Hunter DS41 Whats not to like?

[Sargasso]

First a bit about myself. A couple of years from retirement, looking for a boat that would be a viable to sail, live aboard, Fla.,Bahamas, BVI etc. Certainly lots of choices for this. The narrowing increases as I consider my wife's wish list. She is drawn in the direction of floating condo. She has little interest in actually sailing but would be a willing passenger in a qualifying boat. As crew she might hold the wheel occasionally and perhaps swab the decks but a grinder she is not. Consequently the boat will usually sail shorthanded with occasional kids onboard (19-22) to help out on passages.

I spent 3 years in the Coast Guard many years ago, grew up in boats and sailed a C&C 29 for a few years about 10 years ago. Reasonable fit and keen to be sailing again.

Looking to spent about $150-$175k on a used boat. The DS41 certainly checks the boxes for my wife, looks viable to shorthand, and I've seen a couple of decent used ones right in my price range.

So what's not to like. It seems like a lot of boat for the money and I'm guessing easily capable of island hopping the eastern Caribbean.

Can anybody tell me the boats shortfalls?

 

[Sailgunner]

The draft on any 40 footer is the issue in Florida. Ours is 5'4" and I wish it was less.

 

[Mulf]

Having lived on our H410 for seven months...

..when we spent the winter on 2011-2012 traveling from the Chesapeake Bay to Marathon Florida and back, I can tell you that that's a good size boat to do so. We had occasional guests but mostly it was the two of us. Features to look for include a salt water wash down hose for the anchor, a full enclosure for the cockpit for the stretch between where you are and central Florida (we went down in October-November and back in March-April and it was the best option we added), and either a generator (our choice to run the heat/air conditioning) or solar to keep the batteries up to run the refrigeration.

If you are interested, her is the link to our blog of the trip. We had a ball and will do it again in a few years but turn east at Miami. http://www.sailblogs.com/member/brucejill2011/

 

[Sargasso]

Ds41 wing keel Draft is 5' 0" not much different than 5'4". Short of a centerboard design or a cat can you expect to find anything over 34' with draft shallower than 4' 6"?

Tartan 37 looked interesting 4' draft centerboard but probably wouldn't meet the wife criteria.

 

[Lavender54]

First a bit about myself. A couple of years from retirement, looking for a boat that would be a viable to sail, live aboard, Fla.,Bahamas, BVI etc. Certainly lots of choices for this. The narrowing increases as I consider my wife's wish list. She is drawn in the direction of floating condo. She has little interest in actually sailing but would be a willing passenger in a qualifying boat. As crew she might hold the wheel occasionally and perhaps swab the decks but a grinder she is not. Consequently the boat will usually sail shorthanded with occasional kids onboard (19-22) to help out on passages.

I spent 3 years in the Coast Guard many years ago, grew up in boats and sailed a C&C 29 for a few years about 10 years ago. Reasonable fit and keen to be sailing again.

Looking to spent about $150-$175k on a used boat. The DS41 certainly checks the boxes for my wife, looks viable to shorthand, and I've seen a couple of decent used ones right in my price range.

So what's not to like. It seems like a lot of boat for the money and I'm guessing easily capable of island hopping the eastern Caribbean.

Can anybody tell me the boats shortfalls?

I've only had my 41DS for a season, but am very happy. Sails well and is comfortable with four aboard for a weekend or longer. Tankage is probably a bit light for extended cruising, particularly in light of the freshwater heads. There's room for extra tankage, but I imagine it's a pretty big job. As you noted, the boat has lots of volume, but she'll get blown around by the bow when the wind is much over 10knots and you're docking.

 

[Nodak7]

First a bit about myself. A couple of years from retirement, looking for a boat that would be a viable to sail, live aboard, Fla.,Bahamas, BVI etc. Certainly lots of choices for this. The narrowing increases as I consider my wife's wish list. She is drawn in the direction of floating condo. She has little interest in actually sailing but would be a willing passenger in a qualifying boat. As crew she might hold the wheel occasionally and perhaps swab the decks but a grinder she is not. Consequently the boat will usually sail shorthanded with occasional kids onboard (19-22) to help out on passages.

I spent 3 years in the Coast Guard many years ago, grew up in boats and sailed a C&C 29 for a few years about 10 years ago. Reasonable fit and keen to be sailing again.

Looking to spent about $150-$175k on a used boat. The DS41 certainly checks the boxes for my wife, looks viable to shorthand, and I've seen a couple of decent used ones right in my price range.

So what's not to like. It seems like a lot of boat for the money and I'm guessing easily capable of island hopping the eastern Caribbean.

Can anybody tell me the boats shortfalls?

Sar, we have had our DS for two seasons now and we are very pleased with her comfort and performance. Additionally she does single hand very nicely. Her draft is 5'. She does have a tendency to "sail" when at anchor but other than that she is well behaved. Getting ready to move her down south this fall and looking forward to doing some serious cruising.

 

[seadaddler]

Freah Water/5'Draft

When I go cruising I carry 2 -5 gallen jugs on the deck with long wood bolted to stachions and jugs of fuel and water srapped to the wood and my head uses sea water to flush but use mostly fresh water to flush and only flush with sea water only if we can't get to fresh water at a marina.
My draft is 5' and been in PG since 2008 and many othersin sailing Club with 5' plus draft are here too and also cruise to the Keys and Bahama's too.
Nick

 

[Sargasso]

Thanks everyone. It's not surprising windage can be a criticism given the freeboard and arch but here in the north thats the price you pay for a full cockpit enclosure.

All in all if that's the only shortcoming I can live with it,

Thanks everyone for your replies.

 

[Stu Jackson]

What's the mast height above the water?

 

[Sargasso]

According to spec sheet 60' 2"/62' 10". Standard/Furling not sure if that is mast height above deck or height above water. I presume you ask for ICW which as I recall has a limit around 65'.

 

[Nodak7]

According to spec sheet 60' 2"/62' 10". Standard/Furling not sure if that is mast height above deck or height above water. I presume you ask for ICW which as I recall has a limit around 65'.

That is height above the water Sar.