I am just starting to shop for a late model sailboat in the 26-27 foot range. I plan to sail it on a lake near St. Louis. I own a 16 foot catamaran. I have day chartered Catalinas and Hunters roughly 8 times. What do you see as the advantages/disadvantages of the Hunter compared to its competitors? What suggestions do you have for someone looking to buy his first cabin sailboat? Thanks! Daryl
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Jack
Archives
Check the archives for Hunter - vs - Catalina or some such wording . This question has been asked and answered numerous times on this site so you should get a lot of opinions. Good luck
Check the archives for Hunter - vs - Catalina or some such wording . This question has been asked and answered numerous times on this site so you should get a lot of opinions. Good luck
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Jeff
Draft
Daryl, I sail outside of Saint Louis also. We have kept our boat at Carlyle Lake for 4 years. If this is the lake you sail, you may want to consider a boat with a shallow draft. Carlyle Lake is not noted for being very deep although quite windy at times. We have an H26 and enjoy being able to raise the CB and rudder. This allows us to beach or get into the shallower coves without risk of getting stuck. This boat sails very well once you learn to reef early. Good Luck, Jeff "Festivity" 1996 H26
Daryl, I sail outside of Saint Louis also. We have kept our boat at Carlyle Lake for 4 years. If this is the lake you sail, you may want to consider a boat with a shallow draft. Carlyle Lake is not noted for being very deep although quite windy at times. We have an H26 and enjoy being able to raise the CB and rudder. This allows us to beach or get into the shallower coves without risk of getting stuck. This boat sails very well once you learn to reef early. Good Luck, Jeff "Festivity" 1996 H26
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Bob
Hunters
We bought a Hunter 285 last November after a long search on the internet followed by countless trips to the Chesapeake Bay to look at the boats I found on the net. We settled on a 1987 boat which was in very good shape. Yes, I am upgrading it (GPS, battery charger, etc.) but we love it and actually sailed her a few warm days in December before pulling "Grace" out for the winter. For it's size the 285 is very roomy and we could easily sleep 4 (although it was advertised as sleeping six. Yea, right!) She's fast and easy to handle. I don't know how our boat compares to other Hunters like in the range your looking for but when you go to our marina you see a lot of Hunters. In short I think you get a lot of boat for the money. Let me say however, that it is VERY important that you have a marine survey done on a boat you get close to buying. It's expensive (our's cost about $600 with haul out) but it's well worth it. A few problems were found that the previous owner fixed for "free". Good luck.
We bought a Hunter 285 last November after a long search on the internet followed by countless trips to the Chesapeake Bay to look at the boats I found on the net. We settled on a 1987 boat which was in very good shape. Yes, I am upgrading it (GPS, battery charger, etc.) but we love it and actually sailed her a few warm days in December before pulling "Grace" out for the winter. For it's size the 285 is very roomy and we could easily sleep 4 (although it was advertised as sleeping six. Yea, right!) She's fast and easy to handle. I don't know how our boat compares to other Hunters like in the range your looking for but when you go to our marina you see a lot of Hunters. In short I think you get a lot of boat for the money. Let me say however, that it is VERY important that you have a marine survey done on a boat you get close to buying. It's expensive (our's cost about $600 with haul out) but it's well worth it. A few problems were found that the previous owner fixed for "free". Good luck.
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Brian Rioux
more for the money for coastal cruising
Hunters are good coastal cruisers. Usually people who have bad things to say about Hunters are furtunate enough to be able to afford top of the line blue water cruisers. Hunter has never claimed their small boats are oceans cruisers, they are coastal cruisers. Comparing boats to cars helps explain, you have Rolls Royces, Ferraris and so forth, and you have Chevrolet, Ford, etc. This is an obvious generalization, but the point being, you get what you pay for. In most cases, you get a better boat if you spend more money. But for coastal cruising, it is not necessary to bust the bank. It is kind of like (I am not trying to offend anyone here) spending a lot of money on an SUV for daily driving and never going off road. If it's what you want, go ahead. There is something to be said about the good felling the highest quality product brings. But if money is an issue, be smart and get what is suited for your needs. I am just a coastal cruiser and I got a Hunter 30 for the same price as a slightly new Catalina 27 would run. And it suits my needs just fine.
Hunters are good coastal cruisers. Usually people who have bad things to say about Hunters are furtunate enough to be able to afford top of the line blue water cruisers. Hunter has never claimed their small boats are oceans cruisers, they are coastal cruisers. Comparing boats to cars helps explain, you have Rolls Royces, Ferraris and so forth, and you have Chevrolet, Ford, etc. This is an obvious generalization, but the point being, you get what you pay for. In most cases, you get a better boat if you spend more money. But for coastal cruising, it is not necessary to bust the bank. It is kind of like (I am not trying to offend anyone here) spending a lot of money on an SUV for daily driving and never going off road. If it's what you want, go ahead. There is something to be said about the good felling the highest quality product brings. But if money is an issue, be smart and get what is suited for your needs. I am just a coastal cruiser and I got a Hunter 30 for the same price as a slightly new Catalina 27 would run. And it suits my needs just fine.
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Jim A
Catalina and Hunter
Both are great boats. The hunter has a fraction rig and the Catalina is a standard rig. The fraction rig has a smaller jib and larger mainsail. Some thing it is easier to handle because you have the work the jib. In a way I guess that is true. I think it boils down to the Hunter is faster and the Catalina is more stability. Overall the Catalina is a better boat according to Practical Sailor. I am a Hunter owner and I thin that is true. So why buy a Hunter. It is faster, cheaper and fun to sail. Hunters are great boat. Here is what I would look for. Nice Cabin Swim Platform and Walk through transom Deck in good shape Good sails and motor Most important you have to fall in love with the boat...not lust... I am in love with my Hunter 28...
Both are great boats. The hunter has a fraction rig and the Catalina is a standard rig. The fraction rig has a smaller jib and larger mainsail. Some thing it is easier to handle because you have the work the jib. In a way I guess that is true. I think it boils down to the Hunter is faster and the Catalina is more stability. Overall the Catalina is a better boat according to Practical Sailor. I am a Hunter owner and I thin that is true. So why buy a Hunter. It is faster, cheaper and fun to sail. Hunters are great boat. Here is what I would look for. Nice Cabin Swim Platform and Walk through transom Deck in good shape Good sails and motor Most important you have to fall in love with the boat...not lust... I am in love with my Hunter 28...
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Ray Bowles
Daryl, In the range of boats 26' and down then
you are talking about 2 different items. Both Catalina and Hunter make water ballasted towable boats and fixed keel boats. Generally the 26 and down are towable and the 27 and up are fixed keel in the later model years. I can't say a thing about either fixed keel boat but I can about water ballasted or even wing keel towable boats. After a very long and really, really deep search for the best towable sailboat we ended up with a 95 Hunter 26. It is the largest towable sailboat we found. There are some 27's and 28's but they can't legally be towed without permits and large bore trucks. If you are looking at water ballasted boats please respond and I will go into detail. My thought is that you are talking about fixed keel boats but I thought I'd clear this up by asking. The Hunter 26 is the top of the food chain for trailed boats. Ray S/V Speedy
you are talking about 2 different items. Both Catalina and Hunter make water ballasted towable boats and fixed keel boats. Generally the 26 and down are towable and the 27 and up are fixed keel in the later model years. I can't say a thing about either fixed keel boat but I can about water ballasted or even wing keel towable boats. After a very long and really, really deep search for the best towable sailboat we ended up with a 95 Hunter 26. It is the largest towable sailboat we found. There are some 27's and 28's but they can't legally be towed without permits and large bore trucks. If you are looking at water ballasted boats please respond and I will go into detail. My thought is that you are talking about fixed keel boats but I thought I'd clear this up by asking. The Hunter 26 is the top of the food chain for trailed boats. Ray S/V Speedy
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