bluewater

[Sandy]

Hi im just trying to figure out how much of a blue water boat is the 1977 30' tall rig hunter? I'm planning a trans-atlantic solo.

 

[Guest]

I'd Take a BIG Dink

There's a '76 30 in our marina which the owner purchased new. It's handled everything the Chesapeake can offer over the years. The boat suffers from mast compression and would take a lot to bring her up to handle even moderate ocean conditions.This site has had a lot of discussions on the topic of blue water preparation. You can find these in the archieves.I believe if I had to cross the atlantic in this boat, I would carry a very large dink, something in the freighter category.

 

[Clyde Lichtenwalner]

Blue Water

Worse boats have done the treck. A Catalina 27 circumnavigated some years back, so it is possible. However, there are probably better choices at not much more cost for a single handed effort. It requires considerable research and planning to find the "right" boat. Read, ask questions, and see what is available before making the leap. You may be able to find a boat that already has the tankage, self steering, and other equipment needed for such a voyage so that the long process of upgrading a Hunter 30 to trans Atlantic standards is not required.

 

[Tim]

No really...

Maybe this is obvious, but if you have to ask, then you're nowhere near ready to go. The 74-83 Hunter 30 is a nice small coastal cruiser that I trust in anything up to around 6 ft seas and 35kt winds. It has many of the features you would want for safety (skeg hung rudder, high bridge deck, strong hull-deck joint, external lead ballast,...) The tall rig version has substantially beefed up standing rigging. I think its a more seaworthy boat in the details than its peers (Catalinas 30s with the big companionway opening, O'Day 30s with their light standing rig, etc.) but much plainer. My other favorite boat is the same era 37 cutter.Much as I love my boat, NO WAY would I want to find myself 500 miles from port in a building force 8 storm in the thing. And the guy in the Catalina 27 was an idiot.

 

[Tom M.]

somewhere beyond the blue

The 30' hunter is a nice coastal cruiser, but with some add on's it can become a blue water capable boat, for the north atlantic?? I don't know, looking at the 30 footer, your companionway is too large and it doesn't have a bridgedeck, the portholes and hatches are plastic, the cockpit drains are too small, it doesn't have safety deck jacks, your mainsail doesn't have enough reef points, if you have roller furling, you have no way to hank on a storm jib, and your standing rigging is 22 years old !!!, All of these items can be replaced or added or protected, but it takes time and money, sell your boat, take the money, buy a plane ticket, to whereever and buy a blue water boat there. good luck