Considering a 430 Purchase

[Randy Cloward]

50 year old couple thinking of purchasing a 1996 Hunter 430. Will be sailed on a large inland lake until we can spend more time on the NW coast. We would love to hear from any of you about your experiences both good and bad. As intermediate sailors we would most certainly benefit from any additional advise you may want to offer.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Go for it

We bought a 40.5 and moved up from a 30' Morgan. The 40.5 is easier to handle for my wife

 

[Patti Polk]

We bought a 460

We decided to give up on racing and start cruising the Chesapeake Bay area. We bought the 460 last year and have sailed many times since then with just my husband and me (61/58). We haven't had any problems handling this size so you shouldn't worry about the 430.

 

[Stephen DePaola]

Hunter 430 purchase

We bought a 1997 Hunter 430 last year and used it this year. It is a good production boat and fits our needs. We love the space, layout and amenities. The only thing we have to do before I retire is to install main sail reefing. We bought a 1997 Hunter 430 last year and used it this year. It is a good production boat and fits our needs. We love the space, layout and amenities. The only thing we have to do before I retire is to install main sail reefing. We are looking at boom and mast reefing systems. The 430 has an enormous main sail and you need to climb four feet off the deck to attach and unattach the halyard and sail cover. We have a Dutchman system, which helps flake the sail, but it's still a difficult task. Be sure you have a power winch to raise the main sail. I think it's standard with the boat you are looking at. You may contact me at Stephen_J_DePaola@Raytheon.com if you have other questions.

 

[Dick McKee]

We were 53 when we bought our 430..

You should hit the archives for info. We had trouble with the aft holding tank. I know its covered in the archives either Big Boats or Head Mistress. We love the boat and the Captain (my 5'2" wife) and I handle it with no porblems. Feel free to contact me too at Mckee119@hotmail.com.Dick McKeeS/V Constellation

 

[Ray Bowles]

Randy, We were 55 when we bought our first

sailboat and both somewhat cobbled up. That was last fall and this year we have sailed 3 to 5 days every week. Our boat is a 95 H26 with all lines led aft and we have added additional systems/devises that make it a breeze to handle. So much so that we are looking at 40 to 46 foot boats to blue water cruise starting next spring and lasting up to 5 years.Go for it, you'll never look back.Ray