have taken delivery of a newly manufactured boat until my H410. So, upon 'receipt' of all my other used boats, the first thing I did was find where they leaked and corrected the problem. Have been on other brand new boats (not Hunters) that also leaked upon delivery. So, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Twilight was dry after sailing her up from San Diego in some really ruff conditions, and has not sprung any 'repair opportunites' throughout our winter season. We got bashed today with high winds and walls of water, and we're warm and snug aboard. And you're right - no delusions that she'll be dry infinitely, just pleased that chasing water back to its always mysterious source wasn't needed the first year. /c s/v Twilight
BT: Have never been fortunate enough to have taken delivery of a newly manufactured boat until my H410. So, upon 'receipt' of all my other used boats, the first thing I did was find where they leaked and corrected the problem. Have been on other brand new boats (not Hunters) that also leaked upon delivery. So, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Twilight was dry after sailing her up from San Diego in some really ruff conditions, and has not sprung any 'repair opportunites' throughout our winter season. We got bashed today with high winds and walls of water, and we're warm and snug aboard. And you're right - no delusions that she'll be dry infinitely, just pleased that chasing water back to its always mysterious source wasn't needed the first year. /c s/v Twilight
Leaks mysterious? They should never be!
On some boats, the source of a water leak is NEVER mysterious. You simply trace the water trail up to where it came from. It takes thirty seconds. Five or ten minutes on the outside, if the water has traveled some distance. It is always easy, and it never requires posting to a bulletin board, resealing likely but unproven sources, etc. Water leaks are mysterious only on boats that are constructed with spaces where water can collect or travel unseen. Such spaces, unfortunately, are something that many builders will spend lots of money to create. It is one area where the Hunters I have owned and seen are near the bottom of the scale. These were all older boats, so I don't know how the new boats measure up in this regard. Maybe it doesn't matter to Hunter, or to the new boat buyer much, since it is a problem mostly as a boat ages. On the other hand, there have been some posts on this board by owners of new Hunters, who were having just this problem, suggesting that not all new Hunters are leak free, and that the new models also suffer from this design flaw. That a new boat is shipped with a leak is a minor QA problem. The difficulty finding the leak, its mysteriousness, is the real problem. Yeah, I know, I sound like a broken record. But really: it doesn't have to be this way. And it's not an issue of construction cost. Much of what causes this problem is non-structural finish that costs the builder to make. I think it is more a design philosophy and marketing issue. Some boat builders are afraid that if new boat buyers see fiberglass hull or deck anywhere, even if nicely painted, that they will think the boat "unfinished." This isn't just a Hunter issue. Many other boat builders do the same. An older Tartan model I had the chance to inspect was perhaps the worst in this regard. Maybe the problem is us. We don't teach new boat buyers that the ability to see the boat and wiring and "stuff" behind the interior trim is good, and a hallmark of thoughtful design.
On some boats, the source of a water leak is NEVER mysterious. You simply trace the water trail up to where it came from. It takes thirty seconds. Five or ten minutes on the outside, if the water has traveled some distance. It is always easy, and it never requires posting to a bulletin board, resealing likely but unproven sources, etc. Water leaks are mysterious only on boats that are constructed with spaces where water can collect or travel unseen. Such spaces, unfortunately, are something that many builders will spend lots of money to create. It is one area where the Hunters I have owned and seen are near the bottom of the scale. These were all older boats, so I don't know how the new boats measure up in this regard. Maybe it doesn't matter to Hunter, or to the new boat buyer much, since it is a problem mostly as a boat ages. On the other hand, there have been some posts on this board by owners of new Hunters, who were having just this problem, suggesting that not all new Hunters are leak free, and that the new models also suffer from this design flaw. That a new boat is shipped with a leak is a minor QA problem. The difficulty finding the leak, its mysteriousness, is the real problem. Yeah, I know, I sound like a broken record. But really: it doesn't have to be this way. And it's not an issue of construction cost. Much of what causes this problem is non-structural finish that costs the builder to make. I think it is more a design philosophy and marketing issue. Some boat builders are afraid that if new boat buyers see fiberglass hull or deck anywhere, even if nicely painted, that they will think the boat "unfinished." This isn't just a Hunter issue. Many other boat builders do the same. An older Tartan model I had the chance to inspect was perhaps the worst in this regard. Maybe the problem is us. We don't teach new boat buyers that the ability to see the boat and wiring and "stuff" behind the interior trim is good, and a hallmark of thoughtful design.
"Liner Boat" Problems
The main problem with leaks on a Hunter is not whether they come from the factory leak-free, but rather they way they are constructed. In trade parlance, they are a "liner boat". What this means is on the inside of the boat a liner is installed - on the overhead or in the bildge, or in places such as the head, to provide a cosmetic cover for the raw finish that would otherwise be seen. My boat is an '88 H-35 which was bought new and leaked almost everywhere since new. In '91 while rounding Cape Scott I had plastic grocery bags duct-taped over all six ports and duct tape over the skylights (four). This did not stop the leaks but minimized them. Sealant would not stick to a wet surface and the duct tape didn't really want to either. Bit by bit I've managed to locate the leaks and get them fixed. It took about six years to fix the coach roof ports and two years ago (10 years) to fix the skylights. I now know the secrets of these two leak sources and how to prevent leaks, the details of which I've written on this site and they should be in the archives. The big problem with the liner is one cannot easily see where the water is coming from - only where it shows up. A leak from a screw penetration in the handrail on the coach roof may show itself in the aft end of the galley shelf, some 6 to 8 feet away. It takes real detective work to trace the source of these leaks down. That said, Hunter is by no means alone in the liner field. All the economy constructed boats have liners and some of the more expensive boats have liners in areas. By changing to a different manufacturer you'll probably still have leak problems - or problems locating leaks, but probably never eliminate the leak problem completely, especially if the boat is taken to sea where it racks and twists. Our H-35 is practically leak free now - found one small leak this winter, and thanks to doing all the detective work and repair work myself I feel confident I can keep it that way. Assistance from the dealer (Sailboats Northwest - no longer in business) lasted one year (end of warranty) and I had virtually no assistance from the manufacturer. Leak problems rand hot and cold between boats in the same model. Some people have no problems and others have lots. One can easily tell by looking at the sealant applied around joints on various boats. Poulsbo is located in Washington where in '85 there was measurable precip every day of July so having a dry boat is important.
The main problem with leaks on a Hunter is not whether they come from the factory leak-free, but rather they way they are constructed. In trade parlance, they are a "liner boat". What this means is on the inside of the boat a liner is installed - on the overhead or in the bildge, or in places such as the head, to provide a cosmetic cover for the raw finish that would otherwise be seen. My boat is an '88 H-35 which was bought new and leaked almost everywhere since new. In '91 while rounding Cape Scott I had plastic grocery bags duct-taped over all six ports and duct tape over the skylights (four). This did not stop the leaks but minimized them. Sealant would not stick to a wet surface and the duct tape didn't really want to either. Bit by bit I've managed to locate the leaks and get them fixed. It took about six years to fix the coach roof ports and two years ago (10 years) to fix the skylights. I now know the secrets of these two leak sources and how to prevent leaks, the details of which I've written on this site and they should be in the archives. The big problem with the liner is one cannot easily see where the water is coming from - only where it shows up. A leak from a screw penetration in the handrail on the coach roof may show itself in the aft end of the galley shelf, some 6 to 8 feet away. It takes real detective work to trace the source of these leaks down. That said, Hunter is by no means alone in the liner field. All the economy constructed boats have liners and some of the more expensive boats have liners in areas. By changing to a different manufacturer you'll probably still have leak problems - or problems locating leaks, but probably never eliminate the leak problem completely, especially if the boat is taken to sea where it racks and twists. Our H-35 is practically leak free now - found one small leak this winter, and thanks to doing all the detective work and repair work myself I feel confident I can keep it that way. Assistance from the dealer (Sailboats Northwest - no longer in business) lasted one year (end of warranty) and I had virtually no assistance from the manufacturer. Leak problems rand hot and cold between boats in the same model. Some people have no problems and others have lots. One can easily tell by looking at the sealant applied around joints on various boats. Poulsbo is located in Washington where in '85 there was measurable precip every day of July so having a dry boat is important.
When You're alone
If you intend to purchase a 410 Hunter, know this, it carries 875 sq. ft. of sail, now add another 300 sq. ft. for the high freeboard, your dealing with a lot of force, now most sailors, can handle that much sail, but not much more, but when the forces of nature, come upon you real quickly,875 sq. ft. of sail, can be a bear, so I'd consider a smaller boat, if your not built like Davy Crocket, now about the Hunter's, rep., My Hunter, has no rivets or screws where bolts should be, no staples, or cheap corner cutting gismo's, it's a production boat that the design group has put alot of thought and effort into, with more inovations, and energy saving add ons, that came standard , where most other boats, don't have even as options
If you intend to purchase a 410 Hunter, know this, it carries 875 sq. ft. of sail, now add another 300 sq. ft. for the high freeboard, your dealing with a lot of force, now most sailors, can handle that much sail, but not much more, but when the forces of nature, come upon you real quickly,875 sq. ft. of sail, can be a bear, so I'd consider a smaller boat, if your not built like Davy Crocket, now about the Hunter's, rep., My Hunter, has no rivets or screws where bolts should be, no staples, or cheap corner cutting gismo's, it's a production boat that the design group has put alot of thought and effort into, with more inovations, and energy saving add ons, that came standard , where most other boats, don't have even as options
buoyant
i've lived aboard my 410 for almost two years now, and have sailed the heck out of it. we've been through four offshore gales in this boat, including one 24-hour period where we were running before a storm with no main and the jib 50% furled, during which time we *averaged* 9.5 knots (the 410's hull speed is 8.25 knots). thanks to the 410s manners, our autohelm 7000 was able to steer throughout this run. ours is a deep-keel version with a furling main. The factory prop is not ideal for motoring to weather in steep seas beyond 14 feet, and the refrigeration system is not ideal for the demands of liveaboards. Otherwise, i heartily endorse this boat. if it's a chevy, its certainly a chevy that you can live aboard and in which you can venture offshore. jsfarnsworth s/v buoyant
i've lived aboard my 410 for almost two years now, and have sailed the heck out of it. we've been through four offshore gales in this boat, including one 24-hour period where we were running before a storm with no main and the jib 50% furled, during which time we *averaged* 9.5 knots (the 410's hull speed is 8.25 knots). thanks to the 410s manners, our autohelm 7000 was able to steer throughout this run. ours is a deep-keel version with a furling main. The factory prop is not ideal for motoring to weather in steep seas beyond 14 feet, and the refrigeration system is not ideal for the demands of liveaboards. Otherwise, i heartily endorse this boat. if it's a chevy, its certainly a chevy that you can live aboard and in which you can venture offshore. jsfarnsworth s/v buoyant
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