Hello Everyone, We have almost made up our mind to purchase a new 2003 Hunter 356...the problem being we have not sailed one. We were to wait till next spring to take a test sail & decide at that time whether or not it was the boat for us. However....., recently we have come across a deal that is very hard to pass up & we would really appreciate any comments from owners of the Hunter 356 including all the good points as well as not so good points. Sincerely, Tony & Josee
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356 Feedback
Boy, I have nothing but good things to say about the boat having had mine since April (on Lake Erie). There were some major leak problems with it but come to find out the Hunter Factory found out that it was missing its "pressurized leak inspection" signature at the factory so they've been real good about getting those things handled. I love the accommodations on the boat, the feel of the boat (large, yet manueverable) and it clips along nicely at 5 to 7 knots in 10-20 knot winds. I wrote a review of my first sail on it last April that RCR Yachts (the dealer in Buffalo, NY) ended up putting on their website........here: http://www.rcryachts.com/356review.htm you can read it if you like. By the way, please email me what the 'deal' on the boat is that is so good right now, I'd be curious to know (deacm@aol.com). I can't imagine you would be disappointed in the boat if you want a comfortable, fast cruising boat that can be sailed well short-handed.
Boy, I have nothing but good things to say about the boat having had mine since April (on Lake Erie). There were some major leak problems with it but come to find out the Hunter Factory found out that it was missing its "pressurized leak inspection" signature at the factory so they've been real good about getting those things handled. I love the accommodations on the boat, the feel of the boat (large, yet manueverable) and it clips along nicely at 5 to 7 knots in 10-20 knot winds. I wrote a review of my first sail on it last April that RCR Yachts (the dealer in Buffalo, NY) ended up putting on their website........here: http://www.rcryachts.com/356review.htm you can read it if you like. By the way, please email me what the 'deal' on the boat is that is so good right now, I'd be curious to know (deacm@aol.com). I can't imagine you would be disappointed in the boat if you want a comfortable, fast cruising boat that can be sailed well short-handed.
356
Tony, you guys fly on down to dallas we are having wonderful sailing weather and I will take you all out for a sail
I have my boat on a lake 1 hr south of dallas, and have had the 356 since march and love it. highly recomend her you will not regret it. John Dorsett S/V Alcyone
Tony, you guys fly on down to dallas we are having wonderful sailing weather and I will take you all out for a sail
I have my boat on a lake 1 hr south of dallas, and have had the 356 since march and love it. highly recomend her you will not regret it. John Dorsett S/V AlcyoneWe may be buying one too.
Tony We have been looking at the 356 for a few months and have taken it out for a test sail twice. My wife and I sail in Long Island Sound and we currently have a Catalina 30. We are recreational sailors and do not sail in bad weather if we can avoid it. The first test sail however was with an ASA instructor as the salesman was not available. We were aprehensive as the wind was 20 to 30 knots with 3 to 4 foot seas. The instructor unfurled about 1/4 of the main (in mast furling) and a small amount of the genoa. The boat heeled over about 15 to 20 degrees and we were doing 6 knots. What was remarkable was the balance of the boat and the way she sliced through the waves. We were very comfortable and impressed. We did let out a little more of the main and started to experience some leech flutter as has been described in this forum. We changed our heading headed down and the flutter stopped. The second test sail had similar conditions and we did not have the boat balanced as well. We were with the salesman and not the instructor. The boat still handled well but did have some weather helm. We have been reading posts about hatch and port leaks on the 356 and that has us a little concerned We have also test sailed the Catalina 350 which was OK but we did not appreciate the cabin layout. Also the boat was ~ $20K US more. We are currently negotiating with the dealer on a 2003 with in mast furling, bimini arch traveler, dodger cushions A/C wind instruments, refridgeration freezer and an auto pilot. I would certainly like to know what others have paid as I can't seem to get a good reference price. MarcP
Tony We have been looking at the 356 for a few months and have taken it out for a test sail twice. My wife and I sail in Long Island Sound and we currently have a Catalina 30. We are recreational sailors and do not sail in bad weather if we can avoid it. The first test sail however was with an ASA instructor as the salesman was not available. We were aprehensive as the wind was 20 to 30 knots with 3 to 4 foot seas. The instructor unfurled about 1/4 of the main (in mast furling) and a small amount of the genoa. The boat heeled over about 15 to 20 degrees and we were doing 6 knots. What was remarkable was the balance of the boat and the way she sliced through the waves. We were very comfortable and impressed. We did let out a little more of the main and started to experience some leech flutter as has been described in this forum. We changed our heading headed down and the flutter stopped. The second test sail had similar conditions and we did not have the boat balanced as well. We were with the salesman and not the instructor. The boat still handled well but did have some weather helm. We have been reading posts about hatch and port leaks on the 356 and that has us a little concerned We have also test sailed the Catalina 350 which was OK but we did not appreciate the cabin layout. Also the boat was ~ $20K US more. We are currently negotiating with the dealer on a 2003 with in mast furling, bimini arch traveler, dodger cushions A/C wind instruments, refridgeration freezer and an auto pilot. I would certainly like to know what others have paid as I can't seem to get a good reference price. MarcP
Love the Boat
Tony and anyone else, I have had my H356 for three weeks now and cannot begin to express the fun we have had. The trip from North Carolina was something else and showed me what a wise descision my wife made in making me buy this boat. Under what I would call severe conditions the boat handled very well. The professional captain was amazed at the handling abilities and the ease of changing sails. Roller jib and main. Made him happy. My dealer let me put on several options myself, like autopilot and it saved lots of money over what they wanted me to pay. Want to talk price, email me seamans@ayesail.net Jim S/V Java
Tony and anyone else, I have had my H356 for three weeks now and cannot begin to express the fun we have had. The trip from North Carolina was something else and showed me what a wise descision my wife made in making me buy this boat. Under what I would call severe conditions the boat handled very well. The professional captain was amazed at the handling abilities and the ease of changing sails. Roller jib and main. Made him happy. My dealer let me put on several options myself, like autopilot and it saved lots of money over what they wanted me to pay. Want to talk price, email me seamans@ayesail.net Jim S/V Java
A very good boat
Glen Henderson designed a wonderful boat. In light winds she almost sails herself. She needs to be reefed earlier and deeper than I am used to, but with more and more experience we’re finding the right combination of main and jib to sail comfortably in 25 to 30 knots. We had the vang position changed and now the main sheet can be two blocked. The main looked better in light winds. We are expecting some nasty weather this Saturday for a seven hour slog to windward back to the dealer. I’ll let you know how she handles and if the leech flutter is gone. If you talk to anyone with a scoop transom you’ll hear about wave slap against the hull. It is not bad at anchor where you’re pointed into the wind, but at dock you’ll be amazed at how loud it can get in the aft berth and how annoying can be. The “slap silencer” available from the chandlery on this site is worth the$260. The 356 sails around her anchor more than any other boat I’ve owned. I’ll be thinking about how to rig a riding sail without a backstay this winter. Any ideas out there? The 22 # Delta anchor and 12 feet of chain that come standard are too light and too short. I’d recommend trading up to the 35 and adding 20 feet of chain. Then of course, you want a windlass – a very nice addition and great for keeping peace in the marriage. The double bow roller will not hold two properly sized anchors without damaging the hull. Hunter knows about this and if enough people complain, maybe we'll get a real two anchor roller. If you do any single-handing you want the autopilot. The winches are not set up for single-handed sailing. I’d up-grade to the 5000 with a hydralic ram. It fits nicely into the large lazzarret. It’s out of the weather and powerful enough to steer in waves. The archives have stories of the 4000 slipping in tough weather. (Both Beneteau and Jeaneau use the 6000 series for the same size and weight boats.) I’d also recommend a chart plotter. I’m just amazed every time I turn it on. If you get refrig you’ll need more battery capacity. I am using 2-27’s in parallel with a third for the engine. I’m hoping not to have to upgrade to 4-D’s and a larger alt. We’ll see. The in mast furling is certainly easy to use. You loose about 12% performance in light air, particularly to windward when you are sailing the aft half of the sail. ( The 12% comes from Henderson) However, this boat is so fast and so light with such a tall rig that I expect those with full roach mains are reefing at 15 knots or lower. Given the light winds on the sound, it’s something to think about. Hunter has always been a lot of boat for the money. The 356 is also a fine boat for the money. It is easy and fun to sail and with a few modification can take you most anywhere you want to go. Will S/v Natural Magic
Glen Henderson designed a wonderful boat. In light winds she almost sails herself. She needs to be reefed earlier and deeper than I am used to, but with more and more experience we’re finding the right combination of main and jib to sail comfortably in 25 to 30 knots. We had the vang position changed and now the main sheet can be two blocked. The main looked better in light winds. We are expecting some nasty weather this Saturday for a seven hour slog to windward back to the dealer. I’ll let you know how she handles and if the leech flutter is gone. If you talk to anyone with a scoop transom you’ll hear about wave slap against the hull. It is not bad at anchor where you’re pointed into the wind, but at dock you’ll be amazed at how loud it can get in the aft berth and how annoying can be. The “slap silencer” available from the chandlery on this site is worth the$260. The 356 sails around her anchor more than any other boat I’ve owned. I’ll be thinking about how to rig a riding sail without a backstay this winter. Any ideas out there? The 22 # Delta anchor and 12 feet of chain that come standard are too light and too short. I’d recommend trading up to the 35 and adding 20 feet of chain. Then of course, you want a windlass – a very nice addition and great for keeping peace in the marriage. The double bow roller will not hold two properly sized anchors without damaging the hull. Hunter knows about this and if enough people complain, maybe we'll get a real two anchor roller. If you do any single-handing you want the autopilot. The winches are not set up for single-handed sailing. I’d up-grade to the 5000 with a hydralic ram. It fits nicely into the large lazzarret. It’s out of the weather and powerful enough to steer in waves. The archives have stories of the 4000 slipping in tough weather. (Both Beneteau and Jeaneau use the 6000 series for the same size and weight boats.) I’d also recommend a chart plotter. I’m just amazed every time I turn it on. If you get refrig you’ll need more battery capacity. I am using 2-27’s in parallel with a third for the engine. I’m hoping not to have to upgrade to 4-D’s and a larger alt. We’ll see. The in mast furling is certainly easy to use. You loose about 12% performance in light air, particularly to windward when you are sailing the aft half of the sail. ( The 12% comes from Henderson) However, this boat is so fast and so light with such a tall rig that I expect those with full roach mains are reefing at 15 knots or lower. Given the light winds on the sound, it’s something to think about. Hunter has always been a lot of boat for the money. The 356 is also a fine boat for the money. It is easy and fun to sail and with a few modification can take you most anywhere you want to go. Will S/v Natural Magic
I love mine
IN all, I've had very few problems, and most were commissioning items that are a nuisance rather than serious safety issues. The worst i've had her in is 25 kts and 4-6 ft seas. She tracks straight as an arrow. The helm gets stiff over 6 knots due to the hydro forces on the rudder, but my 4000 autopilot handles this just fine. The dealership delivered her in 6-8 ft seas and 25kts. They were very pleased, as this was their first loong cruise. The loose footed main takes a bit of an attitude adjustment in trim, but sails well into the high teens and low 20's without reefing, if you don't mind the heel to 20-25 degrees. Very, very stable! Plenty of room below and I use the freezer for a beer cooler. That's because I have yet to fill the huge fridge to capacity! I guess I can't say enough about her. If you want more specifics, feel free to call me 207-775-6000 x 1232, or e mail me millham1@ime.net Go for it!
IN all, I've had very few problems, and most were commissioning items that are a nuisance rather than serious safety issues. The worst i've had her in is 25 kts and 4-6 ft seas. She tracks straight as an arrow. The helm gets stiff over 6 knots due to the hydro forces on the rudder, but my 4000 autopilot handles this just fine. The dealership delivered her in 6-8 ft seas and 25kts. They were very pleased, as this was their first loong cruise. The loose footed main takes a bit of an attitude adjustment in trim, but sails well into the high teens and low 20's without reefing, if you don't mind the heel to 20-25 degrees. Very, very stable! Plenty of room below and I use the freezer for a beer cooler. That's because I have yet to fill the huge fridge to capacity! I guess I can't say enough about her. If you want more specifics, feel free to call me 207-775-6000 x 1232, or e mail me millham1@ime.net Go for it!
Yes
Our experience is consistent with the other postings. All in all, we love the boat, and it's a terrific deal for the money. We have the standard main, not roller, and I really like that, as well. I sail on Lake MIchigan out of Milwaukee SSYC. Feel free to call or email, 414-297-5537, pbargren@foleylaw.com.
Our experience is consistent with the other postings. All in all, we love the boat, and it's a terrific deal for the money. We have the standard main, not roller, and I really like that, as well. I sail on Lake MIchigan out of Milwaukee SSYC. Feel free to call or email, 414-297-5537, pbargren@foleylaw.com.
Great boat
We bought the boat without sailing it first. We were a little concerned but the price and the dealer helped us make up our mind. It was the best thing we ever did. We and our partners just returned from a weekend in Newport. We have sailed it to Mexico and to San Diego and it has not disappointed us. The only problem was we should have had it waxed when we first got it and that would have solved some waterspot and small rusting issues. The boat was kept in Mexico for the first few months and there was construction nearby the deposited dirt on the boat and we were not there to wash the boat often. When we returned from Mexico we had the boat detailed and waxed and now it is very easy to keep clean.
We bought the boat without sailing it first. We were a little concerned but the price and the dealer helped us make up our mind. It was the best thing we ever did. We and our partners just returned from a weekend in Newport. We have sailed it to Mexico and to San Diego and it has not disappointed us. The only problem was we should have had it waxed when we first got it and that would have solved some waterspot and small rusting issues. The boat was kept in Mexico for the first few months and there was construction nearby the deposited dirt on the boat and we were not there to wash the boat often. When we returned from Mexico we had the boat detailed and waxed and now it is very easy to keep clean.
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