Hunter Reputation

Cliff · Oct 28, 2004

Everybody has an opnion

Now this is like a Ford or a Chevy thing. I have owned 3 Hunter boats. A 23, 25.5 and now a 28.5. If I move up I will again be looking at Hunter. Kinda like guys that always buy Ford's and what they think of a Chevy. When you compare apples to apples like the throwing Hunter, Catalina & Beneteau all in the same class. They are all production cruising boats. Now the talk about can't be performanced sailed I would think they were talking about Racing. If so then after a season of racing against boats of the same class I did not finish worst then 2nd all season. Beating all other boats in our class. But does a Hunter compare to a J 109, or a C&C 99 or 110, Beneteau 36.7. Then I would say no these are not cruising boats. They are flat out racing boats that have a cruiser interior. The New Glenn Henderson design's are heading in the more race design direction but face it Hunter's market is cruiser's. Ther are Hunter's being sailed all over the planet and I am sure ther are allot of sailor's that have crossed the pond in ther Hunter. I think ther are quite a few of the Hunter's that are now built to ABS Standards which makes them a off shore boat. My 28.5 is now 18 years old and is a great boat looks really good and takes not prisoners on the race course. The more I look at some of your responses pisses me off even more. I wonder what they were sailing when they made these remarks ?Cliff

Cliff · Oct 28, 2004

Everybody has an opinion

Now this is like a Ford or a Chevy thing. I have owned 3 Hunter boats. A 23, 25.5 and now a 28.5. If I move up I will again be looking at Hunter. Kinda like guys that always buy Ford's and what they think of a Chevy. When you compare apples to apples like the throwing Hunter, Catalina & Beneteau all in the same class. They are all production cruising boats. Now the talk about can't be performanced sailed I would think they were talking about Racing. If so then after a season of racing against boats of the same class I did not finish worst then 2nd all season. Beating all other boats in our class. But does a Hunter compare to a J 109, or a C&C 99 or 110, Beneteau 36.7. Then I would say no these are not cruising boats. They are flat out racing boats that have a cruiser interior. The New Glenn Henderson design's are heading in the more race design direction but face it Hunter's market is cruiser's. Ther are Hunter's being sailed all over the planet and I am sure ther are allot of sailor's that have crossed the pond in ther Hunter. I think ther are quite a few of the Hunter's that are now built to ABS Standards which makes them a off shore boat. My 28.5 is now 18 years old and is a great boat looks really good and takes not prisoners on the race course. The more I look at some of your responses pisses me off even more. I wonder what they were sailing when they made these remarks ?Cliff

John Richard · Oct 28, 2004

Opinions, by definition are personal

I feel anything you buy can have a problem on a given day. This can be interpreted based upon one's frame of reference at the time the problem takes place. True, Hunters are mass produced, but my experience is they are super boats for the money. Their customer support is way above average, with minor exceptions. We all could have spent another pile of money and maybe have gotten boats with better attention to detail. However, the bottom line is that I am very pleased with our boat and would not consider changing. I told my wife the other day after going through a local boat show that I looked at what else is available and wouldn't change. I've been able to honestly say this for the three years that we have owned our boat.John Richards/v Jack's Place

Les Blackwell · Oct 28, 2004

I'm sure you'll get many responces...

I'm not sure if you're just baiting a few of us on this web site or what. I really try not to listen to those that say this boat is bad because..., or this boat won't sail to windward, or this is not a blue water boat. I'm tired of all the so called experts that have all the answers.First off, look for yourself and see what the latest construction method is. I think Hunter is doing a pretty good job of producing a good boat. I do not believe the boating public is that dumb as to continue to buy poorly built boats. Research has shown that sailboat owners take as long as five years to figure out which boat they want--while power boaters take less than a year.I've forgotten my socilogy but there was a term for people who buy a product and then defend it against all odds. I sense those that spend much money buying a "blue water boat" (whatever that definition is) will not accept the idea that a much cheaper boat can do the same thing.There are Hunter boats sailing around the world. There is a Hunter 410 that has been in the south seas for three years sailing out of California. Another older Hunter has crossed the "pond" several times. I'm sure these critics would knock my friend who sailed for ten years in the pacific in a Columbia 26. "Not a blue water boat."As for the complaint of cheap gear, my four Hunters all had top of the line gear such as Lewmar, Edson, Harken, Yanmar, Ronco, etc. If there is better gear, I certainly don't know what it could be. Those who say that Hunter has cheap gear suggest to me that they have not been on a Hunter recently.Those that critisize the sailing performance of Hunters also need to check the facts. I won Boat of the Year in this area against J35 and J36s, Pearsons, C&C 34, Sabres, San Juan 34, Septre and a slew of other boats with my Hunter 35.5. A Hunter 40 won its class in the Swiftsure Race out of Victoria, BC. I presently have roller furling main and jib and still outsail several boats in my harbor. That complaint doesn't hold water. I sometimes help sell sailboats for a local dealer and watch ads on prices of used boats. Hunter does as well as any other brand and maybe better overall. I'd have to do a spreadsheet to check this out. However, I do know that I bought my Hunter 35.5 for $81,000 and sold it six years later for $75,000. That is a $1,000 per year for sailing not counting slip, taxes and the usual maintainance. And we sail the whole year. I'm tired of people who make claims and don't back them up. Maybe they work for a political party and have learned to talk this way. But I think it is your responcibility to say to them, "OK, now tell me how you came to this conclusion." If they generalize, then walk away. Damn, I hate people who are snobs.

Daryl2400 · Oct 28, 2004

Opinions, Be Careful here

Hunter boats are good coastal cruisers and a good value for that applications. Like any vessel they have strengths and weaknesses. Having owned one for over a decade, I have had my opinions deleted from this site because those that run this site don't agree.Great starter boats but I wouldn't want to invest too much money in one. They don't retain their value as well as other production boats. In an effort to be innovative they produce some model runs that don't last long. Some are good and other are ..... As a model run is produced the changes made during the run are generally made to cut production costs rather than improve the product. I have owned one and would not rule out owning another one because I have a limited sailing budget. If you can afford a better vessel I think you should get one.Performance wise I think the boats from the 80's did well. The handicap rating is an excellent indicator of sailing ability and performance. The newer models don't seem to perform as well as some of the older ones (and I think they don't look as nice)

Les Blackwell · Oct 28, 2004

I need to ask Daryl some questions...

Daryl, I appreciate your impute. You said, "They don't retain their value as well as other production boats." How do you know this to be true? Is this your opinion?You also said, "As a model run is produced the changes made during the run are generally made to cut production costs rather than improve the product." How do you know this? Have you been to the factory and watch them produce boats? What evidence supports this statement? You made another statement, "If you can afford a better vessel I think you should get one." Can you please define for me what is a "better vessel." I'm a research professor and look for operational definitions in my understanding of your comments. Thanks. Les

John · Oct 28, 2004

Good Boats

I concur with Les. I went to the boat show looking for a new inflatable. Ended up buying a 356. Try to explain that your your wife, but that's another story.I have owned my 356 for three years (my 1st Hunter), and when I buy another boat the 1st place I'm going is to my Hunter dealer. (p.s. don't tell my wife)Hunters are excellent boats, have great innovations, sail well, and quite frankly I have been very impressed with Hunter's committment to servicing their customers.check my webbsite www.mastconfusion.com

Denis · Oct 28, 2004

Observations not opinions

I have owned a 260 for almost 2 years. This is the only boat I have owned. I used to build and repair fiberglass boats. The Hunter fiberglass workmanship is below what I have observed in the industry: the corners are poorly rolled creating voids behind the gelcoat in numerous areas, the fiberglass is not rolled down in out of sight areas. Also the electrical workmanship is below par: wire crimps are performed to the terminals manufacture specs (yes I also used to build wire harnesses and I did measure the crimp height and width after the ground wires fell out of a terminal on the panel). After the rudder cracked and one of the weld broke on the bracket, we put the design in a failure analysis program and it revealed major deficiencies in the design. On a $30K+ boat you would expect fresh water hand pumps to at least work, mine never did (oops that was an opinion!). The seacock are installed upside down so that you cannot use the drain plug as recommended by the recall notice, since they are pointed up. By the way one seacock is above the water line the other one below (causing it to trap water, freeze and crack). The plugs created by the hole saw are laying around in the hull in several spots instead of being thrown away. All these problems were reported on the three surveys that the factory sent me; nobody responded or called which I would have expected from a company concerned with customer satisfaction. The boat design is good for what I wanted to do with it. It does sail well and is fast enough to win races. I understand that this boat is a lower end model but it comes from the same factory as the larger model and that leads me to worry about the workmanship on the higher model. Unless I could be convinced of major changes in the manufacturing process control methods, I would not buy another Hunter.

Phil Herring · Oct 29, 2004

Small clarification, and question

Actually, not all 260's did come from the same factory that builds the larger boats. I believe that a handful of 260's were built in another of the Luhrs plants. It would be interesting to know if yours was one of them. Do you have your serial number handy?

Daryl2400 · Oct 29, 2004

Response to Les B

The opinions I posted are based on research I have done while purchasing and owning my h34. I actually made an offer on a Catalina 34 before I bought the Hunder. While both of these boats were close in price when new the used h34 boats were $10-15K cheaper than the C34 (built the same year). I had similiar observations looking at thiry foot boats in New England.As for my comment about production changes they are based on the h34 model. Early models in 1983 had a large black mast step (replaced by a small cheaper fixture that leaked), cleates in the anchor locker were deleted, plastic window frame replaced the nice aluminum ones, Maxwell winches substituted for Lewmar, engine brand changes and this list goes on. None of the changes I know about made the vessel better, just cheaper to build. No I have never been to the factory and didn't need to go there to evaluate these changes. (besides I would NEVER consider buying a new Hunter)AS for a better production boat, I'd buy a Tartan or Sabre if I had the bucks available. Many of those that are 25 years old sell for more than their original cost unlike the Hunter. Being better built they require less maintenance. I like the Tartan 37 but they sell for $70-90k and there are lots of H37C vessels available for $30-40K that are good values for budget minded sailors. any more questions?

Buck2796 · Oct 29, 2004

My Turn

Ditto Les and John. Les's posting said it beautifully. We feel the same over here on the right side. I've put a lot of miles on my '01 420. (See archives .. 2003 - type in "unseaworthy") The boat continues to be all that I could have asked for in a cruising sailboat; and in a few weeks I'm heading south for the Keys for the 4th Winter. I'm home ported in a large marina at Little Creek in Norfolk. Over the past few years more and more (new) Hunters, both large and small, have arrived. Indeed, many more Hunters than any other type of sailboat. I'm seeing more and more Hunters on the Bay and up and down the East Coast. Obviously, this says something. People speak with their pocketbooks... and although most (despite their dreams) will never do more than coastal cruising (if that), Hunters are obviously impressing alot of people; including many who have alot of sailing experience. This couldn't be the case if even one of one or two of the "Sailor Joe" comments had any validity.

Steve Dion · Oct 29, 2004

Catalinas were more expensive for less.

The early Catalinas were more expensive than the Hunters and they only had gas engines. Hunters were delivered with the Cruise packs and the diesel all included in the base price.There is nothing wrong with the Hunters as a production boat. When we compare them to their rivals. Our 1985 Hunter 31 has been trouble free other than the compress post.We have a friend that has one of the other popular boats that has had numerous troubles with electrical and other areas. (they sold the boat after investing several thousands in replacements and repairs).As far as these "changes to cut costs". These are generally upgrades. The metal frames were elminated because the frames cracked (just like the metal frames on many older production boats). Mark at Mark Plastics has confirmed this too.As far as quality equipment, Hunter installs Seldon, Harken and other quality equipment that matches what is installed on the semi-custom boats that are currently being manufactured.Most of the people that put down Hunter, Catalina, Beneteau & the other lower priced production boats are mis-informed and ignorant. ALL boats have problems. Speak with the yards that work on the warranty problems and you will find that there are similar issues with them.

Denis · Oct 29, 2004

Ignorant?

Steve D. you are right: I am ignorant I bought a Hunter! I'll just make an other ignorant comment: My boat is a 2003 and my observations therefore do not reflect on older boats since many changes may have taken place at the factory(ies). Phil, I should be on the boat tomrorrow and I will get the S/N. How will I know which factory the boat comes from?

Phil Herring · Oct 29, 2004

I doubt you can tell from the SN

But we may be able to find out, or perhaps someone else on the board will know.

eds928gt · Oct 29, 2004

Possible answers to ???

"I'd never take a Hunter offshore, they aren't built for it" Ans: Well, they aren't rated for use offshore, but neither are many other boats. Yet Hunter and other boats like them go ofshore all the time. Some even are use to cross oceans, or to circumnavigate."Their quality control stinks, the boats always have lots of problems" "Stinks" is a relative trm and "always" is an overstatement. Granted, they're not perfect, but what boat is?"RV's with sails - nice to sleep on in the marina, but slow and tender on the water" Tender - perhaps, but definately not slow."Purchased by day sailors and overnighters, can't be performance sailed" There are several Hunter owners that have either won their class or placed very well."The cheapest boat you can buy, and loaded with barely adequete low-end equipment to show for it" I don't know that it's the cheapest, but alot of the equipment used on my H34 are the same or better than boats that came with higher price tags."Okay boats for the first few years, but maintenance-intensive after that - they don't hold up well and lose their value fast" The resale market does not seem to support that statement. BTW, all boats (especially costly ones) will require (costly) maintenance as they age.Bottom line - Do you enjoy sailing your boat? If so, don't worry about what others think or say. Their opinion might matter if they helped pay for it. Otherwise, tell them to take a long walk on a short pier. ;^)~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~

chris · Oct 29, 2004

chevy vs ford

I think we are in a chevy vs ford discussion here. A chevy owner always thinks his is better and fords are junk and a ford owner would never own a chevy. We previously owned a catalina and looked at a dozen different boats before deciding on a Hunter. We are vey pleased with the quality of workmanship and sailing characteristics of our Hunter. It is perfect for our needs. The moral of the story is evaluate your needs before you choose a boat and find the manufactuer that best suits your needs. After all, they all have their share of problems and boats in general empty the wallet faster than it fills! But isn't it worth it when the sun is shining and the wind is up!fair windschris _/)

Allan Pursnell · Oct 29, 2004

Extremely happy with my choice

I did my homework for two years before buying a new Hunter 340 in the year 2000. It is exactly what I wanted, and I am very pleased with my choice. I looked at all the high end boats, and quite frankly could have gotten a good deal on a used one for what I paid for a new Hunter. (Keep in mind the newer Hunter's have design improvements over older ones). I cruise along the coast in MIssissippi Sound and throw the hook out and spend the night near some of the barrier islands. My Hunter 340 is the perfect size and performance. As far as maintenance, all boats require pretty intense maintenance. I do preventative maintenance and have never had a failure, the boat looks as new and shiney as the day I got it. Resale on mine will be high, as long as I keep it pristeen. Now I will say, I like all kind of boats. As long as I'm on the water, I'm happy. I may buy a trawler next time or something else. But my boat is perfect for my needs.ajp

Denis · Oct 29, 2004

Hunter response

I thought out of fairness I would let everyone know that Hunter read this thread and contacted me. They apologized for somehow loosing the surveys that I had sent back in. They also offered me a free replacement part for my rudder even though the boat is out of the warranty period. This is my first contact with the factory and I am pleased. Before all communications were through the dealer which is no longer around. It does not change the observations that I wrote earlier, but it is a positive statement about the factory support, that was not mentioned in my previous post.

Hunter Reputation

Sailor Joe20804

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Cliff

Cliff

John Richard

Les Blackwell

Sailor Joe20804

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Daryl2400

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Les Blackwell

John

Denis

Phil Herring

Alien

Daryl2400

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Buck2796

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Steve Dion

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Denis

Phil Herring

Alien

eds928gt

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chris

Allan Pursnell

Denis