I am trying to buy a Hunter 37 cutter. Three out of three I have had surveyed have had wet, soft areas in the cabintop and/or delamination. Some were worse than others, but the one common thing was that the wet areas began just aft of the dorades. One boat was soft on every square inch of the cabintop. Another was soft up to about the leading edge of the companionway hatch. When the surveyor walked on the cabintop, I saw the ceiling inside the cabin flex downwards an inch or so- and he is a lightweight! How common is this problem- do any of you Hunter 37 cutter owners have it as well? Has anyone fixed it? How is the cabintop built? It appears as though it is built with the outer skin (the deck surface), then some kind of core (plywood? balsa squares?), then the cabin liner. I'm guessing at this because I don't think the cabin liner would move otherwise. From what I have read, and since I have already paid for a wet deck repair on my current boat, I believe that this would be a very expensive or time-consuming (if DIY) project. Buy such a boat and repair ($$$)? Walk away? Or keep looking for a Hunter 37-c with a dry cabintop?
- Status
Common problem in Dorade boxes
This is a common problem. The problem is the way they were made. I caught mine (at an age of 10 years) before it had a very big soft spot. I have a description of the problem and the cure (for the dorade leak, not the soft decks) is here: http://www.geocities.com/rainbow_chaser.geo/dorade.html The fix is generic, as many boats have soft decks. I haven't done it, so details of that needs to be left to others who know more than just some theory about it. Good luck, Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser
This is a common problem. The problem is the way they were made. I caught mine (at an age of 10 years) before it had a very big soft spot. I have a description of the problem and the cure (for the dorade leak, not the soft decks) is here: http://www.geocities.com/rainbow_chaser.geo/dorade.html The fix is generic, as many boats have soft decks. I haven't done it, so details of that needs to be left to others who know more than just some theory about it. Good luck, Gene Gruender Rainbow Chaser
Common or not, do you want to buy a sailboat
or a project? If this is a common problem, and not terribly hard to fix then why haven't the current owners fixed them rather than selling the boat? Why do so many have this fault? Being a current Hunter owner I do have brand loyality. But in our quest to find a 36 to 42 foot cutter I have found that the Hunter is not the boat for me to buy. My choice would be a Tayana, Bayfield, Crelock etc. Hunter did not delve much in cutters, and they are the leader in B
or a project? If this is a common problem, and not terribly hard to fix then why haven't the current owners fixed them rather than selling the boat? Why do so many have this fault? Being a current Hunter owner I do have brand loyality. But in our quest to find a 36 to 42 foot cutter I have found that the Hunter is not the boat for me to buy. My choice would be a Tayana, Bayfield, Crelock etc. Hunter did not delve much in cutters, and they are the leader in B
Most(all?) old boats. . . .
have moisture problems. Note that I wrote "old" boats. This has nothing to do with it being a Hunter or a Cutter. Ray has obviously never owned a Cherubini cutter or he would understand the owner loyalty.
The H37C was susceptible for three reasons: 1) poor dorade design as Gene explained, 2) poor installation of staysail traveler, and 3) improperly sealed chainplates. Some owners caught these early, most didn't. The fix, however, is quite simple and the problem is not life threatening. Much has been written on HOW about deck repair so I won't burden the readers here. I will write to Bob about my own repairs. And I would recommend the two or three booklets that West Systems provides on fiberglass repair.
have moisture problems. Note that I wrote "old" boats. This has nothing to do with it being a Hunter or a Cutter. Ray has obviously never owned a Cherubini cutter or he would understand the owner loyalty.
The H37C was susceptible for three reasons: 1) poor dorade design as Gene explained, 2) poor installation of staysail traveler, and 3) improperly sealed chainplates. Some owners caught these early, most didn't. The fix, however, is quite simple and the problem is not life threatening. Much has been written on HOW about deck repair so I won't burden the readers here. I will write to Bob about my own repairs. And I would recommend the two or three booklets that West Systems provides on fiberglass repair.Ray..........
You may see a lot of brand-loyalty here, as well as you might see it to other brands on other sites. You'd be hard-pressed though, to find more BOAT-loyalty than that expressed by us H-37c owners. These boats have a few well-known shortcomings, and we have all had to address them to one degree or another, but it is the BOAT that charms us. It's the way it is built, the way she sails, the way she looks, and the way you feel when you step aboard her that makes your life sweeter if an H37c is in it. I have nothing but admiration for the Crealocks and Tayanas of the world, and I allow they are built to stronger scantlings. There are also Swans and Hinkleys out there, but we are on smaller budgets. To Bob, I would say, take another, long look, maybe at the boat with the smallest area of delamination. Even though this problem is common, if it is small and under control, don't overlook the many very positive aspects of this remarkable boat.
You may see a lot of brand-loyalty here, as well as you might see it to other brands on other sites. You'd be hard-pressed though, to find more BOAT-loyalty than that expressed by us H-37c owners. These boats have a few well-known shortcomings, and we have all had to address them to one degree or another, but it is the BOAT that charms us. It's the way it is built, the way she sails, the way she looks, and the way you feel when you step aboard her that makes your life sweeter if an H37c is in it. I have nothing but admiration for the Crealocks and Tayanas of the world, and I allow they are built to stronger scantlings. There are also Swans and Hinkleys out there, but we are on smaller budgets. To Bob, I would say, take another, long look, maybe at the boat with the smallest area of delamination. Even though this problem is common, if it is small and under control, don't overlook the many very positive aspects of this remarkable boat.
Cabin top delamination.
As a Full time Marine Surveyor, I have the advantage of seeing a lot of older boats. The problems you describe seem to be quite a bit more extensive than is usual in these boats. Still it is repairable and for the right price it may be worth your while to do so. At least then you know how it was repaired. As far as owner loyalty, I understand it well. I own a 1980 Hunter 37C myself. The comment about Hunter only building one cutter is correct but the conclusions drawn from that are not. A cutter requires no special construction techniques, just a good designer. And the Hunter 37C had one of the best. I still feel there is no better buy in a boat of this size or type on the market.
As a Full time Marine Surveyor, I have the advantage of seeing a lot of older boats. The problems you describe seem to be quite a bit more extensive than is usual in these boats. Still it is repairable and for the right price it may be worth your while to do so. At least then you know how it was repaired. As far as owner loyalty, I understand it well. I own a 1980 Hunter 37C myself. The comment about Hunter only building one cutter is correct but the conclusions drawn from that are not. A cutter requires no special construction techniques, just a good designer. And the Hunter 37C had one of the best. I still feel there is no better buy in a boat of this size or type on the market.
Sure, I wouldn't mind a Tayana,
or a Cabo Rico, or Shannon cutter. I own a Cape Dory 27 now, and know that it is more robustly built boat than even the Hunter Cherubini. But at $110,000 for a used Cabo Rico 38 or Cape Dory 36, I'll pocket the (virtual) $70,000 I will save by buying a Hunter 37 cutter instead. I haven't actually sailed a Hunter 37 cutter, but from what I have seen after checking out a dozen or so and from lurking here I think it's a helluva buy. My own surveyor echoed Dan's comments- he said this boat has a lot more delamination than is typical for the Hunter 37C- an area of about 70 square feet. It is freaky to watch the cabin liner sag as someone walks above! I'll be getting a repair estimate from a very reputable yard within a week. I will keep you guys posted, but my gut instinct is to try
or a Cabo Rico, or Shannon cutter. I own a Cape Dory 27 now, and know that it is more robustly built boat than even the Hunter Cherubini. But at $110,000 for a used Cabo Rico 38 or Cape Dory 36, I'll pocket the (virtual) $70,000 I will save by buying a Hunter 37 cutter instead. I haven't actually sailed a Hunter 37 cutter, but from what I have seen after checking out a dozen or so and from lurking here I think it's a helluva buy. My own surveyor echoed Dan's comments- he said this boat has a lot more delamination than is typical for the Hunter 37C- an area of about 70 square feet. It is freaky to watch the cabin liner sag as someone walks above! I'll be getting a repair estimate from a very reputable yard within a week. I will keep you guys posted, but my gut instinct is to try
- Status