Hi Folks, First time here. Tomorrow I go on a checkout sail on a '78 Hunter 30. Boat appeared very clean on first check, diesel recently had a major overhaul, standing rigging replaced in early 90's. For instance, mast is deck-stepped on a 1' square alum plate, so I think the rot/comression issues may be minimal. This will be my first keelboat Things I already know in general about the boat are: Strong weather helm (although I wonder if the new standing rig might have affected this - wind won't be strong enough tomorrow to tell). Weak chainplate attachments to partial bulkheads (though again this may have been addressed in the re-fit). Prop-walk, and underpowered (and noisy) Yanmar YS12. (I will probably add a 3-blade) Mast issues (compression, deck rot, etc) Particular to this boat: Sails are old (although new sock Spin included). Has roller furler w/110 and fully battened main. Some cosmetics (besides that it's homely), cracked overhangs on the old ports, etc. It has a recent survey, and the current owner appears to be doing very credible maintenance. For the price (~15K) this seems like a nice little first-timer boat. Plenty of small projects to keep me busy, no major headaches hiding, etc. I want (and this Hunter has): Diesel Wheel steering Comfortable sleeping for 4, cruising for 6 Single-hand rigging Real galley Real head Where can I go really wrong here? I'm also lookng at older Catalina's (which are mostly all 400 miles south of here), C
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Bob Haskell SV Blackmist
Homely...?????????
Dear Keith.... Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder......all who look upon a Hunter 30 see only fine lines etc.,etc. The boat is solid...like a Chevy,not a Caddy. Have had mine for 3 years and have addressed just about every issue,some with the help of this post. We sail in less than perfecr weather and have a good time doing it. For the money,it just cant be beat,it is a great first,or second or last boat. As you can tell I like my 78-30! As I said I've been all through mine,if I can help with anything,dont hesitate,although there is a great deal of expertise here on this post and all your questions ,should you have any , can be answered here. .................Good luck...Bob
Dear Keith.... Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder......all who look upon a Hunter 30 see only fine lines etc.,etc. The boat is solid...like a Chevy,not a Caddy. Have had mine for 3 years and have addressed just about every issue,some with the help of this post. We sail in less than perfecr weather and have a good time doing it. For the money,it just cant be beat,it is a great first,or second or last boat. As you can tell I like my 78-30! As I said I've been all through mine,if I can help with anything,dont hesitate,although there is a great deal of expertise here on this post and all your questions ,should you have any , can be answered here. .................Good luck...Bob
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Keith Redfield
Weather helm. (was Homely...)
Thanks Bob, Her cheeks are a little dirty, I'm sure a little scrubbing and I'll fall in love. I suspect you'll see a lot more questions from me after tomorrow's sail (and the subsequent likely purchase) Regards, -Keith
Thanks Bob, Her cheeks are a little dirty, I'm sure a little scrubbing and I'll fall in love. I suspect you'll see a lot more questions from me after tomorrow's sail (and the subsequent likely purchase) Regards, -Keith
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David Foster
Good list of issues
Do get your own survey as a condition of the purchase. Little projects are what all of us put into our classic boats (ours is the '77 h27). You'd like to avoid the big projects in the first couple of years. The weather helm on Lady Lillie was corrected with proper tuning of the rig, and a new mainsail. Our blown-out main also caused excessive heel, and 1 to 1.5 knots loss of speed in moderate winds. My Dad and two brothers joined me for a week last summer. Four was tight, but OK on the 27 design. The Admiral and I think she is just right for us to cruise for weeks at a time. 4 would sleep well on the 30. A family of 5 would also work if the kids were less than full-grown. The design of the boat is very good for cruising, with good ratios for safety and ease of ride. Enjoy your decision, and new boat! David
Do get your own survey as a condition of the purchase. Little projects are what all of us put into our classic boats (ours is the '77 h27). You'd like to avoid the big projects in the first couple of years. The weather helm on Lady Lillie was corrected with proper tuning of the rig, and a new mainsail. Our blown-out main also caused excessive heel, and 1 to 1.5 knots loss of speed in moderate winds. My Dad and two brothers joined me for a week last summer. Four was tight, but OK on the 27 design. The Admiral and I think she is just right for us to cruise for weeks at a time. 4 would sleep well on the 30. A family of 5 would also work if the kids were less than full-grown. The design of the boat is very good for cruising, with good ratios for safety and ease of ride. Enjoy your decision, and new boat! David
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Bob Howie
The 78h30
Right off the bat, Keith, don't pay $25k for the boat. It BUC's out at only $16k max. I bought mine -- same year model -- for $15,000 three years ago and it had new mainsail, new paint, roller, a/c and an overall 8 interior and with no bottom problems. I sail on Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in winds from 10 knots to 20 knots gusting to 30 and with sea states of anywhere from 3-4' or very confused chop on the Bay because it is so shallow and "Snapshot" just cooks right along taking it all in stride. She also doesn't "pound" very much; just kinda lopes along. Yes, she has weather helm, but just ease the sheet a bit and she comes off that pretty well. With a clean bottom, I'll get a bit better than theoretical hull speed and I have plenty of witnesses who didn't believe me at first when I said this. Of course, the wind's up a bit when this happens, but she'll make theoretical in 10 knots of wind easy. You have a 13x13 2 blade under the water and I can tell you that a 3-blade isn't going to help the prop walk much. You can mitigate the problem by giving her reverse and when she starts to back, take it out of gear and let her "coast." When the momentum starts to slack, pop it in reverse some more and just get her going. Once she has some reverse momentum, she'll steer pretty straight going backwards. In the past year, I have repowered Snapshot with a 24hp Bukh diesel -- I can tell you lots more about that and why I dumped the Yanmars --, converted the main to full battens and installed a Strong sail track system. Overall, I have spent $10k on upgrades this year and in this market, if I were to sell the boat, I could get $22k for her today, bluebook be damned. I have had a a variety of boats over the years...I grew up on a coast...and this is my first Hunter simply because before this one, I always thought Hunters were poorly constructed and cheesy boats. I have changed my mind. This boat has given me great service and has not caused me any problems. She's easy to handle, sails well and fits my mission of having a boat on saltwater that I can use for weekends and coastal cruising. She's tied up 72 miles from my back door and that only takes me about an hour and a half to get to here in the Houston area. In Houston, 72 miles is considered practically next door and it's in an area where we can "get out of town." One thing; you're going to learn to hate that YSM-12. I did and that's why I put a new engine in her. If I can help you with anything, you can also email me at bhowie@txucom.net. I think you will enjoy the boat and I think she will give you good service. Best of luck.
Right off the bat, Keith, don't pay $25k for the boat. It BUC's out at only $16k max. I bought mine -- same year model -- for $15,000 three years ago and it had new mainsail, new paint, roller, a/c and an overall 8 interior and with no bottom problems. I sail on Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in winds from 10 knots to 20 knots gusting to 30 and with sea states of anywhere from 3-4' or very confused chop on the Bay because it is so shallow and "Snapshot" just cooks right along taking it all in stride. She also doesn't "pound" very much; just kinda lopes along. Yes, she has weather helm, but just ease the sheet a bit and she comes off that pretty well. With a clean bottom, I'll get a bit better than theoretical hull speed and I have plenty of witnesses who didn't believe me at first when I said this. Of course, the wind's up a bit when this happens, but she'll make theoretical in 10 knots of wind easy. You have a 13x13 2 blade under the water and I can tell you that a 3-blade isn't going to help the prop walk much. You can mitigate the problem by giving her reverse and when she starts to back, take it out of gear and let her "coast." When the momentum starts to slack, pop it in reverse some more and just get her going. Once she has some reverse momentum, she'll steer pretty straight going backwards. In the past year, I have repowered Snapshot with a 24hp Bukh diesel -- I can tell you lots more about that and why I dumped the Yanmars --, converted the main to full battens and installed a Strong sail track system. Overall, I have spent $10k on upgrades this year and in this market, if I were to sell the boat, I could get $22k for her today, bluebook be damned. I have had a a variety of boats over the years...I grew up on a coast...and this is my first Hunter simply because before this one, I always thought Hunters were poorly constructed and cheesy boats. I have changed my mind. This boat has given me great service and has not caused me any problems. She's easy to handle, sails well and fits my mission of having a boat on saltwater that I can use for weekends and coastal cruising. She's tied up 72 miles from my back door and that only takes me about an hour and a half to get to here in the Houston area. In Houston, 72 miles is considered practically next door and it's in an area where we can "get out of town." One thing; you're going to learn to hate that YSM-12. I did and that's why I put a new engine in her. If I can help you with anything, you can also email me at bhowie@txucom.net. I think you will enjoy the boat and I think she will give you good service. Best of luck.
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Keith Redfield
More on my pending purchase
Hi folks, Thanks or all the help/encouragement so far. The purpose of the 3-blade was actually to improve the power, esp in reverse. Present owner says a stiff wind off the stern keeps the boat in dock at it's current downwind slip (without help from friends). If I go to a 3-blade anyone know the diameter, pitch, bore, and handedness I should get? (or where I can get that?) I am currently looking at getting either a decent used mainsail or having a donated J/30 main cut down (which I think will work.). Survey will hopefully be next week. So far I've only found a crack in the gelcoat [and some delamination] just forward of the mast. It's not squishy or soft and likely due to pumping of the mast because of loose shrouds. Test sail already done, and was fun with no surprises (except just how obnoxious that YS12 can be...). Tomorrow I start working on the rest of The List... Thanks again, -Keith
Hi folks, Thanks or all the help/encouragement so far. The purpose of the 3-blade was actually to improve the power, esp in reverse. Present owner says a stiff wind off the stern keeps the boat in dock at it's current downwind slip (without help from friends). If I go to a 3-blade anyone know the diameter, pitch, bore, and handedness I should get? (or where I can get that?) I am currently looking at getting either a decent used mainsail or having a donated J/30 main cut down (which I think will work.). Survey will hopefully be next week. So far I've only found a crack in the gelcoat [and some delamination] just forward of the mast. It's not squishy or soft and likely due to pumping of the mast because of loose shrouds. Test sail already done, and was fun with no surprises (except just how obnoxious that YS12 can be...). Tomorrow I start working on the rest of The List... Thanks again, -Keith
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Bob Howie
Props
Keith, If I remember right, the best you're gonna get underneath there is a three blade is a 14x9 due to the clearance and based on a 2:1 reduction. You can't put a great big wheel under there because of the physical properties of water which generates some "pounding" on the hull as the blade passes close to the hull, ergo, reducing efficiency of the prop. The solution would be to pull the shaft, which as 49 inches long and replace it with a 51 inch shaft so you gain a bit of clearance to go up to a little larger wheel. A 14x9 fixed prop can be had new for about $350. A 14x9 foldable prop, which gives you as good in reverse as you get in forward, is about $1,300 or so. A fixed pitch prop, new shaft will run you about $1,500 including the haul out and labor here in Houston. This may sound a bit nuts, but, since I am going to keep the boat for a few more years, I repowered the thing last summer with a new engine and donated the YSM-12 to the Sea Scouts. I'd be glad to give you a discourse on that if you like, but let's do it over e-mail. There's a post in the archives, I think, on how and why I did the repower thing if you want to read it. Personally, I think you are on the right track. And, there's nothing wrong with recutting a "free" sail!! Best of luck.
Keith, If I remember right, the best you're gonna get underneath there is a three blade is a 14x9 due to the clearance and based on a 2:1 reduction. You can't put a great big wheel under there because of the physical properties of water which generates some "pounding" on the hull as the blade passes close to the hull, ergo, reducing efficiency of the prop. The solution would be to pull the shaft, which as 49 inches long and replace it with a 51 inch shaft so you gain a bit of clearance to go up to a little larger wheel. A 14x9 fixed prop can be had new for about $350. A 14x9 foldable prop, which gives you as good in reverse as you get in forward, is about $1,300 or so. A fixed pitch prop, new shaft will run you about $1,500 including the haul out and labor here in Houston. This may sound a bit nuts, but, since I am going to keep the boat for a few more years, I repowered the thing last summer with a new engine and donated the YSM-12 to the Sea Scouts. I'd be glad to give you a discourse on that if you like, but let's do it over e-mail. There's a post in the archives, I think, on how and why I did the repower thing if you want to read it. Personally, I think you are on the right track. And, there's nothing wrong with recutting a "free" sail!! Best of luck.
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