How well has your hunter aged?

kloudie1 · May 20, 2013

Check out Claude Auger's posts on his voyages in a mid 80's 34.. I have owned my 34 for 22 years and I am happy with her. I would not hesitate to take her out to sea, across the Gulf of Mexico today.. There are some older hunters that may not be as heavily built as some other years, so ya have to look carefully. Look for things like genoa tracks and solid toe rails/bump strips .. engine access.. hatches that have strong frames.. solid life line stanchions.. A more precise comment might be that the build is pretty good but sometimes the hunter purchased components can be questionable.

Mikem · May 20, 2013

We bought our Hunter new in 2003 and it still looks and sails as brand new. One of our decisions to buy a Hunter was the fact that the interiors did not seem to age...don't know why they just always seemed to look new. Maintenance has been next to nothing and the flag blue hull is as shiny as the day I bought it...of course Washington state does not have the bright sunshine of southern climes but still it looks brand new. It doesn't even have a boat smell. Go figure.

Les · May 20, 2013

I have had five new (from the dealer) Hunter sailboats (40, 32, 35.5, 380 and my present 27). Dealers either took my boat in trade or I sold them myself. However, the 380 was the only one that I kept for nine years so I don't make your standard request--sorry. Still, I bought the Hunter 380 for $129,000 and sold her for $121,000 after nine years. Their surveyor said he had not seen a boat like mine as in good shape as mine. However, be aware that I live in the Pacific Northwest and we do not have the extremes in temperatures that much of the rest of the country endures. This could have an effect.

Hunter adds a chemical to their gel coat that keeps a shine over the years. I clean and wax it once a year and it still looks new. And Hunter uses quality equipment for the most part which also helps keep a Hunter in good condition. I have never had a problem with my Yanmars....or any Lewmar equipment. That helps.

I think there are many good boats on the market, not just Hunter but I have developed an affinitive for Hunters.

I have also like their innovations in design and the quality of construction. I have had a marine electrician tell me that Hunters are the best wired boats that he works on.

Now the question for you is do you go used or buy new. I can't answer that question for you. But either way, I suspect you can't go wrong.

Best wishes.

Claude L.-Auger · May 20, 2013

Have had my 84 Hunter 34 for 13 years and logged on closed to 20,000 miles since, sailing her singlehanded mostly, up to Labrador, Magdalen Islands, Nova Scotion & New Brunswick, South to Florida & the Bahamas through the Exumas, Eleuthera, & the Abacos, and of course numerous trips to Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands area (currently planning a 6-week trip there again this summer). Short story is it's perfect for what I do. And the investment (an oxymoron of course when talking about a boat LOL) is right for me. But then again I see you have a Gozzard 42 so you might be looking for something more than a Hunter can offer. Good luck in your search and with your decision.

jdhohmann · May 20, 2013

I too have owned my boat for 9 years, and still going strong, partly because I have no money to buy a new one, but if I did, god damn I would stick to Hunter.. We have had no issues, nothing abnormal anyway.. and the boat is as strong as the day the hull was laid, just like me!!!!!

Scott · May 20, 2013

If you maintain them

well, they will last for many years. We're in our 25th season with an '86 H31. Some of the OEM deck hardware needed be replaced (with garhaur products) after ~18 - 20 years. Had to repalce the compression post, but other than that no major repairs.:dance:
This year, the cabin sole is being replaced due to de-lamination. As far as I am concered, there is no better marine engine than a Yanmar. In 25 years it only did'nt start within 2 turns once, nd that was a simple eletrical problem.

What's wrong with your Gozzard that your thinking of a Hunter?

Allan12210 · May 20, 2013

We bought our H34 brand new in 1985 (28 years ago) and other than the documented shortcomings that have been addressed, the boat is as robust as when we bought it. Ours gets stressed quite significantly with the consistently heavy wind conditions we experience out here with no indications of structural weakness (other than the original compression post requiring attention). This particular boat continues to meet all our needs so we don't see the need to go through the hassle of selling it and going either bigger or smaller.

Rick D · May 20, 2013

Going on 23 Years...

... on two hunters, a 1990 Vision 32 we had for nine years and out current Legend 40.5 we have had for 14. Problems? Sure, but nothing any other boat of the vintage would have and a lot less than I would expect of most. Having said that, we don't let broken things lay nor do we put off maintenance. Most people are quite surprised to find out she is nearly 20 years old.

JWC · May 20, 2013

I also have owned 2 Hunters, a 84 34 and currently a 85 40. Both good boats and hold up well. San Diego to Thailand via Australia in the 40. Have also worked on numerous charter boats for years and the Hunters stand up as well as any and better than most in that brutal (to boats) industry. For some comparisons see the link to Comparing Production Boats. https://www.smashwords.com/dashboard

Good luck

wufibugs · May 20, 2013

At the other extreme, I've only been sailing for just over a year in my mid-80s 31. Although the boat sat pretty much unattended for many months before I got it, it looked and held up incredibly well. I have never had a drop of water in the bilge that wasn't a galley spill and after replacing the elbow, the Yanmar has been bullet proof. If Hunter has an Achilles, it is the compression post, which has not surfaced as a problem on my boat -yet [knocking wood, throwing salt, thanking stars], and the wiring. I would probably disagree with Les about the quality of the wiring. Not a particular issue on my boat, but not elegantly done [lots of spade connectors and little shrink wrap] but not grossly underwired either. I though the tackle was good quality, though after 25 years the plastic parts are just starting to show signs of deterioration. My hull is overdue for bottom paint, but there is no blistering.

Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi · May 21, 2013

I'm on my 11th season with our 2003 Hunter 356. It has had very little maintenance, but I take very good care of it and don't let little things go without being fixed. We have spent over 750 days on board, all on Kentucky Lake. I would take this boat to Florida and sail it anywhere in the Gulf or Atlantic without reservation. I have been on many other boats and have never found a boat that suits us better than ours.

The only item that has broken that Hunter installed was a cabinet latch and I bought four, thinking I would need to replace more and still have three spares! I think the build quality is outstanding on these models and time of manufacture.

Rick · May 21, 2013

Rick D said:
... on two hunters, a 1990 Vision 32 we had for nine years and out current Legend 40.5 we have had for 14. Problems? Sure, but nothing any other boat of the vintage would have and a lot less than I would expect of most. Having said that, we don't let broken things lay nor do we put off maintenance. Most people are quite surprised to find out she is nearly 20 years old.

Having seen Rick D's boat up close and personal I couldnt agree more. As for our 336, we are going on ten years. She is a much BETTER boat today than when we got her. The creature comforts we have added combined with the bang for the buck that you always get with a Hunter make her stand out. She doesnt whine or complain, she just sails! It always makes me proud when someone asks how old she is and I say 17 plus years. I always get the open jaw look and the "I thought she was brand new"!

Sure we have done all the time change stuff but that is how we enjoy our boat. We rarely make a big trip without something breaking but Phil has always had my back with a replacement latch or whatever it is. As Rick D said, if you put off maintenance and dont contribute the required boat bucks now, then you may not really want to be an owner.

Here is a picture of Rick D's boat as she passed us in the Newport to Ensenada race. I was doing my best to put him in dirty air but it didnt matter. Sure the sails look "well used" but she is quite elegant! We did however, beat him to the finish line!

Cheers

Lyle · May 21, 2013

Having owned 6 boats from 27 feet to 47 feet and production boats (Catalina and Hunter) and high end custom boats its all in how you maintain it that counts. Doesn't matter if its a Hunter or a Oyster. My current boat, a 1994 P42 doesn't look at all like it is coming up on 20 years old - it has aged as well as any of them.

eianm · May 21, 2013

I have a 1991 H42 that I am very proud of. I looked at 8 different H42's before deciding on the oldest one- was worried about my sanity, but bumped into a brocker I hadnt bought from in a bar, the night I had decided to by my1991. After asking what boat I was buying, he said great choice- shame I didnt have her listing! I believe it all simply comes down to how well maintained any boat is- mine had obviously been a passion boat, as opposed to a fashion boat. I am the 3rd owner and was lucky enough to end up talking to 2 of the owners spanning all but 2 years of her life. Both were as fanatical about their boats, as am I. The other thing that no-one has mentioned that I have found to be a stand out advantage offered by Hunter, is their customer service dept.- I am so impressed and so grateful for the amazing support the 3rd owner of a 22 year old boat can get from the factory- emails ALWAYS answered next day- TOTALLY impressive.

FourPoints · May 21, 2013

ketchingon said:
would you take a well maintained 1990 Hunter on a long voyage?.

Since my 1990 hunter is only a 27, I would never take it into blue water conditions, but I do take it on 100nm trips without concern. I have had my boat since June of 2009, and it is in better shape than when I bought it.

Scott · May 23, 2013

Your certainly welcome and

welcome to site. It's a treasure trove of useful information and nice folks who are more than willing to answer questions.

How well has your hunter aged?

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