Hunter 39

[patrick17440]

I am considering a purchase of a 2010 Hunter 39 for costal cruising in
So. Calif. There is only one review of the 39 on this site. Previously, I've
owned 4 Hunters, the last one being a 460 which I had for 14 years.
Can anyone give me the good or bad on the Hunter 39?

 

[Rick D]

I think I still have your 40.5 ;-)

 

[patrick17440]

40.5

Hi Rick. The 40.5 was an awesome boat! As you know, I sold your 40.5
for the 460 which we sailed many oceans miles without issue including
two Baja Ha Ha's. I relocated to South Florida with shallow water and
some fixed bridges at 55ft. I felt the 460 was just too big and sold her
last summer. She's now named Luna C or Sea, not sure, but sails out
of Del Ray yacht and the new owner Steve is a great guy. I have a 36"x
36" picture of her hanging on the wall in my man room in Fl as well as an 8x10
of your 40.5 doing the Ensenada race in 1997 when I owned her. Both are
kick ass boats. For Fl, I purchased a Catalina 320 MKII, 2008, Misjudged III,4.3 draft and
47 ft mast. Sweet sailing boat, very well made and idea for So Fl. My wife is retiring Nov1 and selling her practice in So Calif and moving to Fl full
time but wants to be in So Calif for the summers, June-Sept. My plan is
to live aboard for 4 months during the summer and cruise locally in
So Calif. The Hunter 39 looks great with very large cockpit and twin wheels.
But, I would like some objective opinions good or bad about the boat.
Hope to see you again at the Island or at BCYC. Whatever boat I purchase,
her name will be Double Jeopardy. (Two boat owner)

 

[quadrille38]

I am considering a purchase of a 2010 Hunter 39 for costal cruising in So. Calif. There is only one review of the 39 on this site. Previously, I've owned 4 Hunters, the last one being a 460 which I had for 14 years. Can anyone give me the good or bad on the Hunter 39?

While not identical the 39 is an extension of the 38 that came before it. If you look at the specs, it's darn near the same boat. Few more inches in length but almost the same beam. Interior layout is almost identical. A few cosmetic changes. So that said some comments on our 38 which I hope will be helpful.

Good solid boat with a very comfortable interior layout. The standard engine was 29 hp yanmar (true of the 39 too). Make sure what you are looking at has the optional 40 hp engine. 29 is underpowered

Boat sails well but at 12 to 15 knot winds you want to reef the main a touch to flatten her out. She will pick up speed when you do. Heeled over the salesman we bought ours from described it as dragging a barn door through the water because of the wide stern.

The amount of freeboard is high. Makes it challenging to board from a low floating dock but that is manageable. The other thing that results from freeboard is that it sails like a banshee on anchor. Needs a riding sail to slow it down.

Storage is adequate and meets our needs. Although we've had to work through challenges with the catches not holding and the drawers flying open. Got that fixed after several tries.

Not unique to the 39 but I've had to every couple of years have a glass guy fix gel coat pops. Fair number of voids - some quite large.

We love the cockpit. Here's one big difference with the 39 and 38 is the double wheels. Can't really offer anything on that.

The interior was well done although my wife hated the color of the fabrics so we splurged and had them re upholstered in a color we liked. Extravagant I know but it really brightened to get rid of the dark blue.

Again not unique to the 39 but the Lewmar ports have these pitiful screens where tiny plastic tabs between the gasket and the frame and is elected to hold the screens in. They do not. Lewmar sells a replacement that is much better design. We had the old ones fall out ever time you close the ports, when the wind hit them, etc. the new design stays in better.


Hope that helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can offer