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Ed Schenck
Where are the 40.5 owners?
I'm guessing that no one wants to reopen this can of worms. There has been so much discussion on this subject on the HOW site that everyone may be tired of the subject(see the archives). Or are they all out sailing? I could suggest a couple of books that are on my shelf at home if I could remember the titles. You can find them by searching amazon.com with "cruising sailboat" as a search argument. Most of what you will read here is that Hunter's are not offshore boats. And most will write that they can be made very safe for short ocean passages but still not be considered "blue water" boats. Your capsize screen of 1.97 is on the low side. With enough money you could improve that. Lots of plastic windows, especially below the toerail, would be costly to fix. Don't know much about your hull design or other 40.5 factors like cockpit drainage. I plan to take my Hunter H37C into open water(with lots of Lake Erie experience). But it will be island hopping with careful attention to weather. And a lot of modifications. I am really surprised that your query hasn't started something here.
I'm guessing that no one wants to reopen this can of worms. There has been so much discussion on this subject on the HOW site that everyone may be tired of the subject(see the archives). Or are they all out sailing? I could suggest a couple of books that are on my shelf at home if I could remember the titles. You can find them by searching amazon.com with "cruising sailboat" as a search argument. Most of what you will read here is that Hunter's are not offshore boats. And most will write that they can be made very safe for short ocean passages but still not be considered "blue water" boats. Your capsize screen of 1.97 is on the low side. With enough money you could improve that. Lots of plastic windows, especially below the toerail, would be costly to fix. Don't know much about your hull design or other 40.5 factors like cockpit drainage. I plan to take my Hunter H37C into open water(with lots of Lake Erie experience). But it will be island hopping with careful attention to weather. And a lot of modifications. I am really surprised that your query hasn't started something here.
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Ron
Here we go Ed!!
Ed and I both own Hunter 37 cutters. A man by the name of Blaise Pierson, who used to be on this site, took his H37C trans-atlantic four times.. Depending on what you call blue water, most Hunters can handle it. Most of the Hunters in charter around the world got there on their own hulls. The big question is, "Are you a blue water sailor??" And don't let Eddy kid you. He'd be my first choice for a crew mate on a trans-atlantic voyage aboard my H37C.. And I'm willing to bet he'd not only go, he'd show up early. So take that Ed!!! Ron
Ed and I both own Hunter 37 cutters. A man by the name of Blaise Pierson, who used to be on this site, took his H37C trans-atlantic four times.. Depending on what you call blue water, most Hunters can handle it. Most of the Hunters in charter around the world got there on their own hulls. The big question is, "Are you a blue water sailor??" And don't let Eddy kid you. He'd be my first choice for a crew mate on a trans-atlantic voyage aboard my H37C.. And I'm willing to bet he'd not only go, he'd show up early. So take that Ed!!! Ron
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popalge
Blue water cruiser
I too have a 37c and it has made 2 transatlantic crossings. I would not hesitate to attempt a blue water passage in a 37c or a 40.5 as long as it is fitted out properly. It is not so much the boat but the skill of the sailor that is to be concidered in blue water sailing. Ed and I have a very good training ground here in Lake Erie although I am not ready to attempt sailing in the Erie rollers yet . I was caught out in them with my 28 Columbia and it was not the least bit fun at all.
I too have a 37c and it has made 2 transatlantic crossings. I would not hesitate to attempt a blue water passage in a 37c or a 40.5 as long as it is fitted out properly. It is not so much the boat but the skill of the sailor that is to be concidered in blue water sailing. Ed and I have a very good training ground here in Lake Erie although I am not ready to attempt sailing in the Erie rollers yet . I was caught out in them with my 28 Columbia and it was not the least bit fun at all.
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Bill Jones
My Experience
I purchased a 1994 Hunter 40.5 last November, kept the boat in Jacksonville for the winter and brought it to Chesapeake Bay in April. I intended to go on the outside as much as possible due to the mast height and fixed bridges on the ICW. During much of the stretch from Jacksonville to Charleston, SC, winds were out of the north and seas were in the 6 - 8 foot range. It as a very bumpy ride under power. The boat took a pretty good pounding and the damage suffered had to do with the cabinet beneath the v-berth. It was only held on to its faceplate with wood screws, no glue, no backing plates. The pounding ripped the screws out of the cabinet. The repair made it much more sound than the original design. I know nothing about the integrity of the boat itself, but this problem suggested to me that the design of the boat was probably not done with serious weather or seas in mind. Obviously, the walk through transom would be a concern with big following seas. Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
I purchased a 1994 Hunter 40.5 last November, kept the boat in Jacksonville for the winter and brought it to Chesapeake Bay in April. I intended to go on the outside as much as possible due to the mast height and fixed bridges on the ICW. During much of the stretch from Jacksonville to Charleston, SC, winds were out of the north and seas were in the 6 - 8 foot range. It as a very bumpy ride under power. The boat took a pretty good pounding and the damage suffered had to do with the cabinet beneath the v-berth. It was only held on to its faceplate with wood screws, no glue, no backing plates. The pounding ripped the screws out of the cabinet. The repair made it much more sound than the original design. I know nothing about the integrity of the boat itself, but this problem suggested to me that the design of the boat was probably not done with serious weather or seas in mind. Obviously, the walk through transom would be a concern with big following seas. Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
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Mickey McHugh
In the future
We have been out sailing Ed so I don't check HOW as often as I would like to. No real experiences yet. We did make a crossing from Catalina to Newport Beach in a full gale. Winds +60, NW swells +15, N seas +5 for over five hours. We were really slammed by some big breaking waves. I surf and I know the force of the 'soup' smashing into bow causing the whole boat to be covered with white water is not to be taken lightly. I am not sure I want to experience 'blue' water turned 'white' by winds in excess of 70 knots. I think I would feel safe on our 40.5 because she is well built, properly equipped and I am confident in our abilities. BUT do I want to have that much FUN?
We have been out sailing Ed so I don't check HOW as often as I would like to. No real experiences yet. We did make a crossing from Catalina to Newport Beach in a full gale. Winds +60, NW swells +15, N seas +5 for over five hours. We were really slammed by some big breaking waves. I surf and I know the force of the 'soup' smashing into bow causing the whole boat to be covered with white water is not to be taken lightly. I am not sure I want to experience 'blue' water turned 'white' by winds in excess of 70 knots. I think I would feel safe on our 40.5 because she is well built, properly equipped and I am confident in our abilities. BUT do I want to have that much FUN?
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Pat Ross
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