I am considering buying a 1989 Hunter 40 and was wondering if anyone has experience with the Hunter 40 in open-ocean sailing. Is the boat up to the task of a Los Angeles to Hawaii sail? All comments are most welcome!! Thanks. -Mark Renshaw
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I Should Think So, Mark
...since they have been well-raced and are certainly fast. However, see the link that will take you to the specifications and owner reviews and owner list for direct contact and review. With any boat of this era, you are going to have to do some refurbishing and probably some upgrading for its intended use. Obviously, you will want a good survey too. Good browsing, and good luck. Rick D.
...since they have been well-raced and are certainly fast. However, see the link that will take you to the specifications and owner reviews and owner list for direct contact and review. With any boat of this era, you are going to have to do some refurbishing and probably some upgrading for its intended use. Obviously, you will want a good survey too. Good browsing, and good luck. Rick D.
Most boats can cross an ocean in fair weather.
Good communications is a most to stay ahead of foul weather. Equip the boat with an SSB radio, subcribe to a weather net, install a radar unit, a barometer and exercise patience and prudence. Learn and practice storm weather tactics. Hunters are pretty sturdy, and their 40' models can take a good blow. Full keel heavier boats can usually provide a more comfortable ride in unsettled weather but an h40 should be able to get you there. As for any offshore venture, pack a life raft, a ditch bag, a portable watermaker and an an EPIRB.
Good communications is a most to stay ahead of foul weather. Equip the boat with an SSB radio, subcribe to a weather net, install a radar unit, a barometer and exercise patience and prudence. Learn and practice storm weather tactics. Hunters are pretty sturdy, and their 40' models can take a good blow. Full keel heavier boats can usually provide a more comfortable ride in unsettled weather but an h40 should be able to get you there. As for any offshore venture, pack a life raft, a ditch bag, a portable watermaker and an an EPIRB.
I hope so!
We hope so! After 2 years upgrading an Hunter 380 (2000), we will be leaving New York City to Bermuda to Ascores to Meditteranean next May 2008. But we did major improvements to the equipments to make it ready. So good luck for your own project Mark.
We hope so! After 2 years upgrading an Hunter 380 (2000), we will be leaving New York City to Bermuda to Ascores to Meditteranean next May 2008. But we did major improvements to the equipments to make it ready. So good luck for your own project Mark.
Hi Roland, Thanks for your info. "What major improvements" did you make, or are planning to make, to your Hunter before leaving? Thanks again. -Mark
Major improvements
Hi Mark- Quite a few. The most important are: High output generator, wind generator, solar panels, 525 AH battery bank (AGM), new stonger mainsail, new yankee genoa, trysail, storm jib, gennaker, strong boom preventer, replacing all running rigging, radar, changing all lights (exterior and interior) for LED lighting, Lifetag system, modifying AFT bed into three sea berth, Ham radio and pactor modem, Jordan drogue, watermaker, heating, replacing all nine hatches for stronger ones, EPIRB, Liferaft, etc. In fact much more work than I tought first at the beginning of this project. But we are ready to go next spring, my wife, my three kids and me. And we are very excited about this trip!
Hi Mark- Quite a few. The most important are: High output generator, wind generator, solar panels, 525 AH battery bank (AGM), new stonger mainsail, new yankee genoa, trysail, storm jib, gennaker, strong boom preventer, replacing all running rigging, radar, changing all lights (exterior and interior) for LED lighting, Lifetag system, modifying AFT bed into three sea berth, Ham radio and pactor modem, Jordan drogue, watermaker, heating, replacing all nine hatches for stronger ones, EPIRB, Liferaft, etc. In fact much more work than I tought first at the beginning of this project. But we are ready to go next spring, my wife, my three kids and me. And we are very excited about this trip!
Improvements
Thanks Roland, it certainly sounds like you've covered everything. Have a great adventure! - Mark
Thanks Roland, it certainly sounds like you've covered everything. Have a great adventure! - Mark
H40 offshore
I bought a 85 H 40 in San Diego and sailed to Australia. (04/05) The boat is pretty good inherently and sails well. However you will need a few improvements and probably a fair bit of work. A small high cut jib (about 90% of J) will be your best friend. Get a deep third reef in your mainsail, give your boat a good hard thrash upwind in strong conditions and watch the V berth hull, if it flexes get it reinforced before setting out. The bulkhead under the anchor locker is not worthy of the name. Replace all pipes (engine, exhaust, plumbing) tighten everything, furniture, hull deck join, the lot. Put a jammer for the main halyard at the mast, this will allow you to accomplish the entire reefing process here rather than partially at the cockpit. This assumes your 89 has the same system as my 85. Put another jammer for the spinakker pole topping lift at the mast also as this is where you need it. Spray cloths on the cockpit lifelines will be appreciated and if the standing rig is original or age unknown you must replace the lot. Consider a good blow in the Pacific and are you going to be regretting the cost then? A friend of mine also sailed a 86 H 40 from LA to Hawaii and from then on to Australia a number of years ago so I have no doubt you can do it too
I bought a 85 H 40 in San Diego and sailed to Australia. (04/05) The boat is pretty good inherently and sails well. However you will need a few improvements and probably a fair bit of work. A small high cut jib (about 90% of J) will be your best friend. Get a deep third reef in your mainsail, give your boat a good hard thrash upwind in strong conditions and watch the V berth hull, if it flexes get it reinforced before setting out. The bulkhead under the anchor locker is not worthy of the name. Replace all pipes (engine, exhaust, plumbing) tighten everything, furniture, hull deck join, the lot. Put a jammer for the main halyard at the mast, this will allow you to accomplish the entire reefing process here rather than partially at the cockpit. This assumes your 89 has the same system as my 85. Put another jammer for the spinakker pole topping lift at the mast also as this is where you need it. Spray cloths on the cockpit lifelines will be appreciated and if the standing rig is original or age unknown you must replace the lot. Consider a good blow in the Pacific and are you going to be regretting the cost then? A friend of mine also sailed a 86 H 40 from LA to Hawaii and from then on to Australia a number of years ago so I have no doubt you can do it too
H40
JC, thanks for the first-hand info on the exact trip I'm planning. Would you mind a few more questions? 1. Your comments were the first I've heard about hull-flexing on the H40. Do you know if this is a common problem on this boat? 2. What time of year did you make the LA-Hawaii leg? What was the worst aspect of the trip? What would you have done differently, either in equipment, boat-handling, or anything? 3. How many crew did you have? What was your general sailing experience before you made this trip? Windvane, autopilot, or both? How long did it take you for the LA-Hawaii leg? I've got several dozen more questions but I don't want to swamp you. Since you have experience on the exact same route and on the exact same boat as mine, I consider your feedback and information priceless, thanks again! Mark
JC, thanks for the first-hand info on the exact trip I'm planning. Would you mind a few more questions? 1. Your comments were the first I've heard about hull-flexing on the H40. Do you know if this is a common problem on this boat? 2. What time of year did you make the LA-Hawaii leg? What was the worst aspect of the trip? What would you have done differently, either in equipment, boat-handling, or anything? 3. How many crew did you have? What was your general sailing experience before you made this trip? Windvane, autopilot, or both? How long did it take you for the LA-Hawaii leg? I've got several dozen more questions but I don't want to swamp you. Since you have experience on the exact same route and on the exact same boat as mine, I consider your feedback and information priceless, thanks again! Mark
Vetus Exhaust Hose
Two years ago we replaced the 22 foot exhaust hose on our 1987 h40 #217. At the recomendation of a very experienced mechanic we used Vetus brand hose. It is strong and much more flexible than the copmpetitors hoses. We paid just under $11 per ft in 2005 - a fairly competitive price for a great product. You must snake the hose through some tight bends. We were glad we used Vetus and recommend it to you.
Two years ago we replaced the 22 foot exhaust hose on our 1987 h40 #217. At the recomendation of a very experienced mechanic we used Vetus brand hose. It is strong and much more flexible than the copmpetitors hoses. We paid just under $11 per ft in 2005 - a fairly competitive price for a great product. You must snake the hose through some tight bends. We were glad we used Vetus and recommend it to you.
H40 details
Mark I sailed mine to Australia via Mexico , my friend some years earlier went via Hawaii but the thing is similar. The 40 if in sound condition and with a few bits of gear is suitable for offshore work. I wouldn't take one to the horn though. I have not heard about hull flex on this model either but mine does it through the V berth. I expect this is as a result of a previous owner modification. The standard boat comes with 110 app gallons of water, ours had been replaced and holds 200 gallons so who knows what the hell happened. It is a built in tank so no way of exploring without destroying heaps. Solution, replace the piddly timber fascia below the anchor locker in the V and glass some structural foam just above the liner pan. We had two autopilots, one a Simrad elec/hydralic ram and one ST4000 wheel pilot which should have been too small to drive the boat but did an impeccable job for weeks when the big one failed! The boat is very easily driven so you need to be able to reduce sail to miniscule amounts. The third reef in the main was used more than any other point I think. If your boat has the Isomat mast with the spinaker pole and track as standard be happy. If not make sure you have a good pole system as you will use it a lot. Get a big dodger, one that comes over the teak handles you will be grateful for the protection. My wife and I made the trip. Our longest passage was Cabo San Lucas to The Marquisses, 20 nights passage. We had previously been offshore in the Coral Sea in our H34 which we have now sold. My mate who went to Hawaii says he took the grates off of the cockpit drains so things drained faster. Spray cloths on the lifelines are good. He also said at times the swells were so big the boat was becalmed in the troughs. We never saw such conditions. Good luck.
Mark I sailed mine to Australia via Mexico , my friend some years earlier went via Hawaii but the thing is similar. The 40 if in sound condition and with a few bits of gear is suitable for offshore work. I wouldn't take one to the horn though. I have not heard about hull flex on this model either but mine does it through the V berth. I expect this is as a result of a previous owner modification. The standard boat comes with 110 app gallons of water, ours had been replaced and holds 200 gallons so who knows what the hell happened. It is a built in tank so no way of exploring without destroying heaps. Solution, replace the piddly timber fascia below the anchor locker in the V and glass some structural foam just above the liner pan. We had two autopilots, one a Simrad elec/hydralic ram and one ST4000 wheel pilot which should have been too small to drive the boat but did an impeccable job for weeks when the big one failed! The boat is very easily driven so you need to be able to reduce sail to miniscule amounts. The third reef in the main was used more than any other point I think. If your boat has the Isomat mast with the spinaker pole and track as standard be happy. If not make sure you have a good pole system as you will use it a lot. Get a big dodger, one that comes over the teak handles you will be grateful for the protection. My wife and I made the trip. Our longest passage was Cabo San Lucas to The Marquisses, 20 nights passage. We had previously been offshore in the Coral Sea in our H34 which we have now sold. My mate who went to Hawaii says he took the grates off of the cockpit drains so things drained faster. Spray cloths on the lifelines are good. He also said at times the swells were so big the boat was becalmed in the troughs. We never saw such conditions. Good luck.
Hunter 40
JC, thanks so much for the great information. A couple quick questions - Did you consider wind-vane steering at all? If you went with just the autopilots, what did you use to maintain battery levels? Thanks. -Mark
JC, thanks so much for the great information. A couple quick questions - Did you consider wind-vane steering at all? If you went with just the autopilots, what did you use to maintain battery levels? Thanks. -Mark
Batteries
Considered wind vanes but too hard, expensive and interferes with the transom ladder. Batteries were charged by the engine of course, 100 amp alt & smart reg. Put a stainless arch on the the back with a 400 watt wind generator and 2 100 watt solar panels. 500 amp hours of batteries and it is all over.
Considered wind vanes but too hard, expensive and interferes with the transom ladder. Batteries were charged by the engine of course, 100 amp alt & smart reg. Put a stainless arch on the the back with a 400 watt wind generator and 2 100 watt solar panels. 500 amp hours of batteries and it is all over.
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