Just bought a 376 (introducting ourselves)

[aaronaxvig]

Just wanted to introduce myself (and girlfriend), we have purchased the Hunter 376 named Retriever, previously owned by the user sailing1954. We plan to spend about one month in Charleston, SC area where we purchased her, doing cleaning, repairs, improvements, shakedowns, etc. We plan to haul-out this week to do a bottom job and redo the keel/fiberglass crack. Improvements (additions) that we dream of include a windlass, dingy davits, solar panels, and a suite of electronics (Garmin since we have a relative employee for a discount, probably will include adding radar and AIS). Who knows what we will get done!

After our month of work we envision cruising south through Florida, possibly to the Bahamas in February, and then working our way up the east coast to Boston by July for a wedding. We have plans to live aboard for about a year and then evaluate how much we like it.

Our experience so far: I bought a Bucaneer 18 in North Dakota last summer and had it out four times. It is...too thrilling. In February we went to sailing school in Fort Lauderdale and spend 6 nights on a Dufour Gib'Sea 43. That went well enough that we decided to drive to North Carolina in October and start sailboat shopping. We found this 376 in Charleston and really liked it. We reviewed other 376s on the market and even viewed the one in Port Charlotte in person but decided that this was the one...so here we are!

It should be a good year!

 

[Michael Davis]

Welcome to the group. Tons of great help and advice here. Some good humour as well. Pics. of the boat and your upgrades will be "demanded " or at least requested. Enjoy your new boat and the time you spend here.

 

[jssailem]

Welcome to the forum Aaron. Sounds like you found a nice boat. Congrats.
Your project list sounds ambitious for a 1 month period. Hopefully you have all of the products available or in route. It often takes more time to get things shipped then expected.

We are all available to try to be creative and supportive. Good Luck.

 

[kloudie1]

Welcome! Lots of folks with great advise on stuff on the site.. Learn where the info is archived (search "boat info" and "general downloads" ) on deck gear and engine stuff.. Charleston is a fun place to play !

 

[Terry Cox]

It should be a good year!

Congrats on your new boat. Hunter 376 a very nice boat and well made. Be sure to fill us in with all your experiences; the good, the bad, the ugly.

 

[Gabor15908]

Hi Aaron and welcome; I own a Hunter 376 , bought it 13 years ago. Fantastic boat, lots of room below and above, feels like a 40' boat. You will enjoy it...other then raising and lowering the main sail. Not an easy task...let me know how it works for you.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Welcome aboard to the best sailing forum on the 'net. Congrats on your 376 purchase.

 

[Megaman]

I am also new to this forum. Your plans sound very exciting. I recently purchased an 87 hunter 40. My boat is some 7 hours away In Ithaca New York. I haven't sailed her yet ,ran out of season. I do miss her so
Congratulations on your find
Can't wait to get my boat To Boston next season
Good luck

 

[aaronaxvig]

Figured I would post an update. We ended up spending about two months in Charleston. We did accomplish the windlass, davits, solar, electronics, and bottom job as planned, plus many other things including some LiFePo batteries, Victron charger inverter, major rewiring that those entailed, composting head, lifeline netting, and aft-cabin vinyl/insulation removal and painting.

Then we began our journey south. We anchored a couple nights and then spent a few nights on a mooring ball in Beaufort. Similar down to Savannah where I replaced the water heater. Then on to St. Augustine where more plumbing was required. The plastic fittings near the water heater couldn't handle the water temperature after 8 hours of motoring, so they would heat up, stretch out, and start leaking. Possibly I didn't need to replace the water heater, nice $600 mistake there. Did some other plumbing improvements which I will post about shortly.

We anchored a few nights near the spoil islands 1.5 miles NW of the Wabasso bridge...very peaceful area (unless light ICW traffic frustrates you, we don't mind it). Now we have been at the Sunset Bay Marina/Anchorage on a mooring ball for over two weeks. We love it here, and have been getting a few remaining projects done. We still hope to head to the Bahamas in 2/3 weeks for a couple months.

Stuff is still stacked high in the v-berth and on the salon bench but we are pecking away at getting rid of stuff. Probably a perpetual problem!

Still need to replace the cracked starboard window, but the "heat shrink tape" that the previous owner left on board is wonderful stuff and it doesn't leak anymore. So for now the replacement window sits in the v-berth.

Having fun out here!

 

[aaronaxvig]

Oh, some historical info for fun, mostly gleaned from the USCG abstract search but a little from each persons forum usernames and profile info:

Forum member BRYAN11114 owned the vessel from October 1999 to May 2011 under the name Kerryman II or KERRY MAN (TWO). Member eganbj owned it from May 2011 to March 2015 under the name Lady Ray. Member sailing 1954 owned from March 2015 to November 2018 under the name Retriever. None of those previous owners had activity of much significance on here.

And of course November 2018 is when we purchased the vessel. We have renamed it Prairie Tumbleweed, hailing from Medora, ND.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Cool … not in North Dakota anymore, are you!

 

[Megaman]

Great! sounds like you are living the dream.
I'm looking forward to Making that trip in the early Spring of 2020

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Welcome - mid to upper 30’s is the perfect size for to. Still small enough to be single handed ant big enough to not be on top of each other all the time

Les

 

[Megaman]

Welcome!! Anything that you want, or need to know, can be found here.
Have fun, with your new projects.

 

[NorthPrairieSailor]

Hello! Also out of ND. Moved up in size from a C25 last fall, looking forward to quarantining on this 376.