I'd like to thank everyone for their helpful comments and advice. I think much of the fun of owning a Hunter 320 is going to be in getting on the HOW. What a great website and what a great bunch of folks.......thanks again! PS for Bill in Everett,WA, Hunter gets $ 4400 for the heating system. I design homes and I can tell you that you can put a whole system in a small house for that, so I'm skipping that one. I don't need it for day sailing, probably don't need it in the San Juans in the summer and at the dock i'll just use my $ 20 ceramic space heater from Home Depot. PS for Tom of Chicago, the furling main should be a nice feature but the thing coulda jammed during the demo ride as the main bubbled out at the bottom a bit at the mast and the dealer had to tighten up on the halyard to get rid of the bulge before he could furl it, so i'll just be waiting for the day....
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From a very pleased 320 owner
Bill, As someone else noted, we live in the Pacific NW - get a dodger and bimini system. We had ours custom made down in Portland and I love it. I would not order Hunter's simply because I don't think it is geared for our weather. Plus the fact I don't like gray. Mine is navy blue. If you would like a photo of ours let me know. We have the roller main - it is great. Any loss of performance is more than outweighed by ease of simply getting out on the water. And as someone else said, save the money on the 130 genoa and go for a cruising spiniker. In your wind conditions (I've sailed Puget Sound too) it will serve you the best in the lighter winds whereas the rig as it comes is just great in stronger winds. As for the heater - were you thinking of the forced air? Don't. You're right - too expensive and someone I trust thought it should only be used in larger than 32 foot boats. We ordered a propane wall stove that is new on the market this year and if you are interested contact me and I'll get the exact model. We spent around $1400 with installation and it is really great to take the chill off. We did not order auto-helm and probably should have. If you are going to overnight on it invest in a down covered featherbed - the mattresses are like upholstered rocks. If you have any further questions just ask. And good luck with your purchase. I know you'll have fun.
Bill, As someone else noted, we live in the Pacific NW - get a dodger and bimini system. We had ours custom made down in Portland and I love it. I would not order Hunter's simply because I don't think it is geared for our weather. Plus the fact I don't like gray. Mine is navy blue. If you would like a photo of ours let me know. We have the roller main - it is great. Any loss of performance is more than outweighed by ease of simply getting out on the water. And as someone else said, save the money on the 130 genoa and go for a cruising spiniker. In your wind conditions (I've sailed Puget Sound too) it will serve you the best in the lighter winds whereas the rig as it comes is just great in stronger winds. As for the heater - were you thinking of the forced air? Don't. You're right - too expensive and someone I trust thought it should only be used in larger than 32 foot boats. We ordered a propane wall stove that is new on the market this year and if you are interested contact me and I'll get the exact model. We spent around $1400 with installation and it is really great to take the chill off. We did not order auto-helm and probably should have. If you are going to overnight on it invest in a down covered featherbed - the mattresses are like upholstered rocks. If you have any further questions just ask. And good luck with your purchase. I know you'll have fun.
Bedding on 320
I too am going to be a new 320 owner... next week!. I was looking at doing some overnights and wondered about bedding. The stock bedding does kind look like "upholstered rocks". What and where would one find something to make this more liveable? I am not even sure what kind of sheets and things one puts on this? (New big boat owner
. I saw in the Boat US store some sheet sets, but that was about it. The last post mentioned a featherbed? That would be for the aft cabin I assume? What would something like this cost and how would handle the moisture?? Do they make something for the V-Berth?.... help... Just trying to get a good nights rest
I too am going to be a new 320 owner... next week!. I was looking at doing some overnights and wondered about bedding. The stock bedding does kind look like "upholstered rocks". What and where would one find something to make this more liveable? I am not even sure what kind of sheets and things one puts on this? (New big boat owner
. I saw in the Boat US store some sheet sets, but that was about it. The last post mentioned a featherbed? That would be for the aft cabin I assume? What would something like this cost and how would handle the moisture?? Do they make something for the V-Berth?.... help... Just trying to get a good nights rest 
Custom Bedding
I saw a Web site of a company that specializes in custom mattresses for boats (including v-berths). They looked extremely well-made and comfortable, but the prices were way too scary for my wallet! If money is no object, they will send you a paper measuring kit to make patterns and quote the exact damage...
I saw a Web site of a company that specializes in custom mattresses for boats (including v-berths). They looked extremely well-made and comfortable, but the prices were way too scary for my wallet! If money is no object, they will send you a paper measuring kit to make patterns and quote the exact damage...
Egg Crate Cushion
They have these at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc, and they come in various sizes, just buy one a little bigger than you need and cut it to fit.
They have these at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc, and they come in various sizes, just buy one a little bigger than you need and cut it to fit.
I sure hope...
that my brand new boat has better material then K-Mart egg-crate cushion. I was speaking more to the sheets and replacements for the matresses provided by Hunter...
that my brand new boat has better material then K-Mart egg-crate cushion. I was speaking more to the sheets and replacements for the matresses provided by Hunter...
Handcraft Mattress
All the Hunters below the 410, including my H380 come without real mattresses. After waking many days last year with a sore back, I checked out all the mattress companies I could find. All were expensive and ultimately I selected Handcraft Mattress Co. They sent a rep out to my boat and he made the template as the H380 has a oversized queen mattress with a very weird shaped set of angles on the starboard side. 6" thick real foam mattress with nice quilted cover, folds in half to use the storage underneath, doesn't block access to port side storage areas etc. Total delivered was just under $1200 to Mass. from Calif. Lots of money but I just woke up 1/2hr ago and my backs not aching. If I had to do it over again would I? You bet but I wouldn't wait a year. Good Luck Bob Knott H380
All the Hunters below the 410, including my H380 come without real mattresses. After waking many days last year with a sore back, I checked out all the mattress companies I could find. All were expensive and ultimately I selected Handcraft Mattress Co. They sent a rep out to my boat and he made the template as the H380 has a oversized queen mattress with a very weird shaped set of angles on the starboard side. 6" thick real foam mattress with nice quilted cover, folds in half to use the storage underneath, doesn't block access to port side storage areas etc. Total delivered was just under $1200 to Mass. from Calif. Lots of money but I just woke up 1/2hr ago and my backs not aching. If I had to do it over again would I? You bet but I wouldn't wait a year. Good Luck Bob Knott H380
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