Special focus during survey?

Jim Legere · Jan 9, 2014

voyaJack said:
Hi everyone,

I'm currently considering a Hunter 37C , and I'd link to know if there are known issues I should watch for. Possibly in two lists: deal breakers and minor annoyances. For example are they known prone to blistering? I tried to search for this question on the forum but didn't find anything. At any rate I would be using a professional surveyor, but I'd rather avoid the trouble if there are known deal breaker issues that I could identify myself.

Thank you,
Jack

This question has been answered many times in this forum but, in a nutshell,
holding tank and water tanks are aluminum and prone to leak in old age; Gray plastic ports will need repair/rebedding or replacement; wet core is possble around the ports & chainplates; possible rudder issues if boat was grounded,etc.; 2 cylinder Yanmar boats were underpowered...in short, just what you might expect in a ~35 year-old boat. To my knowledge, blistering has not been a problem. Hunters of this era were built as well as or better than other large-scale American production boats of the time. They are solid and will take good care of you if you take care of them.

rardiH36 · Jan 9, 2014

Another source of info. If you haven't discovered yet on this site, check out the below link. Lot's of Hunter 37c owners have posted reviews about their boats/experiences ...

http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/index.php?option=com_brevs&model=38&Itemid=170

centerline · Jan 9, 2014

I dont want to hijack or divert the thread, but I think this would be a good sticky topic in ALL the brand specific forums... a place where known problems or concerns with the particular boat brand/model could be documented and archived for anyone wishing to know these things.... who wouldnt want to know?....

edit.... its not about boat bashing, but its about real issues that may be hidden or very little is known about... or serious problems that will happen because of a minor issue that is being ignored. a marine surveyor could add a lot of useful information to it... Just a thought!!!

Blaise · Jan 13, 2014

Neglect is the biggest killer of boats. Anybody's boats. All boats are going to age. Everything wears out. But if you find an old boat that has been maintained you will probably be better off than getting a newer boat that has been ignored. The basic platform is great. A well designed boat, built very stoutly. Things like Hunter cheaping out on the plastic ports, always amazed me when they went to the great added expense of using a keel stepped mast. After 36 years of owning Midnight Sun, the list of things modified and/or replaced is long. But we still ocean race hundreds of miles at a time and the old girl does fine and is still competative. I am wearing out faster. Goes back to it being a great platform. You can read my review for a complete list of mods I have done over the years. My recommendation is to get the deep draft model. It still only draws 5'1" and sails much better. The other thing is to get rid of the staysail and sail the boat as a sloop. (Than was for you, Ed.)

Ed Schenck · Jan 13, 2014

He just won't leave me alone!

The boat is great as a cutter. Twenty knots of wind or more, strike the staysail and have a self-tacking boat. No reefing required. And yeah, with the shoal draft keel.
Where you going to find a prettier, more solid boat?

Jim Legere · Jan 13, 2014

Ed Schenck said:
He just won't leave me alone!
The boat is great as a cutter. Twenty knots of wind or more, strike the staysail and have a self-tacking boat. No reefing required. And yeah, with the shoal draft keel.
Where you going to find a prettier, more solid boat?

Didn't you mean "strike the jib" Ed?
I have always wondered how Blaise's boat would do against ours with his genoa half-rolled up in 30+ knots...I know - he probably changes down for a blade jib in that kind of weather, but I still love the cutter rig.

Blaise · Jan 14, 2014

Jim,
You are right. We change to the blade at 28kts. Our sail reducing goes like this. At 20kts (true) we reef. at 28kts we change to the blade (deck sweeping 90%. it is still 16 feet long on the foot) and un reef the main. at the mid to high 30's (depending on the sea state) we reef the main again. At this point we are usually the only boat still racing. When it gets into the 40's we will drop the jib if we are off the wind. If we are hard on the wind, we will drop the main. Because the mast is so far aft in these boats, they won't go up hill AT ALL in any kind of a sea. I am a firm believer in just one reef point. Having half the main tied up around the boom is a huge hinderence.

Jim Legere · Jan 15, 2014

Blaise said:
Jim,
You are right. We change to the blade at 28kts. Our sail reducing goes like this. At 20kts (true) we reef. at 28kts we change to the blade (deck sweeping 90%. it is still 16 feet long on the foot) and un reef the main. at the mid to high 30's (depending on the sea state) we reef the main again. At this point we are usually the only boat still racing. When it gets into the 40's we will drop the jib if we are off the wind. If we are hard on the wind, we will drop the main. Because the mast is so far aft in these boats, they won't go up hill AT ALL in any kind of a sea. I am a firm believer in just one reef point. Having half the main tied up around the boom is a huge hinderence.

Good info - sloop-rigged H37C owner take note!

sandpiper10471 · Jan 15, 2014

Blaise - is this shortening sail schedule for upwind work or downwind? Also, how deep is that reef in the main?

Blaise · Jan 15, 2014

That was our up hill schedule. You can carry more longer on a reach. We routinely hit 14 kts surfing downwind wing and wing with the blade and full main in 40kts. I have never intentionally flown a chute in more than thiry (true). The apparent wind is down to 22 or 23 kts which is fine, but jibing gets dangerous. We "dip pole". The chute is so wide that I think we could kill someone trying to end for ending. I have been racing with the same crew for 24 years. We were all braver when we were younger. Sorry we got off the original subject of the survey. Oh, and my reef is four feet up from the boom.

Jim Legere · Jan 15, 2014

Blaise said:
That was our up hill schedule. You can carry more longer on a reach. We routinely hit 14 kts surfing downwind wing and wing with the blade and full main in 40kts. I have never intentionally flown a chute in more than thiry (true). The apparent wind is down to 22 or 23 kts which is fine, but jibing gets dangerous. We "dip pole". The chute is so wide that I think we could kill someone trying to end for ending. I have been racing with the same crew for 24 years. We were all braver when we were younger. Sorry we got off the original subject of the survey. Oh, and my reef is four feet up from the boom.

Sounds like fun - makes me want to sign up for crew on your next race

. I used to race dinghies, cats and 1/4 ton IOR in my youth. Now I am just happy to be out sailing. I solo-sail a lot and the cutter rig works well for my purposes. I even fly an asymmetric kite on my own. But I can see the go-faster appeal of your sloop rig on Midnight Sun. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Are you racing to Mexico again this year?

(sorry to the OP for the thread hijack)

Blaise · Jan 16, 2014

No Mexico this year. we aare racing from Tampa Bay to Key West. It is only 200 miles. Unfortunately it is $200.00 a night to put the boat in a marina.

The Rach · Jan 19, 2014

Subject for a sticky topic?

voyaJack said:
Hi everyone,

I'm currently considering a Hunter 37C , and I'd link to know if there are known issues I should watch for. Possibly in two lists: deal breakers and minor annoyances....

Thank you,
Jack

First, I must apologize as I doubled up on this thread and should have seen it.

Second, I agree with one of the previous posters that a, to steal a work phrase, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities) Sticky thread would be a good thing. Especially since another poster made mention of this topic recurring.

Third, I see another potential sticky thread, at least one I would have interest in, how "Sail Trim Strategies for the H37C."

Fourth, hello to Jack, how is your hunt going, I am at the scheduled survey phase to be followed by sea trial and haul out. Hopefully, then she will have a new name and hailing port.

Special focus during survey?

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