My 1st mate and I currently sail a Cat22 in a Texas lake. We decideded to super-size and have been looking at all of our options for the past 6 months. The money will be right by August and we will be putting our boat up for sail. We saw a Hunter 28.5 and thought this might fit the bill. I wanted to ask on this site for opinions / thoughts / reviews from Hunter owners. This, I hope, will shed some light on some issues for us to consider (if there are any). Our plan is to get comfortable with a boat this size before going for something to take us to the coast, to Florida, and the Keys (10 year plan). Thanks for any insight. RObert
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GREAT, with one exception
My first mate and I have sailed an 85 28.5 for the past 16 years. It is easy to sail, fun to be on and has sufficient accomodations for 2 or 3. The only dislike is the limited space in the cabin and the requirement to "walk on the cushions" to get to the V berth. I have a very close friend who sails a Catalina 30. I don't like the way that boat sails, but his interior is much better as far as lay out. I have had no structural or system issues in all the years, just normal wear and tear. Good Luck with your decision.
My first mate and I have sailed an 85 28.5 for the past 16 years. It is easy to sail, fun to be on and has sufficient accomodations for 2 or 3. The only dislike is the limited space in the cabin and the requirement to "walk on the cushions" to get to the V berth. I have a very close friend who sails a Catalina 30. I don't like the way that boat sails, but his interior is much better as far as lay out. I have had no structural or system issues in all the years, just normal wear and tear. Good Luck with your decision.
I personally think
That the Hunter 28.5 is one of the best kept secrets in the used boat market. I have a 1986 model and love it. As indicated, there are over 50 owner reviews of this model boat on this site. I don't think you'll find many who don't like the boat. And here is a short list of likes/dislikes I recently sent to the H28.5 website: What I like best about my Hunter 28.5: - Good looks - Great sailing performance - Easy to single hand - Low purchase price (very competitive on east coast) - Fairly easy to maintain - A very reliable Yanmar diesel - Big enough for small family cruising - "Just enough" boat What I like least about my Hunter 28.5: - Iron keel (although not a big deal) - Foss Foam rudder - Somewhat tender (also not a biggie) - Expected low resale value - No suitable drain under engine for stuffing box - Salon table takes up too much cabin space - Difficult to access upper rear of engine
That the Hunter 28.5 is one of the best kept secrets in the used boat market. I have a 1986 model and love it. As indicated, there are over 50 owner reviews of this model boat on this site. I don't think you'll find many who don't like the boat. And here is a short list of likes/dislikes I recently sent to the H28.5 website: What I like best about my Hunter 28.5: - Good looks - Great sailing performance - Easy to single hand - Low purchase price (very competitive on east coast) - Fairly easy to maintain - A very reliable Yanmar diesel - Big enough for small family cruising - "Just enough" boat What I like least about my Hunter 28.5: - Iron keel (although not a big deal) - Foss Foam rudder - Somewhat tender (also not a biggie) - Expected low resale value - No suitable drain under engine for stuffing box - Salon table takes up too much cabin space - Difficult to access upper rear of engine
28.5
As a 28.5 owner since new in 1986, I think you will love the boat; we have the deep draft model which sails well in light air with a 155% Genoa , points very well, and is not as tender as the shoal draft. Add a bimini for shade on hot sunny Texas days. Visit www.huntertwentyeightfive.com for posts specific to this model.
As a 28.5 owner since new in 1986, I think you will love the boat; we have the deep draft model which sails well in light air with a 155% Genoa , points very well, and is not as tender as the shoal draft. Add a bimini for shade on hot sunny Texas days. Visit www.huntertwentyeightfive.com for posts specific to this model.
loved mine
We also had a Cat 22 and moved up to a H28.5. We were looking for a Cat 27 and a broker turned us on to the 28.5. It was more boat for the buck so we went for it. I would buy one again.
We also had a Cat 22 and moved up to a H28.5. We were looking for a Cat 27 and a broker turned us on to the 28.5. It was more boat for the buck so we went for it. I would buy one again.
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