Hunter 27 vs. 30

David in Sandusky · Mar 18, 2015

Questions

How big is your regular crew?

What is your budget?

Do you prefer a tiller or a wheel?

Describe your cruising plans - how far? How many days?

Stu Jackson · Mar 18, 2015

Who are we to suggest you NOT get a bigger boat?

Other things might change too, like engines.

We went from outboards to inboard diesels, learned a lot. A hot shower is just superb, especially when your new-to-you boat gets a line wrapped around the prop.

Hot shower and brandy, great cures after clearing the line.

Don't let anybody tell you that having more space isn't good. Of course, you'll never fill it up, since you were so good at storing things on your old smaller boat.

Our old boats were both 1981s, this one is a 1986. Great vintage.

Nelsonhow · Mar 18, 2015

I had a 1978 H-27 shoal draft which I loved. Easy to sail, cheap to fix, easily sailed by one. Built like a brick....you know what.....The really nice thing was that all the systems were simple.

The boat buck was about $100.......

An acquaintance had a 1984 H-30 that was on the hard and needed a little cosmetic work and I negotiated a great price. The H-30 (standard draft) is substantially bigger and feels like a SHIP in comparison. The systems are a little more complicated but still pretty basic and I can do most things that need to be addressed. The 30 has a head instead of a Port-a-Potty as on my 27. The head was not working and the pipes were permeated. EL STINKO.... I had to replace the whole shebang. I mostly day sail with an occasional overnighter and the head is probably overkill for me.

In general the build quality is pretty good.

I can still do most of the maintenance and the boat buck is about $150.

I single hand most of the time and I manage the 30 footer pretty well. At about 12 knots take a wind in the headsail an I'm good to go. Only furled the main once or twice in the last 7 years. At 18+ knots I'm heading for home....

I will say that when the wind pipes up I feel much safer in my H-30.

If I had to do it over again I would do it over again without a second thought.

Hope that helps..........

Calif. Ted · Mar 18, 2015

Only 3 ft.? Sure you don't want a 32 or so ? Might save a step later.

David in Sandusky · Mar 18, 2015

thoughts

We have a '77 h27. Our best friends have an '82 h30. We have cruised together on both, and like them both fine. Here are some thoughts:

- consider the Cherubini h33. John Cherubini called her the "Queen of the Fleet," and they have substantially more room.

- A larger boat costs more to maintain, and the increase is much more than linear.

- A larger boat is harder to man-handle - either the boat when docking, or the lines when tending sails.

- although the h30 is larger and has more headroom, we like the cabin bunks in the h27 better. The v-berth in the h30 has more foot-room, and the quarter berths are roughly equivalent.

- we think the h27 is ideal for two. We have lived on ours for 8 weeks straight, and have been very comfortable.

- sit in the cockpits. Lie down on them. They are quite different.

- I really like a tiller. While possible in either, it is a better choice in the h27.

- We have sailed on the h27 with 4 adults for a week. The only issue is the shortage of convenient storage for personal baggage.

- systems on the h27 are simpler. The Admiral didn't understand this until she watched our friends repairing their marine toilet and then their water pressurization systems at the dock. Both took about two to four times as long as the same repairs on our h27.

- the cockpit and deck of the h30 are substantially higher off the water and the dock than the h27.

Benny17441 · Mar 19, 2015

The tell of the tape;

h27 h30
LWL 22' 25' 9"
Beam 9'3" 10' 2"
Disp. 7000lbs 9,700lbs
ballast 3200lbs 4,100lbs

The volume of the space gained is around 25 cubic ft but there is almost 3000lbs added of which 1000 is ballast. I gather a larger engine, larger standing rig and a stronger hull will account for the difference. Boats are pretty similar so figure out the added expense against the differences. You get a larger engine which may give you more options than the single cylinder of the h27. A heat exchanger can be installed which could lead to a water heater and make that occasional shower a hot one. In the h27 a cold cockpit shower is all you can hope for. I personally don't use what Hunter regards as an in cabin shower as here in Florida the cockpit shower works best. Hate having to dry the shower/head stall after a shower.

braol · Mar 19, 2015

All great points above. What I find fascinating are all the various configurations of the H27. My 27 has wheel steering and an installed head. The wheel and head probably make it feel more substantial than it is. Many people who sail her comment that they're surprised to find a wheel and head on "just a 27 foot'er."

I agree that it is a brick, but a very safe, stable brick...especially when the wind pipes-up. Christmas Eve 2003 on San Diego Bay with 35kt+ winds by the evening. A few friends and myself had it heeled over 30* or so but were never concerned (until we had to put it in the slip...). The 27 is a great, seaworthy boat. I do feel that it sails slower than its rating, although I think this has a lot to do with a deck stepped mast, mid-boom sheeting, lack of jib tracks, tracks to far outboard (toerail), thick lead keel, and so on. But for the family, cruiser, single-hander I can't think of a more solid 27 foot boat.

I agree that for the time, money, and hassle involved that the 33' seems like a better option...but that's all things being equal.
-The 30 will cost more for slip (although my marina charges me the 25'-30' price), haul out, transportation, etc... As far as maintenance is concerned, I think that if you do most things yourself then costs should be comparable to a 27. I mean, sure, lines are longer, sails are bigger and there are a few more systems...but your everyday repairs like sealants, epoxy, hoses, varnish and such should really be about the same.
-More systems can add cost and complexity, but one could always go the other direction and simplify: I do fine with my solar shower and hand-pumped water system.
-Three extra feet really DOES make a difference. I upgraded from a 23 to my 27 and it felt like a hotel by comparison. However, now a 30 or 33 looks so nice......and my friend with an O'Day 18 thinks my boat is the Taj Mahal... -
-Remember the most important thing with a boat, the next boat you buy is totally dependant on your ability to get rid of the boat you own. Owning TWO boats at the same time is a curse from the Devil himself.

braol · Mar 19, 2015

Canyonkeeper said:
I like the 33 but I cannot find one for the right price. For most of the asking prices of 33s I would go with a 37.

Ahhh...the slippery slope (or is it slippery deck?) of shopping for a boat! Don't tease all us all with tales of a 37. My boat is always about 10 feet longer when I close my eyes.

Terry411 · Mar 19, 2015

I had a couple 30's and a couple 37 cutters, if you can swing the money for the slip and boat go for the 37c. They are a ton more boat and one of the best values out there.

braol · Mar 20, 2015

Congrats in advance on the 30 (and the hot water), I hope it works out for you!

I'm one of those for whom hot water is a greater luxury than electricity. You can do alot of things by hand without electricity, but you can't take a hot shower without hot water. Man, if I had a hot shower on the boat I'd take three showers every time I went out...just because I could. Our solar shower (camping type, black bag you hang from a hook in the sun) works ok, but you have to take a shower within about an hour of the sun getting low in the sky or else it gets cool real quick.

ggrizzard · Mar 20, 2015

Hot water is pushed from the tank by a pump located (in mine) in the quarter berth locker, behind the electrical panel. Yeah, dumb location, but it's never let go and flooded the compartment.

The water heater is located in the cockpit locker. Accessible only there or by removing the quarter berth bulkhead. It's the only design feature that stinks. If you are svelt, you can get in there and change the element. Other than that, I have loved mine for thousands of miles and more than 30 years.