Comments on the 37C

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Daniel Sheehan AMS

As a full time professional Marine Surveyor I was recently asked to comment about the Hunter 37C and I thought some others on this site might be interested in my response. As John probably told you, I own a 1980 Hunter 37C myself. I feel it is probably the most under rated cruising boat on the used boat market. The boat does have its faults but you seem to have researched it well. None of the faults that are common are a basic structural weakness. The one thing that does not seem to be mentioned is that there are some problems with the rudders in these boats. In fact with most boats of this vintage. However new rudders are available from the original manufacturer in Florida, Foss Foams Inc. The headroom in the boat should be sufficient for you except where you pass into the head/fwd cabin. I hit my head there all the time and I am only 5'11". The hunter 37C was designed to be a capable offshore cruiser by a very well respected designer of traditional cruising boats. She has sufficient displacement to carry the stores needed and is still a reasonable performer. The Cherubini hunters are an entirely different animal from the later hunters. The construction is solid and very sound. There are things that do need to be examined carefully when considering any boat from this era. The decks and cabin top need to be examined for water intrusion and possible delamination. The hull checked for moisture content and osmotic blistering. and the usual checks of mechanical equipment and rigging. This is a vessel which is relatively easy to single hand and there are some modifications that make this even easier. I have not seen any real quality differences in the later 37C's. The deck mould was changed and there was some different equipment. Some changes were good some others not so good. The engine was upgraded to a Yanmar 44hp 4 cylinder which was much smoother than the earlier 3QM30. The winches were changed to Maxwell winches which are not as robust as the earlier Lewmars. The mainsheet was moved to the cabin top from the cockpit. This is really a matter of personal preferance but on a cruising boat I believe the cabin top is a better location so that a dodger can be continuious over the helm. I have modified my own boat and moved my mainsheet location. You are right about the vast difference in prices between the hunter and the Tartan. The Tartan is finished better and has a nicer interior but when it comes down to the nuts and bolts I believe the 37C is built as well as anybodys boat from the era and in fact better than many.. In conclusion I do not believe there is a better value in a cruising boat on the market and I highly recommend the boat. Yours, Dan Sheehan AMS
 
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Ed Schenck

Right you are Dan, almost.

Your comments will be appreciated by a whole bunch of us who frequent this forum. One correction, the original engine was(is) a 2QM20. It is one of the few shortcomings of my 1979 H37C. When I am finished it will be the only one as I have no plans(read no money) to repower. Oh, and I will keep hitting my head on that trim strip.
 
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Mike Alge

37c

Hey Ed, how many knowledge bumps will it take before you learn to duck. I've learned to do the hunchback of Notra Dame manuver real quick as I am 6'1". That trim piece put a real nice blemish on the top of my bald head.
 
Jan 22, 2003
744
Hunter 25_73-83 Burlington NJ
The AMS; the Lewmars

Wow, thanks to Dan for the very informative and eye-opening article on the 37C. I am glad to have a lot of the data and assessment he has given us there and from someone of his experience and chosen profession. As for the rudder, I think I made a comment in the Hunter 30 section about aspersions laid against Hunter's rudders, and I won't go into it here in any case. As Dan says all fibreglass boats of this vintage need to be carefully checked over and as with any yacht purchase the operative phrase is CAVEAT EMPTOR. The one point I liked to see Dan make was the one about Hunter changing over from Lewmar winches. Lewmar seemed to burst upon the scene in about 1976 and thanks to high-volume people like Hunter were able to pretty much outsell Barient by the end of the 80s. Hunter's decision to use Lewmar came almost exclusively and directly from my dad. One rainy summer afternoon the sales rep pulled his new VW Rabbit into the shop at Cherubini Boat Company and demonstrated how easily all the winches could be taken apart with a pair of diagonals. We were all smitten with them (having used Barlows till then). He had no idea of whom he'd just met at first, but he left with the promise (and later fulfillment) of Cherubini Boat's orders plus the entire six-digit-or-more Hunter Marine order as well. It was because of this connection that as buyer at Cherubini I was able to purchase at Hunter's high-volume discount rate even though at times I bought only 30 winches for the whole year!! The sad fact is that this arrangement did not outlive my dad by long, at either place or at Raider too. As with so many things his influence in some things only had a lifetime guarantee– HIS lifetime. All the more reason to recall his contributions favourably in the light of posterity. JC
 
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Don Bodemann

2QM20?

I'm a little surprised that the 20 was used in the H-37 as this is the very engine that came stock with our 1977 H-33. I've been told that all the QM engines are "shakers" and mine is no exception. I will say it has too much power if anything (if there is such a thing, as a pilot, my motto has always been "too much power is best") and this seems to be unusual for this vintage Hunter. Don Bodemann
 
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Ed Schenck

Pretty certain Dan.

Maybe Mr. C. has something in the archives to substantiate that the 2QM20 was original. But there was so much old and original documentation that came with my boat and nothing about an engine swap. The Yanmar information including the big maintenance manual all includes both the 2QM and the 3QM. However I have wondered why it is so clean and new looking. And there is no hour meter. So I guess it is possible that someone swapped it. How about our new H37C owner, also "Ed"? What engine is in your 1979 H37C? And what is the boat serial #? Mine is HUN37074M79H. I think it means mine is hull #74.
 
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Bill Young

Early 37"

I was once told that the first 20 Hunter 37's came with a 2QM20. I don't know about that but I do know that hull No.1 came with a 2QM20. I did have to replace the head several years ago but the engine is still, "rocking and rolling" along. I thank the builders for not putting the holding tank under the shower seat on my boat. With all the horror stories that I have heard about changing out this tank, i don't think I would wish to even give it a try. Bill
 
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Ed Schenck

Bill, hull #1?

What is your serial # Bill? Glad to learn I am not the only one with a 2QM. But I thought mine was hull #74. Have you ever been in a situation where you wish you had the 3QM? And where did they put the holding tank on #1? And of what material?
 
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Bill Young

Like I said

Like I said, I was told that the first 20 were made with the Q2M20, never knew for sure. But being that you have Hull #74 sure makes this looks like I was misformed. My Hull Number is Hun37001M78. All the mistakes were made here, good as well as the bad. My boat had bunk bed style beds in the "V" berth Holding tank under "V" berth, Flexable style Life lines as big around as your little finger Fuel tank under the cockpit floor 2QM20, could use the 3QM30 for sure The boat is so solid that I think I could pull it down the Interstate with no trailer and not hurt a thing. It sails so damm well that I don't think I will ever get rid of it. Bill
 
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Daniel Sheehan AMS

Further research on the QM20

There seems to be no set hull number where hunter switched from the 2QM20 to the 3QM30. I have seen a 78 boat with a 3QM 30 but have never surveyed a earlier 37C. From the response here it is obvious that there are quite a few earlier boats and some later ones with the 2QM20. However if someone were to be upgrading at this time I would recommend a yanmar 4GM series engine. There is sufficient room for it and the difference in smoothness is notable. Thanks to all the people who set me staright on this issue. Lets keep these great boats sailing. Daniel Sheehan AMS
 
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Dave Simpson

Rudder Problems......?

Dan, you mentioned rudder problems with the 37c. Your comments seem to be limited to the rudder itself. I have heard about problems with the mounting system and its strength (or lack of it). Have you seen such problems, and have you seen the fix? In my boat, the upper bearing is held in place by a very robust-looking glassed-in shelf of 3/4" ply with a 1x2" fiddle. Is this original? factory fix (1981-built)? or what? Also, what do I look for to find problems with the rudder itself? Your comments are very welcome on this board, and on behalf of other Cherubini-Hunter owners, thanks a lot.
 
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Ed Schenck

Rudder bearing support.

Dave, my 1979 has the same 3/4" plywood bearing shelf but no fiddle. Then there are the two vertical 3/4" sides. The tabbing is coming loose at the bottom of one of those sides. I am going to double the thickness of that shelf and the two side supports with plywood and epoxy.
 
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