I am still somewhat new to sailing and looking at a 94 23.5 water ballast (which will be new to me). It has been sitting for a few years and from what I have learned just needs a new main and really, really cleaned up (have only seen pics). Anyone familiar with this boat that could give me some advise as to what to look for or any known problems with this particular model. I currently have an 85 Macgregor 22 which I have almost rebuilt (or seems like I did) but looking for something a little more stable and a tad bit roomier. Any thoughts, advise?
Considering a 94 23.5 Hunter
- Thread starter dale4643
- Start date
Send me your phone number, name and location via forum email and I will be glad to discuss this boat with you as a former small boat hunter dealer who introduced this boat and know it all too well.
Hi Dale I've owned a '95 Hunter 23.5 since 2003. Compared to the M22 I'm sure you'll find it more roomy. The seahood can be opened up and a camper canvas installed for a small area of standing headroom. As for stability, it is probably beamier than the MAC but with water ballast it is initially tender. Really, I don't find this a problem at all. Once you know how to sail her she is a lot more capable than most give her credit for.
Problems: 1) be sure the centerboard up-haul tackle is present
2) centerboard up-haul line may need replacing
3) the bonding of the top to the bottom at the stearn is weak. Raw edges of the "scoop" were just gell coated. Cracks here let water into the laminate and cores. I have glassed in most of mine.
4) be sure the mast raising gin pole and bridle cables are present.
5) the trailers are barely adequate. Some have had heavier or double axles added. Just like the MAC its hard to impossible to keep the boat against the winch pole as you pull from the water. After much fiddling with mine I have concluded the problem to be the bunk angles are wrong. With the slope of the bow, the bow hits the chock when boat is level in the water and as the boat tilts to match the trailer as it pulls out of the water the bow naturally falls away.
6) rub rail may leak due to excessive amount of holes drilled in the flanges under the rubrail molding. Clean and reseal as necessary.
All in all it's a great little boat. I still can't decide wether to sell her and go bigger or just keep upgrading her. She always makes me smile when we sail.
Problems: 1) be sure the centerboard up-haul tackle is present
2) centerboard up-haul line may need replacing
3) the bonding of the top to the bottom at the stearn is weak. Raw edges of the "scoop" were just gell coated. Cracks here let water into the laminate and cores. I have glassed in most of mine.
4) be sure the mast raising gin pole and bridle cables are present.
5) the trailers are barely adequate. Some have had heavier or double axles added. Just like the MAC its hard to impossible to keep the boat against the winch pole as you pull from the water. After much fiddling with mine I have concluded the problem to be the bunk angles are wrong. With the slope of the bow, the bow hits the chock when boat is level in the water and as the boat tilts to match the trailer as it pulls out of the water the bow naturally falls away.
6) rub rail may leak due to excessive amount of holes drilled in the flanges under the rubrail molding. Clean and reseal as necessary.
All in all it's a great little boat. I still can't decide wether to sell her and go bigger or just keep upgrading her. She always makes me smile when we sail.
Thank you Crazy Dave and I will do that when I figure out the new format here...I have not been on here much since the change. Dennis that is some good things to look for I'm going tomorrow to look at it and take some pics. Kind of makes me nervous about potential water damage to the core because of what your talking about because I'm being told it's been sitting unused for at least 3 years on the trailer and was in the water for a while before that neglected....I will thoroughly check that out...I hope I can tell if it has some core damage. I'm also concerned how I could tell if the ballast tanks leak or not without putting it in the water. I know it needs a bottom job and the main is torn from a limb falling on it but the guy says no damage to mast, boom or standing rigging. He has a good 110, spinnaker, mast raising system and brand new never used bimini. Guess I will find out tomorrow. Cushions stained I know of and of course it's all black on the topside.... but so was my Mac when I rescued it. It's got a 8.5 Suzuki 2008 model. He wants $3,000 but seems very motivated so maybe it will have some potential. BTW I did see in the pic that the bow wasn't snug with the bow bumper and of course I am familiar with that....we solve it with whats called the Mac bump (do about 6 MPH and slam on the breaks)!