Help!! Am in the throws on making an offer on an 85' Hunter 28.5, subject to survey. Have just received an E-mail from a third party indicating this boat sails and motors like a pig! After reading owners reviews on this boat, I got no sense of negative handling qualities, except downwind dificulties with sail handling due to swept back spreaders/shrouds. Perhaps handling characteristics not problematic in bays/lakes, such as reported, would be much more severe off our coast in the North Atlantic. While I have no illusions of this being a "blue water craft" I don't want something that can't handle well in a blow/swell, or point decently. Need feedback here as deal closes in early Jan/00!! Thanks, and best of the Season Eric grant
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Personal Experience
Eric, I have owned my 28.5 (87) for about 8 years. We have have her to the Bahamas a number of times and really enjoy her. I have had her in 6 to 8 foot seas, and although it was not particularly comfortable, I never felt unsafe. We have also raced the boat locally with respectable success. She is very maneuverable, both under power and sail. Easy to dock. The stearn will walk a little to port in reverse, but if you take it easy on the power, it is perfectly managable an can be used to advantage. She is not a stiff boat, that is she overpowers easily. The key to keeping her on her feet is to reef early and let out the traveller as needed. She will drive very well under the 110% jib. I highly recommend agressive use of a cunningham and outhaul to keep the draft shallow and forward when the wind picks up. Moving the geona cars aft will also help keep her on her feet in a blow. The 2GM20 Yanmar is one of the most reliable engines around, almost impossible to kill! I added dual anchor rollers to the bow for quick release of the anchor. We are very happy with our 28.5. Indeed, not a blue water boat, but I think that you would be happy with her. E-mail me, or for that matter, any of the other 28.5 owners, if you have any questions. We are all happy to share our views and give help. Good luck and enjoy your new boat!
Eric, I have owned my 28.5 (87) for about 8 years. We have have her to the Bahamas a number of times and really enjoy her. I have had her in 6 to 8 foot seas, and although it was not particularly comfortable, I never felt unsafe. We have also raced the boat locally with respectable success. She is very maneuverable, both under power and sail. Easy to dock. The stearn will walk a little to port in reverse, but if you take it easy on the power, it is perfectly managable an can be used to advantage. She is not a stiff boat, that is she overpowers easily. The key to keeping her on her feet is to reef early and let out the traveller as needed. She will drive very well under the 110% jib. I highly recommend agressive use of a cunningham and outhaul to keep the draft shallow and forward when the wind picks up. Moving the geona cars aft will also help keep her on her feet in a blow. The 2GM20 Yanmar is one of the most reliable engines around, almost impossible to kill! I added dual anchor rollers to the bow for quick release of the anchor. We are very happy with our 28.5. Indeed, not a blue water boat, but I think that you would be happy with her. E-mail me, or for that matter, any of the other 28.5 owners, if you have any questions. We are all happy to share our views and give help. Good luck and enjoy your new boat!
A fine boat
I bought a used 1985 Hunter 28.5 in 1994. She’s a great boat for our purposes (bays and light intracoastal cruising). The only negative is that she has a strong weather helm in winds over 15 knots (even when reefed). But I’ve had her keeled over 35 degrees and was never worried that she couldn’t handle it. (NOTE: I was never worried. My wife and mother-in-law, who were onboard at the time is another story that I won’t go into here). In moderate winds she sails beautifully. She can turn on a dime. Visibility from the cockpit is good. Maintenance is easy, and the engine is about as accessible as any I’ve seen. She and her engine are very reliable. A fine boat for the money. Mike Bates Zenith II mbates@pcola.gulf.net
I bought a used 1985 Hunter 28.5 in 1994. She’s a great boat for our purposes (bays and light intracoastal cruising). The only negative is that she has a strong weather helm in winds over 15 knots (even when reefed). But I’ve had her keeled over 35 degrees and was never worried that she couldn’t handle it. (NOTE: I was never worried. My wife and mother-in-law, who were onboard at the time is another story that I won’t go into here). In moderate winds she sails beautifully. She can turn on a dime. Visibility from the cockpit is good. Maintenance is easy, and the engine is about as accessible as any I’ve seen. She and her engine are very reliable. A fine boat for the money. Mike Bates Zenith II mbates@pcola.gulf.net
Good Boat
I'll echo the other replies: I've had my '85 28.5 for about 2 years and have become quite comfortable taking her out in winds to 30kts and seas 6-8ft (as indicated, however, comfort in the integrity of the boat and actual seaway comfort are not necessarily the same...) Learn when to reef her and trim accordingly and your knuckles won't be white. A recent trip from Canaveral to the Keys and back via the ocean route we averaged 5.5 to 7.5kts (the higher end compliments of the Gulfstream). We don't race but, on the other hand, we don't get passed very frequently by other boats under sail. Comfortable and affordable - my family of 4 does up to 2 weeks at a time on board without mutiny. Good luck. EScott5406@AOL
I'll echo the other replies: I've had my '85 28.5 for about 2 years and have become quite comfortable taking her out in winds to 30kts and seas 6-8ft (as indicated, however, comfort in the integrity of the boat and actual seaway comfort are not necessarily the same...) Learn when to reef her and trim accordingly and your knuckles won't be white. A recent trip from Canaveral to the Keys and back via the ocean route we averaged 5.5 to 7.5kts (the higher end compliments of the Gulfstream). We don't race but, on the other hand, we don't get passed very frequently by other boats under sail. Comfortable and affordable - my family of 4 does up to 2 weeks at a time on board without mutiny. Good luck. EScott5406@AOL
h28.5
I owned an '86 28.5 for 5 yrs. All the previous posts are correct, it is a good boat and a big boat for her size. Much bigger than a Catalina 27 and almost as big as a C-30. I don't know where your "third party" got his info but my 28.5 sailed, motored and steered like a dream. I could easily stay with C-30s when sailing. Most 28.5 owners replace the stock %110 jib with a %125-%150 genny and then she will really move. For downwind get a cruising spinnaker. The 2GM20 is a great engine, never had any trouble with mine. The rig is tall so learn how to reef and don't be afraid to do it.
I owned an '86 28.5 for 5 yrs. All the previous posts are correct, it is a good boat and a big boat for her size. Much bigger than a Catalina 27 and almost as big as a C-30. I don't know where your "third party" got his info but my 28.5 sailed, motored and steered like a dream. I could easily stay with C-30s when sailing. Most 28.5 owners replace the stock %110 jib with a %125-%150 genny and then she will really move. For downwind get a cruising spinnaker. The 2GM20 is a great engine, never had any trouble with mine. The rig is tall so learn how to reef and don't be afraid to do it.
H28.5 good boat
I have had a 28.5 since purchased new in '86. Good boat and good Yanmar engine. Boat tends to be a bit elastic(jumpy) in a light to modest puff in the first 0 to 15 degrees then stiffens up very well having converted the wind to forward motion. Keep the trav center to slightly windward or one tends to burry gunnels in a blow. Since yours is one of the first built, I'd make sure that it had its fuel box and bubble box "upgraded"!. Initially these boats had a "TV dinner pie plate" molded in approach to making these two adjacent items out of fiberglas with a "fiber cover over both of them. Since the seal on both wasn't a good seal it was "boxing" exhaust bubble box water into my fuel box. It took a season of searching before we found out how my fuel was getting watered. Hunter did me right by sending a drop-in poly fuel box insert and a separate bubble box. After that no problem. So make sure yours is upgraded. Also check the hot water hoses that run from the 2GMF engine under the floor boards to the heater box in the front of the "U" set tee seat. In some cases I seen (other 28.5) that the cabin floor screws were driven thru these hoses!. In my case, a friction over the years cause the drill holes thru which the hoses were run forward thru the ribs to cut into the hoses. Now I pulled out the heater and relocated it to the rear of the cockpit locker and ran the hoses to that location- didn't have to buy extra hose either -worked with the good section of what I had.
I have had a 28.5 since purchased new in '86. Good boat and good Yanmar engine. Boat tends to be a bit elastic(jumpy) in a light to modest puff in the first 0 to 15 degrees then stiffens up very well having converted the wind to forward motion. Keep the trav center to slightly windward or one tends to burry gunnels in a blow. Since yours is one of the first built, I'd make sure that it had its fuel box and bubble box "upgraded"!. Initially these boats had a "TV dinner pie plate" molded in approach to making these two adjacent items out of fiberglas with a "fiber cover over both of them. Since the seal on both wasn't a good seal it was "boxing" exhaust bubble box water into my fuel box. It took a season of searching before we found out how my fuel was getting watered. Hunter did me right by sending a drop-in poly fuel box insert and a separate bubble box. After that no problem. So make sure yours is upgraded. Also check the hot water hoses that run from the 2GMF engine under the floor boards to the heater box in the front of the "U" set tee seat. In some cases I seen (other 28.5) that the cabin floor screws were driven thru these hoses!. In my case, a friction over the years cause the drill holes thru which the hoses were run forward thru the ribs to cut into the hoses. Now I pulled out the heater and relocated it to the rear of the cockpit locker and ran the hoses to that location- didn't have to buy extra hose either -worked with the good section of what I had.
H28.5 concerns- one more thing
Re:The fellow that says the boat is a pig. The boat does suffer if you don't keep the bottom clean of growth. Speed will drop and converting a puff to speed will be significantly hampered. In motoring with a dirty bottom, you will "boil water" rather than make expected hull speed. and you will see vibration at that point. If it vibrates otherwise I'd check my cutlass bearing condition and my alignment. That's it.
Re:The fellow that says the boat is a pig. The boat does suffer if you don't keep the bottom clean of growth. Speed will drop and converting a puff to speed will be significantly hampered. In motoring with a dirty bottom, you will "boil water" rather than make expected hull speed. and you will see vibration at that point. If it vibrates otherwise I'd check my cutlass bearing condition and my alignment. That's it.
Don't buy it just yet....
Eric, I have something that you will definitely want to know before you buy...email me @ jhoisington@dttus.com and I will fill you in!!! James-
Eric, I have something that you will definitely want to know before you buy...email me @ jhoisington@dttus.com and I will fill you in!!! James-
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