Hunter 356 History

[GPappy]

I have decided to make the plunge from power boats to sailboats and have started to narrow down my choices. I have a friend that has a 2002 Hunter 356 that I really like and was wondering about the changes that were made from year to year. Is there any place where I can get a chronology of improvements that were made to this model over time. I love his boat but cant afford a 2002 or newer boat and was curious about what I would be giving up to buy an older boat.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Greg

 

[JamesG161]

was curious about what I would be giving up to buy an older boat.

I speak from buying a boat that had been on the water 12 years and 2 previous owners. The most improvements I have seen kinda follow the improvements in the cell phone world, since the first smart phone was put on market about 2002.
Basic sail boat requirements, for a cruiser style boat, are about the same for Hunter since about 1987. That was from my on personal market research in 2013.

Hmmmmm I wonder why that boat is called Legend 35?

Ask your friend details about what YOU think about Sailing. Do you dream of..

Cruising the coast line. Crossing the Lake to eat at great Harbor restaurant in Sheboygan! Tailgating (fan tail in this case) at a Packers football game? Sun in your face, fresh air, and no engine noise?

Then look at the what that or any boat offers. Then look at the main differences in Hunter boats are size, on board amenities, and safety add ons.
Safety add ons? Radar is an example. You don't need radar to be safe, but is has helped me for my sailing. You don't need a 25 watt FM mast mounted marine radio, but it might met you sailing needs versus a 5 watt handheld.
Happy shopping...
Jim...

 

[GPappy]

Jim,

Thank you for the response. I have given my "needs" some thought and I believe that the Hunter 35/36 will fit for a long while. I have noticed that the ones listed for sale do not really go down a lot in price for the age. It seems that unless a boat is in need of some repairs I may end up paying almost as much for a 30 year old boat as I would a 15 year old boat. Looks like this search may take a while.

Greg

 

[Phil Herring]

Welcome, Greg! Hunter has made ~100 different models and some of the model names are very close. If this boat was built in 2002 it is a 356.

The Legend series was built from the late 80's to the mid-90's and are very different boats.

Typically, Hunter model runs were short and when they made significant changes they changed the model designation. For example, the 356 was made for two years, then morphed into the 36. That was updated a few years later as the 36c. The 356 and 36 are quite similar.

If you want to spend less, the next oldest generation would be the 340 and 376, bracketing your 35' length. These may be ~5 years older but are substantially the same design.

Go back one more generation and you're into the Legends. The 35.5 is a great, popular model will have some similarities to the 356 in basic layout. Construction, though, is much different. There are a ton of 35.5's out there that can be had for around $50k, I would think.

The 356 is one of my favorite Hunters. I'm going to change your title and modify your post a bit so you get some replies to your question.

 

[JamesG161]

Looks like this search may take a while.

I suggest making a list of "Must haves" , "Like to haves" and "Wish if Budget allows". This will narrow your search. ( one of our "Musts" was in-mast main furling.)

I am still promising to write at least 3 articles in a Series for a Sailing magazine. "How to buy a boat from Afar". I am still adding info that I will document in those articles.

My 3 best tips:
1) Most boats depreciate each year in December, until the Bank loan value "flat lines" (Usually about 15-18 years old). The point: Price drops since Boat loanable amounts changes at end of year.
2) List price / Average Boat Loan value * 100 = Pricing Class %
1) 90 - 100% ( need to sell )
2) 100-110 % ( looking to sell)
3) 110-130 % (hoping to sell)
4) 130+% ( We don't want to sell our baby) ( you need to pay for our new 6 pairs of racing gloves)
3) Find a "Buyers Broker" they are working for you and share in the Sellers paid commission.

Those lists above are fluid and interchangeable as you search.
Shopping is fun too..
Jim...

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Greg, I think one difference with the "newer" Hunters like the H356 is that they were designed by Glen Henderson, so some feel they sail better than the older boats.
The in-mast furlers on these newer boats work better than the older version, at least in the Selden line.
Another consideration in the boats age may be insurance. Some companies will not insure boats over 20 yrs of age, other companies it's 30 yrs, insurance may be required if there is a loan on the boat.
We sailed a H356 for 5 yrs and were very happy with it.
Good luck, Bob

 

[GPappy]

Thanks all, all good input. I am going to look at a 376 this weekend to get a feel for what the extra size gets me. Price between a 1998 376 and a 2002 356 are very similar. I have been making my list of what I want in a boat and starting to compare it to what is available. I am pretty sure this is going to take a while.

 

[Don Lucas]

One I think the thing to consider is that the 1998 I believe was the beginning of Hunter using the B&R rig and the boat has the fiberglass arch. By 2002 (2001) they knew a little more about it and went to the stainless steel arch.

But I also feel any change in model and construction are meaningless. We are basically talking a 15 +/- year old boat, all that really matters is what condition it is in now!

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

I have a 2003 H356 and bought it new. The main difference in the 2002/2003 models is the kitchen design. They went with dorm style refrigerators with extremely limited freezer space. The model I have has deep, top loading Adler Barber plate freezer/refrigerator with lots of freezer and refrigeration. When cruising, we need all the freezer space we have. The other changes to later models are minimal. We love our H356 and have spent 990 days on it since new.

 

[GPappy]

I have a 2003 H356 and bought it new. The main difference in the 2002/2003 models is the kitchen design. They went with dorm style refrigerators with extremely limited freezer space. The model I have has deep, top loading Adler Barber plate freezer/refrigerator with lots of freezer and refrigeration. When cruising, we need all the freezer space we have. The other changes to later models are minimal. We love our H356 and have spent 990 days on it since new.

Thanks Jerry,

The top load refrigerator and maybe a freezer are on my nice to have list. My powerboat has the old dorm style refrigerator which I dislike. Not only capacity but with limited deck space it can be cumbersome to open sometimes. I have seen some late 90's boats with the top load refrigerators but they could have been added along the way.

The broker selling the 376 was a no show so the quest continues.

 

[GPappy]

I ran across a 376 in Arkansas that had the mast cut down by 4'3" for bridge clearance. Is there anyone that is familiar with the boat? Any idea what difference a cut down like that would have on performance? Any idea on what the cost for a new mast and sails would be to bring it back to stock?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

GPappy
When I was a dealer I sold a 356 to Jim Seamans who called his boat JAVA. He wrote so much on this paticurlar model and you may want to research what he reported and upgraded that particular model. Many of us considered his impute to be very professional. Sadly I lost my good friend whom I shared my life with this year due to cancer. He fought the fight and lived and breathed sailing JAVA to the very end. You will learn a lot about the 356 from his posts.

 

[GPappy]

GPappy
When I was a dealer I sold a 356 to Jim Seamans who called his boat JAVA. He wrote so much on this paticurlar model and you may want to research what he reported and upgraded that particular model. Many of us considered his impute to be very professional. Sadly I lost my good friend whom I shared my life with this year due to cancer. He fought the fight and lived and breathed sailing JAVA to the very end. You will learn a lot about the 356 from his posts.

Dave,

Thank you for the heads up, I will search for his posts. I am sorry for your loss. I lost my first wife to cancer in 2007 after a 3 year battle, it is an insidious disease.

Regards,
Greg