Drifter

[rblevens]

I just got my 1980 37C on Wednesday. It took me a few days to find you folks and I wanted to just say hello. My wife Cathy and I will be reading through the posts and catching up.
The boat is very solid but needs a mast and rudder. So I will be focused on these to start.
We live near St Louis and Drifter will be in the river for a couple years. Then maybe Lake Michigan till I retire.
Thanks,
Rick

 

[Ed Schenck]

Welcome aboard Rick and Cathy. Always nice to add another Cherubini owner. We have been posting on the other forum. Jim Legere needs your HIN(hull id) for the database( http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...&cat_id=38&aid=7905&page=article&mn=37-cutter ). You could fill in a couple of the 1980 question marks re. winches, furler, and head plumbing. So except for the engine I think our boats are identical. Jim, the 1979 came with Lewmar 42s by the way. Best of luck with getting her sailing.

 

[rblevens]

Thanks Ed!
I will get that index filled out.
I get to spend my first full day working on her tomorrow.
Rick

 

[rblevens]

My forward winch is a 42...

 

[Ed Schenck]

Forward winch? Jim's chart refers to the main jib(yankee) sheet winches I think. The ones next to you at the helm. You can only open and read the PDF though, Jim has to make any changes. You can download your own copy like I have. But can we update? I just tried and cannot.

 

[rblevens]

I got into the cockpit just once the other day. There were 4 winches... a big one forward and a smaller aft on each side!?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Cool, so in 1980 they added spinnaker winches? Those would be the smaller ones. The spin sheets go to a block at the very end of the toerails. Then forward to the smaller winches. Always was curious why you needed separate winches.

 

[rblevens]

Ill post a pic tomorrow of them
I haven't sailed a cutter... I assumed one for the jib and one for the staysail.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Never thought about it. Originally my staysail sheet ran forward under the boom and down, then over to the toerail and back on starboard. It was cleated off on the cleat that is on the side of the coaming forward of the primary winch. Never needed a winch. I moved it to the top and back to the portside cabin winch and cleat.

 

[sandpiper10471]

I suspect the additional winches were added on by a PO. I don't recall them ever being a factory option.

 

[rblevens]

PO = private owner?

 

[Jim Legere]

PO = Previous Owner

I have a pair of small (Lewmar 10) winches mounted by the PO at the aft end of my cockpit coamings. I use them for the staysail sheet (port) and the roller furling (stbd). I tried using them for my asymetrical cruising spinnaker (drifter) but found them on the small side. Since I never fly the yankee jib and the spinnaker at the same time, I just use the primary (big) winches for both functions.

You can PM (=private mesage) or email me through this forum by clicking on my avatar, if you want me to add your boat to the database.

 

[rblevens]

This is a H37C isn't it!?
Rick

 

[Jim Legere]

Re: ID'ing a boat

It looks like a shoal draft version of a H37C to me...what do you think Ed S?

There should be a Hull Identification Number (serial number) molded into the transom on the upper right corner and it should look like: HUN37***M*** where the first *** are the sequential hull number and the next *** are the model year and the month built.

 

[rblevens]

Would it be starboard side inside or outside?

 

[rblevens]

What is going on is the rudder guy says it isn't based on the pic I sent of the rudder hole underneath...

 

[Seattle Scott]

The coclkpit drain thru hulls ( each port and starboard) and enhaust drain ( starboard) matches up with the 37C, as in no thru hull fittings, just the holes. Look inside the hull and there will be fiberglased tubes that the three hoses clamp to ( without any metal fittings) on the 37C.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Yes Rick, it is an H37C. The HIN is on the outside, tucked up high in the starboard corner of the transom. It was part of the mold. And maybe a shoal draft like mine. I can't tell where the bottom of the keel is on the truck. It actually is shaped more like a fin keel.

 

[Jim Legere]

Well Rick,
You and Cathy have got the makings of a good boat there and you have found the place where folks who appreciate such good boats hang out. The hulls of these old Hunters were built tough, so if you are handy and have or can learn some fiberglass skills, I have no doubt you will have a nice boat at the end of it. And the reward will be sailing her. They are a great design from one of America's best naval architects, John Cherubini.

As already noted, new rudders are available from Foss Foam in Florida. I purchased a new rudder about 10 years ago for $1400 - they are probably closer to $2K now. One of our members, Mathurin II, posted earlier in the summer that he saw a mast for an H37C for sale in Quebec - might be worth contacting him. I can tell you from personal experience that the aluminum toe rails and the SS stanchions are still available from Crest Aluminum and White Water Marine respectively. Yanmar parts are available new from dealers and used from the web. Chances are you can find what you need by asking questions on this site. Good luck and get working!

 

[rblevens]

Thanks Jim!

The results are in my hull number:

HUN 37 141 M 800