Hunter41DS pros or cons opnions

onecoolair · Aug 29, 2012

It was when I went below when I almost broke my neck!

gulfstar50 said:
Hi
Just looking for pros or cons regarding the Hunter 41DS.I just sold my Gulfstar50 that we kept at Crisfield,Md.We owned a Hunter34 many years ago.I read some positive comments how well they sail.Looking for owner feedback.
Thanks
Richard
sailmaster39@yahoo.com

Its all the up and down steps you have down below that really screw things up!!! I am an Architect and I learned a long time ago to never design a home or any commercial building with a single raised entry or sunken living room with one step. If you have to have a multi level floor plan always do a minimum 2 or 3 steps at the most. Make sure there are visual que's as well design que's you can feel while blind folded!!.
A boat neighbor new to boating bought a 41 ds a while back. The marina changed there mind about the size slip they wanted him in and he had to move boat to a larger slip. He ask me to do it for him because of were they were putting him he did not feel confinent enough yet to manage the manuvering needed done. The boat preformed flawlessly backing turning docking . It was when I went below when I almost broke my neck!

Nodak7 · Aug 29, 2012

gulfstar50 said:
Hi
Just looking for pros or cons regarding the Hunter 41DS.I just sold my Gulfstar50 that we kept at Crisfield,Md.We owned a Hunter34 many years ago.I read some positive comments how well they sail.Looking for owner feedback.
Thanks
Richard
sailmaster39@yahoo.com

Gulf, this is our second season with Wild Oats and I can say she is an awesome boat! Very comfortable, easy to sail and pretty fast!.

Pros- comfortable, very roomy, bright and spacious salon. The cockpit is awesome and well organized. Sails like a dream in any wind. (Have had it up to 8+ kts many times and usually cruise at 5-7 kts). Nicely organized Galley.

Cons - it would be nice to have a walk around aft bed. Lots of windage (but it is a big boat). The eyebrows really should have non-skid on them.

If I think of anything else I will let you know. By the way she is an absolutely beautiful boat. Very stately! The Admiral and I love her!

Old Sailor 2 · Aug 30, 2012

Hey Gulf, this completes our first full year of owning a Hunter 42 Passage which I would assume is similar to the 41DS. We love her. Very roomy and comfortable for my wife and she sails quite well. As with any man, a little wind, some other sailors and there is a race. It might be unorganized, not sanctioned, nor official, but it is a race. With our jib cut up for visability we are able to out point and out sail most every boat we encounter and we are stable. Ours is older so we have to upgrade many of the systems and rigging however she sails like a charm. Go for it!

SEMPERAVANTI41 · Aug 30, 2012

I am enjoying my third season with my 41DS. It has been a great boat and I would do it all over again.

I am 6' and must disagree with Roberts' comments above concerning steps. I have always thought the step down from the main salon into the forward & aft cabin is a great solution for increased headroom.

My boat is a 2007 model with a teak interior & a lead keel. I believe that newer models may have a vinyl interior (wood & trim) and a cast iron keel. I had a 36 Hunter with a vinyl interior and there is no comparison.

If you are buying a new boat, I would get as many options that you want installed from the factory, except for a generator. Hunter uses a FischerPanda which I did not want. I just installed a Mase 7.6 into the euro locker. It made me appreciate how easy it must be to install options at the factory while the hull & deck are apart!

Nodak7 · Aug 31, 2012

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
I am enjoying my third season with my 41DS. It has been a great boat and I would do it all over again.

If you are buying a new boat, I would get as many options that you want installed from the factory, except for a generator. Hunter uses a FischerPanda which I did not want. I just installed a Mase 7.6 into the euro locker. It made me appreciate how easy it must be to install options at the factory while the hull & deck are apart!

Semper, I have been thinking about installing a generator on our boat. What was the hardest part for you?

SEMPERAVANTI41 · Aug 31, 2012

I think the hardest part was running the heavy wire from the generator in the euro locker to the ac panel. The wire is hard to run thru the spaces under the floor, with many turns. The second hardest part is running the wet exhaust. I had to climb into the aft compartment, and squeeze under the propane locker to attach the exhaust hose to the elbow I installed on the port side of the boat.

Nodak7 · Aug 31, 2012

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
I think the hardest part was running the heavy wire from the generator in the euro locker to the ac panel. The wire is hard to run thru the spaces under the floor, with many turns. The second hardest part is running the wet exhaust. I had to climb into the aft compartment, and squeeze under the propane locker to attach the exhaust hose to the elbow I installed on the port side of the boat.

You must have had that boat torn to pieces!

By the Euro Locker you mean the Lazarette?

SEMPERAVANTI41 · Aug 31, 2012

Hunter refers to the lazarette as the "euro locker". I really did not need to tear the boat to pieces, really I just lifted the floor panels and the navigation station seat. If you would like to see some pictures, I can e-mail you.

Nodak7 · Aug 31, 2012

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
Hunter refers to the lazarette as the "euro locker". I really did not need to tear the boat to pieces, really I just lifted the floor panels and the navigation station seat. If you would like to see some pictures, I can e-mail you.

Would love to see pic.... I will send you an IM with my email address. Thanks

Scott B · Aug 31, 2012

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
Hunter refers to the lazarette as the "euro locker". I really did not need to tear the boat to pieces, really I just lifted the floor panels and the navigation station seat. If you would like to see some pictures, I can e-mail you.

or start a new thread on your install, I'm sure others would be interetsed and / or be good future reference. You can attach pictures to your post, upload them to your album under your profile site and link them from there or link from Photobucket or something similar.

onecoolair · Aug 31, 2012

under the navigation desk seat

Scott B said:
or start a new thread on your install, I'm sure others would be interetsed and / or be good future reference. You can attach pictures to your post, upload them to your album under your profile site and link them from there or link from Photobucket or something similar.

I have some friends with a 44DS and there Panda is under the navigation desk seat in main cabin.

jcockerline · Oct 14, 2012

SEMPERAVANTI41 said:
Hunter refers to the lazarette as the "euro locker". I really did not need to tear the boat to pieces, really I just lifted the floor panels and the navigation station seat. If you would like to see some pictures, I can e-mail you.

Would love to see those pics if you still have them - I will be installing a genset in my Hunter 41 ds this year. I will send you my e-mail if that is convenient.

And thanks for your reply to my question on "A genset for the Hunter 41". It sounds like the Mase 7.6 may be more than I need - does Mase make a smaller 3 cylinder than this? Is the advantage of the Mase mainly that it is a 3 cylinder, or are there other advantages over the FP models?