I have been thinking about buying a hunter 240. However I have been getting a lot of flak from the other sailers in my club. Their main claim is that Hunter makes their hulls so thin you can see the waterline through them, and that its real easy to knock holes in them compared to other "production" boats like the Catalinas. Is there any throuth to this? If it is, does this apply to their newer model boats like the 240?
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Ron Scott
You've been had !
It's just the opposite. Push on the side hull of a Hunter and do the same to a catalina and tell me which one flexes. Just don't push too hard on the catalina. Seriously, it's the same old story. Which is better, Ford or Chevy, John Deere or International? Do yourself a favor. Instead of believing someone else's opinion, do some careful research and choose the features and price range that you like best.I took a year to research the purchase of my used boat(1993) and another 6 months looking for the best deal ($6,000). I finally brought it home a month ago and I know I won't regret it, because I put soooo much time and thought into it. I got just what I wanted. PEACE LOVE SAIL RON s/v Maria Rose hunter 23.5
It's just the opposite. Push on the side hull of a Hunter and do the same to a catalina and tell me which one flexes. Just don't push too hard on the catalina. Seriously, it's the same old story. Which is better, Ford or Chevy, John Deere or International? Do yourself a favor. Instead of believing someone else's opinion, do some careful research and choose the features and price range that you like best.I took a year to research the purchase of my used boat(1993) and another 6 months looking for the best deal ($6,000). I finally brought it home a month ago and I know I won't regret it, because I put soooo much time and thought into it. I got just what I wanted. PEACE LOVE SAIL RON s/v Maria Rose hunter 23.5
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Frank
See through
The transparency of the hull has little to do with the strength. Imagine four inch thick glass. It is very strong but completely transparent. A better determination of stength would be how much it flexes. However some composite materials flex a little more but are very strong. Kevlar is more flexible than fiberglass yet still stronger for example. As far as hunters versus catalinas, I tink the hunters have better hulls and interior designs and the catalinas have better sailing hardware. I like my 23.5 better than the catalina trailerables. I heard of one fella who traded up from a hunter 23.5 to a catalina 250 and could not get rid of the catalina fast enough so that he could get back into a hunter.For racing I'd prefer a capri, but for cruising I'd choose the hunter every time.
The transparency of the hull has little to do with the strength. Imagine four inch thick glass. It is very strong but completely transparent. A better determination of stength would be how much it flexes. However some composite materials flex a little more but are very strong. Kevlar is more flexible than fiberglass yet still stronger for example. As far as hunters versus catalinas, I tink the hunters have better hulls and interior designs and the catalinas have better sailing hardware. I like my 23.5 better than the catalina trailerables. I heard of one fella who traded up from a hunter 23.5 to a catalina 250 and could not get rid of the catalina fast enough so that he could get back into a hunter.For racing I'd prefer a capri, but for cruising I'd choose the hunter every time.
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Pete
sailing club buddies
I think that maybe you have been had by your "sailing club buddies". I would suggest to you that they might not want you to purchase a Hunter because you will most likely whip there butts and become the NEW sailing champion ! ! ! So much for buddies! But more serious as stated in the other post being able to see or not see through the hull in not a sign of strenght. Check out for yourself to see what hull "oil cans" (flex) and what one does not. A good survey can also give you hull thickness (there are instruments that can measure this)if you still feel the need. AS far as being able to see thur my hull let me tell you I can not see any sea !
I think that maybe you have been had by your "sailing club buddies". I would suggest to you that they might not want you to purchase a Hunter because you will most likely whip there butts and become the NEW sailing champion ! ! ! So much for buddies! But more serious as stated in the other post being able to see or not see through the hull in not a sign of strenght. Check out for yourself to see what hull "oil cans" (flex) and what one does not. A good survey can also give you hull thickness (there are instruments that can measure this)if you still feel the need. AS far as being able to see thur my hull let me tell you I can not see any sea !
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John Powell
I listened - mistake!
I bought a Hunter 23.5 two years ago to learn to sail. I heard all the negative stories about water balast and how dangerous it was. I had done my research and spent hours looking and studying this site(and other web sites). I knew I was right but they scared my wife so badly, we ended up selling it and buying a larger boat, a Catalina 250. It was a tub! I loved my Hunter and hated the 250, which I have now unloaded on someone else. I plan to buy another boat and it will almost surely be a Hunter. I live in Atlanta and travel Florida in my work. I have visited the factory in Florida and seen the boats being built. Do your own research and make the best choice for your situation. People who have not owned one just don't know what they are talking about. Opinions from non-owners are free and are worth little more than they cost. Good luck.
I bought a Hunter 23.5 two years ago to learn to sail. I heard all the negative stories about water balast and how dangerous it was. I had done my research and spent hours looking and studying this site(and other web sites). I knew I was right but they scared my wife so badly, we ended up selling it and buying a larger boat, a Catalina 250. It was a tub! I loved my Hunter and hated the 250, which I have now unloaded on someone else. I plan to buy another boat and it will almost surely be a Hunter. I live in Atlanta and travel Florida in my work. I have visited the factory in Florida and seen the boats being built. Do your own research and make the best choice for your situation. People who have not owned one just don't know what they are talking about. Opinions from non-owners are free and are worth little more than they cost. Good luck.
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Nivritti Kuzma
thanks
thanks for your owners asessments. I know that hunter gets flak in general, which is why I asked for an opinion here as well. I really like what I have seen of the 240, and Gateway Sailing is checking with their costomers in my area to see if I can go talk to and check out their boat. The fact that the dealer is helping me talk to local owners about the boat instead of a salesman shows confidence in the product.
thanks for your owners asessments. I know that hunter gets flak in general, which is why I asked for an opinion here as well. I really like what I have seen of the 240, and Gateway Sailing is checking with their costomers in my area to see if I can go talk to and check out their boat. The fact that the dealer is helping me talk to local owners about the boat instead of a salesman shows confidence in the product.
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Jeff Davis
I bought 2 of them
We bought our first 240 in August 1998. When it was just less than a year old, it was struck by lightning. The insurance paid for full replacement, so we went straight to the dealer and bought another one! It's a 2000 model and we still love it.
We bought our first 240 in August 1998. When it was just less than a year old, it was struck by lightning. The insurance paid for full replacement, so we went straight to the dealer and bought another one! It's a 2000 model and we still love it.
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bill crawford
no see thru
I have had my boat since 1993 and have waxed it twice a season since I bbought it home. I keep it at home on the trailer.I live about 30 minutes from lake michigan and get it out for a sail about twice a month more if I am lucky. I have also trailered it to new york and missouri, arkansas, and go to kentucky lake at least twice a year. thats alot of launches and retrievals and a lot of bounces on the road and bangs into the dock. evan had a houseboat squeeze it against a dock. never had anything more than a deep scratch that was easy to repair.It is a good solid boat. I would buy another in a minute.
I have had my boat since 1993 and have waxed it twice a season since I bbought it home. I keep it at home on the trailer.I live about 30 minutes from lake michigan and get it out for a sail about twice a month more if I am lucky. I have also trailered it to new york and missouri, arkansas, and go to kentucky lake at least twice a year. thats alot of launches and retrievals and a lot of bounces on the road and bangs into the dock. evan had a houseboat squeeze it against a dock. never had anything more than a deep scratch that was easy to repair.It is a good solid boat. I would buy another in a minute.
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