Blue Water Cruising?

[Capt Hastings]

Can anyone tell me about their ocean passage experiences?
Is a Hunter 376 a sea worthy yacht. I am considering buying a Hunter 376 here in Australia with the view to cruise the east coast and Great Barrier Reef and later up through Indonesia, Philippines and on up to Hong Kong.

 

[seadaddler]

Ed Schenk

Get in touch with ED he sailed his 376 from the great lakes down along east coast and over to tampa.
Nick

 

[KD3PC]

Sorry there is a big difference between GL/ICW/FL and the OP desired area...

Although the 376 is "sea worthy", it will take some work to make it safe for your needs. There are numerous discussions here as to what it will take, and the training you will need, to make the journey uneventfully..You will discover a lot about both the boat and yourself.

I do own a Hunter, and feel they are good boats, just not 100% what you may need as a stock boat. Certainly age and condition, as well as equipment and repair, and even the skipper and crew will have a marked impact on the success.

The expansive glass and production ports, port lights and hatches and vents are an issue at sea. Handholds are few and far between. There is no wet locker near the cockpit, nor are the scuppers large enough unless you get one of the open transom "new" boats. Sea berths will need to be made, and the galley can be a ride in a blow, if you try to use the stove or the freezers. YMMV.

Others will post I am sure...

 

[David in Sandusky]

Blue Water Mods

Check out Henk Meuzelaar's mods on his Legend 43:

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...mid=267&cat_id=47&aid=7352&page=article&mn=43

Also note the Henk advises us not to try to get them all done before departing! The 376 looks like a good start on your needs, but any production boat needs work to do the sailing you plan.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Sorry Nick, but my boat is a 1979 37-cutter. There was an H380 with us for some of the time, very similar to the H376. They went on to Florida when I stopped in NC. After Christmas they went to the Abacos and spent the winter in the islands. They were gone one year from Lake Erie.

 

[Steve Kamp]

We made the aquaintance of a skipper of a 376 in the Abacos who had brought the vessel over from Palm Beach. He was single handing at the time but open to taking on crew. When we last saw him he was headed toward the Exumas alone on "Freedom".
His name; Captain Ron.

 

[Don Lucas]

Back to the orginal question - yes. You just have to fit out the boat like would any other.