Looking for feedback from 05-06-07 Hunter 33 sailboat owners

Oct 13, 2016
72
Hunter 33 Kingston
I am looking at roughly 10 year old Hunter 33s and want to hear from owners. What's the good - bad - ugly about this boat. Anything in particular that I should be looking out for? I have read about overheating issues with the upgraded Yanmar engine but not much else.

I am hoping this will be a good sailing boat even with the in mast furling.

Opinions??

Cheers,
MD
 
Jan 7, 2011
5,700
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
I have 2 friends with H33's. 2006 built I think. Both have in-mast furling.

One guy has a folding prop, the other a feathering prop.

Both sail well, and are fairly fast. Jib is pretty small and a fractional rig.
Plumb bow, so watch for dings from the anchor. 1 guy put some SS plate up there for protection.
Both guys have the folding wheel, which is nice when not sailing.

Not aware of any major issues with either boat. One guy had a breaker or 2 go bad in his electrical panel. The other had some sort of solenoid go out that runs the fuel to the engine (something like that).

I like the arch with the traveler mounted out of the way. Cockpit is reasonably sized (we have 5-6 guys out at a time.

Greg
 
Apr 27, 2016
19
Hunter 33 Detroit
I own a 2009 H33, which I believe is the same boat. I absolutely love this boat. After a year of ownership I have not yet experienced any mechanical issues.

The Good:
  • Easy to single-hand
  • Arch mounted traveler
  • Very roomy cabin

The Bad:
  • The cockpit is roomy, but not quite as wide as some of the "bathtub" cockpits on other hunters.
  • The lifeline stanchions are a pole into a receptacle design which allows a little movement. They seem sufficiently sturdy, but the first time you grab one the movement is a little unnerving.
 
Jun 8, 2004
10,470
-na -NA Anywhere USA
Orginally the first few came out I think with an 18 hp Yanmar but later offered a larger motor. Go for the larger inboard diesel version.
 
Jun 2, 2011
347
Hunter H33 Port Credit Harbour, ON.
Purchased mine new in 06 with only minor issues all corrected easily. Purchased a gennaker for light wind sailing. No problems with the in mast furling. Redesigned the support for the entry step / helm seat.

The only down I have found is getting around the diagonal shroud when going forward. It was changed with the e33 in 2011 but the chain plate takes away from internal storage.

I think that there are 2 33's for sale in Port Credit. I believe that Navy Point has them both.

Wouldn't change it for anything and will have it for many years to come.

All the best.
 
Oct 13, 2016
72
Hunter 33 Kingston
I posted this question elsewhere on the forum but has anyone had to deal with leaky side cabin windows? One of the boats I am looking at has had a quick repair where the previous owner ran a bead of transparent silicone along the top edge of the window and I know I will have to fix this properly if I decide to go for it. Any tips or experience with dealing with this type of problem on your H33?
 

meb135

.
Nov 17, 2012
92
Hunter 33 Shediac Bay
I posted this question elsewhere on the forum but has anyone had to deal with leaky side cabin windows? One of the boats I am looking at has had a quick repair where the previous owner ran a bead of transparent silicone along the top edge of the window and I know I will have to fix this properly if I decide to go for it. Any tips or experience with dealing with this type of problem on your H33?
The boat is really great to sail and extremely easy to single hand. Lots of room inside and out and now that I have new tri-radial laminate sails (jib cut lower) and a folding prop, she's pretty fast, except for the dreaded dead down wind in light air.
The furling main on these boats work very well. I've never had any issues.

As for your window leak. I had the same problem when I bought the boat. I bought a new rubber seal from this site and all was easily fixed.
 
Oct 13, 2016
72
Hunter 33 Kingston
I am finalizing the deal on the H33 so thanks to everyone who provided info. I am sure I will many more questions until launch next spring!
 
Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
I am finalizing the deal on the H33 so thanks to everyone who provided info. I am sure I will many more questions until launch next spring!

I was going to write a long post to convince you to buy one but looks like too late?

I could write forever on how much we love this boat. We've had our 2005 for 10 years. We spend most weekends and a couple of week long trips on Georgian Bay. We've been through several rough storms both out in the Bay and closer inland and never felt unsafe. ( I wish I had pictures of the bow buried in a wave and the splash coming right up over the cockpit.)

The early Yanmar 29Hp had an overheating problem, including ours. Many had the heat exchanger replaced by Yanmar under warranty. I also convinced Yanmar to replace ours although past the warranty deadline. Engines from mid 2005 and earlier were affected and Serial no.'s prior to E05566 on the engine. Have your surveyor check into this. I'm sure there are many still out there without the upgrade if they only used the engine to motor in and out of the marina. We use ours constantly in this area so appeared shortly after purchase. PO was on Lake Ontario and very little used.

Upgrades I've done is removing the macerator ( will never be used on this boat) and using the thru-hull for a wash-down pump. I also cut the wood bench below the seat cushions on the port settee to more easily access the storage below. ( you'll see what I mean the first time you try to get in there and have to remove all the cushions )

Sailing is great. It easily handles 15 knots under full sail and hit 6 - 6.5 knots, even fully loaded for cruising and towing a dinghy and motor. I have not had any issues with the in-mast.

Feel free to ask lots more questions once you get the deal done.
 

meb135

.
Nov 17, 2012
92
Hunter 33 Shediac Bay
"I also cut the wood bench below the seat cushions on the port settee to more easily access the storage below. ( you'll see what I mean the first time you try to get in there and have to remove all the cushions )"

Scott,
Do you have any pictures of the modification you made below the port settee? I would be very interested in doing the same.
thanks
Marc
 
Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
"I also cut the wood bench below the seat cushions on the port settee to more easily access the storage below. ( you'll see what I mean the first time you try to get in there and have to remove all the cushions )"

Scott,
Do you have any pictures of the modification you made below the port settee? I would be very interested in doing the same.
thanks
Marc
No, keep meaning to do so, but always many other things on my mind while at the boat. Essentially I cut off approx. 1 - 2" from front to back of the lid so that the lid would open when only the large seat cushion is removed and not hit the other seat cushions. I screwed the small cut off piece onto the divider below so there wasn't a gap in the support. It works great now.

A little rough sketch but it gives you the idea.
 

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Oct 13, 2016
72
Hunter 33 Kingston
Thanks Scott. This is all very useful information. I am sure I will have lots of questions once we get started on spring maintenance. Great idea about modifying the "lid" under the settee. Will definitely look into that.

The surveyor told me one of the stanchions was loose so I need to go back and check it out. Last time I looked, I couldn't see any access point to get under the deck to tighten the bolts. This stanchion is about mid-deck on the starboard side (about in line with the electrical panel inside). Have you ever had to get in there and if so, any tips you can pass along?
 
Sep 20, 2006
2,952
Hunter 33 Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada
Access to the stanchion bolts are difficult if not impossible without cutting an access hole? I managed to tighten one aft starboard side by squeezing my hand up inside with a long wrench above the aft cabin and tightened 1 mm at a turn.
Can't remember where the mid stanchions line up inside, if you can squeeze in from the head. There is a removable panel above the mirror? Going by fuzzy memory.