We are thinking about buying a 1999 with fiberglass arch vs 2000 45 with a stainless steel arch. 1. Is the fiberglass arch OK? 2. Does the stainless 2000 sell better? 3. Is the fiberglass easy to keep solid to deck? 4. Do you think the fiberglass arch is dated and not so good looking? 5. Why did Hunter stop if it was a hot seller? 6. OR, if you can get a good deal on a clean 1997-8-9 45 with fiberglass arch is it a better deal to save a ton of money? Is the fiberglass arch strong as ss arch in heavy air? Help? We love the Hunters interiors but have a little issue with the big white arches!!! Captain Red Thanks, maties.
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look here
I just posed this same question about the same boat, the 450 (different than the 45) Look here... http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2007259092217.41&id=493170&ptl=steel%20vs.%20fiberglass%20arch&id=493170 Seems there was a lot of problems with the fiberglass arch. They are fixable but I am discounting the value of pre-2000 450's.
I just posed this same question about the same boat, the 450 (different than the 45) Look here... http://archives.sailboatowners.com/pviewarch.htm?fno=0&sku=2007259092217.41&id=493170&ptl=steel%20vs.%20fiberglass%20arch&id=493170 Seems there was a lot of problems with the fiberglass arch. They are fixable but I am discounting the value of pre-2000 450's.
Stainless arch: Less potential problems, better looking (to most people anyway)and better resale. That being said, overall condition is more important that what kind of arch it has. Just my 2 cents.
question #5
It was not a "hot" seller. Hunter discovered that many people were buying the boats despite the arch, not because of it. Boats with "roll bars" became the butt of jokes within the boating community, and some owners paid big bucks to replace their fiber arches with custom stainless installations. Other potential customers insisted on ordering boats without arches. The gelcoat was hard to maintain because of stress fractures, and the rubber rails were almost impossible to keep clean. It was difficult to keep from grooving the rails with a spinnaker sheet during a gybe. During the rainy season, when you opened the inspection ports at the base of the arch you'd find pools of water because the arch had out-flexed its calk. A wet-inside fiberglass arch is probably the worst place possible to put an ignition switch, despite how cool it might seem at a boat show. And if someone seated in the cockpit leaned back against the arch while underway, he'd shut your engine off. Or snap off the key. Worst of all, the arch on some models meant that undersize traveler tracks were used. A bad idea all around. Credit Hunter for only taking a couple of years to figure that out.
It was not a "hot" seller. Hunter discovered that many people were buying the boats despite the arch, not because of it. Boats with "roll bars" became the butt of jokes within the boating community, and some owners paid big bucks to replace their fiber arches with custom stainless installations. Other potential customers insisted on ordering boats without arches. The gelcoat was hard to maintain because of stress fractures, and the rubber rails were almost impossible to keep clean. It was difficult to keep from grooving the rails with a spinnaker sheet during a gybe. During the rainy season, when you opened the inspection ports at the base of the arch you'd find pools of water because the arch had out-flexed its calk. A wet-inside fiberglass arch is probably the worst place possible to put an ignition switch, despite how cool it might seem at a boat show. And if someone seated in the cockpit leaned back against the arch while underway, he'd shut your engine off. Or snap off the key. Worst of all, the arch on some models meant that undersize traveler tracks were used. A bad idea all around. Credit Hunter for only taking a couple of years to figure that out.
please explain
"and the rubber rails were almost impossible to keep clean. It was difficult to keep from grooving the rails with a spinnaker sheet during a gybe." I don't recall rubber rails on the fiberglass arch. The spin sheet rubs the arch?
"and the rubber rails were almost impossible to keep clean. It was difficult to keep from grooving the rails with a spinnaker sheet during a gybe." I don't recall rubber rails on the fiberglass arch. The spin sheet rubs the arch?
Fiberglass Arch, We like it
1. Is the fiberglass arch OK? We have had zero problems with our 1999 Hunter 420 arch. We have cruised 20,000 miles with it, including to the "Wild West" (Beleze and beyond) 2. Does the stainless 2000 sell better? Do not know. 3. Is the fiberglass easy to keep solid to deck? This has never been an issue. 4. Do you think the fiberglass arch is dated and not so good looking? We like it. It is a huge plus when installing a full enclosure. Much easier to make weather tight. 5. Why did Hunter stop if it was a hot seller? We were told that it was a financial decision. Hunter bought a SS fabricating establishment and produced the SS arches for much less. 6. OR, if you can get a good deal on a clean 1997-8-9 45 with fiberglass arch is it a better deal to save a ton of money? I would save the money. I can only speak for 99 models. Is the fiberglass arch strong as ss arch in heavy air? We are known to sail our boat through anything. It was very heavy on our trip down the Yucatan. Hope this helps. Seems like I am in the minority, but we like it. Mike Busher
1. Is the fiberglass arch OK? We have had zero problems with our 1999 Hunter 420 arch. We have cruised 20,000 miles with it, including to the "Wild West" (Beleze and beyond) 2. Does the stainless 2000 sell better? Do not know. 3. Is the fiberglass easy to keep solid to deck? This has never been an issue. 4. Do you think the fiberglass arch is dated and not so good looking? We like it. It is a huge plus when installing a full enclosure. Much easier to make weather tight. 5. Why did Hunter stop if it was a hot seller? We were told that it was a financial decision. Hunter bought a SS fabricating establishment and produced the SS arches for much less. 6. OR, if you can get a good deal on a clean 1997-8-9 45 with fiberglass arch is it a better deal to save a ton of money? I would save the money. I can only speak for 99 models. Is the fiberglass arch strong as ss arch in heavy air? We are known to sail our boat through anything. It was very heavy on our trip down the Yucatan. Hope this helps. Seems like I am in the minority, but we like it. Mike Busher
Fiberglass Arch
I can't speak for the SS arch but on our 2000 380 with the fiberglass arch, we have never had any kind of problem. No leaks or cracks. Furthermore it's rock solid and makes a perfect base for two 80 watt solar panels. The best part is I think the white arch - sorry, "roll bar" looks way cool. As for the rubber rails, I am at a loss what you are talking about. I don't have any rubber rails on my Hunter. Are you sure you're not talking about another brand? Ken
I can't speak for the SS arch but on our 2000 380 with the fiberglass arch, we have never had any kind of problem. No leaks or cracks. Furthermore it's rock solid and makes a perfect base for two 80 watt solar panels. The best part is I think the white arch - sorry, "roll bar" looks way cool. As for the rubber rails, I am at a loss what you are talking about. I don't have any rubber rails on my Hunter. Are you sure you're not talking about another brand? Ken
panels
Ken How did you mount 2 solar panels to the arch and not interfere with the traveller? Pictures? Thanks
Ken How did you mount 2 solar panels to the arch and not interfere with the traveller? Pictures? Thanks
Hi Ted, the Photo Forum had project pics...
of a P42 skipper that installed three panels to the back side of the SS arch. Looked pretty nice. That was maybe three or four years ago. Perhaps an archive search might turn them up. If I were to add them to our boat, I think I would do the same. There is plenty of room between the arch and the backstay. See the following link: http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Walton73100231736&fno=17 Terry
of a P42 skipper that installed three panels to the back side of the SS arch. Looked pretty nice. That was maybe three or four years ago. Perhaps an archive search might turn them up. If I were to add them to our boat, I think I would do the same. There is plenty of room between the arch and the backstay. See the following link: http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Walton73100231736&fno=17 Terry
got it
Thanks Terry The panels are technically BEHIND the arch! Using a brace to hold them up. I figured that was the case but... Terry Did you get my message about the years of production for the P42?
Thanks Terry The panels are technically BEHIND the arch! Using a brace to hold them up. I figured that was the case but... Terry Did you get my message about the years of production for the P42?
Oops, I need to update my profile with...
our new e-mail address. Sorry about that. I just updated our profile with our new address. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Terry P.S. P42 production years were from 1990 to 1997. I have lots more information available in the Knowledge Base. Select the link below. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=842
our new e-mail address. Sorry about that. I just updated our profile with our new address. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Terry P.S. P42 production years were from 1990 to 1997. I have lots more information available in the Knowledge Base. Select the link below. http://kb.sailboatowners.com/brand?post=842
Solar Panels & Arch
Ted - I had stainless steel pcs fabricated in Mexico that are about 4 inches long that allow the panels to be mounted to the back section of the arch. I used conduit hangers to secure the corners of the panels to the stainless tubing for my bimini. Happy to send a pix but can't get to it for the next two weeks as I'm stateside. The wiring was run through the arch with the waterproof regulator mounted in the smaller port side locker in the cockpit. It looks pretty darn nice and you would be hard pressed to see it as it is mounted just above the bimini. Ken
Ted - I had stainless steel pcs fabricated in Mexico that are about 4 inches long that allow the panels to be mounted to the back section of the arch. I used conduit hangers to secure the corners of the panels to the stainless tubing for my bimini. Happy to send a pix but can't get to it for the next two weeks as I'm stateside. The wiring was run through the arch with the waterproof regulator mounted in the smaller port side locker in the cockpit. It looks pretty darn nice and you would be hard pressed to see it as it is mounted just above the bimini. Ken
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