Good morning,
Long time listener, first time caller, so I hope I'm in the right place and posting this the right way...
I am interested in a 1986 Hunter 23 that I took a look at this weekend. Interested enough that I drove 4 hours each way for the visit...
When I arrived, everything was as it was in the pictures, and I knew what to expect.
The keel had quite a bit of clumpy rust (knew that going in and am prepared to deal with, should I proceed with the purchase)
The bottom needs a good cleaning (also knew that going in). the "crud" on the bottom is just lake scum that dried. It flakes off really easily and will clean up nicely.
Cabin was in good to excellent shape, with dry bilges and no corrosion around keel bolts.
My only two concerns were:
The aft end of the keel was resting on the metal part of the trailer
Now, from what I've read on this forum, the Hunter 23s should have about 70% of the weight of the boat should be on the keel, with the remaining 30% on the trailer bunks. I've also seen that there are usually wooden boards under the keel...this trailer did not have those.
From pictures I've seen, it looks like the forward, beefier end of the keel should be resting on those boards...in this case, it's the thinner, pointier end which is resting directly on one of the trailer cross-members (metal-on-metal), and not good for a 250 mile drive home.
My other concern was that the keel almost seemed slightly bent to one side...ever so slightly to starboard.
Now, this could be an optical illusion from looking at the waterline and how it was sitting on the trailer (not perfectly centered, but you can almost make it out in the picture)
There were no cracks in the hull/keel bedding that I could see (which you would expect if the keel really had been bent).
This is the best picture I have of it...and it's kind of hard to tell from this picture.
I've read the restoration thread, and paid special attention to the parts about removing the rust form the keel, so that's not a problem.
The cabin, cockpit, mast, and deck all seem to be in good order (just need to be cleaned). Trailer looks to be in good shape, as well.
I am BRAND NEW to the Hunter world, having more experience with Catalina 25's and Catalina 22's.
I have heard some disparaging things about Hunters in general, and with wing-keel boats in general, and a few things about Hunter 23's in particular.
I've heard that Hunter 23's:
-Heel excessively
-Point 5-10 degrees lower than other boats of comparable size.
I am sure some of those can be rectified by sail trim, reefing, and human ballast nut, since it seems to be mentioned frequently, I thought I would bring it up.
I would be using this boat for "beer can" races from March through October on an inland Texas lake, as well as for leisurely cruising on that same lake with the family.
So that's where I'm at...trying to decide if this boat (including outboard, trailer, battery, set of sails, jib roller-furling, clear titles) would be worth it, knowing that is needs a hull cleaning, and rust removal/filling and fairing/repainting of keel. I believe it to be a fair price, and within my budget.
I'm also looking at a Catalina 25 and Catalina 22. I thought a Hunter 23 would be a good compromise between those two.
Long time listener, first time caller, so I hope I'm in the right place and posting this the right way...
I am interested in a 1986 Hunter 23 that I took a look at this weekend. Interested enough that I drove 4 hours each way for the visit...
When I arrived, everything was as it was in the pictures, and I knew what to expect.
The keel had quite a bit of clumpy rust (knew that going in and am prepared to deal with, should I proceed with the purchase)
The bottom needs a good cleaning (also knew that going in). the "crud" on the bottom is just lake scum that dried. It flakes off really easily and will clean up nicely.
Cabin was in good to excellent shape, with dry bilges and no corrosion around keel bolts.
My only two concerns were:
The aft end of the keel was resting on the metal part of the trailer
Now, from what I've read on this forum, the Hunter 23s should have about 70% of the weight of the boat should be on the keel, with the remaining 30% on the trailer bunks. I've also seen that there are usually wooden boards under the keel...this trailer did not have those.
From pictures I've seen, it looks like the forward, beefier end of the keel should be resting on those boards...in this case, it's the thinner, pointier end which is resting directly on one of the trailer cross-members (metal-on-metal), and not good for a 250 mile drive home.
My other concern was that the keel almost seemed slightly bent to one side...ever so slightly to starboard.
Now, this could be an optical illusion from looking at the waterline and how it was sitting on the trailer (not perfectly centered, but you can almost make it out in the picture)
There were no cracks in the hull/keel bedding that I could see (which you would expect if the keel really had been bent).
This is the best picture I have of it...and it's kind of hard to tell from this picture.
I've read the restoration thread, and paid special attention to the parts about removing the rust form the keel, so that's not a problem.
The cabin, cockpit, mast, and deck all seem to be in good order (just need to be cleaned). Trailer looks to be in good shape, as well.
I am BRAND NEW to the Hunter world, having more experience with Catalina 25's and Catalina 22's.
I have heard some disparaging things about Hunters in general, and with wing-keel boats in general, and a few things about Hunter 23's in particular.
I've heard that Hunter 23's:
-Heel excessively
-Point 5-10 degrees lower than other boats of comparable size.
I am sure some of those can be rectified by sail trim, reefing, and human ballast nut, since it seems to be mentioned frequently, I thought I would bring it up.
I would be using this boat for "beer can" races from March through October on an inland Texas lake, as well as for leisurely cruising on that same lake with the family.
So that's where I'm at...trying to decide if this boat (including outboard, trailer, battery, set of sails, jib roller-furling, clear titles) would be worth it, knowing that is needs a hull cleaning, and rust removal/filling and fairing/repainting of keel. I believe it to be a fair price, and within my budget.
I'm also looking at a Catalina 25 and Catalina 22. I thought a Hunter 23 would be a good compromise between those two.
