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Review of the Hunter 30_88-94 by Robert Knupp

Year built 1990  
Location of boat Ft. Myers Beach, Florida  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength Select one  
Average size of crew  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2016  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely!  
Gear that's been added Stereo, Lewmar V1 Windlass, Lowrance HDS-7 Chartplotter, RAYMARINE EV-100 Autopilot, Raymarine wind instrumentation, A/C, generator, ice maker, refrigerator/freezer, gennaker, mattress pad and more...  
Structural or complex improvements Lewmar V1 Windlass with remote control and new anchor roller. Fitting this into the anchor locker was a major challenge, as I didnt want to cut holes in my locker and have unit hanging into the v-berth. I fabricated a mounting pad that locks into the locker flange. Had a new, longer anchor roller welded on and through bolted. Works great!!  
The boat's best features Interior is incredibly spacious; especially the aft cabin. Im 65 so a cabin that I can sprawl out in is a dream!! 62 headroom below is also nice. I love the walk-through transom as well. Shoal draft is a must in my location, but boat is very stable nonetheless. Ive so many things I love about this boat, but roomy, stable and phenomenal handling under power in tight spaces are top 3 for me. I also appreciate large Ice chest, air conditioning and windlass. I love my ease of use and creature comforts!!  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Roller furling is too stiff despite using dry lubricant top and bottom. I was very frustrated that the anchor roller couldnt be replaced easily, as the pin/shaft the roller was on was welded in. The factory placement and sizing was unacceptable. Sawzall took care of the removal in short order!!  
Sailing characterisitcs Ive sailed her upwards 35kts wind w gusts well over 40 with a small portion of Genoa flying. Boat always stable and safe. She really flies on down wind runs! Average days our winds are 6-15 kts sailing 5-7.5 kts on most days.  
Motoring characterisitcs Runs smoothly at 6kts. Handling under power is a dream!! Turns tight and very responsive to commands both forward and reverse.  
Liveability Ive spent a week at a time aboard with 1-3 guests on 3 trips and many shorter trips. Having 4 aboard (2 adults/2 kids) was as much as I care to accommodate, but very doable. This is by far the most spacious 30 boat Ive ever seen, but loading 4 people plus food, drinks, clothing and gear for a week long trip tightens things up when below deck. Creature comforts make a world of difference on these trips. Having a/c aboard and the ability to make ice aboard changed the game in Florida summertime. I have to also mention that I have a Moto Play phone with the projector attachment. With this I can retire to my aft cabin and project a 70 picture onto the cabin wall and play movies while connected via Bluetooth to the stereo system for great sound. We can play movies/shows anywhere aboard with a surface to project onto such as cabin ceiling. Weve baked cookies aboard and had family movie night more than once at anchor. The Moto Play projector is a great way to add entertainment aboard without taking up space.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any  
Other comments My sailboat has a Yanmar 2gm20F which has been completely reliable and sips fuel, but Id love to have a 3gm to help power into the wind/Seas/tides. She will go power through 6 seas with wind on the nose, but doing it at 3 kts stinks. For me, my most valued improvement has been the electronics; particularly the Raymarine EV-100 wheel pilot. The EV-100 replaced an older autohelm ST4000+. Theres no comparison between the two autopilot!! The EV-100 is networked with my chartplotter and wind instrumentation and is a dream come true. This chartplotter sails a straighter course than I can if seas are under 5 and wind under 15kts. If conditions are stronger, the unit still handles the boat very well! Its a joy to be freed of the helm when my wife and I can sit on deck in bean bags and enjoy the setting together! The EV-100 has plenty of power to effectively handle the vessel.  

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