I am contemplating the purchase of a 1980 Hunter 33 and was hoping to get some input from those of you who own or have owned a 33 as to design problems or any areas or systems that I might need to pay special attention to. I am interested in all feedback concerning general quality of construction, design/layout, performance, comfort, seaworthiness, etc. All responses greatly appreciated... Thanks, Roy
- Status
Blisters
During the survey small blisters were found. I purchased the boat, blisters and all. The attached photo shows a typical blister after being ground out to dry material. All blisters were between the gelcoat and the cloth lay-up in the chopper-gun material. They were easy for me to repair and in my opinion do not degrade the structural integrity of the hull. Regards, David
During the survey small blisters were found. I purchased the boat, blisters and all. The attached photo shows a typical blister after being ground out to dry material. All blisters were between the gelcoat and the cloth lay-up in the chopper-gun material. They were easy for me to repair and in my opinion do not degrade the structural integrity of the hull. Regards, David
Read the archives
The designer, John Cherubini, called the 33 the queen of the fleet. It has an excellent reputation as far as I know. The design quality is high and conservative, since the limits of fiberglass were unknown. The manufacturing quality was good with some exceptions. As with any good old boat a good survey will reveal both manufacturing, maintenance, and age issues. Do read the reviews, and check the archives. There have been some good discussions on this boat in the past year. Good luck, David Lady Lillie
The designer, John Cherubini, called the 33 the queen of the fleet. It has an excellent reputation as far as I know. The design quality is high and conservative, since the limits of fiberglass were unknown. The manufacturing quality was good with some exceptions. As with any good old boat a good survey will reveal both manufacturing, maintenance, and age issues. Do read the reviews, and check the archives. There have been some good discussions on this boat in the past year. Good luck, David Lady Lillie
It's a GREAT boat but.....
like with any boat of that era there are some things to look for. Mine is an 82 and I've been in a constant re-build mode since I bought her in '89. Most things are improvements for my cruising lifestyle. But many are things to look for. On __that__ list the first and most obvious would be a good diesel survey. My original 2QM15 needed an extensive rebuild in 2001 but I replaced the whole thing with a new 2GM20. Almost an even dollar trade. Most of the problems were due to previous owner (I'm the 4th owner) neglect. Check __all__ wiring connections for corrosion. I'd be shocked if you didn't find a lot. I ended up re-wiring most of the boat over the years. I also ended up replacing all the original opening ports since most all of them either leaked or the closing lugs had cracked. Another area to check is the fiberglass thwartship truss under the compression post. As far as design goes, she's fantastic. We live on board most weekends and always take 2-week cruises during the summer. She's a great light air boat and, at the opposite end of the spectrum I've been out in 30+ kts with a triple reefed main as storm jib and she sailed steady as a rock upwind. The galley is more than ample although I did ged rid of the original alchohol stove and replace it with a CNG stove. Buy It!!!
like with any boat of that era there are some things to look for. Mine is an 82 and I've been in a constant re-build mode since I bought her in '89. Most things are improvements for my cruising lifestyle. But many are things to look for. On __that__ list the first and most obvious would be a good diesel survey. My original 2QM15 needed an extensive rebuild in 2001 but I replaced the whole thing with a new 2GM20. Almost an even dollar trade. Most of the problems were due to previous owner (I'm the 4th owner) neglect. Check __all__ wiring connections for corrosion. I'd be shocked if you didn't find a lot. I ended up re-wiring most of the boat over the years. I also ended up replacing all the original opening ports since most all of them either leaked or the closing lugs had cracked. Another area to check is the fiberglass thwartship truss under the compression post. As far as design goes, she's fantastic. We live on board most weekends and always take 2-week cruises during the summer. She's a great light air boat and, at the opposite end of the spectrum I've been out in 30+ kts with a triple reefed main as storm jib and she sailed steady as a rock upwind. The galley is more than ample although I did ged rid of the original alchohol stove and replace it with a CNG stove. Buy It!!!
Just one thing.....
You can only get this boat, this design (Cherubini), by purchasing one used. Everything produced after 1983 was on an entirely different approach. Newer designs are built lighter, larger interiors and very wide stern. Those are nice for changes for those who want them, however, as Steve has mentioned.. the Hunter 33 (79-83) sail well in all conditions. We have never been as pleased with ours as the last time we sailed her. We have now owned ours for 23 years and everything that has ever been done to her... I've done myself. This will mean alot if and when we make it to the coast to go cruising, I know this boat inside and out. I might also mention that another area to check for problems is where the pedestal is mounted, the edges of the glass are not sealed where the steering cables go thur the cockpit deck. There is a five inch opening under the pedestal. If water has gotten in there, it's possible some rot has taken place in the plywood core. I had to replace my entire core in the cockpit deck due to water damage, but it's stronger than ever and I sealed (glassed) that opening to prevent it happening again. Hey Steve, our boats are the same year model! Good luck with your search for YOUR perfect boat. David Underwood
You can only get this boat, this design (Cherubini), by purchasing one used. Everything produced after 1983 was on an entirely different approach. Newer designs are built lighter, larger interiors and very wide stern. Those are nice for changes for those who want them, however, as Steve has mentioned.. the Hunter 33 (79-83) sail well in all conditions. We have never been as pleased with ours as the last time we sailed her. We have now owned ours for 23 years and everything that has ever been done to her... I've done myself. This will mean alot if and when we make it to the coast to go cruising, I know this boat inside and out. I might also mention that another area to check for problems is where the pedestal is mounted, the edges of the glass are not sealed where the steering cables go thur the cockpit deck. There is a five inch opening under the pedestal. If water has gotten in there, it's possible some rot has taken place in the plywood core. I had to replace my entire core in the cockpit deck due to water damage, but it's stronger than ever and I sealed (glassed) that opening to prevent it happening again. Hey Steve, our boats are the same year model! Good luck with your search for YOUR perfect boat. David Underwood
New generation
My father purchased a 33 in 1982 and a few years ago he gave it to me. I grew up on this boat and spent much time on it along the west coast of Florida. I moved the boat to Maine and when it arrived it needed a survey for insurance. I was with the sureyor and he was very encouraging. I had only a few very small sites of water ingress on the deck. After twenty years it needed several updates but we always kept the diesel really clean so no major problems there. What I have done in the past couple of years is the following. 1. Lots of DC rewiring. Virtually all was replaced. 2. New rigging. My terminals were failing so I opted for all new shrouds and new halyards. 3. A new mainsail. 4. Since the boat lived year around in the water in FL I had lots of very small blisters (nothing more thna cosmetic) that I ground off, filled and faired. This is just a messy job but not difficult. Everybody in Maine said to just live with them but I tackled them. 5. The engine mixing elbow was cracked but it was easy to replace and not very expensive. My goal is to keep on working on the boat over the next couple of years. I want to replace the alcohol stove with propane and will probably retrofit the existing Kenyon. Replace the lifelines. I'm going to replace my boom because of pretty could compression ding from a very hard jibe. We've sailed the boat through 35kts and very large seas so I have confidence in her abilities. Now that the boat is in Maine I hope to sail to Nova Scotia, The St. Lawrence and over to Newfoundland with time. Its very spacious and comfortable. I trust the boat.
My father purchased a 33 in 1982 and a few years ago he gave it to me. I grew up on this boat and spent much time on it along the west coast of Florida. I moved the boat to Maine and when it arrived it needed a survey for insurance. I was with the sureyor and he was very encouraging. I had only a few very small sites of water ingress on the deck. After twenty years it needed several updates but we always kept the diesel really clean so no major problems there. What I have done in the past couple of years is the following. 1. Lots of DC rewiring. Virtually all was replaced. 2. New rigging. My terminals were failing so I opted for all new shrouds and new halyards. 3. A new mainsail. 4. Since the boat lived year around in the water in FL I had lots of very small blisters (nothing more thna cosmetic) that I ground off, filled and faired. This is just a messy job but not difficult. Everybody in Maine said to just live with them but I tackled them. 5. The engine mixing elbow was cracked but it was easy to replace and not very expensive. My goal is to keep on working on the boat over the next couple of years. I want to replace the alcohol stove with propane and will probably retrofit the existing Kenyon. Replace the lifelines. I'm going to replace my boom because of pretty could compression ding from a very hard jibe. We've sailed the boat through 35kts and very large seas so I have confidence in her abilities. Now that the boat is in Maine I hope to sail to Nova Scotia, The St. Lawrence and over to Newfoundland with time. Its very spacious and comfortable. I trust the boat.
- Status