We are seriously looking at a Hunter Passage 42 Center Cockpit (2002) for off shore and blue water cruising. My intentions are to sail around the world. When talking to non-Hunter brokers/owners we are constantly receiving bad comments about production boats. Comments like " the boat is not heavy enough", "will not hold up to blue water cruising" , the Hunter is not build well enough to withstand heavy weather", "these boats do not hold their value". We like the interior layout of the 42 but would like knowledgeable comments about the above mentioned concerns. We want a reliable cruiser. Will the Hunter Passage 42 provide the safety, reliability and comforts for an extended cruising adventure???
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Bob
Discovering New Worlds
Of course, Non-Hunter owners/brokers will degrade anything that is different than what they have. The 42 is a really cool boat AND I'll bet Christopher Columbus would have LOVED to discover America sailing the oceans in one. Check out the Hunter website for the specifications and then do comparisons to others. Keep asking questions until your blue in the face and then make your decison based upon facts and not fiction!!
Of course, Non-Hunter owners/brokers will degrade anything that is different than what they have. The 42 is a really cool boat AND I'll bet Christopher Columbus would have LOVED to discover America sailing the oceans in one. Check out the Hunter website for the specifications and then do comparisons to others. Keep asking questions until your blue in the face and then make your decison based upon facts and not fiction!!
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Derek
Do you currently own a boat?
If not, buy one now and spend a year or two researching your ideal boat. I have a 1990 P42, which I take from Miami to New York each fall and spring. This often requires me to be 200 to 300 miles out from the nearest shore, mostly in foul weather especially in November. I have done this since 1990 first in a CS 34 and for the last 3 years in the P42. You are talking crossing Oceans perhaps being at sea for three to four weeks. This is extreme. My longest time at sea was 14 days, which was 5 days too long for me. If I were to get my ideal boat for ocean crossings it would cost well in excess of $1,500,000 (a 737 would be nice) plus I would need another type of boat for exploring when I got there. Good Luck with the research.
If not, buy one now and spend a year or two researching your ideal boat. I have a 1990 P42, which I take from Miami to New York each fall and spring. This often requires me to be 200 to 300 miles out from the nearest shore, mostly in foul weather especially in November. I have done this since 1990 first in a CS 34 and for the last 3 years in the P42. You are talking crossing Oceans perhaps being at sea for three to four weeks. This is extreme. My longest time at sea was 14 days, which was 5 days too long for me. If I were to get my ideal boat for ocean crossings it would cost well in excess of $1,500,000 (a 737 would be nice) plus I would need another type of boat for exploring when I got there. Good Luck with the research.
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Tim Schaaf
Chevrolets, Fords and Porches and Mercedes
There are definitely better built and more expensive built boats than Hunters.....they are also much more expensive. Remember, while it would be nice to drive from New York to San Francisco in a Mercedes or a Porche, you can also do it quite nicely in a Ford or a Chevrolet, or even a Hyundai. A Hunter is a Ford or a Chevrolet. For what it is worth, my H33 has taken a beating for much of its 21 years, and it is still going strong. I do think that Hunters may not retain their value as well as other boats, but it is more because the company keeps changing models rather than some horrendous deficiency in the boats. Good Luck.Someone once said that a small boat and a suitcaseful of money beat a big boat tied to a bank loan, any time!
There are definitely better built and more expensive built boats than Hunters.....they are also much more expensive. Remember, while it would be nice to drive from New York to San Francisco in a Mercedes or a Porche, you can also do it quite nicely in a Ford or a Chevrolet, or even a Hyundai. A Hunter is a Ford or a Chevrolet. For what it is worth, my H33 has taken a beating for much of its 21 years, and it is still going strong. I do think that Hunters may not retain their value as well as other boats, but it is more because the company keeps changing models rather than some horrendous deficiency in the boats. Good Luck.Someone once said that a small boat and a suitcaseful of money beat a big boat tied to a bank loan, any time!
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Richard
Is it the skipper or the yacht?
If you check what Passage 42's have been selling for you will find that they are selling now for more than they cost when NEW. As far as "Blue Water" is conserned are we talking 20ft waves or what? It is the skipper that makes the difference. After all most all yachts are stronger than the crew. You see yachts showing up with out the crew after a storm, a lot. A well prepaired crew and yacht will go far with a little luck. Consider purchasing a 1990-1996 Passage 42 at $155,000 or less and sail for a few years in the Islands then deside what you need, to take you to where ever it is you want to go to. Good sailing
If you check what Passage 42's have been selling for you will find that they are selling now for more than they cost when NEW. As far as "Blue Water" is conserned are we talking 20ft waves or what? It is the skipper that makes the difference. After all most all yachts are stronger than the crew. You see yachts showing up with out the crew after a storm, a lot. A well prepaired crew and yacht will go far with a little luck. Consider purchasing a 1990-1996 Passage 42 at $155,000 or less and sail for a few years in the Islands then deside what you need, to take you to where ever it is you want to go to. Good sailing
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David Foster
Archie Threads on this Subject
There are a number of threads with contributions from skippers of globe trotting modern hunters. Another related subject has to do with modifications to add strength, reliability, and convenience for open ocean cruises. Finally, the best advice I have heard is to ask folks who do deliveries - most makers deliver some boats overseas on their own bottoms - if you could find some of the people who do it, they would have the most imparrtial thoughts. The rest of us huntyer owners are often sure that our boats can take whatever the sea might throw at us - even if they are clearly coastal cruising designs! David Lady Lillie
There are a number of threads with contributions from skippers of globe trotting modern hunters. Another related subject has to do with modifications to add strength, reliability, and convenience for open ocean cruises. Finally, the best advice I have heard is to ask folks who do deliveries - most makers deliver some boats overseas on their own bottoms - if you could find some of the people who do it, they would have the most imparrtial thoughts. The rest of us huntyer owners are often sure that our boats can take whatever the sea might throw at us - even if they are clearly coastal cruising designs! David Lady Lillie
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Bill Sheehy
South Africa
I remeber reading a few years ago that the dealer in South Africa sails the Hunter boats from Florida to South Africa. The 42 that was being talked about was straight out of the factory. We love our 42 and would take it offshore and plan on doing it in a few years.
I remeber reading a few years ago that the dealer in South Africa sails the Hunter boats from Florida to South Africa. The 42 that was being talked about was straight out of the factory. We love our 42 and would take it offshore and plan on doing it in a few years.
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Udo
don't do it in a hunter! (a Hunter owner)
Considering I had (!!) the same plan, I’ll share our “point of view”: We own a Hunter460 (2000). After an extensive cruise down the Bahia California to the Border of San Salvador we decided that our boat won’t take it! It’s neither a question of design nor strength of the boat: IT IS THE QUALITY of manufacturing! We had to deal with ridiculous problems as: not working headlights, washer/dryer felt out of its closet, leaking holding tanks, refrig, cracks in the ceiling … And – sadly enough - severe problems like autopilot failure, mainsail raising or reefing, prop-shaft leakage, inverter failure … All in all more than 12 pages (excel) in flaws and flukes …. Of course it is all warranty work. But after living AT THE DOCK of our dealer for mare than 6 months, they aren’t able to fix the boat until today. (Dealer blames it to contractors, Hunter detours us to dealer, dealer sends us back to Hunter, …). In a nutshell: The 460 is certainly an incredible boat. The manufacturer (Hunter) isn’t! Next time we’ll spent a bit more and we will be able take off. Meanwhile we have a great “weekend” cruising boat! Cheers
Considering I had (!!) the same plan, I’ll share our “point of view”: We own a Hunter460 (2000). After an extensive cruise down the Bahia California to the Border of San Salvador we decided that our boat won’t take it! It’s neither a question of design nor strength of the boat: IT IS THE QUALITY of manufacturing! We had to deal with ridiculous problems as: not working headlights, washer/dryer felt out of its closet, leaking holding tanks, refrig, cracks in the ceiling … And – sadly enough - severe problems like autopilot failure, mainsail raising or reefing, prop-shaft leakage, inverter failure … All in all more than 12 pages (excel) in flaws and flukes …. Of course it is all warranty work. But after living AT THE DOCK of our dealer for mare than 6 months, they aren’t able to fix the boat until today. (Dealer blames it to contractors, Hunter detours us to dealer, dealer sends us back to Hunter, …). In a nutshell: The 460 is certainly an incredible boat. The manufacturer (Hunter) isn’t! Next time we’ll spent a bit more and we will be able take off. Meanwhile we have a great “weekend” cruising boat! Cheers
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Mike Pilolla
Agree With Everybody
I agree with what everyone has written. Hunters are as seaworthy as any other boat being built today. My wife and I went through 4 boats before deciding on a 450, very similar to the 420, as our new home and to take us off into the sunset. We crawled over, through and under many boats before making the decision and we came to the conclusion we didn't need to arrive in a Mercedes, but we did need to arrive, and the Hunter would serve us well to get us where we wanted to go. We moved aboard our 450 a little over 1 year ago and have no regrets at all. In talking with, meeting and gettign to know lots of cruisers, Tayanas, Valiants, Babbas, Island Packets and lts of others we made the absolute right choice for us. I agree with the comment it is more dependent on the skipper than the boat. If you are caught in a hurricane at sea there is little doubt a Hunter will pound more and toss more on the water. If you just went below and let the boat drift and let the wind and the waves have their way, the Hunter would probably be more uncomfortable than some of the heavier, more expensive boats. Don't let anyone talk you into anything, including a Hunter, until you know what the tradeoffs are and what is important to you in terms of value and overall cost. Hope this helps.
I agree with what everyone has written. Hunters are as seaworthy as any other boat being built today. My wife and I went through 4 boats before deciding on a 450, very similar to the 420, as our new home and to take us off into the sunset. We crawled over, through and under many boats before making the decision and we came to the conclusion we didn't need to arrive in a Mercedes, but we did need to arrive, and the Hunter would serve us well to get us where we wanted to go. We moved aboard our 450 a little over 1 year ago and have no regrets at all. In talking with, meeting and gettign to know lots of cruisers, Tayanas, Valiants, Babbas, Island Packets and lts of others we made the absolute right choice for us. I agree with the comment it is more dependent on the skipper than the boat. If you are caught in a hurricane at sea there is little doubt a Hunter will pound more and toss more on the water. If you just went below and let the boat drift and let the wind and the waves have their way, the Hunter would probably be more uncomfortable than some of the heavier, more expensive boats. Don't let anyone talk you into anything, including a Hunter, until you know what the tradeoffs are and what is important to you in terms of value and overall cost. Hope this helps.
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Don
Reality check
About the only thing with which I agree in the prior comments is the suggestion that you check with an experienced delivery skipper for some objective advice on seaworthiness. Any list of owners-derived comments such as this is inherently not objective. Having had the good fortune to have sailed in most of the oceans and done some blue water cruising in the Med, Pacific and indian Oceans and a realllly boring Atlantic crossing, I guess I am old enough now to not take the chances I once did. Any boat can do it; that's not the point. Most old, wise and good sailors plan for the worst - put yourself in the midst of 50k winds, 30 ft cross seas and 5000 miles from help and you will look at Hunters differently.
About the only thing with which I agree in the prior comments is the suggestion that you check with an experienced delivery skipper for some objective advice on seaworthiness. Any list of owners-derived comments such as this is inherently not objective. Having had the good fortune to have sailed in most of the oceans and done some blue water cruising in the Med, Pacific and indian Oceans and a realllly boring Atlantic crossing, I guess I am old enough now to not take the chances I once did. Any boat can do it; that's not the point. Most old, wise and good sailors plan for the worst - put yourself in the midst of 50k winds, 30 ft cross seas and 5000 miles from help and you will look at Hunters differently.
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Bob B
Stuff verses the Hull
The real question on seaworthiness verses accessory reliability? Ask yourself if a light doesn't work will the boat sink. Whether you can reef a sail, that's important, make sure you have the right system on any boat you buy. There are $1.5M boats in my harbor built for the "BLUE WATER" that have things break, have leaks, etc. What makes a boat "BLUE WATER", I hope its is construction of the hull, not whether the inverter works to power a hair dryer. I have owned a 450 for four years. I have replaced or repaired a LOT of accessories. What I have yet to do is fix the hull. The righting factor of the 450, that's important to me. I wonder how many Hunters, Catalinas, Hickleys, etc have actually sunk, hulls broken apart. It would be interesting to get those stats verses the amount of vessels built and see if one is better or worse. If I had unlimited money maybe I would have chosen differently, buy what you can afford, but remember unless you have redundant systems, there will come a time when you might have to do without something. I have read quite a number of books about people that have circumnavigated, they didn't have Hunters or Catalinas, they did have break downs, they did pitch pole, etc. So even their "BLUE WATER" boats had problems. There isn't a boat built that won't have some problem!
The real question on seaworthiness verses accessory reliability? Ask yourself if a light doesn't work will the boat sink. Whether you can reef a sail, that's important, make sure you have the right system on any boat you buy. There are $1.5M boats in my harbor built for the "BLUE WATER" that have things break, have leaks, etc. What makes a boat "BLUE WATER", I hope its is construction of the hull, not whether the inverter works to power a hair dryer. I have owned a 450 for four years. I have replaced or repaired a LOT of accessories. What I have yet to do is fix the hull. The righting factor of the 450, that's important to me. I wonder how many Hunters, Catalinas, Hickleys, etc have actually sunk, hulls broken apart. It would be interesting to get those stats verses the amount of vessels built and see if one is better or worse. If I had unlimited money maybe I would have chosen differently, buy what you can afford, but remember unless you have redundant systems, there will come a time when you might have to do without something. I have read quite a number of books about people that have circumnavigated, they didn't have Hunters or Catalinas, they did have break downs, they did pitch pole, etc. So even their "BLUE WATER" boats had problems. There isn't a boat built that won't have some problem!
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Wm Mayberry
Hunter vs Island Packet
I live in Tennessee and have A 1984 Hunter 34 that I sail on our Tennessee River lake. I also have a 1995 Island Packet 37 that we keep in Florida. Even though there is 11 years difference in the age, there is no comparison in the quality, sturdiness, storage, stability,etc between the 2 boats. I am much more comfortable on the IP especially at sea.
I live in Tennessee and have A 1984 Hunter 34 that I sail on our Tennessee River lake. I also have a 1995 Island Packet 37 that we keep in Florida. Even though there is 11 years difference in the age, there is no comparison in the quality, sturdiness, storage, stability,etc between the 2 boats. I am much more comfortable on the IP especially at sea.
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georgelakesiii@yahoo.com
P 42 use
I agree that it is knobs and door handles, as hull can take alot more than many crews. I sail a 90 passage 42. Do not like the 420. I like the 420's rack and pinion steering better than my 42 but that is all. Look at the difference in the size of the chain plates. I do like the mast head rig much more than the fractional of the 420. Just a preference as we tend to be most comfortable with what we are familiar with. I've sailed in 12 ft seas with 35-40 knot winds and had the dodger get broken but nothing else. Wasn't fun getting caught that way, and I expected worse with the force of the water hitting us. The older 42's I feel are a good value. Properly maintained along with ALL SYSTEMS, they will give good service. You may want to ask an accomplished blue water sailor to go on a shake down cruise to evaluate. Most systems thrive on use. Do use them often and you will spend less than repair from lack of use and the surprise that goes with it. Ever heard the "It should work, I've rarely used it?"
I agree that it is knobs and door handles, as hull can take alot more than many crews. I sail a 90 passage 42. Do not like the 420. I like the 420's rack and pinion steering better than my 42 but that is all. Look at the difference in the size of the chain plates. I do like the mast head rig much more than the fractional of the 420. Just a preference as we tend to be most comfortable with what we are familiar with. I've sailed in 12 ft seas with 35-40 knot winds and had the dodger get broken but nothing else. Wasn't fun getting caught that way, and I expected worse with the force of the water hitting us. The older 42's I feel are a good value. Properly maintained along with ALL SYSTEMS, they will give good service. You may want to ask an accomplished blue water sailor to go on a shake down cruise to evaluate. Most systems thrive on use. Do use them often and you will spend less than repair from lack of use and the surprise that goes with it. Ever heard the "It should work, I've rarely used it?"
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Paul Cossman
P42 for cruising
Just checking into the net here from Apia, Western Samoa. Sailed here from San Diego, via Oahu, Kauai, and Palmyra. Headed for Fiji and New Zealand. It's our second time around on the coconut milk run for our P42, Sabina. Last time went through Mexico, French Polynesia, Cooks, Samoas, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand. Then windward from NZ to Tonga, Fiji, Wallis, Samoa, Penrhyn, Hawaii, California. We've put about 40,000 miles on our 1991 P42, and she's held up well. We've never been in severe weather, but we've hove to many times, including in 20-25 foot waves and 40 knot winds, including on a Para-tech 18 foot parachute sea anchor. Sure, if we had the money we'd buy a sturdier boat. But we choose instead to actually be out cruising instead of sitting in town earning more money to support a better boat. The P42 has treated us well, and we're comfortable in it. With adequate preparation and modifications, it should perform well for you. You'd be amazed at the boats I have seen out here in the south Pacific. 26 footers you wouldn't go to Catalina in. And they are in the same spots as those in the million dollar boats. A P42 will do just fine. And it is economical enough to GO NOW! The worst thing is waiting. The changes in the islands that I see now compared to my last voyage in 93-96 are astounding. Can't imagine how different it will be in another 10 years. Not worth waiting for, even if it means an Oyster or Hans Christian Explorer 48 instead of a Hunter. Incidentally, while in Honolulu, I had a friend of mine on board who is a delivery skipper who has made the Hawaii-mainland trip over 50 times. He has over a million miles under his belt. He told me that my boat is so over prepared and has so much stuff on it that I should get rid of half of it. Take that with a grain of salt. But when visiting my friends' boats at remote anchorages, I certainly feel like I have quite the boat. Good luck in whatever you get. Hope to see you in the tropics soon. Paul.
Just checking into the net here from Apia, Western Samoa. Sailed here from San Diego, via Oahu, Kauai, and Palmyra. Headed for Fiji and New Zealand. It's our second time around on the coconut milk run for our P42, Sabina. Last time went through Mexico, French Polynesia, Cooks, Samoas, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand. Then windward from NZ to Tonga, Fiji, Wallis, Samoa, Penrhyn, Hawaii, California. We've put about 40,000 miles on our 1991 P42, and she's held up well. We've never been in severe weather, but we've hove to many times, including in 20-25 foot waves and 40 knot winds, including on a Para-tech 18 foot parachute sea anchor. Sure, if we had the money we'd buy a sturdier boat. But we choose instead to actually be out cruising instead of sitting in town earning more money to support a better boat. The P42 has treated us well, and we're comfortable in it. With adequate preparation and modifications, it should perform well for you. You'd be amazed at the boats I have seen out here in the south Pacific. 26 footers you wouldn't go to Catalina in. And they are in the same spots as those in the million dollar boats. A P42 will do just fine. And it is economical enough to GO NOW! The worst thing is waiting. The changes in the islands that I see now compared to my last voyage in 93-96 are astounding. Can't imagine how different it will be in another 10 years. Not worth waiting for, even if it means an Oyster or Hans Christian Explorer 48 instead of a Hunter. Incidentally, while in Honolulu, I had a friend of mine on board who is a delivery skipper who has made the Hawaii-mainland trip over 50 times. He has over a million miles under his belt. He told me that my boat is so over prepared and has so much stuff on it that I should get rid of half of it. Take that with a grain of salt. But when visiting my friends' boats at remote anchorages, I certainly feel like I have quite the boat. Good luck in whatever you get. Hope to see you in the tropics soon. Paul.
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