Have any of you read the article in Sail magazine about the used Hunter 40. I thought the article was unduly critical of a Boat that I have owned for 4 years and think is a great boat and a great value. Anyone agree?
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bob
hunter 40
i think the author of the article would say it was a positive review...i felt there was an emphasis on repeating stories about hunter's "shabby" reputation, and then saying, well, the h40 is better than a lot of people believe...i find the hunter controversies quite mystifying...over the last 25 years i've owned a columbia, o'day, catalina, and 2 hunters...all boats are compromises, and have pluses and minuses...i've been quite satisfied with my hunters and feel they represent excellent value...some people insist on setting an absolute standard, and then focusing on negative features of hunters, while failing to do so for other production boats...i believe that hositility by traditionalists to hunter's innovative styling and features is one factor....i also believe there is some jealousy over hunter's commercial success...all are entitled to their opinion... if someone wants to pay 25% more for a boat that performs the same function, is not as comfortable, and may not sail as well, then he is welcome to do so...in the meantime, i will continue to enjoy my hunter..
i think the author of the article would say it was a positive review...i felt there was an emphasis on repeating stories about hunter's "shabby" reputation, and then saying, well, the h40 is better than a lot of people believe...i find the hunter controversies quite mystifying...over the last 25 years i've owned a columbia, o'day, catalina, and 2 hunters...all boats are compromises, and have pluses and minuses...i've been quite satisfied with my hunters and feel they represent excellent value...some people insist on setting an absolute standard, and then focusing on negative features of hunters, while failing to do so for other production boats...i believe that hositility by traditionalists to hunter's innovative styling and features is one factor....i also believe there is some jealousy over hunter's commercial success...all are entitled to their opinion... if someone wants to pay 25% more for a boat that performs the same function, is not as comfortable, and may not sail as well, then he is welcome to do so...in the meantime, i will continue to enjoy my hunter..
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Jeff Walker
Catalina bashing
I agree with bob and Gordon that Hunter's have been unfairly criticized. It's interesting that on the west coast it is Catalina's that are looked down upon by the owners of Pacific Seacraft and other west coast "blue water" boats. When my girlfriend bought her Hunter 410 and I compared it to my Catalina, I thought that Hunter provided a great boat for a reasonable price. A production boats popularity must be a lightning rod for criticism. We should always show restraint when we race by those slow, heavy, and expensive vessels in the comfort of our Hunters. Fair winds and warm thoughts to our friends on the Cruising World BB. Jeff s/v Suzanne
I agree with bob and Gordon that Hunter's have been unfairly criticized. It's interesting that on the west coast it is Catalina's that are looked down upon by the owners of Pacific Seacraft and other west coast "blue water" boats. When my girlfriend bought her Hunter 410 and I compared it to my Catalina, I thought that Hunter provided a great boat for a reasonable price. A production boats popularity must be a lightning rod for criticism. We should always show restraint when we race by those slow, heavy, and expensive vessels in the comfort of our Hunters. Fair winds and warm thoughts to our friends on the Cruising World BB. Jeff s/v Suzanne
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Ed Schenck
Sails like she looks?
IMOH that era boat, the 40, the 45, and the 54 were the best looking boats Hunter ever made. If she sails like she looks it would have to be a winner. I read most of Sail's boat tests and thought the H40 review was pretty positive. They get to test the most up-to-date $500,000. yacht and have lots to compare to. It seemed fair to me.
IMOH that era boat, the 40, the 45, and the 54 were the best looking boats Hunter ever made. If she sails like she looks it would have to be a winner. I read most of Sail's boat tests and thought the H40 review was pretty positive. They get to test the most up-to-date $500,000. yacht and have lots to compare to. It seemed fair to me.
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Gordon
Thans for the Feedback
Thanks for the responses. I do stand corrected that the article was in "Sailing the beauty of sail" magazine and not sail. As far as do they sail as well as they look, my Hunter legend 40 sails great. Very fast with little weather helm. The speed is verified by the consistently low PHRF rating. I just wish that my skills at the helm and the trim would run her up to her numbers. Thanks again for the feedback.
Thanks for the responses. I do stand corrected that the article was in "Sailing the beauty of sail" magazine and not sail. As far as do they sail as well as they look, my Hunter legend 40 sails great. Very fast with little weather helm. The speed is verified by the consistently low PHRF rating. I just wish that my skills at the helm and the trim would run her up to her numbers. Thanks again for the feedback.
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Sean D.
A little late, but....
I bought my 40 to live on, not necessarily to cruise or win races. However, now that I have sailed her, I realize that I can do any and all within reason. I do not think I will set off for Bermuda or win any race against a J105, however, I know that her capabilities far exceed general perception. When considering purchase, I loved the boat with the concession that performance would be foregone for comfort, as that is what everyone says and all I had to go on. Now, I feel like I am sitting on a secret, the boat can fly and is solid. Oh yeah, don't forget above all else, it's comfort and style are it's core strengths. So where does that leave you....with the intimate knowledge of a boat that directly contradicts general sentiment toward it. It is hopeless to convince anyone who doesn't already know, but that is okay. I feel that I have a great boat that I love for reasons that I know, not because the guy on the mooring next to me kisses my aft section because he knows the price tag. One final thought....my mother spoke of my boat to a co-worker, who quickly said "I would never take a Hunter to Bermuda." Out of curiousity, my mother asked what she had for a boat. She had an upper 20's Pearson. Mom inquired if she had taken it to Bermuda, and the answer was I'll never sail to Bermuda. Anyone who would take a Pearson 28 from Boston to Bermuda over a Hunter 40 is, well daring would be diplomatic. That sums it up for me. I can't for the life of me figure out why a Pearson 28 owner would question the Hunter 40's integrity, but that is the way it is.
I bought my 40 to live on, not necessarily to cruise or win races. However, now that I have sailed her, I realize that I can do any and all within reason. I do not think I will set off for Bermuda or win any race against a J105, however, I know that her capabilities far exceed general perception. When considering purchase, I loved the boat with the concession that performance would be foregone for comfort, as that is what everyone says and all I had to go on. Now, I feel like I am sitting on a secret, the boat can fly and is solid. Oh yeah, don't forget above all else, it's comfort and style are it's core strengths. So where does that leave you....with the intimate knowledge of a boat that directly contradicts general sentiment toward it. It is hopeless to convince anyone who doesn't already know, but that is okay. I feel that I have a great boat that I love for reasons that I know, not because the guy on the mooring next to me kisses my aft section because he knows the price tag. One final thought....my mother spoke of my boat to a co-worker, who quickly said "I would never take a Hunter to Bermuda." Out of curiousity, my mother asked what she had for a boat. She had an upper 20's Pearson. Mom inquired if she had taken it to Bermuda, and the answer was I'll never sail to Bermuda. Anyone who would take a Pearson 28 from Boston to Bermuda over a Hunter 40 is, well daring would be diplomatic. That sums it up for me. I can't for the life of me figure out why a Pearson 28 owner would question the Hunter 40's integrity, but that is the way it is.
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Jay Hill
But a good point, Sean
I run into the same thing all the time. People may never sail to Bermuda, but they don't say that, they say "I'll never sail a Hunter to Bermuda" like they actually know something about it. When people jump on Hunters, my first question is "What model did you own and for how long?" I have yet to find a single person able to continue the conversation. If they own a Hunter, they probably like it and accept it's little problems as "production issues". Those that don't like Hunters don't know why they don't like Hunters. Amazing isn't it? It's almost always "A friend of mine said one time..." or other such "related" stories. In Summary: Non owners should "put up or shut up" "...but that's just my opinion, I could be wrong"
I run into the same thing all the time. People may never sail to Bermuda, but they don't say that, they say "I'll never sail a Hunter to Bermuda" like they actually know something about it. When people jump on Hunters, my first question is "What model did you own and for how long?" I have yet to find a single person able to continue the conversation. If they own a Hunter, they probably like it and accept it's little problems as "production issues". Those that don't like Hunters don't know why they don't like Hunters. Amazing isn't it? It's almost always "A friend of mine said one time..." or other such "related" stories. In Summary: Non owners should "put up or shut up" "...but that's just my opinion, I could be wrong"
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Debbie Mchugh
RIGHT.......For Example...........................
This past Sunday afternoon: The marina was buzzing (lots of people). It was cool, but not cold. Winds were 10-15 knots. Out in the bay, 30-40 boats. 75% were Hunters. It was a perfect sailing day!
This past Sunday afternoon: The marina was buzzing (lots of people). It was cool, but not cold. Winds were 10-15 knots. Out in the bay, 30-40 boats. 75% were Hunters. It was a perfect sailing day!
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Sean D.
Dare I ask...
Though I am happy that you were out sailing last Sunday in cool but not cold weather, I was wondering what cool meant? I am afraid to ask. Currently, my home(boat) is wrapped entirely in shrinkwrap, the temp flirts with the freezing point, and it will be another month and a half until we even can think about sailing. Though it is hard, I would like to live vicariously through my friends that are in on the great Hunter secret. Fair winds to all that own hunters, and may the rest be in our windshadows!!!
Though I am happy that you were out sailing last Sunday in cool but not cold weather, I was wondering what cool meant? I am afraid to ask. Currently, my home(boat) is wrapped entirely in shrinkwrap, the temp flirts with the freezing point, and it will be another month and a half until we even can think about sailing. Though it is hard, I would like to live vicariously through my friends that are in on the great Hunter secret. Fair winds to all that own hunters, and may the rest be in our windshadows!!!
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Stephen Ostrander
read it
I read the article. Actually what they ended up saying was that it was a lot of boat for the buck. Hunters are great coastal cruisers. If I was going to circumnavigate, I would want the best boat that money could buy. But I have no plans, and not a lot of money. So instead of sitting at the dock wishing I had a Hinckley, I go out and sail my Hunter.
I read the article. Actually what they ended up saying was that it was a lot of boat for the buck. Hunters are great coastal cruisers. If I was going to circumnavigate, I would want the best boat that money could buy. But I have no plans, and not a lot of money. So instead of sitting at the dock wishing I had a Hinckley, I go out and sail my Hunter.
You know they are probably correct
You know these guys are probably right. The Hunters do not have a hull that is 2.5" thick (so the boat weight 10,000# less), and you do not have sea bunks (so you can sleep comfortably at night) and you do not have a back stay (so you do not get dismasted when you gibe) and you don't have 500 gals of tankage (so you can sail faster) and you did not spend $500,000 for the boat (so you don't need to work the rest of your life to pay it off), and you don't have a full keel (so you can turn within a quarter mile). But you do have a boat that you can live with that is highly engineered with lots of space that you can afford that will take us where *we want to go* so why do we really care. If you do care then you should get rid of you GM, FORD and CHRYSLER trucks and automobiles because they don't say very nice things about them either. So go do it! PS: I would like to know how many Hunters you find that have made it down to the Caribbean.
You know these guys are probably right. The Hunters do not have a hull that is 2.5" thick (so the boat weight 10,000# less), and you do not have sea bunks (so you can sleep comfortably at night) and you do not have a back stay (so you do not get dismasted when you gibe) and you don't have 500 gals of tankage (so you can sail faster) and you did not spend $500,000 for the boat (so you don't need to work the rest of your life to pay it off), and you don't have a full keel (so you can turn within a quarter mile). But you do have a boat that you can live with that is highly engineered with lots of space that you can afford that will take us where *we want to go* so why do we really care. If you do care then you should get rid of you GM, FORD and CHRYSLER trucks and automobiles because they don't say very nice things about them either. So go do it! PS: I would like to know how many Hunters you find that have made it down to the Caribbean.
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Jay Hill
For Sean
We'll see what Debbie's answer to "cool" weather is, but just 200 miles north of her I still love sailing all winter. "Cool" but not cold is about lower 50's for me. Cold is when it's in the 40's or below and the windchill gets down below 30. We are a little out of sync right now; the weather is windy (15-25 out of the south) and 75-80 degrees during the week, but the weekends are 55-65 with north winds 10-20 with lows at night in the mid 30's. A couple of weeks ago we got some sleet and it was in the mid 20's at night for three days in a row!!!! February 3 marked the day the last leaf fell off the tree in my yard. February 12 another tree started budding...confused plants around these parts. I'll be out all weekend (already scheduled this trip and I am NOT cancelling it.) Highest temperature on Saturday is forecast at 58 degrees. Oh well, I'll live, but that's still "chilly" to me. Sunday should be nice, 65 degrees, wind back to the south (warmer) at 15-20 and not a cloud in site.
We'll see what Debbie's answer to "cool" weather is, but just 200 miles north of her I still love sailing all winter. "Cool" but not cold is about lower 50's for me. Cold is when it's in the 40's or below and the windchill gets down below 30. We are a little out of sync right now; the weather is windy (15-25 out of the south) and 75-80 degrees during the week, but the weekends are 55-65 with north winds 10-20 with lows at night in the mid 30's. A couple of weeks ago we got some sleet and it was in the mid 20's at night for three days in a row!!!! February 3 marked the day the last leaf fell off the tree in my yard. February 12 another tree started budding...confused plants around these parts. I'll be out all weekend (already scheduled this trip and I am NOT cancelling it.) Highest temperature on Saturday is forecast at 58 degrees. Oh well, I'll live, but that's still "chilly" to me. Sunday should be nice, 65 degrees, wind back to the south (warmer) at 15-20 and not a cloud in site.
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Greg Stebbins
Ah Jay.....
Jay, I think it’s more like 270 miles and last weekend the winds were 20-30 kts per the CLYC. I know it made the Sunday J22 races interesting. I opted to watch the races and install new-bigger fairlead blocks. I've been high anxiety sailing to much this winter. I need some low impact, coffee drinking cruising time.
Jay, I think it’s more like 270 miles and last weekend the winds were 20-30 kts per the CLYC. I know it made the Sunday J22 races interesting. I opted to watch the races and install new-bigger fairlead blocks. I've been high anxiety sailing to much this winter. I need some low impact, coffee drinking cruising time.
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Debbie Mchugh s/v Yaga
'COOL' Weather
Jay is right. Cool in southern Texas is in the 50s. We are having unusual weather this year. Today it is 75 degrees and 78% humidity. Believe me Sean, we will be thinking of you this summer when it is 100+ degrees, 100% humidity, and NO wind.
Jay is right. Cool in southern Texas is in the 50s. We are having unusual weather this year. Today it is 75 degrees and 78% humidity. Believe me Sean, we will be thinking of you this summer when it is 100+ degrees, 100% humidity, and NO wind.
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Jay Hill
Greg, Debbie
Greg, No doubt about this past weekend. Only got out late Saturday evening and wind was dying; was at Texoma on Sunday (not on water) but saw the typical 4-6 when they get big wind. ONly two boats on the water, both were sail though. I could use some coffee cruising as well! Just met someone recently that sails/races J29 at Hubbard, don't remember if he said he was at CLYC though. I'll check, you might know him. Debbie, No lie, when July/ August gets here, the story will be entirely different. I'm thinking of chartering out of Mystic, CT during that time and, of course, head North.
Greg, No doubt about this past weekend. Only got out late Saturday evening and wind was dying; was at Texoma on Sunday (not on water) but saw the typical 4-6 when they get big wind. ONly two boats on the water, both were sail though. I could use some coffee cruising as well! Just met someone recently that sails/races J29 at Hubbard, don't remember if he said he was at CLYC though. I'll check, you might know him. Debbie, No lie, when July/ August gets here, the story will be entirely different. I'm thinking of chartering out of Mystic, CT during that time and, of course, head North.
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Greg Stebbins
Alt to Texas HEAT
All right guys, Texas summers are 100+ HOT and there is no wind. But a Hunter 23 will, I swear, sail with NO wind. I think it has to do with the sculling action of the wings and boat motion from the kids scrambling around the deck + my very stiff light air 150. But slow sailing while brains fry and you bond to the cockpit cushions isn’t all that much fun. So for the past 17 years, we’ve been going to Colorado and waiting it out in the Rockies. Temperatures there are 30’s – 70’s (June – August) and Fly fishing, backpacking and mountain climbing help pass the time till school starts and we have to come home. We’ve been doing this so long that we’ve got a house there now and we recommend it highly. Check out the area around Creede Co.
All right guys, Texas summers are 100+ HOT and there is no wind. But a Hunter 23 will, I swear, sail with NO wind. I think it has to do with the sculling action of the wings and boat motion from the kids scrambling around the deck + my very stiff light air 150. But slow sailing while brains fry and you bond to the cockpit cushions isn’t all that much fun. So for the past 17 years, we’ve been going to Colorado and waiting it out in the Rockies. Temperatures there are 30’s – 70’s (June – August) and Fly fishing, backpacking and mountain climbing help pass the time till school starts and we have to come home. We’ve been doing this so long that we’ve got a house there now and we recommend it highly. Check out the area around Creede Co.
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Sean D.
About the Bahamas....
I too wonder how many have made it down to sailors Disneyland. Here's the thing....I know a couple that did a winter 6-7 month cruise to the Bahamas. They had a Fuji (thick hull, strong boat) which seemed to be a sound cruising boat. However, they sat in Miami for three weeks before a weather window hit where they felt absolutely assured of a quiet crossing. Couldn't we as Hunter owners do the same thing with that much time? When you sit and wait on perfect weather, is it necessary to have the iron-clad Hinckley? How would everyone feel about making that trip to the Bahamas with no time constraints?
I too wonder how many have made it down to sailors Disneyland. Here's the thing....I know a couple that did a winter 6-7 month cruise to the Bahamas. They had a Fuji (thick hull, strong boat) which seemed to be a sound cruising boat. However, they sat in Miami for three weeks before a weather window hit where they felt absolutely assured of a quiet crossing. Couldn't we as Hunter owners do the same thing with that much time? When you sit and wait on perfect weather, is it necessary to have the iron-clad Hinckley? How would everyone feel about making that trip to the Bahamas with no time constraints?
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