I am a fairly new sailor with limited crewing experience in Australia (Syndey Harbour) and Puget Sound. My wife and I have south pacific cruising aspirations in about 5 years when our kids will be 11, 9, and 6. We are planning on buying a late model production boat which we can pack all 5 of us into and start experiencing weekend and weekly cruises in Puget Sound to build our skills and determine if our family will cope with a cruising lifestyle. I have found a 2001 Hunter 320 in our area which seems to be in good shape with very basic electronics - probably standard issue. The price falls within the average range that I have seen out on Yacht World. If our cruising dreams play out, we would sell the 320 in 3-4 years and buys something more suitable for passage making around the pacific. The questions I have are: 1) What should I know about the 320 if I am fairly new to sailing? 2) If we progress towards our plan, what type of depreciation should I expect in 3-4 years on a boat that is currently 5 years old? 3) Am I crazy? Any advice would be appreciated!
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Nope
You are not crazy! Sounds like a practical approach. Someone will be along before long and tell you about the 320
You are not crazy! Sounds like a practical approach. Someone will be along before long and tell you about the 320
Maybe 15 Percent
I purchased a five year old boat and seven years later I would guess the depreciation between 10 and 20 percent. Keeping it waxed and polished, and the interior very clean and keeping all your maintenance records is worth a lot. Your approach has real merit. Rick D.
I purchased a five year old boat and seven years later I would guess the depreciation between 10 and 20 percent. Keeping it waxed and polished, and the interior very clean and keeping all your maintenance records is worth a lot. Your approach has real merit. Rick D.
H320
The Hunter 320 is a coastal cruiser. It has a large cockpit very suitable for entertaining. The traveller is up on the cockpit arch and out of the way. It moves well in light air and can point fairly high into the wind. It has a fractional rigging with no backstay support. The boat is powered by a massive mainsail with a large roach. The working Jib in contrast is small and mounted in an undersized roller furling system. As well as it sails upwind, is a lousy down wind sailer as the swept back spreaders will not allow the mainsail to be fully let out. The main is heavy and with reefing lines it can be hard to raise. In mast furling would be desirable. Equiped with the 18HP 2 cylinder Yanmar engine is quite underpowered. The optional 3 Cylinder would be best. It comes with 2 self tailing Lewmar #16 winches in the cabin top which are adequate. It can sleep six comfortably. The cabin table slides up and down the mast support. This table even with the drop leaf down is in the way to walk by so many owners drill a hole up in the mast support to accept the pin and elevate the table out of the way. Propane stove with oven and refrigerator should round out the package. Water heater, deck shower, air conditioner are convenient options. The chart table is better suited for storage and to sit a small TV on it. The boat has an open transom with a convenient swim platform. It should not be a problem in a following sea. We have had a 320 in sustained winds of 45 knots and it behaved well. It has a bad habit of sailing at anchor and can cause to drag anchor. Recommend a 35 lbs CQR with 25 ft of chain and 5/8 rode. Overall is a good boat for the money and they hold their resale value preety good. I would say it depreciates 20-25% in the first five years and 10-15% in the next five but that may vary by market. I think you have the right idea and you may have choosen the right boat to comfortably test the waters. Good luck.
The Hunter 320 is a coastal cruiser. It has a large cockpit very suitable for entertaining. The traveller is up on the cockpit arch and out of the way. It moves well in light air and can point fairly high into the wind. It has a fractional rigging with no backstay support. The boat is powered by a massive mainsail with a large roach. The working Jib in contrast is small and mounted in an undersized roller furling system. As well as it sails upwind, is a lousy down wind sailer as the swept back spreaders will not allow the mainsail to be fully let out. The main is heavy and with reefing lines it can be hard to raise. In mast furling would be desirable. Equiped with the 18HP 2 cylinder Yanmar engine is quite underpowered. The optional 3 Cylinder would be best. It comes with 2 self tailing Lewmar #16 winches in the cabin top which are adequate. It can sleep six comfortably. The cabin table slides up and down the mast support. This table even with the drop leaf down is in the way to walk by so many owners drill a hole up in the mast support to accept the pin and elevate the table out of the way. Propane stove with oven and refrigerator should round out the package. Water heater, deck shower, air conditioner are convenient options. The chart table is better suited for storage and to sit a small TV on it. The boat has an open transom with a convenient swim platform. It should not be a problem in a following sea. We have had a 320 in sustained winds of 45 knots and it behaved well. It has a bad habit of sailing at anchor and can cause to drag anchor. Recommend a 35 lbs CQR with 25 ft of chain and 5/8 rode. Overall is a good boat for the money and they hold their resale value preety good. I would say it depreciates 20-25% in the first five years and 10-15% in the next five but that may vary by market. I think you have the right idea and you may have choosen the right boat to comfortably test the waters. Good luck.
Owner Reviews
If I were you check the the owner reviews on this model and email some owners in the list like I have done maney times. I have the hunter 290 which is the same boat but bigger but everything else it the same to what benny said,the only bad thing I have heard is the 18 hp engine is under power for certain conditions,very easy boats to sail and handle,the inmast is really easy if your not into speed and racing. I will tell you I look at boat sales alot and this model is on the market longer than others so I think you can get a good deal if you work them on the price,good luck and enjoy. nick
If I were you check the the owner reviews on this model and email some owners in the list like I have done maney times. I have the hunter 290 which is the same boat but bigger but everything else it the same to what benny said,the only bad thing I have heard is the 18 hp engine is under power for certain conditions,very easy boats to sail and handle,the inmast is really easy if your not into speed and racing. I will tell you I look at boat sales alot and this model is on the market longer than others so I think you can get a good deal if you work them on the price,good luck and enjoy. nick
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