I am interested in anyone who has recently purchased a 460 to understand what other boats were considered and why you chose the Hunter. I have been cautioned about Hunter in general, but no specifics.
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B
Been there
New boats in that size and price range
Likely, you are not looking for traditional style. Other boats .. hmmm. I expect the J/46 will sail very well. It comes standard with a carbon fiber spar, which I consider a big plus. The SCRIMP process used to make the hull and deck is a significant improvement over hand-laid fiberglass. The interior looks great. But it will cost more, and you have to put up with a traveler in the cockpit. If you are willing to go just a little more traditional, you might look at the Outbound 44. You can customize it to your heart's content, which is THE major advantage of buying new. And it may be price competitive, especially since you get what you want. According to its web page, it is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. A big bonus: it is a Schumaker design. The Saga 43, Robert Perry's latest, is a little smaller than the Hunter 460, but it is also less expensive, and may sail just as fast. All of these boats are intended for offshore as well as coastal use. They are all modern designs, fast modern underbodies, little or no outside teak, etc. They all have slotted, aluminum toe rails. (I wish Hunter would bring these back.) The last two come with 30" stanchions standard. Since I don't have the $$ to buy a new boat, I have not looked at any of them. If I did and were, I would investigate all three. They each have a website. (I think the Outbound folks need to improve their website, but won't hold that against them as yacht builders.) http://www.sagayachts.com http://www.jboats.com/j46 http://www.outbound44.com Good luck! Have fun.
Likely, you are not looking for traditional style. Other boats .. hmmm. I expect the J/46 will sail very well. It comes standard with a carbon fiber spar, which I consider a big plus. The SCRIMP process used to make the hull and deck is a significant improvement over hand-laid fiberglass. The interior looks great. But it will cost more, and you have to put up with a traveler in the cockpit. If you are willing to go just a little more traditional, you might look at the Outbound 44. You can customize it to your heart's content, which is THE major advantage of buying new. And it may be price competitive, especially since you get what you want. According to its web page, it is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. A big bonus: it is a Schumaker design. The Saga 43, Robert Perry's latest, is a little smaller than the Hunter 460, but it is also less expensive, and may sail just as fast. All of these boats are intended for offshore as well as coastal use. They are all modern designs, fast modern underbodies, little or no outside teak, etc. They all have slotted, aluminum toe rails. (I wish Hunter would bring these back.) The last two come with 30" stanchions standard. Since I don't have the $$ to buy a new boat, I have not looked at any of them. If I did and were, I would investigate all three. They each have a website. (I think the Outbound folks need to improve their website, but won't hold that against them as yacht builders.) http://www.sagayachts.com http://www.jboats.com/j46 http://www.outbound44.com Good luck! Have fun.
G
George Lamb
I Was Where You Are
I wrestled with what boat to buy, and I really liked the 460, but several of my boating friends "warned me" about Hunters. Intrestingly enough, non of them could give me specific issues or problems. Most of them co-incidentally suggested that I consider a Catalina. I did a lot of research and spoke to a lot of folks. What I found out is that there seems to be bit of a religous war between Catalina fans and Hunter fans (not unlike the ongoing discussion about full batten -vs- roller furling main sails). I never did find a solid basis for the "warnings". Long story short, I ordered the Hunter 460 and I am about three weeks away from taking delivery. I will post a detailed review after the comissioning of the new boat. I will say that I have not heard anything unexpected from the existing 460 owners that I have spoken or emailed with. Good luck with your decision. George
I wrestled with what boat to buy, and I really liked the 460, but several of my boating friends "warned me" about Hunters. Intrestingly enough, non of them could give me specific issues or problems. Most of them co-incidentally suggested that I consider a Catalina. I did a lot of research and spoke to a lot of folks. What I found out is that there seems to be bit of a religous war between Catalina fans and Hunter fans (not unlike the ongoing discussion about full batten -vs- roller furling main sails). I never did find a solid basis for the "warnings". Long story short, I ordered the Hunter 460 and I am about three weeks away from taking delivery. I will post a detailed review after the comissioning of the new boat. I will say that I have not heard anything unexpected from the existing 460 owners that I have spoken or emailed with. Good luck with your decision. George
M
Mark Johnson
Been there, done that!
Before purchasing our 460, I was a diehard three time Catalina owner. So I was very interested in seeing their new 470. It is a great boat, but I think the interior design of the 460 is far superior. We like the fact that the master stateroom on the 460 is forward instead of buried under the cockpit. The boat has lots of storage. The fit and finish I think also are superior, The cockpit where we spent most of our time is large and more comfortable. The back rests on the cockpit seating on the Catalina is too low (uncomfortable for me). We also looked at the Beneteau, but liked the Catalina better. Our budget was limited so we weren't looking at Hinckleys or Swans. Every boat has it's pro's and con's, but we felt the 460 gave us everything we wanted and more. After sailing her for most of last season, we couldn't be more pleased. Would I buy another Hunter? You bet I would. Mark Johnson S/V Anthem H460
Before purchasing our 460, I was a diehard three time Catalina owner. So I was very interested in seeing their new 470. It is a great boat, but I think the interior design of the 460 is far superior. We like the fact that the master stateroom on the 460 is forward instead of buried under the cockpit. The boat has lots of storage. The fit and finish I think also are superior, The cockpit where we spent most of our time is large and more comfortable. The back rests on the cockpit seating on the Catalina is too low (uncomfortable for me). We also looked at the Beneteau, but liked the Catalina better. Our budget was limited so we weren't looking at Hinckleys or Swans. Every boat has it's pro's and con's, but we felt the 460 gave us everything we wanted and more. After sailing her for most of last season, we couldn't be more pleased. Would I buy another Hunter? You bet I would. Mark Johnson S/V Anthem H460
R
Richard Owen
Decisions Decisions!!
I too recall being in your shoes. There are so many things to consider, and it's different for every owner. I own a 460, so I may be biased. I will admit that if money had been no object, there were several other boats I may have purchased. But, for some of us, money matters. I still believe that for my intended use, I got the most for the money I was prepared to spend. This is one beautiful boat. It sails well & motors well. Has a tremendous amount of power in the rig - people have said the boats need to be reefed too early, but I notice that when I reef, I get the sail area down to the amount standard on a Beneteau 461. Much of the equipment which comes with the boat is of excellent quality. It is a mass produced boat, however and suffers some of the problems relevant to that - that's why it's less money than some others. If you have specific areas of concern, there are a few owners here who can give you straught answers, including myself.
I too recall being in your shoes. There are so many things to consider, and it's different for every owner. I own a 460, so I may be biased. I will admit that if money had been no object, there were several other boats I may have purchased. But, for some of us, money matters. I still believe that for my intended use, I got the most for the money I was prepared to spend. This is one beautiful boat. It sails well & motors well. Has a tremendous amount of power in the rig - people have said the boats need to be reefed too early, but I notice that when I reef, I get the sail area down to the amount standard on a Beneteau 461. Much of the equipment which comes with the boat is of excellent quality. It is a mass produced boat, however and suffers some of the problems relevant to that - that's why it's less money than some others. If you have specific areas of concern, there are a few owners here who can give you straught answers, including myself.
C
Cliff
Need to know
I am about to buy a 460 and would like to know if anyone has done any blue water sailing with this model. Is she sound enough for extensive blue water sailing? I have heard rumors (not substantiated by me yet) that Hunters fall apart out on the open ocean.
I am about to buy a 460 and would like to know if anyone has done any blue water sailing with this model. Is she sound enough for extensive blue water sailing? I have heard rumors (not substantiated by me yet) that Hunters fall apart out on the open ocean.
J
Justin Wolfe
How thick is your skin?
Cliff, If you don't mind explaining to people over, and over, and over again that your boat will/did not fall apart then you'll be fine on the big blue. Some people like being pioneers or like being different. Some people just want to follow the proven path. Decide which type you are. The psychological aspect of sailing a Hunter in Blue Water can be a lot more important than the structural aspect. Extreme example. You're 100 miles off the Washington Coast. A storm drops out of Alaska giving you 50 knot winds and 30' seas. Are you going to start thinking.. "Hmm? I wonder if all those naysayers were right? Am I going to die?" Not a pretty thought. How confident are you in your own assessment of the boat? Obviously a lot of boats much less capable have sailed offshore great distances without problem. Is the 460 the best boat you can buy for bluewater. No. Is it a good value? For some. Would I rather sail across an ocean on a Saga 43? Yes. If Hunters truly fell apart offshore you would know about it by now and Hunter would not be building 460's.
Cliff, If you don't mind explaining to people over, and over, and over again that your boat will/did not fall apart then you'll be fine on the big blue. Some people like being pioneers or like being different. Some people just want to follow the proven path. Decide which type you are. The psychological aspect of sailing a Hunter in Blue Water can be a lot more important than the structural aspect. Extreme example. You're 100 miles off the Washington Coast. A storm drops out of Alaska giving you 50 knot winds and 30' seas. Are you going to start thinking.. "Hmm? I wonder if all those naysayers were right? Am I going to die?" Not a pretty thought. How confident are you in your own assessment of the boat? Obviously a lot of boats much less capable have sailed offshore great distances without problem. Is the 460 the best boat you can buy for bluewater. No. Is it a good value? For some. Would I rather sail across an ocean on a Saga 43? Yes. If Hunters truly fell apart offshore you would know about it by now and Hunter would not be building 460's.
B
Been there
The issue is not JUST falling apart
Few boats fall apart on the ocean. Most will take much more abuse than their crew. But a lot of boats designed for protected sailing, when pushed further, will experience a variety of non-lethal failures. Bulkheads will shift. Doors, drawers, and access panels that once fit, won't. Ports and hatches that never leaked, start. Panels may develop cracks. Boats that never made a sound, afterwards, creak and groan on every sail. A boat can take a lot of this before it affects a critical system. Even so, it detracts from the joy of using the boat and from the economic value of the boat. An offshore boat is designed not just to be safe offshore, but also to retain its wholesomeness after extended offshore use. I have no idea whether the H460 is an offshore boat. This website is the closest I've ever been to one. I just think there is more to that question than the fact that it sails the ocean without falling apart. The real answer will come from brokers selling H460s that have been used offshore.
Few boats fall apart on the ocean. Most will take much more abuse than their crew. But a lot of boats designed for protected sailing, when pushed further, will experience a variety of non-lethal failures. Bulkheads will shift. Doors, drawers, and access panels that once fit, won't. Ports and hatches that never leaked, start. Panels may develop cracks. Boats that never made a sound, afterwards, creak and groan on every sail. A boat can take a lot of this before it affects a critical system. Even so, it detracts from the joy of using the boat and from the economic value of the boat. An offshore boat is designed not just to be safe offshore, but also to retain its wholesomeness after extended offshore use. I have no idea whether the H460 is an offshore boat. This website is the closest I've ever been to one. I just think there is more to that question than the fact that it sails the ocean without falling apart. The real answer will come from brokers selling H460s that have been used offshore.
P
Philip Press
Hunters
Before going into an explanation I want to assure you I have no " blood relatives" who work for Hunter. I've owned Hunters since '78. I've owned the 27, 30, 36, Legend 40 and 45. Whatever they may have been accused of during the '80s, I will tell you that with the exception of some bad bottom blisters on my '36, which the factory promptly fixed completely at their cost, I have had absolutely no problems with Hunters. I've sailed the Chesapeake, Atlantic coastal sailing, Long Island Sound, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, Newport, Naragansett Bay and while not a "bad weather" sailor, over twenty years of sailing have turned up some interesting weather conditions. I just purchased the Passage 450, look at a lot of other boats and understand why Hunter is able to deliver production boats, well conceived, executed and delivered for very attractive prices. Not unlike any other manufacturing company, larger sales numbers yield the ability to create economy of scales. Also, some systems are built into the boat that may make it a bit more difficult to retrofit later but there is a price for everything. I remember getting some bad comments on the Legend 45 regarding structural flexing. They, Hunter, retrofit my yacht to the point where I owned it for 11 years and sold it for about what I paid for it with not a lot of add ons. I like their products, have found them to be well made yachts and "innovative." Look they're not Hinckleys but they're not meant to be. I don't think the best cars out there are Mercedes Benz's. There are lots of other options and each brings strengths and weaknesses. It's just one person's opinion but I owned five of them and I've just bought my sixth.
Before going into an explanation I want to assure you I have no " blood relatives" who work for Hunter. I've owned Hunters since '78. I've owned the 27, 30, 36, Legend 40 and 45. Whatever they may have been accused of during the '80s, I will tell you that with the exception of some bad bottom blisters on my '36, which the factory promptly fixed completely at their cost, I have had absolutely no problems with Hunters. I've sailed the Chesapeake, Atlantic coastal sailing, Long Island Sound, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, Newport, Naragansett Bay and while not a "bad weather" sailor, over twenty years of sailing have turned up some interesting weather conditions. I just purchased the Passage 450, look at a lot of other boats and understand why Hunter is able to deliver production boats, well conceived, executed and delivered for very attractive prices. Not unlike any other manufacturing company, larger sales numbers yield the ability to create economy of scales. Also, some systems are built into the boat that may make it a bit more difficult to retrofit later but there is a price for everything. I remember getting some bad comments on the Legend 45 regarding structural flexing. They, Hunter, retrofit my yacht to the point where I owned it for 11 years and sold it for about what I paid for it with not a lot of add ons. I like their products, have found them to be well made yachts and "innovative." Look they're not Hinckleys but they're not meant to be. I don't think the best cars out there are Mercedes Benz's. There are lots of other options and each brings strengths and weaknesses. It's just one person's opinion but I owned five of them and I've just bought my sixth.
D
Donald Guggenheim
Hunter once, Hunter twice, Hunter three times.....
I have been told never to buy a new boat and certainly never buy the number one hull of any design. To that end, in 1990 I bought a new hunter legend 35.5. A wounderful boat without any problems of note over two years. For the "perfect boat", I bought the #1 hull legend 40.5. This boat was extremely well outfitted with many systems (dual air, autopilot, radar, sea power, spinnaker, electric winch, running backstays, check stays, cutter rig etc. etc. etc.). I raced and cruised this boat hard for seven years and about 9,000 miles from dead calm to 45 knots sustained winds and twelve foot seas in the Gulf of Mexico. Never was there a time that I felt at risk. The boat outperformed all of my expectations. Hunter could not have "gone the distance" or assisted more than they did when asked. The boat sold for 90% of what I paid for it seven years prior. The new owner surveyed the boat and both he and the surveyor agreed the boat was in near perfect condition asthetically as well as structurally. Of course, needed just a little more room and a little more stuff, enter the new Hunter 460 purchased in August of 1999. A different boat of different design. Since purchase, the boat has learned a lot. She is faster, easier to sail, and far more comfortable at dock and at sea than in the beginning. The boat has surpassed my expectations in all catagories. Hunter again has gone the distance with there support and knowledge of the boat and systems. I am an above average sailor in both experience and knowledge having sailed extensively in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. I would not hesitate for a moment to sail any of the three Hunters I have owned to the Caribbean and beyond. The value of the Hunters I have owned is proven in value at resale, pleasure of ownership, ease of maintenance and factory support. The quality of support at the dealer, like an automobile dealer, may not, as some of us have experienced, meet the standards emplied by Hunter. Where this has been at issue, Hunter has assumed the responsibility without exception. As an expert from the knowledge sailing, club house conversation, countless hours of conversation with other boat owners, brokers, service people, and the like, it is clear to me that Hunter is a great value and the 460 exemplary of the same. S/V OZ Hunter 460
I have been told never to buy a new boat and certainly never buy the number one hull of any design. To that end, in 1990 I bought a new hunter legend 35.5. A wounderful boat without any problems of note over two years. For the "perfect boat", I bought the #1 hull legend 40.5. This boat was extremely well outfitted with many systems (dual air, autopilot, radar, sea power, spinnaker, electric winch, running backstays, check stays, cutter rig etc. etc. etc.). I raced and cruised this boat hard for seven years and about 9,000 miles from dead calm to 45 knots sustained winds and twelve foot seas in the Gulf of Mexico. Never was there a time that I felt at risk. The boat outperformed all of my expectations. Hunter could not have "gone the distance" or assisted more than they did when asked. The boat sold for 90% of what I paid for it seven years prior. The new owner surveyed the boat and both he and the surveyor agreed the boat was in near perfect condition asthetically as well as structurally. Of course, needed just a little more room and a little more stuff, enter the new Hunter 460 purchased in August of 1999. A different boat of different design. Since purchase, the boat has learned a lot. She is faster, easier to sail, and far more comfortable at dock and at sea than in the beginning. The boat has surpassed my expectations in all catagories. Hunter again has gone the distance with there support and knowledge of the boat and systems. I am an above average sailor in both experience and knowledge having sailed extensively in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. I would not hesitate for a moment to sail any of the three Hunters I have owned to the Caribbean and beyond. The value of the Hunters I have owned is proven in value at resale, pleasure of ownership, ease of maintenance and factory support. The quality of support at the dealer, like an automobile dealer, may not, as some of us have experienced, meet the standards emplied by Hunter. Where this has been at issue, Hunter has assumed the responsibility without exception. As an expert from the knowledge sailing, club house conversation, countless hours of conversation with other boat owners, brokers, service people, and the like, it is clear to me that Hunter is a great value and the 460 exemplary of the same. S/V OZ Hunter 460
A
Arthur Boas
My 2 cents
I purchased a 40.5 new from Hunter. They are a class act, and look after their customers.
I purchased a 40.5 new from Hunter. They are a class act, and look after their customers.
T
ted jensen
it's a sloop
i own a 35.5 and have had it in seas and wind well beyond the point that you would expect this boat to be. the bottom line,its a sloop. you can go out there but pay attention, you cant get as careless as you can with a heavy cutter rigged boat. i would go anywhere in the 450 or 460
i own a 35.5 and have had it in seas and wind well beyond the point that you would expect this boat to be. the bottom line,its a sloop. you can go out there but pay attention, you cant get as careless as you can with a heavy cutter rigged boat. i would go anywhere in the 450 or 460
T
ted jensen
it's a sloop
i own a 35.5 and have had it in seas and wind well beyond the point that you would expect this boat to be. the bottom line,its a sloop. you can go out there but pay attention, you cant get as careless as you can with a heavy cutter rigged boat. i would go anywhere in the 450 or 460
i own a 35.5 and have had it in seas and wind well beyond the point that you would expect this boat to be. the bottom line,its a sloop. you can go out there but pay attention, you cant get as careless as you can with a heavy cutter rigged boat. i would go anywhere in the 450 or 460
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