Identifying Cherubini's

[Darrell Smith]

Hi. I'm been looking at buying a 30 to 36' Cherubini. Several ads I've called advertising Hunters have said they don't know if their boat is a Cherubini or not.
Is there a way to tell from the Photos? Also, just what is the difference? Are the a totally different design or just an upgrade in build quality? I'm not a very experienced sailor, but I like the lines and layout and several friends have said they sail beautifully and would be a good first boat for Florida and the Carribean. I figured I'd ask here as several brokers are trying to "educate" me into buying something else. Any assistance or comments would be appreciated.
Smitty

 

[Ed Schenck]

See the Line above:

"...Hunter models 25, 27, 30, 33, 36, 37-cutter, and 54". Add to that the years 1975 through 1984(a few 1985s) and there you have it. Once you own one you cannot walk through a marina or boatyard without saying "there's another Cherubini". Although you can confuse them with the Seidelmanns.

 

[Steve Dion]

Smitty:

Generally the Hunter Cherubini's were built from 1975-1983. These boats are quite destictive. They "originally" only had white hulls, black striping & toe rails.

You should be able to look up these vessels under the boat info tab.

Here is an example of a 33 Cherubini.

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...sygallery&act=categories&cid=1165&Itemid=9999

 

[David in Sandusky]

Ed's answer is clear and correct.

There were small changes in the some of the designs over their production runs (the early "racing" model of the h25 with its rounded forward cabin shape, or the fairing of the forward cockpit coaming of the h27 around 1980 for instance), and different engines were mounted. But the hull shapes, rigs, and performance characteristics of each model remained consistent through their production runs. The successor designs (look at the later h31 and h34 pictures on this site) are clearly different.

There are issues common to any fiberglass boat over 20 years old that you should address with your inspection, including a survey in your sales contract, and your after sale maintenance and upgrade program. That said, the Cherubini's are great first boats. It's worth noting that many of us have started with them, and stuck with them over many years!

We bought our '77 h27, Lady Lillie, and sailed her (we were aboard her about 30 nights) through her first summer "as is." Since then, we have averaged one maintenance/upgrade action per year with annual costs between $500, and $2,000, except for repowering last year at $4,500. After 9 years, we see no need to move to a new boat. We reached that conclusion after carefully considering moving to a Cherubini h33 this past year.

Good luck - you are looking at great boats.

 

[Rod10027]

Hi. I'm been looking at buying a 30 to 36' Cherubini. Several ads I've called advertising Hunters have said they don't know if their boat is a Cherubini or not.
Is there a way to tell from the Photos? Also, just what is the difference? Are the a totally different design or just an upgrade in build quality? I'm not a very experienced sailor, but I like the lines and layout and several friends have said they sail beautifully and would be a good first boat for Florida and the Carribean. I figured I'd ask here as several brokers are trying to "educate" me into buying something else. Any assistance or comments would be appreciated.
Smitty

Hello,
My first and only boat SeaDora is a 1980, H33 Cherubini...I have had her two years now. I am 70 years old and I sail her single handed, for what I know about sailing, she handles very smoothly and responsive. Make sure you get a history paper trail when you buy... The folks here on the forum have given you good answers on how to identify... Good luck with your hunt!

Rodh

 

[Ed Schenck]

So Smitty, . . . .

I see that you are "online". What have you decided? What additional questions do you have. I notice that we haven't heard from you for awhile.

Do we know where you will be sailing, the kind of conditions you will see?

 

[Darrell Smith]

I see that you are "online". What have you decided? What additional questions do you have. I notice that we haven't heard from you for awhile.

Do we know where you will be sailing, the kind of conditions you will see?

Ed, Thanks for your reply. I'm in probably what I would call the research phase of purchase. I have between six months to a year before I'll be ready to decide and get any boat. I've been doing the usual things I guess anybody does when they get "The Fever", hanging around the marina, talking to friends who sail etc. I'm signed up for a sailing course after the first of the year.

My sailing experience consists of a couple of weekend rentals with friends on the Chesapeake and a few overnight trips here in the Daytona area on a neighbors Corsair trimaran. I was in the Navy and am a private pilot, so a lot of it will be familiar. I also had an HVAC & refrigeration business for years, and can fix about anything which I hear will be put to the test if I buy a 20 year old sailboat.

I'm looking to take a year or so off and sail around Florida and work my way further into the Caribbean as I get more comfortable with the boat. Mostly solo but maybe a friend if I can get her to leave enough ashore to keep the boat afloat.

I looked at a 36' Cherubini here locally a while back and really liked it, but thought it would be too much boat to learn on and especially to single-hand. The owner tried to assure me it wasn't, that it was a very forgiving and easy handling boat, so I've looked at the 30 and 33 since as well as other models, and I've convinced myself that the Cherubinis are the way to go. It seems to me to be about the best combination of build strength and quality, speed, ease of sailing and comfort that is in my price range (about 15-25k) that I've consistently seen.

I admittedly know next to nothing about sailboat design, but when it comes to things that cross the lines between design, engineering and art, I've learned it's best to trust your instincts. So unless somebody drops one hell of a deal in my lap, it's probably going to be a Cherubini of some type.

Any help or advice on anything you think I should know would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Smitty

 

[Ed Schenck]

You are certainly on the right track. Taking your time and getting some lessons are key. It was a little easier for me because I was looking for a cutter-rig. There just are not a lot of affordable cutters out there. And very few Hunter 37 cutters on the market right now. I almost always single-hand. Even when my wife sailed with me she was curled up with a book somewhere.

The main problem is getting into your slip or mooring when you are alone. But you would have that problem regardless of the boat size. Sail work won't be much different from thirty foot and larger in the Cherubini line. A good furler takes care of the foresail. I have EZ-Jax for the main. None of my lines are run aft, everything is at the mast. Excepting the mainsheets of course. Winch location is a key item when single-handling. My primaries for the yankee(jib) are right next to the helm. My mainsheet traveler is in the cockpit and I can run that sheet to a primary winch if need be. With only 4:1 on the mainsheet I need winch help above 15 knots. Later boats with the traveler mid-boom to a winch on the cabin are much harder to sail in my opinion.

Need to think more about it.
Edit: one more comment for now. Look for a well-equipped boat. Paying for the things that you want already on the boat is MUCH less costly than buying new and installing.

 

[Darrell Smith]

Cutter?

You are certainly on the right track. Taking your time and getting some lessons are key. It was a little easier for me because I was looking for a cutter-rig. There just are not a lot of affordable cutters out there. And very few Hunter 37 cutters on the market right now. I almost always single-hand. Even when my wife sailed with me she was curled up with a book somewhere.

The main problem is getting into your slip or mooring when you are alone. But you would have that problem regardless of the boat size. Sail work won't be much different from thirty foot and larger in the Cherubini line. A good furler takes care of the foresail. I have EZ-Jax for the main. None of my lines are run aft, everything is at the mast. Excepting the mainsheets of course. Winch location is a key item when single-handling. My primaries for the yankee(jib) are right next to the helm. My mainsheet traveler is in the cockpit and I can run that sheet to a primary winch if need be. With only 4:1 on the mainsheet I need winch help above 15 knots. Later boats with the traveler mid-boom to a winch on the cabin are much harder to sail in my opinion.

Need to think more about it.
Edit: one more comment for now. Look for a well-equipped boat. Paying for the things that you want already on the boat is MUCH less costly than buying new and installing.

OK, here's a basic question. If you're mostly single handing, Why a Cutter?
I would think with more masts, sails rigging etc, it would be harder to sail as well as maintain over a sloop. What is the advantage? I can see more options for different conditions, but is it worth the additional complexity? Why did you choose it?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Re: Cutter?

My H37C has over 800 sq. feet of sail area. But with three sails no single one has to be unmanageable. Winches can be smaller, running rigging can be smaller, the mast is 50 feet above the waterline instead of 60 feet, and the yankee(jib) is easier to furl. A feature I really like is the low CE(center-of-effort). Because the boat does not have a tall mast and the boom is relatively low(compared to newer boats) I don't reef under 20 knots. You will see recommendations for many boats that the first reef goes in around 15 knots. My H37C is still sailing flat(10 to 15 degrees) in fifteen knots. Newer boats with their tall masts and much higher freeboard have their CEs probably at least six feet higher than mine. The hanked on staysail is easy to manage because it is relatively small and is self-tacking because it has its own boom. The staysail is a great asset in a blow. Reef the main and keep the yankee furled. Now all one has to do is steer since the staysail tacks itself. So that's it in a nutshell. (Picture shows running with staysail, Dave Wilson's boat. Where is Dave anyway?)

 

[rardiH36]

Hunter36 Cherubini - No Problem to Solo Sail

I bought a 1980 Cherubini Hunter 36 one and a half years ago. First boat. Cosmetically run down a bit (but it's come around nicely with lots of TLC and how to suggestions from folks on this forum), but PO's had kept up the important maintenance reasonably well. I am extremely pleased with my choice on many levels. My sailing experience was with a 14ft centerboard boat in my youth --- and a week long basic keelboat and basic coasting cruising course about the time I bought My Hunter. I've taken it out many times solo on SF bay (and I consider that I'm soloing with most of my non sailing friends and wife as well). Docking/Undocking was the trickiest part to learn. I did take an afternoon private lesson on just this item alone. The reason I went right off the bat with 36', rather than starting smaller and moving up, was primarily the much more spacious interior. Much nicer to spend time in (and 6.5' headroom!). And also I wasn't intimidated by the extra size of a 36 footer. The boats we used in my basic keelboat and coastal cruising course were 30-32 ft. The difference in handling and complexity between those and my 36' Hunter is minimal. So don't let a few extra feet disuade you... (although more feet generally equals more annual expense.) When I bought my boat, I noticed the asking prices for Cherubini Hunters were generally much lower than other brands from the same ~1980 manufacture. I haven't a clue as to why. My Cherubini 36 is built very robustly and has held up fine for 28 years. I haven't encountered any issues with it that I haven't also seen addressed regarding other brands. Seems to me to be a lot of boat for the money. For any older boat, it will help greatly if you are handy and like DIY'ing by nature. As Ed mentioned, try to find a boat that is well fitted (with stuff like electronics, self tailing winches, recently replaced standing rigging, good sails etc.) You may not pay much of premium ... particularly in these economic times when sellers' are motivated. A marine survey is a must. A great resource is a book called "Inspecting the Aging Sailboat" by Don Casey. (Might even be available from the Chandelry portion that sponsors this website.) I used it to pre-screen the Hunter I bought before I made the offer. Almost everything the surveyor advised as being sound or in need of work had been identified by me using the book's contents.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Re: Hunter36 Cherubini - No Problem to Solo Sail

Rardi and I both mentioned the financial benefit of buying a well outfitted boat. One item neither of us mentioned is canvas. Dodgers and biminis are very expensive. Sail covers not so much.

 

[Dave Wilson]

Hi Ed,
I'm here lurking about. You nailed it on the head about ease of single-handing. My Admiral is always reading or just enjoying the ride. The pic you showed was us on the day we renamed Mermaid Hunter, there are 8 people in the cockpit enjoying the fruit of the vine in 15 to 20 knots of breeze.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Dave, you surely weren't imbibing too? What's the adage, "Don't drink and drive, you might spill some"? I thought she looked a little low in the stern. Otherwise she is gorgeous.