Hunter 34 or NOT

[Doug Michaels]

I am on the verge of buying a Hunter 34 but would love some honest sound advice. Is this boat a good boat? To me that means, does it merit the price which is in this case $30,000? Will this boat hold up to coastal and inshore use for years to come...it is now 22 years old but in great condition. Is this a reliable boat to buy with 22 years on it or should I go for a Morgan or Pearson, something more heavily built for the same price. I need some honest owners of Hunter 34's to respond please. I am ready to pull the trigger after a survey, but really would value some feedback. Thanks in advance.
Doug

 

[Chuck Creel]

Doug, You will hear lots of praise from H-34 owners here on this site. I have been looking at them for several months myself, " moving up from H-30 ".
Great boats for space below and pretty fast. Know a family of 4 that lived on one for few years. don't know the year your looking at but its a buyers market and you can get them in good shape for lots less. Have you checked Yachtworld?

 

[kloudie1]

First, I am biased! .. I have owned my1985 model 34 since ’91. I would buy another today.. The boat is solid and tough and a fine boat for coastal cruising. There are quite a few that have been sailed across the oceans and are cruising the world.. The boat has a few well documented flaws that are addressed here in the forum.. The mast compression post problem is probably the most serious, but not that bad a job to correct. Some earlier ones had a rudder that was not up to snuff, but Hunter recalled them and retrofitted a larger and stronger rudder. The companionway does not have a proper drain and water will come into the cabin when there is a lot of rain. You learn to reef a bit early since she is a bit tender.. but all boats of this age will all have some issues, the question of how the boat was maintained will determine the suitability for your use. Check the boat info and search on Chuck’s thread for comments.. Good luck, Doug.

 

[Steve Dion]

Doug:

There are many praises about these boats. I had a 1985 H'31 and loved it. There are a few things that need to be checked out (specifically the compression post).

I think the price is at the very high end of the range. I would check NADA and some other sources for prices. Hunter made a lot of these boats so there should be plenty of them around for price comparisons.

At the price point you would be paying, you should have nearly new sails, relatively new running and standing rigging etc. You should also be getting relatively new instruments.

Of course you know that the price is always negotiable.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Doug...

Look at the responses on this same forum under "Thinking of buying an H34" and you'll get a comprehensive picture of what owners like me and Claude and others think of these boats.

Once you've done that and still have specific questions, we'll all be glad to jump in with answers based on our ownership experiences.

Do check out Yachtworld's listing as it is fairly comprehensive. Read the specifications and look at the pictures to determine if what you're looking at is a "fair value" compared to the rest of the market.

 

[Doug Michaels]

Thanks for the good word

Thanks very much for the response to my thread.
Doug

 

[Benny]

The boat model is strong but it all boils down to the condition of the boat you are looking at. Don't forget about price, price similar models in your geographic area and take into account the equipment and electronics on it. Don't be afraid to go outside your area to look for a boat.