Hunter 54 rudder and structure changes

[Guy Ballou]

in looking for a boat that i can cross oceans with singlehanded, the Hunter 54 (1982) looks to be a good boat. However, in online searcs many thinks comes up. First, the term Squirrely comes up alot in downwind situations. Some suggest changing the rudder. Did Hunter change the rudder in the later years?Second, is structurely(sp), it is suggested that the oil caning of the hull was fixed on the later models(84up) by adding bulkhead and stringers? is this true, is it something that can be fixed?Finally this is a great web sight and something that will make me look at more Huners. thank you. guy ballou. gballou@erols.com

 

[Jim Bohart]

a few have allready

This is a pretty sought after used boat there were only about 54 produced. Three raced in the BOC the last one did it in 1992 with Nigel Burgess (former Director of the BOC) as skipper. I don't know what is meant by the word "squirrely" because, I know not from whom it came. The boat is fast (11 kts and better) and exibits good control down wind surfing at speeds higher than that. It's a little more exciting than being rolled on your beam when a sea passes under you in a round bildged, barn door ruddered, crab crusher, going 4-5kts. After riding an elephant, I supposed a throughbred would feel "squirrly" to some.Any problem any of the boats might have had..(I don't specifically recall one)that involves glassing in adition structure can be addressed and remedied I'm sure. You might be able to obtain some of the changes that were done by the ones who have allready made the passsage you are contemplating. See you out on the waterJB

 

[Steve Wright]

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