I am considering a Hunter 33,38, or 41 and would like to know if anyone on the forum has done any passagemaking, or other serious blue-water cruising in Hunters?
Passagemaking?
- Thread starter Wildernesstech
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passagemaking on our 44
Ok its a little bigger than you are asking about, but the 41 and our 44 are quite similar. We left Spain, out of the Med, crossed the atlantic in 18 days, travelled through the caribbean and we're in Grenada now, on our way to Venezuela and Columbia. No problems with the boat, great liveaboard
Ok its a little bigger than you are asking about, but the 41 and our 44 are quite similar. We left Spain, out of the Med, crossed the atlantic in 18 days, travelled through the caribbean and we're in Grenada now, on our way to Venezuela and Columbia. No problems with the boat, great liveaboard
Well, I am not going to start WW3...but...
if you want a blue water boat...get a blue water boat. Although Catalinas, Hunters, Bens, all cross the big oceans..it is not a blue water boat and you can look up in the archives as to what distinguishes one from the other. That said if you are going for a Hunter...I have a H36 and I would not cross the big seas with it. Get the 41 or 44...bigger is better. my 2 cents...speaking from lack of experience. abe
if you want a blue water boat...get a blue water boat. Although Catalinas, Hunters, Bens, all cross the big oceans..it is not a blue water boat and you can look up in the archives as to what distinguishes one from the other. That said if you are going for a Hunter...I have a H36 and I would not cross the big seas with it. Get the 41 or 44...bigger is better. my 2 cents...speaking from lack of experience. abe
I am not trying to start WW3 or even WWW.3
I have my eye on a "true" bluewater boat, but the company assures me that Hunters of size are "Ocean Rated". They (and others) point out that Hunters may be found at nearly any anchorage... My thought is that they are often regional charter boats. So I thought that I might find folks who had made crossings here. Thanks for the responses thus far. I can tell by the viewings that I am not alone in this question! I know that truly small boats have made crossings, I think I am looking for Hunters that are out there doing it to confirm that they are standing up to the task. I have my questions as to their stability ratings since they appear marginal. But the heralded bluewater boats often lack in marina handling, an a few other areas... furthermore technology is trying to move forward and few newer boats seem to reflect the time honored bluewater features... Just trying to sort it all out? Thanks for any further posts, and thank you two that have chimed in! Wildernesstech
I have my eye on a "true" bluewater boat, but the company assures me that Hunters of size are "Ocean Rated". They (and others) point out that Hunters may be found at nearly any anchorage... My thought is that they are often regional charter boats. So I thought that I might find folks who had made crossings here. Thanks for the responses thus far. I can tell by the viewings that I am not alone in this question! I know that truly small boats have made crossings, I think I am looking for Hunters that are out there doing it to confirm that they are standing up to the task. I have my questions as to their stability ratings since they appear marginal. But the heralded bluewater boats often lack in marina handling, an a few other areas... furthermore technology is trying to move forward and few newer boats seem to reflect the time honored bluewater features... Just trying to sort it all out? Thanks for any further posts, and thank you two that have chimed in! Wildernesstech
Boat size vs size of the sailor
Maybe they are and maybe they are not. To look at a boat as either blue water or not is kinda unfair to any boat. As you have noted, lots of small boats have made amazing passages. Plenty of big boats have failed to make those same passages. I suspect it is the skill of the skipper that is the determining factor. A land lubber on the Titanic would stand very little chance of crossing the Atlantic while a skilled young woman has successfully circumnavigated the globe. A blue water boat can't be thought of in the "larger is better" fashion. Consider that most boats spend most of their time on the hook or at the pier. If I bought a boat that was specifically designed to cross oceans and not much fun in at anchor I'd be uncomfortable all the time. If on the other hand, If I bought a boat that is fun at anchorage but unsuitable for ocean crossing I'd be taking a risk every time I pulled the hook AND the conditions where worse that I (the sailor) was capable of handling. IMO hunters fall into the category of comfortable at anchor and that is why they sell. Given your ability to read a weather map and skill at navigation ..... is good enough a hunter ( any make actually) will do fine. So the definition of "is a blue water boat" is what kind of boat can you get away with vs what kind of boat is comfortable. The two descriptions are at opposite ends of a continuum and it is you, the sailor, that makes the difference.
Maybe they are and maybe they are not. To look at a boat as either blue water or not is kinda unfair to any boat. As you have noted, lots of small boats have made amazing passages. Plenty of big boats have failed to make those same passages. I suspect it is the skill of the skipper that is the determining factor. A land lubber on the Titanic would stand very little chance of crossing the Atlantic while a skilled young woman has successfully circumnavigated the globe. A blue water boat can't be thought of in the "larger is better" fashion. Consider that most boats spend most of their time on the hook or at the pier. If I bought a boat that was specifically designed to cross oceans and not much fun in at anchor I'd be uncomfortable all the time. If on the other hand, If I bought a boat that is fun at anchorage but unsuitable for ocean crossing I'd be taking a risk every time I pulled the hook AND the conditions where worse that I (the sailor) was capable of handling. IMO hunters fall into the category of comfortable at anchor and that is why they sell. Given your ability to read a weather map and skill at navigation ..... is good enough a hunter ( any make actually) will do fine. So the definition of "is a blue water boat" is what kind of boat can you get away with vs what kind of boat is comfortable. The two descriptions are at opposite ends of a continuum and it is you, the sailor, that makes the difference.
Thanks Bill...
I appreciate your advice. I realize that their is no "perfect" Boat, "perfect" weather forcast, or "perfect" sailors so I guess I just won't ever leave on a Friday! I'll study harder, practice more, and always seek advice from those with more experience than I!!! Thanks again.
I appreciate your advice. I realize that their is no "perfect" Boat, "perfect" weather forcast, or "perfect" sailors so I guess I just won't ever leave on a Friday! I'll study harder, practice more, and always seek advice from those with more experience than I!!! Thanks again.
NO NO NO!!!
Life is so full of timid people that are afraid to accelerate in the merge lane, take the path less traveled, seek out what is over that horizon. Don't let the lack of skills, or the right boat stop you, find a way to do it with the skills you have and the equipment you have, push the envelope. The important thing is when you are on the edge of the envelope and KNOW you are on the edge. Life is better on the edge!!!!
Life is so full of timid people that are afraid to accelerate in the merge lane, take the path less traveled, seek out what is over that horizon. Don't let the lack of skills, or the right boat stop you, find a way to do it with the skills you have and the equipment you have, push the envelope. The important thing is when you are on the edge of the envelope and KNOW you are on the edge. Life is better on the edge!!!!
Never been timid... But I try to be polite-
I really do appreciate your replies Bill! I have always been a risk taker! But my spouse has a physical handicap so I have to consider her in the envelope... I want to make the best "overall" decision on a boat (just like everyone else), and I feel that I have much more to learn (always). Where I seem to be having trouble is that you either have to spend half a million dollars or fix up an older boat to get what really seems to qualify as a voyaging cruiser. There are the "occasional" deals that pop up, but I don't currently live near the coast. I'll make the right decision when the time comes and I'll know when I have found the right boat. It seems that it is only a small minority that truly want to cross oceans, and the majority of boats are for coastal cruising or dockside entertainment. The decision making process is more difficult for bluewater boats in my very limited opinion. I still have to temper getting what I want against what she can handle on her watch. We "will" do the thing! You will catch us "out there", but I am still learning to weight the options. Thanks again!
I really do appreciate your replies Bill! I have always been a risk taker! But my spouse has a physical handicap so I have to consider her in the envelope... I want to make the best "overall" decision on a boat (just like everyone else), and I feel that I have much more to learn (always). Where I seem to be having trouble is that you either have to spend half a million dollars or fix up an older boat to get what really seems to qualify as a voyaging cruiser. There are the "occasional" deals that pop up, but I don't currently live near the coast. I'll make the right decision when the time comes and I'll know when I have found the right boat. It seems that it is only a small minority that truly want to cross oceans, and the majority of boats are for coastal cruising or dockside entertainment. The decision making process is more difficult for bluewater boats in my very limited opinion. I still have to temper getting what I want against what she can handle on her watch. We "will" do the thing! You will catch us "out there", but I am still learning to weight the options. Thanks again!
This Is Actually Not The Best Place...
...to get an answer to that question. I know for a fact that there are a lot of Hunters out cruising (now), but you won't find them on this forum. They just might have better use of their time out there and communications are not so easy... Rick D.
...to get an answer to that question. I know for a fact that there are a lot of Hunters out cruising (now), but you won't find them on this forum. They just might have better use of their time out there and communications are not so easy... Rick D.
Passagmaking in Hunters
There are quite a number of people who have done serious cruising in Hunters. We have about 35,000 miles under the keel of our Passage 42, having done the coconut milk run (US to NZ and back) twice, including a number of years running around Tonga, Fiji, and NZ. (We have crossed between NZ and Tonga/Fiji seven times). We saw other Hunters out there as well. I agree with the others: it is more the sailor and his/her preparation than the boat. But Hunters are sturdy and will serve you well. To get a lot of detail on modifications you can make to make a Hunter more "cruiseworth", go to the archives and do an author search using the name "Henk" (who outfitted and cruises his Legend 43 in the South Pacific islands), and the name "Cossman" (as I have posted in a number of threads the modifications I have made to my boat, Sabina). My wife and I are building the cruising kitty for a third time on the coconut milk run, and we are 3 years, 5 months from the next departure date. See ya out there!
There are quite a number of people who have done serious cruising in Hunters. We have about 35,000 miles under the keel of our Passage 42, having done the coconut milk run (US to NZ and back) twice, including a number of years running around Tonga, Fiji, and NZ. (We have crossed between NZ and Tonga/Fiji seven times). We saw other Hunters out there as well. I agree with the others: it is more the sailor and his/her preparation than the boat. But Hunters are sturdy and will serve you well. To get a lot of detail on modifications you can make to make a Hunter more "cruiseworth", go to the archives and do an author search using the name "Henk" (who outfitted and cruises his Legend 43 in the South Pacific islands), and the name "Cossman" (as I have posted in a number of threads the modifications I have made to my boat, Sabina). My wife and I are building the cruising kitty for a third time on the coconut milk run, and we are 3 years, 5 months from the next departure date. See ya out there!
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