Hunter 39
- Thread starter Plankton
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Wow, congratulations! Had to go and check her out: http://www.huntermarine.com/Models/39/39Index.html . Did not even know that Hunter made a two helm boat. So which draft and which engine? Text says "faux granite countertops". Does that mean they are NOT Corian? I'll assume you got the furling main. Any other features?
Congrats... you must be excited to say the least.
Saw the new 39 at the boat show this year and was very impressed. The "faux granite" is Corian. I like the twin helms and the separate helm station from the cockpit area. The other good thing Hunter has done is the solid wood floors vs. the laminate that seemed to warp.
Also talked to a new 39 owner at the show and she had a huge grin on her face. Boat was commisioned in FLA from an Ontario dealer and they were headed for the Bahamas for a while before coming back to Canada.
Saw the new 39 at the boat show this year and was very impressed. The "faux granite" is Corian. I like the twin helms and the separate helm station from the cockpit area. The other good thing Hunter has done is the solid wood floors vs. the laminate that seemed to warp.
Also talked to a new 39 owner at the show and she had a huge grin on her face. Boat was commisioned in FLA from an Ontario dealer and they were headed for the Bahamas for a while before coming back to Canada.
Hunter 39 proud owners
We took delivery of our Hunter 39 in December in Florida and love it, it handles well and is very comfortable. We sailed through the Exuma's very beautiful.
We took delivery of our Hunter 39 in December in Florida and love it, it handles well and is very comfortable. We sailed through the Exuma's very beautiful.
Another Happy Hunter 39 Owner
We just purchased ours last month and have only been on it a few times. Having some things added (canvas and a few other things) and will pick it up in March. Can't wait for Spring!
Just bought a brand new Hunter 39 this past Spring. While I enjoy
sailing a new boat, we have had lots of issues that one would expect
to not have with a new boat. The new wood floor has buckled in
several spots. The salon table was cracked at delivery. Furling
issues. And there are several electrical gremlins.-All of which,
Hunter knows about, yet has chosen not to fix for the last 10 months.
Between the dealer and the manufacturer, not a lot has been done to
fix any of it. The boat has been available and accessible, so there
are no excesses. I spoke to the rep from Hunter. I had told him that
I called customer service several times ( no one ever answers) and
left messages and no one ever returned my call ( 10 months and
counting). He said that's typical, and wasn't surprised. I wish I
had withheld some of the money on the front end as to incentivize
these things being fixed and fixed properly. I am two months away
from the end of warranty and it looks like its going to get messy. I
don't want to scare anyone, but "caveat emptor" is a term you should
be familiar with.
I do enjoy sailing the boat, for all the same reasons we all do. But
I feel that I got the short end of the stick from manufacturer and
especially the dealer. I'd rather spend my spare time sailing, then
trying to get these guys to fix these issues. "
sailing a new boat, we have had lots of issues that one would expect
to not have with a new boat. The new wood floor has buckled in
several spots. The salon table was cracked at delivery. Furling
issues. And there are several electrical gremlins.-All of which,
Hunter knows about, yet has chosen not to fix for the last 10 months.
Between the dealer and the manufacturer, not a lot has been done to
fix any of it. The boat has been available and accessible, so there
are no excesses. I spoke to the rep from Hunter. I had told him that
I called customer service several times ( no one ever answers) and
left messages and no one ever returned my call ( 10 months and
counting). He said that's typical, and wasn't surprised. I wish I
had withheld some of the money on the front end as to incentivize
these things being fixed and fixed properly. I am two months away
from the end of warranty and it looks like its going to get messy. I
don't want to scare anyone, but "caveat emptor" is a term you should
be familiar with.
I do enjoy sailing the boat, for all the same reasons we all do. But
I feel that I got the short end of the stick from manufacturer and
especially the dealer. I'd rather spend my spare time sailing, then
trying to get these guys to fix these issues. "
I am not trying to be negative here. I do want to say that I like my new boat. I am lucky to be able to afford the time and where with all to sail as much as I do. I just don't think I should have the amount of problems I do, combined with the total lack of customer service is very unfortunate.
In the spirit of helping others I also want to pass on what other things I have learned with this boat in the last past 10 months.
The bow thruster is underpowered, and not worth the dough. Learn to be a better sailor.
I bought the larger main sail. Its probably a little too much cloth. That combined that the standard main furls well, and the optional larger main doesn't, it not worth the aggravation as it doesn't furl well at all.
I bought the APC. It ROCKS. Love it. Worth every penny.
The side windows scratch very easily. Be careful.
The sailing season is never long enough.
Ask alot of questions, everyone else has the answer. And they are willing to tell you that. Really, there is a lot of experience in the community. It will help keep you safe and hopefully keep some of that money in your pocket.
Don't assume the dealer knows anything that is in the boat. Do your own homework. Each manual, including the boat manual, covers several different models. Valves, wiring, etc are all different. Get to know your boat inside and out, before something breaks. ( Also to see if the dealer or manufacturer didn't do a good job, you can fix it early and while its in the slip. My new boat has had electrical shorts, rigging issues, flooring, and wood screws sticking out all over the place) I guess the following expression applies: "If you have seen one hunter, you have seen one hunter." There is a lack of standardization within each model, especially when the dealers get involved. You will have better information and feel better in the long run if you go thru every system of the boat, read the manuals, then go back thru the systems. know it inside and out.
I have gotten bad info from the dealer on several fronts that could have voided the warranty on the engine and more importantly stranded me with a bad motor and the bill as well. Again. do your own homework.
I will eventually get all my issues ironed out on the boat. I guess its part of the process. It shouldn't be. In the end, I will be wiser, maybe a better sailor, and yes, a few dollars lighter. But I will be sailing.
In the spirit of helping others I also want to pass on what other things I have learned with this boat in the last past 10 months.
The bow thruster is underpowered, and not worth the dough. Learn to be a better sailor.
I bought the larger main sail. Its probably a little too much cloth. That combined that the standard main furls well, and the optional larger main doesn't, it not worth the aggravation as it doesn't furl well at all.
I bought the APC. It ROCKS. Love it. Worth every penny.
The side windows scratch very easily. Be careful.
The sailing season is never long enough.
Ask alot of questions, everyone else has the answer. And they are willing to tell you that. Really, there is a lot of experience in the community. It will help keep you safe and hopefully keep some of that money in your pocket.
Don't assume the dealer knows anything that is in the boat. Do your own homework. Each manual, including the boat manual, covers several different models. Valves, wiring, etc are all different. Get to know your boat inside and out, before something breaks. ( Also to see if the dealer or manufacturer didn't do a good job, you can fix it early and while its in the slip. My new boat has had electrical shorts, rigging issues, flooring, and wood screws sticking out all over the place) I guess the following expression applies: "If you have seen one hunter, you have seen one hunter." There is a lack of standardization within each model, especially when the dealers get involved. You will have better information and feel better in the long run if you go thru every system of the boat, read the manuals, then go back thru the systems. know it inside and out.
I have gotten bad info from the dealer on several fronts that could have voided the warranty on the engine and more importantly stranded me with a bad motor and the bill as well. Again. do your own homework.
I will eventually get all my issues ironed out on the boat. I guess its part of the process. It shouldn't be. In the end, I will be wiser, maybe a better sailor, and yes, a few dollars lighter. But I will be sailing.
Chicago, we appreciate the contribution and your notes from experience. Buying a new boat and going through one or more of your issues is certainly too common. The manufacturers let stuff go out the door too sloppy figuring the dealer will tidy it up and the dealer tends to be hit and miss. I never had the patience to go through that, which is why I have never had a new boat or house. (Actually, I'm my wife's second too, now that I think of it...)
How's it going Plankton?
We've had our 39 almost a year too and have only positive comments. Got to know her on Sydney Harbour and Broken Bay before sailing down the East coast of Oz to Geelong over 7 days with a delivery skipper. We hit 42 knots of wind for a few hours on that trip, which she handled impeccably. Now increasing my wife's sailing experience on Port Phillip Bay.
Interested to read comments by Chicago, whose experience has been the opposite of ours. It appears much may depend on the relationship between the dealer and the manufacturer. Problems we've had are few - squeaking wheels whilst under autopilot, and some issues with the securing of the main cabin table. But our local dealer has responded quickly and problems resolved (although we still get the occasional wheel squeak).
In summary: very happy and love her more each time we sail.
I looked over the 39 again at this past Toronto Boat Show and was intrigued with the main sheet led back through a clutch on the arch beside the helm. How do you find this works. It seems you would have to adjust the main sheet when you shift the traveller? I do like the idea and was considering doing it on our boat.
I like the jammer on the arch. It gives 3 options for tensioning the double-ended mainsheet: via the winch on the cabin roof, via the port-side aft winch or, in lighter wind, simply by manually 'bowing' the sheet and pulling through the jammer.
As for the need to adjust the main on shifting the traveller, theoretically you are correct, as demonstrated by the angles in the attached jpg (which shows the car at the port end of the 1.25 m traveller).
However, in practice it doesn't seem to be a problem. Maybe that is because I don't play the traveller enough - you've prompted me to pay more attention next time we're out.
As for the need to adjust the main on shifting the traveller, theoretically you are correct, as demonstrated by the angles in the attached jpg (which shows the car at the port end of the 1.25 m traveller).
However, in practice it doesn't seem to be a problem. Maybe that is because I don't play the traveller enough - you've prompted me to pay more attention next time we're out.
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I really liked the idea when I saw it at the show and took lots of pics. to see if I could do it on my 33. If I'm out with 4 or 5 others, it gets difficult to get the main quickly if I need to dump it in a gust, which we often do in the area I'm in. With the clutch at the helm, I could dump the maine easily if need be.
I'll have to see how easy / hard it would be to weld on a plate for the clutch.
I'll have to see how easy / hard it would be to weld on a plate for the clutch.
Well, I think that Rick D hit the nail on the head with his comments. Unfortunately, in my particular situation the work ethic and customer service with the dealer is at best poor. I had to constantly stay on top of the dealer all winter to get my issues addressed. And I am still waiting for a new main sail (optional battened main) which I have trying to get this addressed since I bought the boat over a year ago! Again, I have to say this is very disappointing. The dealer said prior to purchasing the boat that they have someone in my marina every week and that if I had a problem, that it would be promptly addressed. Well, thats not the case.
Also, I see from other posts that the squeaking can be fixed. Yet my dealer said there was nothing they could do. Is this correct? Anyone, anyone?
Is there anyone out there on a HUNTER 39 specifically, that has the optional battened main that does not have problems? The other 39 in the area, is having issues and if it is a problem with the entire fleet, I will focus my attention elsewhere.
Also, I see from other posts that the squeaking can be fixed. Yet my dealer said there was nothing they could do. Is this correct? Anyone, anyone?
Is there anyone out there on a HUNTER 39 specifically, that has the optional battened main that does not have problems? The other 39 in the area, is having issues and if it is a problem with the entire fleet, I will focus my attention elsewhere.
I almost hate to suggest this, but if the factory is unresponsive and your dealer keeps ignoring you and the warranty period is rapidly approaching its end, a simple letter from your attorney to the dealer sometimes does wonders to put you at the top of the stack of work orders. It may cost you $100-200, but it can be money well spent sometimes. The squeaky wheel and all that.
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