for replacing our furler unit free of charge after the tack ring prematurely failed. Hunter pushed the limits by installing a Furlex 100 in their 32 ft boat. Selden's own advertising does not recommend the F100 for boats over 30'. They were probably trying to keep the cost down as the difference in price between the F100 and the F200 is around $600. You can tell that the new part where the tack ring holds the shakle has been redesigned and beefed up to hold a much heavier shakle. This shows the manufacturer became aware of the problem. The point we are trying to make is that Selden and Hunter should not have put the small F100 in a boat displacing 12,000 lbs. even if the headsail is on the small side. For those H320 owners with the original Furlex 100 please be aware that the tack ring and shackle is weak and prone to failure. Keep the halyard on the loose side. Getting the part replaced was very nice but left us to take care of the rigging expenses. Once again we are very grateful to Selden for their quick response and resolution as the unit was just out of its 5 year warranty. We did not approach Hunter but it would have been interesting to know how each felt about who should be responsible for the riggin expenses. Legally neither had a responsibility and we picked up the tab.
- Status
Quality does not appear to be a priority
Glad to see you got your problem solved. I think you went the right way about seeking a solution - directly through Selden. They obviously offer quality customer service. In my view if you had gone through Hunter you probably would have been frustrated into submission. Hunter does not have the level, quality and resource-base of customer service that a manufacturer of its size requires. As a result, the service response and resolution is generally haphazard and mostly 'pot luck'. Some owners swear by them (good for them) and others swear at them (good for them). A case in point is the manner in which Hunter dealt (or rather not dealt) with the overheating of the Yanmar 3YM30 engines on new H33s. To my knowledge Hunter never made a public statement nor onerously contacted H33 owners directly to explain what was going on, through the duration of the problem. Although the problem appears to be behind us now it was nevertheless very serious at the time - even to the point of affecting the safe operation of the vessel in certain situations - like the experience of guy in Baton Rouge. It is my view that some Hunter boats are designed well but manufactured 'on the cheap'. Your problem bears this out. I also believe that build substance and quality leaves a lot to be desired. For example, I am in the process of laying genoa track lines on the port and stbd decks of my 2004 H33 and had to access the backing plates by removing the cabin lining. We were absolutely astounded at how thin the fibreglass is in those areas. I fear a fair sized breaking wave on deck will most likely turn the boat into a canoe!!! Other shoddy work has shown up in other areas as one gets beyond the 'flash and glitz, of the visible exterior. To have that boat certified as CE category "A' leaves me shaking my head. So your problem does not surprise me in the least. The Hunter philosophy appears to me to be: cookie-cut the boats and pump them out as fast as possible in a dash for yet more profits. Trouble with that philosophy is that quality and customer service suffer as a result. As for me - never again.
Glad to see you got your problem solved. I think you went the right way about seeking a solution - directly through Selden. They obviously offer quality customer service. In my view if you had gone through Hunter you probably would have been frustrated into submission. Hunter does not have the level, quality and resource-base of customer service that a manufacturer of its size requires. As a result, the service response and resolution is generally haphazard and mostly 'pot luck'. Some owners swear by them (good for them) and others swear at them (good for them). A case in point is the manner in which Hunter dealt (or rather not dealt) with the overheating of the Yanmar 3YM30 engines on new H33s. To my knowledge Hunter never made a public statement nor onerously contacted H33 owners directly to explain what was going on, through the duration of the problem. Although the problem appears to be behind us now it was nevertheless very serious at the time - even to the point of affecting the safe operation of the vessel in certain situations - like the experience of guy in Baton Rouge. It is my view that some Hunter boats are designed well but manufactured 'on the cheap'. Your problem bears this out. I also believe that build substance and quality leaves a lot to be desired. For example, I am in the process of laying genoa track lines on the port and stbd decks of my 2004 H33 and had to access the backing plates by removing the cabin lining. We were absolutely astounded at how thin the fibreglass is in those areas. I fear a fair sized breaking wave on deck will most likely turn the boat into a canoe!!! Other shoddy work has shown up in other areas as one gets beyond the 'flash and glitz, of the visible exterior. To have that boat certified as CE category "A' leaves me shaking my head. So your problem does not surprise me in the least. The Hunter philosophy appears to me to be: cookie-cut the boats and pump them out as fast as possible in a dash for yet more profits. Trouble with that philosophy is that quality and customer service suffer as a result. As for me - never again.
Furlex
I replaced my original Hood furler on my 1986 Hunter 28.5 last year with a Furlex F200. Based on the size of my boat, I could have gone with either the F100 or F200 systems. Knowing I was going to fly a 150 genoa most of the time, the rigging shop that I worked with -- and who was a Furlex dealer -- provided me with a lot of data suggesting the F200 would be the preferable system. That has proven to be a good choice. Did you have any choices of furlers when you bought your boat? Did Hunter or whoever was going to commission your boat (assuming you were buying a new boat)provide you with any data to compare various furling systems or did the boat just come rigged that way? Finally, I've dealt with Selden customer service a number of times (not as a result of any hardward failures)and found them very helpful.
I replaced my original Hood furler on my 1986 Hunter 28.5 last year with a Furlex F200. Based on the size of my boat, I could have gone with either the F100 or F200 systems. Knowing I was going to fly a 150 genoa most of the time, the rigging shop that I worked with -- and who was a Furlex dealer -- provided me with a lot of data suggesting the F200 would be the preferable system. That has proven to be a good choice. Did you have any choices of furlers when you bought your boat? Did Hunter or whoever was going to commission your boat (assuming you were buying a new boat)provide you with any data to compare various furling systems or did the boat just come rigged that way? Finally, I've dealt with Selden customer service a number of times (not as a result of any hardward failures)and found them very helpful.
John C,
read many of your posting, which were all somewhat bitter. Been a proud owner of many Hunter boats and love them. Its like buying a car. You cannot expect the quality of a BMW at the cost of a Hyundai - just doesn't happen. So, learn to love your Hunter you got a lot of boat for a little money.
read many of your posting, which were all somewhat bitter. Been a proud owner of many Hunter boats and love them. Its like buying a car. You cannot expect the quality of a BMW at the cost of a Hyundai - just doesn't happen. So, learn to love your Hunter you got a lot of boat for a little money.
Thanks Bob but NO thanks
Thanks for your advice Bob but no thanks. Buying a new boat is NOT like buying a new car. In case you had not noticed, the comparative prices and level of financial commitment are substantially different. Unless of course, you are indifferent to the hit to your bank account. Many of us have saved up for the pleasure of owning a new boat and that decision is not taken likely. The purported stigma you choose to attach to Hyundai as a product is an anachronism and certainly no longer valid. That company produced two "cars of the year" this year beating out BMWs etc. Go drive a new Hyundai!!! Thankfully the world progresses. Japanese cars for example, were the butt of all 'cheap' jokes in North America not so many years ago but guess what - well the rest is history. The joys of progress.I will put up a lower priced Honda Civic and/or Toyota Camry (to name a couple) against much more expensive GM and Ford cars anytime and we all know (or should know - except those ostriches that have their heads buried too deeply in the sand) who wins hands down on quality of fit and finish, durability, after sales service and overall value for money. Go check the sales stats' in North America for comparative market share. To adopt and project a negative consumerist attitude that, because you pay less for a product you should expect less is nothing short of defeatist. I compare the Hunter line of boats to others competing in its category like the Catalina line for example, because both products are North American designed and manufactured. While the Hunter I own may be ostensibly innovative and 'glitzy' in its design, its manufacturing quality is undoubtedly substandard when compared to the Catalinas I have owned. In other words, the Hunter is all superficial in presentation while the Catalina is more about substantance in fact. Unfortunately, for once and certainly the very last time, I fell for the 'brochure bull' put out by Hunter, for one of its products. Building boats with misaligned and bent keels, skimpy fibregalass, and a list of other deficiencies is no where near the quality that is expected even from mass production boats. Go check a new Catalina. And while you are at it, do the same in terms of quality for a new Hyundai. I know this may annoy a number of die-hard Hunter owners on this site. That is not my intention. I simply did not get what I paid for when I purchased the 2004 H33 and Hunter is totally disinterested and unresponsive in taking decent, fair and appropriate action. So when I see owners go overboard with praise for the Hunter line of boats I provide the check and balance that stipulates, all is not that rosy all the time.
Thanks for your advice Bob but no thanks. Buying a new boat is NOT like buying a new car. In case you had not noticed, the comparative prices and level of financial commitment are substantially different. Unless of course, you are indifferent to the hit to your bank account. Many of us have saved up for the pleasure of owning a new boat and that decision is not taken likely. The purported stigma you choose to attach to Hyundai as a product is an anachronism and certainly no longer valid. That company produced two "cars of the year" this year beating out BMWs etc. Go drive a new Hyundai!!! Thankfully the world progresses. Japanese cars for example, were the butt of all 'cheap' jokes in North America not so many years ago but guess what - well the rest is history. The joys of progress.I will put up a lower priced Honda Civic and/or Toyota Camry (to name a couple) against much more expensive GM and Ford cars anytime and we all know (or should know - except those ostriches that have their heads buried too deeply in the sand) who wins hands down on quality of fit and finish, durability, after sales service and overall value for money. Go check the sales stats' in North America for comparative market share. To adopt and project a negative consumerist attitude that, because you pay less for a product you should expect less is nothing short of defeatist. I compare the Hunter line of boats to others competing in its category like the Catalina line for example, because both products are North American designed and manufactured. While the Hunter I own may be ostensibly innovative and 'glitzy' in its design, its manufacturing quality is undoubtedly substandard when compared to the Catalinas I have owned. In other words, the Hunter is all superficial in presentation while the Catalina is more about substantance in fact. Unfortunately, for once and certainly the very last time, I fell for the 'brochure bull' put out by Hunter, for one of its products. Building boats with misaligned and bent keels, skimpy fibregalass, and a list of other deficiencies is no where near the quality that is expected even from mass production boats. Go check a new Catalina. And while you are at it, do the same in terms of quality for a new Hyundai. I know this may annoy a number of die-hard Hunter owners on this site. That is not my intention. I simply did not get what I paid for when I purchased the 2004 H33 and Hunter is totally disinterested and unresponsive in taking decent, fair and appropriate action. So when I see owners go overboard with praise for the Hunter line of boats I provide the check and balance that stipulates, all is not that rosy all the time.
Catalina/Hunter
John G., Enjoyed reading your views. We also were previous Catalina owners. When we could upgrade we went from a Catalina 27 to a Hunter 31 1985. The Hunter had much eye appeal. Little did we realize that Hunter does not make it easy as Catalina in getting replacement parts. Perhaps the difference can be attributed to the fact that Catalina is employee owned and therefore more caring? In the end nothing beats a day out sailing!
John G., Enjoyed reading your views. We also were previous Catalina owners. When we could upgrade we went from a Catalina 27 to a Hunter 31 1985. The Hunter had much eye appeal. Little did we realize that Hunter does not make it easy as Catalina in getting replacement parts. Perhaps the difference can be attributed to the fact that Catalina is employee owned and therefore more caring? In the end nothing beats a day out sailing!
Re: Catalina/Hunter
I think one big reason for the "parts" situation is the different philosophies that Hunter and Catalina have with regards to new model production. To illustrate, look at all the unique models that Hunter has produced in the 22' - 30' range from say 1985 to 2000. Hunter has introduced way more models in that time period than Catalina. Therefore, Catalina can afford to retain replacement parts since their models change so infrequently. I also think that since the Cat models change much less, there is more of a model loyalty/following that generates better aftermarket supplier conditions - more demand = more supply (Catalina Direct is a great example) and more owners sites established to further the interest in a particular model.
I think one big reason for the "parts" situation is the different philosophies that Hunter and Catalina have with regards to new model production. To illustrate, look at all the unique models that Hunter has produced in the 22' - 30' range from say 1985 to 2000. Hunter has introduced way more models in that time period than Catalina. Therefore, Catalina can afford to retain replacement parts since their models change so infrequently. I also think that since the Cat models change much less, there is more of a model loyalty/following that generates better aftermarket supplier conditions - more demand = more supply (Catalina Direct is a great example) and more owners sites established to further the interest in a particular model.
Re: Catalina/Hunter
John, Your post brings out some very valid points as well. Although this thread has wandered off the original post..have enjoyed reading various thoughts. We buy what we like, can afford or what the bank will loan us. We all have the choice of inspecting before we buy. Don't know if we will ever own a new boat, but whatever we have that floats plan on making the best of it
Our Cat 27 made me fall in love with sailing our Hunter 31 made me fall in love with boats in general. Something good about everything in life.
John, Your post brings out some very valid points as well. Although this thread has wandered off the original post..have enjoyed reading various thoughts. We buy what we like, can afford or what the bank will loan us. We all have the choice of inspecting before we buy. Don't know if we will ever own a new boat, but whatever we have that floats plan on making the best of it
Our Cat 27 made me fall in love with sailing our Hunter 31 made me fall in love with boats in general. Something good about everything in life.- Status