I'm looking to buy a hunter 34 and was hoping for people's opinions and advice about this particular vessel. It will mostly be sailed around southeast Alaska for now.
Hunter 34?
- Thread starter Swimorsink
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I've had one for 3 years and she's been a gem. Great combination of good sailing and comfortable cruiser. This boat may seem a little tender in winds over 15 knots with her masthead rig and huge genoa. I now fly a 110 up front and she's very tame. Somewhere on here there is a full product brochure from the 80's and the original owners manual. I have one I can send also.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Lots of reviews on this forum..
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=31&Itemid=170
I love my 34 and I have owned it for 24 years.. biggest problem that I had was the compression post beam. I repaired that .. The other constant nagging one is the rain leak in through the companionway slider .. one that I have learned to cover ..but I don't have a good fix for yet.. she sails well but does not track as well as boats with more keel area..
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=31&Itemid=170
I love my 34 and I have owned it for 24 years.. biggest problem that I had was the compression post beam. I repaired that .. The other constant nagging one is the rain leak in through the companionway slider .. one that I have learned to cover ..but I don't have a good fix for yet.. she sails well but does not track as well as boats with more keel area..
Good handling boat with a lousy cabin layout. Get inside either the V-berth or the stern Berth and judge for yourself. I got tired quick of lowering and raising the table and opted for sleeping in the stern cave.
Best boat for the price
You cant get more boat for the price. She is a little tender but I am used to that and I know how to handle it. Pretty fast. Only holds 65 gal of water so not a long range cruiser. Great for shorter trips. The V-berth is small if you are tall. The aft berth is more comfy for one person. Like I said, she is a short range cruiser and not a bad club racer.
You cant get more boat for the price. She is a little tender but I am used to that and I know how to handle it. Pretty fast. Only holds 65 gal of water so not a long range cruiser. Great for shorter trips. The V-berth is small if you are tall. The aft berth is more comfy for one person. Like I said, she is a short range cruiser and not a bad club racer.
The link that Kloudie sent is from this page. Also under downloads is a copy of the owners manual and other info.
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...&Itemid=248&task=3&kb=1&model=31&brand=Hunter
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...&Itemid=248&task=3&kb=1&model=31&brand=Hunter
Owned our 98 for about a year and a half now. My wife and I love it. We sail SoCal on day sails and do regular trips to the islands off the coast. We sleep in the rear cabin and have no problems whatsoever. I usually sail single handed more or less and can handle it with no problems. If there were something that really bugged me it would be the reefing lines. They are kinda a pain in the butt when raising/lowering the main, but that is the only real complaint and it's not that bad, and it's not really specific to the boat. The thing we like most is the blend hunter achieved with this model. It's a nice and functional living space that's a pleasure to sail,
She parties 6, feeds 4, and sleeps 2 comfortably!
She parties 6, feeds 4, and sleeps 2 comfortably!
I've been sailing my 34 for the last six years and like Kloudie, the compression post was a concern so I fixed it right away, even though it was just showing signs of deterioration. The V berth is small but I am re fitting it and adding a foot. Like everyone so far has stated, they are a nice sailing boat, a little tender but not any more than any other boat of that era and style. Cupboard space is not very good. I agree though that you get a lot of boat for your money.
Probably the best reason to buy a 34 are the folks here. There isn't a better support group out there! I would have been lost without everyone's help.
Waiting anxiously to see details about this modification.
We've had our's for 30 years and echo what everyone else has posted. Its a very good sized boat for a couple to handle and enjoy. I always liked the transverse dinette as you can always move through the boat while people are seated. It reminded me of my friend's Islander 30 Mk2 that we first started sailing on, but larger. It may be old school, but I personally like the fact it doesn't have a walk through transom as the rear lazarette provides so much storage for the dinghy, fenders, cleaning supplies, oars, and much more. When I look at it at anchor, I still like the lines of the boat. Not too much windage.
There are lots of modifications to make it more comfortable and enhance the capabilities that you will find searching the archives.
Allan...
Check out the mods John Miller made to his H34's v-berth before he found a bigger boat to go cruising on. They should still be in the owner's mods forum...
Check out the mods John Miller made to his H34's v-berth before he found a bigger boat to go cruising on. They should still be in the owner's mods forum...
Thanks Dan. I searched and came up with John's mods to add a holding tank under the V berth, but didn't catch where he might have extended it. It looks like the only way to do that is to remove the lockers. Stuck between the usual rock and a hard place. I could cut a hole into the anchor locker and put my feet in there I guess.
Allan