Is 1983 34 Hunter Sea Worthy?
We just purchased a 1983 Hunter 34.5 and I am hoping someone maybe able to offer me guidance and /or words of wisdom.
My wife and I are new to sailing, I have sailed many dingys, sunfish etc, but not a large boat.
My main concerns are about its sea worthiness and how it handles storms/rough weather. What can be done to make it as seaworthy/storm worthy as possible?
We realize that this is not an ocean going boat. For us it is a starter and we will upgrade a to blue water boat in a year or two. The surveyor said that it is a real gem.
It does have a crack in the ruder which I have pulled out and intend to repair, it needs some electrical work/wiring and I am not sure of the # of hours on the 27 hp Yanmar diesel. Other than that it seems to be in very good condition.
In the spring the 3 of us (my wife, myself and our 6 year old daughter) intend to sail it from Maryland were it currently is, up to our home in Canada, either via the coastal/inland waterways or ideally via the gulf of the St. Lawrence and on to Lake Huron or Georgian Bay then perhaps back down to the Caribbean to Trinidad and Tobago.
Do you feel that a 1983 34 foot Hunter can do such a trip?
Any advice ,feelings about the mast, stays, keel, rudder, overall integrity of the boat, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I would
love to hear about any challenges people have had sailing an 1983 Hunter 34 in storms and how it handled.
thanks Robert
robert@redwheelsranch.com
We just purchased a 1983 Hunter 34.5 and I am hoping someone maybe able to offer me guidance and /or words of wisdom.
My wife and I are new to sailing, I have sailed many dingys, sunfish etc, but not a large boat.
My main concerns are about its sea worthiness and how it handles storms/rough weather. What can be done to make it as seaworthy/storm worthy as possible?
We realize that this is not an ocean going boat. For us it is a starter and we will upgrade a to blue water boat in a year or two. The surveyor said that it is a real gem.
It does have a crack in the ruder which I have pulled out and intend to repair, it needs some electrical work/wiring and I am not sure of the # of hours on the 27 hp Yanmar diesel. Other than that it seems to be in very good condition.
In the spring the 3 of us (my wife, myself and our 6 year old daughter) intend to sail it from Maryland were it currently is, up to our home in Canada, either via the coastal/inland waterways or ideally via the gulf of the St. Lawrence and on to Lake Huron or Georgian Bay then perhaps back down to the Caribbean to Trinidad and Tobago.
Do you feel that a 1983 34 foot Hunter can do such a trip?
Any advice ,feelings about the mast, stays, keel, rudder, overall integrity of the boat, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I would
love to hear about any challenges people have had sailing an 1983 Hunter 34 in storms and how it handled.
thanks Robert
robert@redwheelsranch.com