I have put a deposit on a 1996 Hunter 40.5 legend and about to pay for survey is there any owners out there that can tell what I should be aware of and secondly is this a good vessel?
Hunter 40.5 1996
- Thread starter Rusty south
- Start date
One of the two best boats I've ever owned. There are no consistent flaws in the boat but many consistent pluses.
Among the maladies some of us experienced, masts step leaks which are easily fixed, rudder bearing wear which is normal and also easily repaired and old aluminum holding tank porosity but most owners have already changed them out for plastic.
A speedy, well-balanced boat that can handle bad weather. If you have not already done so, read the owner reviews here.
Among the maladies some of us experienced, masts step leaks which are easily fixed, rudder bearing wear which is normal and also easily repaired and old aluminum holding tank porosity but most owners have already changed them out for plastic.
A speedy, well-balanced boat that can handle bad weather. If you have not already done so, read the owner reviews here.
I second Don's remarks. We have a 1997, bought new and are just finishing our 16th sailing season.
When I asked our salesman if the boat was fast and sailed nicely, he told me that it was an easy handling and a great sailing boat and that it "will charge to windward".
He was right.
When I asked our salesman if the boat was fast and sailed nicely, he told me that it was an easy handling and a great sailing boat and that it "will charge to windward".
He was right.
Rich thanks it is a purchase of want verses need so I am struggling against my frugal self. This comments sure help put my mind at ease. Thanks again
A yacht salesman once told us that "buying a sailboat makes no economical sense".
It is almost always a want and not a need. So what??
It is almost always a want and not a need. So what??
Economical Sense? That's funny. Speaking of Economical Sense, I recently took a trip to Catalina Island from my port in San Diego. It's about 80 nm. My good buddy in his 45' diesel cruiser decided to come too because there was a wine festival in Avalon. He cruises at 12 kts to save fuel costs. We motorsailed all the way up, no wind. Going back to SD there was no wind, so we motorsailed again @ 6.3 kts all the home.
Bottom line is my friend burned 200 gallons at $4.50, I burned 20 gallons. Hmmmm. Geez that is $900 in fuel costs for a 3 weekend at Catalina.
So yes a sailboat makes a lot more economical sense than a power cruiser!!
Bob.
Bottom line is my friend burned 200 gallons at $4.50, I burned 20 gallons. Hmmmm. Geez that is $900 in fuel costs for a 3 weekend at Catalina.
So yes a sailboat makes a lot more economical sense than a power cruiser!!
Bob.
Ah yes, I agree. But as my powerboat friends are quick to point out, "When do you factor in the $6-7K for new sails?"
Every side has a flip side.
Congratulations Rusty - I love my 1996 40.5
As previously mentioned - check the aluminimum holding tank has been replaced with a plastic one as if not it will need to be. Its located under the floor between the nav desk and the galley trash shute.
The midship starboard side fresh water tank can leak because its underneath the flooring also (next floor panel up from holding tank) and gets stepped on a lot - worth filling that up with water and seeing if you can spot any water making its way along the fibreglass to the bilge area. I could clearly see mine was leaking, popped the floor up and re-sealed the top.
My diesel fuel line had also cracked due to age
Check the battery charger - if you have a Dytek its helpful to remember its nickname became drytek for many. I swapped mine out the same time I replaced my house batteries (they were bone dry when I got the boat)
Might be a simple point but ensure you check the refrig and freezer are working correctly - something I failed to do and paid dearly for it later on by having to buy new compressor / plate.
These are all simple things.
I've since done quite a few upgrades and nearly everytime have found this forum and the people in it a wealth of information.
I second all those post. I love my 93 40.5
My wet exhaust hose burst between the engine and the muffler entering the strait of juan de fuca on the way to british columbia this summer. It's a pretty rare occurence but it;s worth make sure to check the state of the exhaust hoses that run from the engine to the muffler and to the muffler to the wet exhaust - just check for cracks are tears.
but nothing else than what others have called -
of you want to see what a 40.5 on the water check out those videos of mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_iqlTkyKpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tw6G9p71Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lz5NIcGGQ (that's a long one over the san juan and canadian gulf islands)
enjoy
frederick
pardon my french
Seattle
My wet exhaust hose burst between the engine and the muffler entering the strait of juan de fuca on the way to british columbia this summer. It's a pretty rare occurence but it;s worth make sure to check the state of the exhaust hoses that run from the engine to the muffler and to the muffler to the wet exhaust - just check for cracks are tears.
but nothing else than what others have called -
of you want to see what a 40.5 on the water check out those videos of mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_iqlTkyKpk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tw6G9p71Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lz5NIcGGQ (that's a long one over the san juan and canadian gulf islands)
enjoy
frederick
pardon my french
Seattle
Congratulations Rusty.
Its a great boat. I love my boat. There are a few issues my survey did not find.
Take a screwdriver and remove the floor panel under the cockpit (4 screws) and look at the quadrant. Mine was buckled.. Look into the rudder shaft. If dry ok. If wet. Maybe some delamination of the rudder. I replaced mine after blisters came up. I think it bent and got damaged on a let go reverse, but not sure.
The aft berth bulkhead is known for water intrusion and the mattress gets wet, and the aft water tank area wet. If bulkhead dry, easier to keep drier. If delaminated, a bit more work to replace bulkhead. Look for water stains.
As other have said, see if holding tank has been replaced.
Everything else is not that complicated and anyone can fix.
Good luck, and enjoy the 40.5
Its a great boat. I love my boat. There are a few issues my survey did not find.
Take a screwdriver and remove the floor panel under the cockpit (4 screws) and look at the quadrant. Mine was buckled.. Look into the rudder shaft. If dry ok. If wet. Maybe some delamination of the rudder. I replaced mine after blisters came up. I think it bent and got damaged on a let go reverse, but not sure.
The aft berth bulkhead is known for water intrusion and the mattress gets wet, and the aft water tank area wet. If bulkhead dry, easier to keep drier. If delaminated, a bit more work to replace bulkhead. Look for water stains.
As other have said, see if holding tank has been replaced.
Everything else is not that complicated and anyone can fix.
Good luck, and enjoy the 40.5
Excellent boat
Sails very well, and charges upwind.
Furling mast on yours???
We had the in mast furling, and it was excellent.
Everything others have said about holding tank, etc it 100% correct.
Check if the rudder has water in it.
Install a drain plug in the bottom.
Every year at haul out I removed the plug.
This kept the rudder from cracking over the winter.
Upgrade the battery charging system to Magnum energy.
Put on a 3 blade max prop. You definitely won't regret it.
You'll need to check out the autopilot install.
If it was done correctly, there is a Raymarine rotary drive in the cockpit Ice box. This is a very important part of the boat to get right.
Good luck !!!
Sails very well, and charges upwind.
Furling mast on yours???
We had the in mast furling, and it was excellent.
Everything others have said about holding tank, etc it 100% correct.
Check if the rudder has water in it.
Install a drain plug in the bottom.
Every year at haul out I removed the plug.
This kept the rudder from cracking over the winter.
Upgrade the battery charging system to Magnum energy.
Put on a 3 blade max prop. You definitely won't regret it.
You'll need to check out the autopilot install.
If it was done correctly, there is a Raymarine rotary drive in the cockpit Ice box. This is a very important part of the boat to get right.
Good luck !!!
Thanks for your comments, for windows ( sorry for the poor seaman terminology) one above the stove , one in the aft head, and one one the starboard aft stateroom are leaking. Is there a window adjustment or does the seals have to be replaced?
I will be interested to hear the replies on this myself Rusty
I had the same issues and simply used some sealant on the outside and resealed around as well as sealing the 2 vertical gaps you can see (looking at the aluminimum surround on the exterior surface)
It worked for me...
If you need seals I may have some
I had the same issues and simply used some sealant on the outside and resealed around as well as sealing the 2 vertical gaps you can see (looking at the aluminimum surround on the exterior surface)
It worked for me...
If you need seals I may have some
Well, I had the vessel surveyed and there was a aluminum tank and strong order coming from that area and aft head kept bubbling.Generator did not produce any power and huge cooling water leak from pump. There was also cracking at the mast base. Fridge did not cool, those were the big ticket items. No to decide to take on the project or look for better offering. Do you have to remove sink counter to get sole off over holding tank???
Some Thoughts...
Well, the things you mention could be major or minor. I think I'd have a mechanic look over the findings and see what the opinion is of the issues. As to the holding tank, no, it is not necessary to remove anything but the panel over the holding tank and the floor under the navigation desk. Actually, I think the one panel aft of the one over the holding tank has to move a bit for the removal if I recall. I think it is all about what's wrong and how much although I wonder why they would put it on the market in that condition unless they just wanted to be done with it. If that's the case, it could be ripe for some negotiation IMHO.
The holding tank is a weekend job, and the rest of the items are repairable as well. But Rick is right, really would give you a good position to work out a good deal on a really nice boat. If you like the boat, I'd see what the cost would be to get these items taken care of and maybe work a deal. I like my new boat, but I do miss the 40.5 that I had as well.
That's good new about the tank replacement labor. I am pricing items and the tank is not that expensive around the 350-400 mark. In negotiations over price right now