Newbie

[kevgrn114]

Hi, new guy here.

I used to have an 87 HUnter 23. It was a great boat. I kept it in a slip and only trailered it to and from the water after purchase and on sale.

I'm have been looking for a trailerable sailboat lately and started looking at the Hunter 235 with water ballast. The weight and height on the trailer seem to be pretty good. plus the walk through transom would make it easy to get on and off of even if I used it as a camper on log trip to sailing events.
The layout is basically like my old 87 model but a little roomier.

I was wondering what the general consensus was on these boats? It seems with a mast raising system that it could be a good size trailerable without too much hassle.

Of course I'm just starting my search and dont have 10 grand or so to get one yet so I'm doing the next best thing and building one in Google Sketchup.

Talk soon,
Kevin Green

 

[Ed Schenck]

There are 73 Owner Reviews here on HOW, a good place to start I think:
http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=8&Itemid=170

 

[Deucer]

Newbie,

We've got a H260, so our experience might not be the same. However, some thoughts before you purchase.

1. Make sure your pull vehicle can handle the weight. Empty weight of an H260 is listed at 3000lbs plus trailer. Right. We weighed it a while back and with nominal load it came in at 6000lbs. I'm right at the limit of what my 2001 F150 can pull. And it pushes the truck around a lot going down the highway. A 3/4 ton truck would probably pull it better, but I don't have the $$ for a new truck...sigh.

2. Water ballast boats are tender. While our 260 stiffens up around 20 degrees of heel, getting there scare the bejesus out of the admiral. She likes to sail flat. So, make sure you're comfortable with that.

3. If you live in a cold climate, you're going to have to pull and winterized it with a little more care than a cast/lead keeled boat.

4. I think this applies to all out board motor sailboats. My 260 is by far the hardest boat I've ever docked (rarely does it go smoothly). Theres a lot of windage and the tiller and motor are tied together (working on that). Always makes docking with a sidewind a challenge.

On the good side, however, we love the room in the cockpit and the large cabin. The boat is extremely well balanced in light winds and great to sail. We're in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the water's pretty thin, so we love the shallow draft with keel and rudder up.

Would we buy again? Yep....but I'm chomping on the bit to buy a 32-36 footer.

 

[kevgrn114]

Thanks for the input! I do't mind heeling, into the wind is my favorite point of sail, The tenderness may affect some of the people going with me though.. But I can always reef.

My tow vehicle is rated at 3500 lbs. the 235 lists 2000 lbs dry and 1000 lbs for the trailer.
Thats cutting it pretty close but I am thinking of getting the tow package installed on our highlander to rate it al 5000 lbs. Another big cost to think about. Or I could just leave the beer at home..... Naaaaa..

 

[kevgrn114]

... On the other hand. My virtual 235 is coming along nicely...

 

[owner23.5]

nice prototype ya got there but you stated you didnt have 10grand for one , are you searching for one at present ? only reason I ask is I looked online every morning and evening for three weeks and found quite a few in various ranges but wound up getting a 1993 23.5 for $5,900.00 it was in perfect shape and came with all basic equip,and a 9.9 tohatsu it did lack a bimini and roller furler but this wasnt a major concern of mine. good luck and let us know how your making out .

 

[Bill Jones]

I have a '96 23.5, (purchased new Sept. '95). As mentiones earlier, they are tender sailing, but I think it handles under power better than the 260's. There is no need for the tiller and outboard being tied together. I try to avoid docking downwind, but I'd do that with any boat. Roomy for a boat its size. Simple systems, ample cockpit. Enjoy. By the way, you should certainly find one for far less than $10,000!!

Bill Jones

 

[jblersch]

I have a 240, the younger sister of the 23.5. Yes, it is a little tender, but it doesn't bother me and the admiral is getting used to it. I'm able to control her under full sail in winds up to about 20 mph. If our Nebraska winds gust stronger, she's easy to reef or just rolling in the jib usually does the trick. It is a little tricky for me to dock in strong winds, but I suspect that's because of my lack of experience with the boat; I'm learning the tricks as the season moves on.

It really is a great trailerable boat. The mast is easy to get up and down (you can do it yourself, but its a snap with two people) and easy to rig- the 23.5 is basically the same rig. I agree with the others above - you can certainly get a 23.5 in good condition (some even well equipped) for less than 10,000. Check out the 23.5s listed on this site and don't be afraid to bargain.

I find the 240 to be pretty easy to tow. But, if I were going to go any distance with it, I'd invest in the tow package on your Highlander.

 

[sesmith]

We love ours and, as stated, you should be able to find one for less than 10k. FWIW, I tow mine with a Dodge Dakota, and it pulls it fine, but you know it's back there. There's a lot less freeboard on a 23.5 than on the 26 so I don't think the wind would push you around as much when under power on the 23.5. As far as it being tender, maybe it heels quicker initially, but it sails fine. Since it isn't a heavy, deep keeled boat, you just have to reef sooner. There are always tradeoffs...it's hard to take an 8000lb boat on vacation to a different body of water with you (unless you sail it there). We found out recently our 23.5 handled 20+ mph winds with 30+ mph gusts just fine (though we had our hands full). The boat is more sea worthy than my wife and I are

Also, the mast can be easily raised by one person.

 

[soling42]

We had a 240 and sold it for a 260 because we usually brought a ton of kids. I sold it during better economic days and luckily it sold right away. I'd agree with everyone especially about towing. The 240 was just ok with my 1/2 ton suburban but the 260 would get give it fits after a couple hours on the hwy. Now I borrow my sister in-laws Tahoe(need I say more). Bigger gets complicated but comes with other rewards.

Deaucer already stated my biggest plus for these boat and it'd be that they're impossible to accidentally ground. Secondly it's that you don't have to drag 2000lb of ballast down the road.

The 240 had a ton of room and either a 23.5 or a 240 would be an affordable option in todays economy. Here's my fleet before the 240 took off.

Good luck, Mike

 

[kevgrn114]

I would love to know what sites area available for finding a 93-97 h235. I've been googling it and finding sites like boat trader, sailboat trader, sailing texas, yachtworld, etc. Generally the ones I find are around 8-10k.

Ideally I'd love to find one that has never had AF paint as I plan on trailering and that stuff is no fun at all to sand off the bottom.