I took a really hard look at a '87 Hunter 31 yesterday. The boat was very clean and seemed in good condition. There was a smell like someone didn't bother to empty the head (which worries me about leaks in the head), and there seemed to be a lot of water under the cabin floor. But other than that, I really liked the boat. Its one thing to read the reviews from owners (hard to read past some of their egos, too), but its something else to get the current views. Is there a year or run that is better than others? Are there any particular / cronic problems that follow this design? Are there any other models that we should consider? I've been told a Catal 30 and 28 are also worth a look. I also looked at a '95 Hunter 29.5. That was very different. The 31 seemed like a WHOLE LOT MORE BOAT for a lot less $$. An older Catal 27 was nice, but I wouldn't want to go any smaller and would prefer an inboard and wheel steering to that boat's outboard and tiller. I'm still in the shopping phase and am looking to narrow the field to a few boats then try them out over the next year before I buy. I'm a little concerned about going bigger than a 31. I expect to use the boat on Kentucky Lake and cruise those two lakes and the Tennessee and Cumberland systems. We want the option of going elsewhere without worry. It will be a part-time live-aboard (but not extended) when we retire. My wife and I are novice sailors. My wife doesn't mind a heeling boat. We don't want to have to work at sailing or work hard at maintaining the boat. For us its more important to find the right boat than to hurry the decision just to get out on the water.
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Survey
Bill: If you are really interested in the boat you need to get a survey anyway. I would ask the seller to get the bilges pumped out and dry before the survey. These boats like most of the Hunters and other production boats built in the 80's and beyond have a grid and liner that water can get trapped under. This will hold water and it can smell pretty bad of not attended to. If the head is leaking that is a $200-300 item. It is more likely that it is the sewage hoses that probably need to be replaced. This is probably more like $500-1000 depending on who does it. I have not heard much about the holding tanks in these boats giving up the ghost. They are fiberglass and can be repaired if that is the case. I would remove the cushions in the vberth and make sure that the seal on the lid is not leaking. Look under the vberth and see if you can determine if there is any leak. I would also ask the owner to pump the holding tank too. You could actually have the owner change the hoses and the head as a condition of sale or adjust that in your price. The only major other item to check for in these boats would be the compression post and any delamination in the cabin or decks. I have owned my '85 H'31 since it was new and have had very few problems (other than the compression post). This item can be prevented by resealing the area under the mast. The prices on these boats range from a low of about $21k to $35k depending on condition, location and equipment. The '87 was the end of the model run, so any production problems should have been resolved by then. The 87 model has a circular settee where the earlier models have a cafe booth type with 2 seats facing forward and two aft. Take a look at the owners reviews on these boats and have your surveyor pay special attention to the items that owners mention as problems.
Bill: If you are really interested in the boat you need to get a survey anyway. I would ask the seller to get the bilges pumped out and dry before the survey. These boats like most of the Hunters and other production boats built in the 80's and beyond have a grid and liner that water can get trapped under. This will hold water and it can smell pretty bad of not attended to. If the head is leaking that is a $200-300 item. It is more likely that it is the sewage hoses that probably need to be replaced. This is probably more like $500-1000 depending on who does it. I have not heard much about the holding tanks in these boats giving up the ghost. They are fiberglass and can be repaired if that is the case. I would remove the cushions in the vberth and make sure that the seal on the lid is not leaking. Look under the vberth and see if you can determine if there is any leak. I would also ask the owner to pump the holding tank too. You could actually have the owner change the hoses and the head as a condition of sale or adjust that in your price. The only major other item to check for in these boats would be the compression post and any delamination in the cabin or decks. I have owned my '85 H'31 since it was new and have had very few problems (other than the compression post). This item can be prevented by resealing the area under the mast. The prices on these boats range from a low of about $21k to $35k depending on condition, location and equipment. The '87 was the end of the model run, so any production problems should have been resolved by then. The 87 model has a circular settee where the earlier models have a cafe booth type with 2 seats facing forward and two aft. Take a look at the owners reviews on these boats and have your surveyor pay special attention to the items that owners mention as problems.
J
joe phibbs
i'd buy another one
I would certainly buy another h31. Ours we got in 2000 (a 1986). Sure the mixing U needs replacing every three years, as does the gray-water hoses that cause such a stink. Plan on 3 days of knuckle-busting, palm wrenching no-fun at another $200, but it will be worth it. on Alure the icebox and the shower drain into the bilge, so you must keep everything spotless: no open food or glued cardboard containers in the icebox. Human hair, etc. needs to be culled out of bilge after every trip. h31 is a very, very forgiving boat. Ours has a bow pulpit and roller furling. Also, this is our first boat with hot water and a wheel, so we are really 'high class sailors' now. Yanmar engines don't quit on their own: keep the oil and antifreeze and fuel and air clean and the 2GM20F will outlive all of us!
I would certainly buy another h31. Ours we got in 2000 (a 1986). Sure the mixing U needs replacing every three years, as does the gray-water hoses that cause such a stink. Plan on 3 days of knuckle-busting, palm wrenching no-fun at another $200, but it will be worth it. on Alure the icebox and the shower drain into the bilge, so you must keep everything spotless: no open food or glued cardboard containers in the icebox. Human hair, etc. needs to be culled out of bilge after every trip. h31 is a very, very forgiving boat. Ours has a bow pulpit and roller furling. Also, this is our first boat with hot water and a wheel, so we are really 'high class sailors' now. Yanmar engines don't quit on their own: keep the oil and antifreeze and fuel and air clean and the 2GM20F will outlive all of us!
B
Bob Perkowski
my opinion
bought my 84 last may and put it into charter with my sailing club. it's proved to be much more popular than i expected. repairs have been minimal considering the use it gets. the boat had seen little use with the previous owner and the holding tank was bone dry and the head not working. i replaced the head and the smell became awful as people began to use it. i replaced the plumbing lines for $600 and the smell disappeared. i'm really happy with it and i say it sails better than a catalina 30 any day
bought my 84 last may and put it into charter with my sailing club. it's proved to be much more popular than i expected. repairs have been minimal considering the use it gets. the boat had seen little use with the previous owner and the holding tank was bone dry and the head not working. i replaced the head and the smell became awful as people began to use it. i replaced the plumbing lines for $600 and the smell disappeared. i'm really happy with it and i say it sails better than a catalina 30 any day
R
Rip Edmundson
Love our 31
We have had our 1987 Hunter 31 for 3 years and love it. Very easy to work on. Very easy to keep in nice shape. A piece of plastic on the base of our toilet had broken and we replaced the head and hoses for less than $200. I don't understand the estimates others have for head replacement. It is a very easy job. I bought a Jabsco that had the exact same bolt pattern as the original, removed the hoses, measured them and bought replacements. Cut them and installed with new hose clamps. So far no problems or smell. I did wait for a sale at boat/US for a toilet for $119. The hose was pretty expensive but I found some at a marine supply liquidator for half the price of regular stores.
We have had our 1987 Hunter 31 for 3 years and love it. Very easy to work on. Very easy to keep in nice shape. A piece of plastic on the base of our toilet had broken and we replaced the head and hoses for less than $200. I don't understand the estimates others have for head replacement. It is a very easy job. I bought a Jabsco that had the exact same bolt pattern as the original, removed the hoses, measured them and bought replacements. Cut them and installed with new hose clamps. So far no problems or smell. I did wait for a sale at boat/US for a toilet for $119. The hose was pretty expensive but I found some at a marine supply liquidator for half the price of regular stores.
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