Help New To Sailing Boat

[yoram]

I Am New To Sailing And Boating In General...
Found Hunter 260 1999, And Hunter 280 1996.
Boat Looks The Same With The Yanmar Engine, Steering Wheel, Small Kitchen..
Looking For Comments Or General Information From Experience Point Of View
Thanks A Lot.....

 

[Terry Cox]

New To Sailing

FWIW, check out the Boat Info tab above where you can finds lots of info on either model, including owner reviews. If it were me I would lean toward the 280 because it has a lead fixed keel (as opposed to water ballast), more internal volume, larger capacity tankage, etc. One item that helped us decide on our boats was a list of things we wanted on a boat. We used that list to help narrow our choices.

 

[seadaddler]

Depends

I sailed a 280 and great sailboat and will need to be docked in a slip
and the 260 is a trailer sailor with ballast and the 280 will be more stable
and handle waves and wind better and 260 can be trailored.
When looking to buy my first real sailboat after sailing and trailering a Hobie 16
and decided no more trailering and so purchased a newer 290 Hunter and now have a 2007 H-36 and love and glad I stopped trailering.
I did love the way my 290 handled when out sailing in all kinds of weather and 260 is great sailboat but limited and tender.
Nick

 

[Tally Ho]

My first boat was a 1996 Hunter 280. Knew almost nothing about sailing, but found the H280 to be a great boat.
I sailed her on Lake Michigan, and found her just big enough to feel safe on the big lake, and yet easy to single-hand and learn on.

Sailed her for 3 years, and recently sold her and bought a 32- foot O'Day 322 that I have had my eye since I bought the H280.

Depending on your needs (slip vs trailer), I think the H280 would be a great choice.

Greg