Saw the new Hunter 27 at the boat show today in St. Pete. I'm not impressed. I mean, it isn't awful, but it isn't great. It has standing head room which is nice, but a very small v-birth and a small aft berth. It does have a dies al engine and wheel steering (which is difficult to get by). A nice sugar scoop stern, and easy access forward. Dark below though. So, so, expensive, and I don't think you get that much for it. My 2 cents.
Saw the new 27 Today
- Thread starter Michael7968
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Get what you pay for
Yes, I guess, but if I had $60,000 to spend on a boat I would sure spend it differently.
Yes, I guess, but if I had $60,000 to spend on a boat I would sure spend it differently.
What was Hunter thinking?
I am not sure what they were thinking on this one. Sure the 27 is a nice boat and I wouldn't be upset if someone gave me one, but for the size I think that I would rather have the 260. If the 27 was water ballest and trailerable, it would be much nicer!
I am not sure what they were thinking on this one. Sure the 27 is a nice boat and I wouldn't be upset if someone gave me one, but for the size I think that I would rather have the 260. If the 27 was water ballest and trailerable, it would be much nicer!
If you can't get to the boat show...
...Whitney's has one in the water here in Jacksonville, FL. I ran next door to take a look at it before taking my little one to the fair. Here are my impressions: It looks / feels like a much beefier boat. It now has a total of 4 winches (larger than those of the 260). The second pair are back on the gunwall mid-cockpit for single-handing. The wheel / pedastal seem to take up a whole lot os space compared to the 260. Basically, all the rigging is nicer and I would love to have the in-mast furling on my 260 (I think). I dislike having the main-sheet / traveler across the cockpit as the 27 does. There is also less storage space in the cockpit lockers. I do like the fact that the captains seat is elevated and may make some sort of mod to my 260 in the future - but I don't like just having a lifeling behind the captains seat - I like the rail on the 260 better. I sort of like having more deck area, but it puts all the headroom into a center "aisle" of the boat interior - and I still don't have standing headroom at 6'1". I do not like the interior at all. The v-berth is for storage / kids only. The aft berth has more head-room but is smaller area overall - although easier to get in and out of. It seems to me that they wasted a lot of interior space in this design. And as mentioned previosuly - it is dark below. There also doesn't seem to be that much stoarge space around the galley. I don't know if all of them come with the 12-volt refrigeration system instead of a cooler, but there is not much space in it. I am very glad that I bought the 260 before it ended its run. While it isn't the perfect boat, if I were looking to get my first sailboat now instead of two years ago - a new Hunter wouldn't be an option / consideration for me. As I was leaving one of the sales people ask me how I liked it - I said I didn't and was glad I got my 260 - she said I was the exception from the people that she had shown it to. But it seems as though most others on here share opinions that are similar to mine. I would consider this to be a boat that more people would feel comfortable coastal cruising in (compared to a WB model liek the 240 and 260. It also LOOKS faster than the WB models. BUT, I don't think the creature comforts would make it a good weekender / cruiser for my family. If I can get back over I will take some additional pictures. Does anyone have a particular view / feature they are interested in seeing? I will take a picture for you.
...Whitney's has one in the water here in Jacksonville, FL. I ran next door to take a look at it before taking my little one to the fair. Here are my impressions: It looks / feels like a much beefier boat. It now has a total of 4 winches (larger than those of the 260). The second pair are back on the gunwall mid-cockpit for single-handing. The wheel / pedastal seem to take up a whole lot os space compared to the 260. Basically, all the rigging is nicer and I would love to have the in-mast furling on my 260 (I think). I dislike having the main-sheet / traveler across the cockpit as the 27 does. There is also less storage space in the cockpit lockers. I do like the fact that the captains seat is elevated and may make some sort of mod to my 260 in the future - but I don't like just having a lifeling behind the captains seat - I like the rail on the 260 better. I sort of like having more deck area, but it puts all the headroom into a center "aisle" of the boat interior - and I still don't have standing headroom at 6'1". I do not like the interior at all. The v-berth is for storage / kids only. The aft berth has more head-room but is smaller area overall - although easier to get in and out of. It seems to me that they wasted a lot of interior space in this design. And as mentioned previosuly - it is dark below. There also doesn't seem to be that much stoarge space around the galley. I don't know if all of them come with the 12-volt refrigeration system instead of a cooler, but there is not much space in it. I am very glad that I bought the 260 before it ended its run. While it isn't the perfect boat, if I were looking to get my first sailboat now instead of two years ago - a new Hunter wouldn't be an option / consideration for me. As I was leaving one of the sales people ask me how I liked it - I said I didn't and was glad I got my 260 - she said I was the exception from the people that she had shown it to. But it seems as though most others on here share opinions that are similar to mine. I would consider this to be a boat that more people would feel comfortable coastal cruising in (compared to a WB model liek the 240 and 260. It also LOOKS faster than the WB models. BUT, I don't think the creature comforts would make it a good weekender / cruiser for my family. If I can get back over I will take some additional pictures. Does anyone have a particular view / feature they are interested in seeing? I will take a picture for you.
Cockpit
As Darren said, the cockpit is crowded -- the traveller is on the right in front of the wheel, deck mounted. Very much in the way. Certainly, there are some good things on this boat -- and certainly some things much better than the 26 and then the 260. But not overall. Now, one thing -- it was in the water at the show -- but they weren't giving rides. Maybe it sails a lot better -- I don't know that. (the sales guy on the boat said he liked it much better than the 260, but, then, . . .)
As Darren said, the cockpit is crowded -- the traveller is on the right in front of the wheel, deck mounted. Very much in the way. Certainly, there are some good things on this boat -- and certainly some things much better than the 26 and then the 260. But not overall. Now, one thing -- it was in the water at the show -- but they weren't giving rides. Maybe it sails a lot better -- I don't know that. (the sales guy on the boat said he liked it much better than the 260, but, then, . . .)
H27 pictures.
American Marine Sail has some photos on their website. See Related Link or: http://www.americanmarinesail.com/hunter27.htm Curious boat, has a "tall rig" option with tiller for racing!
American Marine Sail has some photos on their website. See Related Link or: http://www.americanmarinesail.com/hunter27.htm Curious boat, has a "tall rig" option with tiller for racing!
Pictures of the 27
Look on the photo forun. I posted some pics of the boat out of the water and some interior shots a month or so ago.
Look on the photo forun. I posted some pics of the boat out of the water and some interior shots a month or so ago.
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