Hello legend 37 owners

Rick D · Oct 15, 2015

1. Is this a fresh or salt water boat?
2. Tanks are likely aluminum rather than stainless.
3. I always had a little water in my bilge on my 32 Hunter as well as my 40.5 Legend.
4. This site is the official parts supplier for Hunter. Very well supported. See the tab for the store.
5. Hunter is still around, now Marlow Hunter. See their Facebook page and website. What required new ownership was that Hunter Marine was part of a group that included several large powerboat lines. After 2008, those dragged down the group. Hunter (and Mainship Trawlers) were purchased by Marlow.
6. If you have not already done so, explore these spec's and owner reviews: http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/resources/index.php?task=model&mid=37

ben solomon · Oct 16, 2015

I have a 1990 Hunter legend 37.5. I love her! Sails incredibly well. I agree with you that the cockpit storage is lacking. In later models, the stern was built with lazarettes. But..... Down below she is huge! More storage than some of the newer boats I have seen. They is space for my wife and I, or three teenage kids and two dogs. The boat is really set up for sailing..... 5 foot Jib tracks that course along the deck that are adjustable from the cockpit, end boom mainsheet with traveler in the cockpit, large full battened main. If you Google "sailing dawn memorial day" you will see the videos I posted. I put a CPT wheel pilot for auto helm and it is awesome!

Ben

ben solomon · Oct 20, 2015

My deck also has a soft spot. It is due to the Genoa furling lines going through the deck on the way to the below deck furler. Also, apparently the latch for the anchor locker allows some water entry where the latch enters the foredeck. I have yet to repair my deck. The PO epoxied the area where the jib furling line goes through the deck and stopped ongoing leaks. As for the rudder, my rudder is okay, and I did have to add a 100 amp alternator, and replaced all of the batteries, and added an extra hous battery. This is a great sailing boat.

A few vids:

w4pyleii · Oct 21, 2015

I'm curious how the aft cabin of the 37.5 compares with the inline berth of the 37. I'm 6'5 and usually have my feet hanging off the end of a bed, so the athwartships cabin on the 37.5 might not work for me. I do like the main cabin layout of the 37.5 a little better, but not enough to overcome the room to sleep issue. On deck I'm somewhat indifferent about the swim platform stern, but much prefer the traveler location of the 37. The traveler in front of the companion way on the 37.5 seems way too far forward on the boom, right next to the vang attachment...

I need to find a boat somewhat local to me so I can check them out in person, but around here most boats are just about put away for the winter.

w4pyleii · Oct 21, 2015

In researching these Legend 37/37.5 boats, I'm amazed at how many people are mis-identifying their boats. Even the professional brokerage listings don't get it right.

The Legend 37 has the bridge deck traveler, walk through transom, and in line aft berth. The 37.5 (introduced in '91?) moves the traveler forward of the cabin hatch, dishes out a swim platform on the stern, takes out space from the aft cabin and forces the athwarships berth, and has quite a few other interior changes.

ben solomon · Oct 21, 2015

Mine is 1990 legend 37.5. Centerline aft queen berth, traveler in the cockpit at the end of the boom. My stern has no steps or lazarettes. If you are 6'5" this is NOT the boat for you. My step son is 6'5" and he constantly bangs his head and he can barely stand upright down below. But
... The boat is awesome!

w4pyleii · Oct 21, 2015

ben solomon said:
Mine is 1990 legend 37.5. Centerline aft queen berth, traveler in the cockpit at the end of the boom. My stern has no steps or lazarettes. If you are 6'5" this is NOT the boat for you. My step son is 6'5" and he constantly bangs his head and he can barely stand upright down below. But
... The boat is awesome!

I'm used to ducking, interior height isn't an issue. I currently have a Ranger 28 and before that an International Folkboat, this boat would be exponentially roomier.

I enjoyed your YouTube videos, especially the kite cam shots!

geek_guy · Oct 23, 2015

c_m_8 said:
Hello all. Looking for a larger sailboat and came across a 1987 Legend 37. How do you Legend 37 owners like your boats? Good and bad?

In particular on 1st quick inspection I did not notice much storage space, especially in the cocpit. (fenders, dinghy fuel tanks, generator, etc). How do you cope?

How about stainless tanks, can I assume they will need changing?

Is it normal to have water in the bilge? My boat now is dry and another hunter owner I talked with (not a legend) also says his bilge is dry.

Anything else you can share that I should look out for?

Tough to find manuals, etc for this legend 37 other than some bad pdf's I finally found on line. Anyone know of any good sites with documentation?

Lastly one of the good things about Hunters was that they were still in business. I tried getting info from the new Company frankly they were a complete waste of time. Any recent experience with customer service?

Lots of questions, appreciate any answers

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We purchased the same model same year 4 years ago. We have been very pleased. It's a solid fast but still comfortable boat.

Storage in the cockpit is very sparse. I was concerned at first but have to say that I've not missed it. We stay in a slip so have no need for fenders. We have Propane tanks, but they are mounted on the rail. There is space aft of the main berth that would take a generator. No outboard either. But when that happens I'll put a small gas can next to the life lines.

The aluminum tanks are an issue. I had to replace the water tank as it was leaking. But for now the fuel and holding tanks are solid. I found the company that made the original tanks. They still have the specs and diagrams. So they made me the exact tank. This model was only in production a couple years. So don't expect loads of information out there. Though I believe the hull and deck are the same as the next generation called the 37.5. The layout and inside were modified but that is all.

There is a common problem with water intrusion where the jib furling leads go through the deck. Fairly common for there to be some delamination just aft of the entry point. Mine has substantial delamination between the point where the water inlet is and where the cabin raises up. The port lights had been leaking for many many years. About 3 hours after a rain it would come out the bottom of the thru deck fitting. Took me many hours to find out where it came from. Actually didn't find it. I wanted to rebed the port lights. When I did I found that there was nothing between the 2 outside layers of fiberglass. But don't think this is anything special to this boat.

I've had some help from Hunter. Though this model was pretty short lived, and it has been quite a while. But frankly most things on a sailboat are pretty standard and I've not found documentation to be that valuable. I do have the original owners manual. I'll be glad to send it to you. But don't expect tremendous information. Also I can send you the email address of the historical records at hunter. Calling didn't work well but he has always replied within a day to an email.

The original job furling rig is not the best. It is nearly impossible to reduce the amount of sail out. It's pretty much only usable to completely douse or out full.

But I can't think of anything else that is special other than it being a 28 year old boat. But we shopped hard for 2 years and didn't find anything even close to the value. I'm glad to share anything I can with you. Just hit me up.

Dave

PAC3142 · Oct 24, 2015

I'm 6'4" and a bit, and we have a new to us 1994 37.5. I can stand throughout most of the main cabin and head, and I can lie down comfortably in every berth. The aft athwartship berth is extra long - my feet don't come near the lockers on the starboard side.

Paul

ben solomon · Oct 25, 2015

Anyone want to have a legend raft up in the chesapeake?

Ben

w4pyleii · Oct 25, 2015

Paul thanks for the input. Looking at photos it was really hard to visualize just how long the athwartship berth is.

Not the best time for boat shopping up here, but in the spring I'll try and jump on a 37 and 37.5 and see for myself.

DSqr · Nov 16, 2015

Don't overlook the Hunter 376. We just jumped from a 33.5 to the 376 and we're blown away with the space below, as well as the storage in the oval cockpit. We bought the boat at the end of the season and didn't get to sail her, but we're chomping at the bit for spring. We're docked at the other side of the lake in Racine, if you ever want to take a look.

DStegs49 · Apr 26, 2017

C m 8,
Don't see where you could go wrong with a Legend 37
Below has plenty of storage.
Cockpit has a locker on either side of the walk thru transom. We hang our fenders in a rail mount holder, lifesling2 hangs on the other side. If you need gas for the outboard lash it to the transom ladder or leave it in the dink with the outboard..
We really like the centerline aft cabin berth. Two of us and Rover are more than comfortable. We sleep with our heads to the stern because it seems that the other way is downhill. Use caution with this arrangement because if you're clausterfobic or suddenly sit up in your sleep you'll have a problem. V berth is large enough for taller people.
I did have a problem with my rudder delaminating. Hunter or the PO had an Allen screw in the bottom of the rudder for drainage but must not have been used or didn't drain enough water out before our wonderful freezing winters froze it. Foss Foam in Florida stripped mine down to the frame and remade it for me. Looks original and all set to put on at launch.
We have a bit of water in our bilge and from what I can figure is it comes in where the control cables go to the pedestal.
PHRF on the great lakes starts at 93 and the committee does not allow for fixed prop, wing keel or furling.
Boat snails nice and is comfortable.

Ringydingydo · Sunday at 9:34 PM

w4pyleii said:
In researching these Legend 37/37.5 boats, I'm amazed at how many people are mis-identifying their boats. Even the professional brokerage listings don't get it right.

The Legend 37 has the bridge deck traveler, walk through transom, and in line aft berth. The 37.5 (introduced in '91?) moves the traveler forward of the cabin hatch, dishes out a swim platform on the stern, takes out space from the aft cabin and forces the athwarships berth, and has quite a few other interior changes.

Agreed, but the Legend 37 is 37.5ft LOA. What better way to create confusion than to name the next model 37.5