Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 37.5 by Steve

Year built 1994  
Location of boat Mobile, AL  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1997  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, but...... Good, great amenities, ease of handling, great cabin layout, good (enough) quality. Motors well, sails well and fast(but I can't sail it up to its rating). Plenty of storage, great galley, large head, large aft cabin and bed. Less than good, its tall rig, 59.5' above water, limits us along the intracoastal, where many Florida bridges are fixed at 50'. Its very sensitive to wind speed with its tall rig. Reef early, don't like gusty winds. Sails downwind poor, but I don't use a spinaker due to most often short handed and short experienced.  
Gear that's been added Added: 155% genoa Auto pilot (Autohelm 4000, probably could have gone bigger, but don't use it much while sailing) Refrigeration, 12v, great, Adler Barbor GPS, interface with laptop and autopilot(yes I can drive the boat with the mouse) 2kw inverter 600 amp hours of battery Bags in cockpit for halyards, etc. Bigger fuel filter  
Structural or complex improvements No  
The boat's best features See above  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Problems with roller furling if jib halyard has any tension. headstay sag, can't tighten effectively with the swept back rig don't like all the friction in the control lines led to the cockpit, great convenience, but they won't play out without a load, mainsail won't drop on its own  
Sailing characterisitcs Bad in really light air, less than 4 knots (of course) Sails fast for its size in med-light air, 5-8 knots Sails fast 10-15 knots Points well, flies on a broad reach 15-20 mph Nearing 15 knots, best reef, easily over powered and too much weather helm, usually just ease mainsheet, but best to reef, and even furl headsail  
Motoring characterisitcs no problems, turn on the autopilot and go usual backing problems, creeps to port powers well through rough water  
Liveability great, galley, head, cabins all very well designed and equipped. I have plenty of batteries to enjoy 120v blenders, microwave, tv, computer, games, etc. (wish I had a generator)  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) great, actually sent me to the manufacturer to buy a particular part. always able to help questions. Had a problem on an older H30 with the mast step in the bilge...the steel rusted out and the mast crushed into the floor. I got a little help on a solution, basically agreed my idea was as good as any.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Good, just hate the 10% fee. Though I bought the boat for less than I thouht it was worth. Would certainly buy through a broker, but would try to sell my boat myself first. I feel brokers just get listing and sit on them.  
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