new hunter owner

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Jim Lubinsky

considering purchase of 1987 26.5 for use inland reservoir, easy sailing and some live aboard. What should I look for or pay attention to regarding this model in making my decision? JIm
 
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Kevin

Under rated Hunter

I ownered a 26.5 for several years and I think it is one of the most under rated Hunter models. This design gives you a very good day sailer/weekender with realitively good performance. It's internal systems are very simple and having a bulb/wing keel is something you only get on the larger Hunters today. There are few complains about this model in the archive and I personally only have two areas of minor concern. The first is the engine mount system and the ability to raise it during sailing, it was a might combersome. The second is if it has a factury furling system is most likely is a Hood LD which uses a single "loop" control line which when the line gets old slips a little and lets the sail furl out. This is easily fixed by replacing the line. The only reason I still do not sail the 26.5 ( I now have a 28.5) is that it ws destroyed in a lightning strike. Kevin
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Great Boat

We almost bought one. After a friend saw it he bought it so I got to saila dn race on it anyways. Was a great boat real, real fast well balenced. He had a trailor for it and hauled both our boats to Lake Mi for a weeks Vaction we had the 25.5. Ther is really nothing other than the motor set up bad about the boats that is bad. The only other boat to consider is the 25.5. The 26.5 was built in the racing direction and the 25.5 was the cruising direction. If your going to spend long weekends and vacations on the boat the 25.5 is well worth the look it offers allot of creature comforts that the 26.5 does not. One a Hot day the pop top of the 25.5 is wonderful plus the 4 opening ports and standing head room. The 26.5 only has two opening ports and gets hot because of that. The 25.5 has a two burner stove and a nice Ice Box and you can get an inboard. It would be a tough call but after sailing both and useing it for weekends I would go with the 25.5. I see that your post says Lake Erie where are you at? I have some friends that have a 25.5 not to sell but one you could see. Cliff
 
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David Maxwell

Under Contract

I am currently under contract to purchase the same boat. Let me explain how I came to this decision and it may give you some ideas. I had these requirements for a boat: It had to sleep five - I have 3 kid ages 5 to 9 I had to be able to move the boat – meaning it could be trailer but was not looking for the water ballast or a true shoal draft boat. I just needed to be able to pull it out myself and put some paint on or haul it to the coast. It had to be able to hit the gulf at least do the harvest moon from Galveston to Port A – BTW I think this is the largest “offshore race in the US” I wanted wheel steering – This was just that big boat feel. I have sailed 45 footers in BVI’s and that was nice. It had to be singled handed. – Kids these young are not crew just yet. (Wife just sleeps - sailboats have that effect on her) I wanted speed – Better than average, it had to have a decent PHRF. I have raced on S2 7.9 fast boat but can not single hand it with out being run down and or physically beat up. Price – I had to be able to afford it. So my quest began 26 foot was the size I was watching they around 4000 – 5500 lbs. You don’t need a tractor to pull it. So I started looking at the C
 
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Cliff Ruckstuhl

Jim

Where is the boat located We saw one for sale at Cawtaba Morrings. Cliff
 
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