I would like to know if there are significant differences between the Hunter 36 and the older Hunter 356. Is one boat faster or easier to sail?
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Mostly interior
I have an 03 356. The obvious changes are to the kitchen area. The garbage area has moved to the corner instead of the end of the cabinet and the freezer/refrigerator is a vertical type rather than the top loading in the 356. Both boats have the same hull. According to a recent post, the stern lockers on the swim platform have changed from opening from the center out on the 356 to opening stern to bow on the 36. The 356/36 is a great boat. It sails well and has a lot of volume down below for the length of boat.
I have an 03 356. The obvious changes are to the kitchen area. The garbage area has moved to the corner instead of the end of the cabinet and the freezer/refrigerator is a vertical type rather than the top loading in the 356. Both boats have the same hull. According to a recent post, the stern lockers on the swim platform have changed from opening from the center out on the 356 to opening stern to bow on the 36. The 356/36 is a great boat. It sails well and has a lot of volume down below for the length of boat.
H36 struts - see photo
I posted the pic of Persephone to show that she did, indeed, have struts. If you look at the photo, you'll see a SS tubing strut leading aft and down from just above the gooseneck to the hardpoint mount that terminates the inner shroud. It can provide additional tensile support to suppliment the shrouds, and can also (being a hefty hunk of tubing) provide compressive support, which no wire could. A B&R rig with struts is the best-supported mast you can get. The support wires (and struts) are at the perfect 120-degree arrangement preferred in things like radio station antenna mast supports. While this provides equal strength against forces coming from any angle, its lack of a backstay makes changing the mast pre-bend to depower the mainsail impossible - a shortcoming vs the every-90-degrees support formula of standard rigs (2 stays and 2 shrouds). It also, however - and that's really where it came from - makes a very large roach on the mainsail possible. For racers, that additional mainsail area, high up where the wind is stronger, means extra horsepower. For us cruisers, it means allowing a more forward mast placement and smaller headsail in a fractional rig that makes single-handing much easier. (The extra horsepower is also nice in light winds <g>.) The B&R rig and end-boom sheeting with traveler on a stern arch are Hunter design trademarks that you either love (as I do) or hate. Hunter's engineering has always been a bit out front of the pack. (The only high-end blue-water boats that use the arch sheeting system are Malos. Given their price and reputation, I consider that validation of the concept.) Hunter's pinching of the pennies necessary to deliver that engineering at rock-bottom pricing (if any boat can be considered a "low-cost" item) shows up in its "cheap furniture" interiors with the world's thinest veneers. Hunters don't have the charm and luxury that just oozes out of the stick-built interiors of boats like Malos - but my H36 - even with my additions - cost me $100k less than a Tartan 3700. Hunter also saves pennies while using the same high quality hardware that more expensive brands use by the simple expediant of using the smallest size possible. The H36's Lewmar ST40 winches are the absolutely smallest I'd consider adequate. But they _are_ adequate. The bigger Harken winches on the Tartan 3700 give you the luxury of more mechanical advantage in reserve - at more cost. Like all boats, Hunters are compromises. For my tastes and needs (North Atlantic within 25nm of shore with winds usually less than 35kts and seas usually less than 10ft - with livability at a dock as important as livability at sea), the H36 is a real bargain which is substantial where it must be, while saving me money in acceptable places. Those struts (and the B&R rig) are something I'd have a hard time sacrificing for an "elegant furniture store" interior.
I posted the pic of Persephone to show that she did, indeed, have struts. If you look at the photo, you'll see a SS tubing strut leading aft and down from just above the gooseneck to the hardpoint mount that terminates the inner shroud. It can provide additional tensile support to suppliment the shrouds, and can also (being a hefty hunk of tubing) provide compressive support, which no wire could. A B&R rig with struts is the best-supported mast you can get. The support wires (and struts) are at the perfect 120-degree arrangement preferred in things like radio station antenna mast supports. While this provides equal strength against forces coming from any angle, its lack of a backstay makes changing the mast pre-bend to depower the mainsail impossible - a shortcoming vs the every-90-degrees support formula of standard rigs (2 stays and 2 shrouds). It also, however - and that's really where it came from - makes a very large roach on the mainsail possible. For racers, that additional mainsail area, high up where the wind is stronger, means extra horsepower. For us cruisers, it means allowing a more forward mast placement and smaller headsail in a fractional rig that makes single-handing much easier. (The extra horsepower is also nice in light winds <g>.) The B&R rig and end-boom sheeting with traveler on a stern arch are Hunter design trademarks that you either love (as I do) or hate. Hunter's engineering has always been a bit out front of the pack. (The only high-end blue-water boats that use the arch sheeting system are Malos. Given their price and reputation, I consider that validation of the concept.) Hunter's pinching of the pennies necessary to deliver that engineering at rock-bottom pricing (if any boat can be considered a "low-cost" item) shows up in its "cheap furniture" interiors with the world's thinest veneers. Hunters don't have the charm and luxury that just oozes out of the stick-built interiors of boats like Malos - but my H36 - even with my additions - cost me $100k less than a Tartan 3700. Hunter also saves pennies while using the same high quality hardware that more expensive brands use by the simple expediant of using the smallest size possible. The H36's Lewmar ST40 winches are the absolutely smallest I'd consider adequate. But they _are_ adequate. The bigger Harken winches on the Tartan 3700 give you the luxury of more mechanical advantage in reserve - at more cost. Like all boats, Hunters are compromises. For my tastes and needs (North Atlantic within 25nm of shore with winds usually less than 35kts and seas usually less than 10ft - with livability at a dock as important as livability at sea), the H36 is a real bargain which is substantial where it must be, while saving me money in acceptable places. Those struts (and the B&R rig) are something I'd have a hard time sacrificing for an "elegant furniture store" interior.
Thanks Al for the info
I can honestly say I have never seen a boat with those on. Just got a call from Norton's, the truck is leaving today to go pick up my new H-36 in Florida. Woohoo!!!!! I'll be sailing in May!! See you out there Java!!!
I can honestly say I have never seen a boat with those on. Just got a call from Norton's, the truck is leaving today to go pick up my new H-36 in Florida. Woohoo!!!!! I'll be sailing in May!! See you out there Java!!!
And the Race is ON ;D
Better hurry up and bring some warm weather back with the boat.... Jim S/V Java
Better hurry up and bring some warm weather back with the boat.... Jim S/V Java
The struts...
appear to be adaptions of the struts that replaced the original wire harnesses that were used on the water ballast trailer Hunters to stabilize the mast while raising it. Seems like a good idea but think they would get in my way on my 34.
appear to be adaptions of the struts that replaced the original wire harnesses that were used on the water ballast trailer Hunters to stabilize the mast while raising it. Seems like a good idea but think they would get in my way on my 34.
B&R's design approach is to keep the rigging loads
in the rig, the struts act as an additional tripod support for the mast and help carry the chainplate loads. for their original use, look at the HC50
in the rig, the struts act as an additional tripod support for the mast and help carry the chainplate loads. for their original use, look at the HC50
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