I was looking for honest opinions of the Hunter 260. I currently sail a Spirit 6.5 and am looking to get a larger boat. Would like to know both good points and Bad....thanks for your help, Ken
- Status
Comfort or heavy performance?
Hi Ray, I own a h26 '96. I've had two of them so I guess it could be said that I like the boat. The hull of the 26 and the 260 are the same so many of the characteristics are the identical. I'm sure that others will be able to tell you about the changes that were made to the rig and the characteristics that result. I'll tell you about the facilities, on the boat, that we enjoy. At 5'8'' (I'm a shrimp) I can stand straigt up without opening and raising the companionway hatch. The head being enclosed is a big plus for the lady in my life and the kids. It's a tight fit to get anything done in the head but it's the best I've experienced in a boat this size (5 gal. portapotie holding tank is desirable). The galley, sink, cooler/counter space is minimum, but it is a deticated space that is adequate with a system employed. Water capacity can be increased to 10 gallons with larger bladders and I recomend it (5 gal. in't enough and the disposition of the increased ballast is desirable). The salon table and seating is spacious and very comfortable (upgrade cushion fabric is a must!). Storage for food, pots/pan & equipment requires some thought and prioritization, but the space is ample, for a 1-2 week cruise. Berthing astern is spacious but the overhead is constanly there, and my woman insists on being the last one in because of the clostraphobic sensation she gets in the back. My, full size, son likes the Vbirth up front and has slept there with a companion. The cockpit is the largest I've seen on boats well over 30 ft, and we love it (we have tiller stearing). The deck is stable to walk around on and is easy and spacious. Anchoring the H26 has been very secure since I employed the use of a 16 pound Kellet dropped to the chain (15ft of 5/16th) and a 16 lb. 18" Danforth. The 9.9 Tohatsu has given us lot's of power (9 gal. fuel tank good capacity) and w/flexable solar panel to recharge only minimal consideration has to be given to electrical consumption (lights, GPS, VHF & Autopilot are used consistently and the stereo used ocasionally. Water Ballast / Swing Keel has given us tremendous freedom to explore and experience a lot of diverse waterways (open sea isn't my passion). Not being a displacement boat it rides quietly over the water without large bow wave or wake. I'ts fast and very responsive. It tends to round up in heavy gusts but with vigilance and a willingness to size and shape the sails (moderate heavy) weather is manageable and confidence levels are high amongst my entire crew. I don't expect the H26 or the 260 to perform like a heavy displacement cruiser and I rather enjoy the satisfaction of being able to control the boat with control input when it's necessary. We are able to use the autopilot nearly all the time and truely enjoy the flexibility of our trailerable cruseing yatch. We get an enormous amount of pleasure and utility from this investment. I hope that this information helps you to determine whether the 26 ft Hunter meet with your needs and expectations. All the best! Larry Barnes, vessel "CNTRL SEA"
Hi Ray, I own a h26 '96. I've had two of them so I guess it could be said that I like the boat. The hull of the 26 and the 260 are the same so many of the characteristics are the identical. I'm sure that others will be able to tell you about the changes that were made to the rig and the characteristics that result. I'll tell you about the facilities, on the boat, that we enjoy. At 5'8'' (I'm a shrimp) I can stand straigt up without opening and raising the companionway hatch. The head being enclosed is a big plus for the lady in my life and the kids. It's a tight fit to get anything done in the head but it's the best I've experienced in a boat this size (5 gal. portapotie holding tank is desirable). The galley, sink, cooler/counter space is minimum, but it is a deticated space that is adequate with a system employed. Water capacity can be increased to 10 gallons with larger bladders and I recomend it (5 gal. in't enough and the disposition of the increased ballast is desirable). The salon table and seating is spacious and very comfortable (upgrade cushion fabric is a must!). Storage for food, pots/pan & equipment requires some thought and prioritization, but the space is ample, for a 1-2 week cruise. Berthing astern is spacious but the overhead is constanly there, and my woman insists on being the last one in because of the clostraphobic sensation she gets in the back. My, full size, son likes the Vbirth up front and has slept there with a companion. The cockpit is the largest I've seen on boats well over 30 ft, and we love it (we have tiller stearing). The deck is stable to walk around on and is easy and spacious. Anchoring the H26 has been very secure since I employed the use of a 16 pound Kellet dropped to the chain (15ft of 5/16th) and a 16 lb. 18" Danforth. The 9.9 Tohatsu has given us lot's of power (9 gal. fuel tank good capacity) and w/flexable solar panel to recharge only minimal consideration has to be given to electrical consumption (lights, GPS, VHF & Autopilot are used consistently and the stereo used ocasionally. Water Ballast / Swing Keel has given us tremendous freedom to explore and experience a lot of diverse waterways (open sea isn't my passion). Not being a displacement boat it rides quietly over the water without large bow wave or wake. I'ts fast and very responsive. It tends to round up in heavy gusts but with vigilance and a willingness to size and shape the sails (moderate heavy) weather is manageable and confidence levels are high amongst my entire crew. I don't expect the H26 or the 260 to perform like a heavy displacement cruiser and I rather enjoy the satisfaction of being able to control the boat with control input when it's necessary. We are able to use the autopilot nearly all the time and truely enjoy the flexibility of our trailerable cruseing yatch. We get an enormous amount of pleasure and utility from this investment. I hope that this information helps you to determine whether the 26 ft Hunter meet with your needs and expectations. All the best! Larry Barnes, vessel "CNTRL SEA"
Great Boat
Ray, We have a Huunter 260 and are extremely pleased with it. Larry already listed many of the virtues of the boat but I thought I'd add a few items. I'm 6'1" and, like Larry, headroom is fine in the cabin. The living arrangements are great for a boat this size. My wife and I have 4 children and spending a weekend aboard is comfortable. The galley is crowded but OK. The 260 has a one-burner stove while the H26, I believe, has a 2-burner. The one burner is a minor drawback. The 260 has a hatch over the aft berth (under the starboard side cockpit seat) which helps alleviate the claustrophobic feelings in that berth (don't know if the H26 has this port). The water system on the 260 is plagued with low quality components that constantly break (cheap plastic). That's my biggest complaint; it's been a never ending problem still to be resolved. Many posts over the past year have also mentioned a desire for better/ larger cleats in some areas (we added cam in lieu of the clam cleats for job handling). Bottom line: the 260 is a nice looking boat, that is FUN to sail. While we're not the most experienced sailors, we've enjoyed good speed and ease of handling (and FUN) in variable wind comditions (we avoid heavier weather (20+ knots)). Dave Condon, a dealer (and frequent visitor to these pages), seems to be the real authority on these boats (and is about the most helpful person I've witnessed on the web) may offer some insight as well. Ray, there are a lot of nice boats to move up to (Catalina, Precision, etc.) but the Hunter, to us, provided a good value + good looking boat + fun. Good luck and fair winds! Tom Myers s/v ANOVA PS, if you're interested, I can tell you which options to the boat have proven to be the best for us.
Ray, We have a Huunter 260 and are extremely pleased with it. Larry already listed many of the virtues of the boat but I thought I'd add a few items. I'm 6'1" and, like Larry, headroom is fine in the cabin. The living arrangements are great for a boat this size. My wife and I have 4 children and spending a weekend aboard is comfortable. The galley is crowded but OK. The 260 has a one-burner stove while the H26, I believe, has a 2-burner. The one burner is a minor drawback. The 260 has a hatch over the aft berth (under the starboard side cockpit seat) which helps alleviate the claustrophobic feelings in that berth (don't know if the H26 has this port). The water system on the 260 is plagued with low quality components that constantly break (cheap plastic). That's my biggest complaint; it's been a never ending problem still to be resolved. Many posts over the past year have also mentioned a desire for better/ larger cleats in some areas (we added cam in lieu of the clam cleats for job handling). Bottom line: the 260 is a nice looking boat, that is FUN to sail. While we're not the most experienced sailors, we've enjoyed good speed and ease of handling (and FUN) in variable wind comditions (we avoid heavier weather (20+ knots)). Dave Condon, a dealer (and frequent visitor to these pages), seems to be the real authority on these boats (and is about the most helpful person I've witnessed on the web) may offer some insight as well. Ray, there are a lot of nice boats to move up to (Catalina, Precision, etc.) but the Hunter, to us, provided a good value + good looking boat + fun. Good luck and fair winds! Tom Myers s/v ANOVA PS, if you're interested, I can tell you which options to the boat have proven to be the best for us.
Living aboard the H26
Terry and I trailered our 1994 H26 to the Chesapeake Bay this past summer and lived aboard for almost 2 months. There's really plenty of room onboard for the two of us. We found/ invented lots of storage spaces but we also packed wisely. We'd add pictures of our storage configurations if the boat weren't in winter storage. I took only one pot and one pan onboard. If any meal required more than that, I didn't cook it. The only item we missed was an enclosed shower. However, we did purchase a sun shower and loved using it at quiet anchorages. Most people who came onboard were amazed at the interior room on our boat. Hopefully we'll be able to live aboard for an extended time again. It's a great boat! Elaine
Terry and I trailered our 1994 H26 to the Chesapeake Bay this past summer and lived aboard for almost 2 months. There's really plenty of room onboard for the two of us. We found/ invented lots of storage spaces but we also packed wisely. We'd add pictures of our storage configurations if the boat weren't in winter storage. I took only one pot and one pan onboard. If any meal required more than that, I didn't cook it. The only item we missed was an enclosed shower. However, we did purchase a sun shower and loved using it at quiet anchorages. Most people who came onboard were amazed at the interior room on our boat. Hopefully we'll be able to live aboard for an extended time again. It's a great boat! Elaine
A great boat as designed II
OOPS, I fat-fingered the wrong key. The 26/260 is a great boat for it's target audience. That would be a light weight trailerable coastal cruiser for a small family. Their are concessions made to make the boat trailerable, so it trades off a little performance for trailerability. It requires reefing a little bit sooner than some boats, but that is part of good seamnaship. Their is a lot of boat for the money. As we contemplate moving up to a larger boat, we find that it will cost us twice the purchase cost of our 26 to move up. 26 footers from other manufacturers are significantly more expensive. I too have had some problems with my water system (simpler design on the 26 than the 260)and will upgrade this system over the winter. The 26 is a very livable weekender and would be fine on a short duration cruise. The limitation for our family of four is usually the porta-pottie capacity, then water. The 26 does not have the deck hatch, the 260 does. The 260 also has an improved anchoring system and foredeck arrangement that includes an optional anchor roller and improved cleat arrangement. The 26 has a two burner flush mount Origo alchohol stove, the 260 has a counter mounted single burner butane stove. It would not be hard to backfit to the original configuration. The 260 has an optional wheel,which is near impossible to install on the 26 as Edson no longer produces the kit. As you see, some differences exist, but a used 26 or a 260 are both great boats. The centerboard allows you to get into places where other boats fear to tread. I have even nosed up on a beach bith my 26, which really amazes the powerboat crowd. You can't beat cruising at 65mph to a different cruising ground and the boat is reasonably easy to trailer. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
OOPS, I fat-fingered the wrong key. The 26/260 is a great boat for it's target audience. That would be a light weight trailerable coastal cruiser for a small family. Their are concessions made to make the boat trailerable, so it trades off a little performance for trailerability. It requires reefing a little bit sooner than some boats, but that is part of good seamnaship. Their is a lot of boat for the money. As we contemplate moving up to a larger boat, we find that it will cost us twice the purchase cost of our 26 to move up. 26 footers from other manufacturers are significantly more expensive. I too have had some problems with my water system (simpler design on the 26 than the 260)and will upgrade this system over the winter. The 26 is a very livable weekender and would be fine on a short duration cruise. The limitation for our family of four is usually the porta-pottie capacity, then water. The 26 does not have the deck hatch, the 260 does. The 260 also has an improved anchoring system and foredeck arrangement that includes an optional anchor roller and improved cleat arrangement. The 26 has a two burner flush mount Origo alchohol stove, the 260 has a counter mounted single burner butane stove. It would not be hard to backfit to the original configuration. The 260 has an optional wheel,which is near impossible to install on the 26 as Edson no longer produces the kit. As you see, some differences exist, but a used 26 or a 260 are both great boats. The centerboard allows you to get into places where other boats fear to tread. I have even nosed up on a beach bith my 26, which really amazes the powerboat crowd. You can't beat cruising at 65mph to a different cruising ground and the boat is reasonably easy to trailer. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
Water ballast & Zebra mussels
As I understand it the Hunter 26 uses water ballast (typical of this size boat). My concern is with the transmission of zebra mussels. Of course, any boat or trailer could transmit this pest but a water ballasted boat would make it easier. Ditto probably for the outboard motor. I’m a little paranoid about these critters coming out west. Unfortunately, it’s probably not ‘if’ but ‘when’. How does one deal with preventing the spread of these critters with a trailerable boat? We need to consider preventing the spread of invasive species. Some info about zebra mussels can be found at http://www.nbii.gov Invasive Species Information relating to non-native plant and animal species present in U.S. ecosystems.
As I understand it the Hunter 26 uses water ballast (typical of this size boat). My concern is with the transmission of zebra mussels. Of course, any boat or trailer could transmit this pest but a water ballasted boat would make it easier. Ditto probably for the outboard motor. I’m a little paranoid about these critters coming out west. Unfortunately, it’s probably not ‘if’ but ‘when’. How does one deal with preventing the spread of these critters with a trailerable boat? We need to consider preventing the spread of invasive species. Some info about zebra mussels can be found at http://www.nbii.gov Invasive Species Information relating to non-native plant and animal species present in U.S. ecosystems.
Zebra Mussels
Thanks to John for his inquirey. Thanks also for the website address of the government information agency. John, I wrote a message to the webmaster to find out what precautions we can take so we don't transport these critter around in the ballast tank, trailer and outboard. I'll let you know what their response is. I've been very concerned with this issue regarding a weed that is prevelant in this area, and most certainly this is just as important. I want to travel with my boat but I don't want to do any damage as I go. Thanks again, Larry Barnes vessel, "CNTRL SEA" w/ballast, H26
Thanks to John for his inquirey. Thanks also for the website address of the government information agency. John, I wrote a message to the webmaster to find out what precautions we can take so we don't transport these critter around in the ballast tank, trailer and outboard. I'll let you know what their response is. I've been very concerned with this issue regarding a weed that is prevelant in this area, and most certainly this is just as important. I want to travel with my boat but I don't want to do any damage as I go. Thanks again, Larry Barnes vessel, "CNTRL SEA" w/ballast, H26
Spread of these critters
Good responses but the spread of Zebra mussels has been always a concern of mine too particulay at Smith Mountian Lake. For those going to the great lakes from VA or NC and returning, I have told people to leave the boats out for a minimum of two weeks. The additon of salt and clorine(chlorox) as I have been told does wonders for these critters from living in the tank
Good responses but the spread of Zebra mussels has been always a concern of mine too particulay at Smith Mountian Lake. For those going to the great lakes from VA or NC and returning, I have told people to leave the boats out for a minimum of two weeks. The additon of salt and clorine(chlorox) as I have been told does wonders for these critters from living in the tank
The same way the nuc plants do....
Just add some bleach to the ballast tank. The critters can't stand the stuff. If you don't add bleach and leave the boat in the water, the ballast tank will develop an "aire" of it's own. The bleach works great, doesn't seem to hurt anything unless you get overly generous with the stuff. I use a gallon in my 26, which is a 250-1 dilution. You can't even smell it in the tank the next day, but it keeps clean and fresh & critter free all summer. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
Just add some bleach to the ballast tank. The critters can't stand the stuff. If you don't add bleach and leave the boat in the water, the ballast tank will develop an "aire" of it's own. The bleach works great, doesn't seem to hurt anything unless you get overly generous with the stuff. I use a gallon in my 26, which is a 250-1 dilution. You can't even smell it in the tank the next day, but it keeps clean and fresh & critter free all summer. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
- Status