My 1983 H 33
We've had our Hunter 33 for about 6 years now. Ours appears to be the last production 33 sold as a Hunter. There were a few later hulls sold as "Quest" kits. Generally I like the boat a lot. I like the layout. Possibly my favorite layout feature is the aft head. Close to the companion way, enough head room for me to stand up, and my absolute favorite, the toilet facing fore/aft, rather than across. Much more comfortable and a lot more secure to use under way than a center facing toilet. Don't tell anyone this, but I actually got thrown off the toilet of a Catalina 27 while under way in somewhat rough conditions. We hit an odd wave on starboard tack and I got spit off the throne and onto the cabin sole. Doesn't do too much for your dignity at all. The boat is fairly well put together and for the money they draw they're usually a great deal. There are very few inherent problems associated with the boat. Contrary to another thread currently running, the 33 is not known to throw off it's own keel. I slammed into an under water concrete abutment at maybe three knots, the boat stopped instantly, and aside from a wee bit of lead moved around on the keel there was no damage. Luckily my wife didn't break any woodwork as she flew from the top of the companionway to the cabin sole. Her foot has healed nicely by now. The cockpit works well for single-handing, with the winch pods close at hand. I essentially single-hand any time my wife and I are out and I have no problems. Tacking to windward is a breeze, if you'll pardon the expression.. The down side of that convenience is that due to the intrusion of the winch pods the cockpit benches are too short to sleep on. Not much of anywhere to sleep out on deck for that matter. We over-nighted one Fourth of July when it was about 110 degrees. Absolutely could not remain below. I ended up on a cushion on the forward portion of the coach roof worried about rolling off. I guess one hour of sleep was enough. Among the few noted problems is a tendency for the rudder packing nut to corrode out to the point where it will allow water through. In your case I'd suggest you stick with the later, squared cabin design. I believe 1980 or later, although it may have changed in '79. There appears to be a couple if inches more head room at the aft end, and certainly more at the forward end where you enter the V berth. Another possible weak point, depending on your point of view is the Bomar ports. Not so much the ports but Hunter's shoddy installation of them. They tend to let water in which runs down to the outside walls, then on down to wherever it ends up. Sometimes it weakens core, sometimes not. Easily fixed by proper re-installation or replacement. If you get a typical un-upgraded boat you'll likely end up replacing the head, fighting with installing a decent holding tank. The original fresh water pump can be repaired but isn't worth it. You'll want better sails, with 2 reef points on the main. The later models came with a Yanmar 2GM (2 cylinder) which was sea water (raw water) cooled and at 13/15 hp was barely adequate. The 24/27 hp 3GM30F (3 cylinder) does a much better job Don't expect the shoal, 4' draft version to sail up to the reputation of the deeper 5'3" version. It simply won't. But then you'll sail loads of places they'll only dream of or dinghy into. Many of the shoal owners here seem to agree it's very sensitive to sail trim. But when you get it into a groove it goes great. I could go on but I think you get the idea. I have been into every nook and cranny on the boat so I'm as familiar with it's intimate parts as you can get. (I think I'd pay good money to watch you wiggle in to work on the rudder packing nut!) If you end up with one feel free to fire out questions.
