Hello.
I’m wondering if there are any Hunter 209 or 306 owners out there that could give some real world reviews of their boat?
In particular, does the lack of a true back stay and not being able to fully extend the boom/main impact how well you feel the boat performs?
Also, any thoughts or experiences on how one performs as a Keys/Bahamas cruiser?
BTW, I think they are a beautiful, well laid out boat, I just hav not been able to find a lot of comments from owners on them.
Thanks
Hi Cliff. I've had a 306 since 2005 or so, bought new. A few comments:
Lack of a back-stay: never had any problems with the mast or B&R rig. I'll admit that I do feel a bit envious when I see older boats with the spreaders at 180 degrees (instead of angled back like the B&R), in that they can let the main out more than I can. In reality, I do sail much steeper ddw angles than are probably wise, and my sail and battens are frequently against the stays, but I guess no harm has ever come from it. If I had the choice, I'd probably choose a boat with a split backstay, but... everything's a compromise. I think this one isn't a big deal.
The arch: this is the best feature of the boat! If you have a bimini attached (and I couldn't possibly be without one in the Chesapeake: keeps the sun off and makes the heat tolerable), it's a perfect roof over your head, and it keeps the boom from being a danger to the crew. It gives you something sturdy to hold onto. It doesn't read you bedtime stories, but other than that, it's the perfect cockpit companion.
Mast/sail: it seems (to me) to be about 50/50 as to how many 306's have a furling main vs. traditional. We have a traditional slab-reefed main, and I think it works well. If I had a bigger boat, I'd probably opt for roller furling main for ease of single handing, but I take the boat out solo 80% of the time and the slab reefing main is fine.
Air conditioning: I don't have it, but kind of wish I did for dock-side, given our climate. Many 306's have it. I've actually thought seriously about having it added, as this would be far cheaper than buying a bigger boat, and the manual has full plans for how it should be run internally.
Refrigeration: we didn't have it until last year, when I put in an air-cooled drawer fridge in place of the microwave (search the archives). Very happy with the new fridge, and prefer it to a water-cooled one.
Anchoring: we don't have a windlass, but it's really not necessary in the Chesapeake. I haul the anchor in when I'm solo, and as long as you're patient, it's reasonable to do. I'm 62 and in good shape, but it's certainly possible to imagine high enough wind that I'd have to wait it out for a day or so if I were by myself. It's just never happened to me.
Overall quality: on the whole, I don't think I have much to complain about. The worst thing I have to deal with is fresh water (rain/deck) leaks, which seem to be quite hard to track down, and also seemingly random in their manifestation. In other words, both false and true bilges will be dry for 5 rains and then get wet on the 6th, and I have no idea why. But it's a boat, and I haven't owned 20 of them: only a Hunter 23 for 4 years and this one for 18 or so. It's a Hunter, so pretty much a Chevy in the car-boat comparison spectrum, but I think the quality has given me no reason to complain.
It's not clear whether I'll ever buy another boat, but if I do, it would be for more internal space, a separate shower, or... because I won the lottery. The 306 is clearly not a blue water / offshore boat, but you knew that. If you were in Ft. Lauderdale, it would probably be fine to go across to the Bahamas, but this is just me extrapolating from what I've read: I've only sailed in the Chesapeake.
Happy to answer any other questions you have.
