Ok...we are moving up from a 1987 Hunter 31...flew to Charleston, SC today and spent two hours checking this boat out before making an offer. Now I'm reading comments out here and it's giving me the "Second Thought" about making a wise decision. The boat has everything we desire...one area of concern, the mast is extremely tall compared to the 31. Another area, the boat does not have an autohelm and we desire to put one on it...any recommendations...strage console also. Boat will be surveyed next week also and if all goes well we will sail/motor it up the ICW to Norfolk. I guess my question is, is the 376 a good boat for the money? It's a big jump for us so not looking to trade in or get rid of it anytime soon. Any comments appreciated. ...Larry...
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Steve
Great Boat
We love our 98 H376. It sails well and I do not find it too tender (although you will need to reef either the main or jib above 17 knots). You can't beat the interior and the cockpit is also very roomy. I suggest the Autohelm 5000 autopilot. Go for it!
We love our 98 H376. It sails well and I do not find it too tender (although you will need to reef either the main or jib above 17 knots). You can't beat the interior and the cockpit is also very roomy. I suggest the Autohelm 5000 autopilot. Go for it!
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Russell Egge
Agree with Steve
We love our 98 376! She was our first sailboat, it took awhile to gain confidence, however now we are out everyweekend during the summer. Yes the mast is TALL and the main is hugh, makes it a great boat in low winds, just rember to reef early when wind increases to 17 -20 knots. Great boat. RREgge S/V Allie Kat
We love our 98 376! She was our first sailboat, it took awhile to gain confidence, however now we are out everyweekend during the summer. Yes the mast is TALL and the main is hugh, makes it a great boat in low winds, just rember to reef early when wind increases to 17 -20 knots. Great boat. RREgge S/V Allie Kat
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Grayson
Go for it
We have had a 97 H376 for five years and love it.....great boat and we just keep adding to it..We have installed Autohelm 5000+ but I think there is a newer model on the market. Wind Chaser came with just about everything we wanted....but we did add dinghy davits and a radar with the display at the helm on a "rotating" stand so a crewmember can radar nav if the helmsman has his hands full...and we also had the sailmaker make zip-in panels that enclose our cockpit area and that has extended our sailing season on the bay a lot.
We have had a 97 H376 for five years and love it.....great boat and we just keep adding to it..We have installed Autohelm 5000+ but I think there is a newer model on the market. Wind Chaser came with just about everything we wanted....but we did add dinghy davits and a radar with the display at the helm on a "rotating" stand so a crewmember can radar nav if the helmsman has his hands full...and we also had the sailmaker make zip-in panels that enclose our cockpit area and that has extended our sailing season on the bay a lot.
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Jeff Bacon
2 and counting...
Larry: we just traded in our '96 h376 for an '03 h386, so, we liked it well enough to get another one. Great boat, no reservations. Re: the autopilot, we had the st4000+ and it did well. However, we did not use it for , say, 8 to 10 hours at at pop. It is defintly marginal for that boat, but doable. From a pricing standpoint, you could buy 3 4000+ 's, burn one out every 3 seasons, and still be about equal to the 5000 and 6000. But, don't consider the 4000+ if you plan heavy, continuous use. Jeff
Larry: we just traded in our '96 h376 for an '03 h386, so, we liked it well enough to get another one. Great boat, no reservations. Re: the autopilot, we had the st4000+ and it did well. However, we did not use it for , say, 8 to 10 hours at at pop. It is defintly marginal for that boat, but doable. From a pricing standpoint, you could buy 3 4000+ 's, burn one out every 3 seasons, and still be about equal to the 5000 and 6000. But, don't consider the 4000+ if you plan heavy, continuous use. Jeff
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Bob F
Love it
I moved up from a Catalina 30 last year to a H376. I only have one complaint and its minor: the nylon anchor rode binds in the hawspipe when retriving the anchor with the windlass. I've considered all chain since I think it would solve the problem. My current "fix" is to send someone down into the V-berth the pull the rode thru the hawspipe. Other than that small issue, great boat, lots of room, sails great (keep her on her feet as the others mentioned and reef early), handles well under power, backs up straight. Also an electric winch for hoisting the main is a real back saver. For A/P I have the 6000 and it works great. My radar screen attaches to either the pedestal or at the nav station as does the chartplotter.
I moved up from a Catalina 30 last year to a H376. I only have one complaint and its minor: the nylon anchor rode binds in the hawspipe when retriving the anchor with the windlass. I've considered all chain since I think it would solve the problem. My current "fix" is to send someone down into the V-berth the pull the rode thru the hawspipe. Other than that small issue, great boat, lots of room, sails great (keep her on her feet as the others mentioned and reef early), handles well under power, backs up straight. Also an electric winch for hoisting the main is a real back saver. For A/P I have the 6000 and it works great. My radar screen attaches to either the pedestal or at the nav station as does the chartplotter.
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Eric Swift
AUTOHELM
There is a fair amount of discussion in the archieves on this site on various autohelms. I would suggest reading them. My summary of what I read was to go bigger than recommended to handle adverse conditions and weather helm issues. Good luck!
There is a fair amount of discussion in the archieves on this site on various autohelms. I would suggest reading them. My summary of what I read was to go bigger than recommended to handle adverse conditions and weather helm issues. Good luck!
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Bob Miller
Autohelm - another put
I agree with Jeff. If you can afford it, go for the ST5000 or bigger. However, I have had the old AH4000 installed in my 37C (18,000 lbs.) for about 15 years. My boat has a very hard pull to starboard while motoring. Still, about 70% of my boating is under power and with the autopilot engaged, sometimes 6 to 8 hours at a time. It works well in all conditions except heavy, following seas. It finally gave up the ghost, however, and I am now replacing it with a new ST4000+.
I agree with Jeff. If you can afford it, go for the ST5000 or bigger. However, I have had the old AH4000 installed in my 37C (18,000 lbs.) for about 15 years. My boat has a very hard pull to starboard while motoring. Still, about 70% of my boating is under power and with the autopilot engaged, sometimes 6 to 8 hours at a time. It works well in all conditions except heavy, following seas. It finally gave up the ghost, however, and I am now replacing it with a new ST4000+.
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