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Review of the Hunter 33 by Larry Ross

Year built 2004  
Location of boat Detroit, Michigan  
The boat is sailed on The Great Lakes  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2004  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes  
Gear that's been added The boat was delivered with the following options: ST-4000 autopilot, 27 hp engine (3GM30), bimini, arch traveler, remote VHF mic, additional battery, refrigerator, oven, ST 40 speed and depth instruments, and cockpit cushions. I have since added 2 additional spinlock rope clutches, (2) ST30 aft winches, outside jib tracks w/cars, a Sony Stereo w/10-CD changer and cockpit speaker pod, and a Marine Air 16k BTU AC/Heating Unit. The dealer also installed my existing Garmin 187 chart plotter fro free and linked it to the autopilot.  
Structural or complex improvements I’ve run the vang and outhaul lines back to the cockpit. As delivered, the outhaul was adjusted on a short line at the bottom of the boom near the mast. I replaced that line with a longer one. The modification was somewhat involved because of the way the line loops through a series of blocks (3:1) inside the Selden boom. I added two ST30 aft winches and outside jib tracks after realizing that sailing with just two winches sometimes requires a lot of switching between the genoa sheet, main sheet, outhaul, and vang line.  
The boat's best features a) This boat is a blast to sail! (more below). b) Ease of Sailing… At first, I wasn’t sure about the smaller 110 Genoa and the oversized main, but I am now. I remember handling a 150 genoa in heavy wind and how it can downright difficult. The 110 genoa is much more manageable. c) I really like the traveler on the overhead arch. I think my wife would have been annoyed with a traveler that was lower in the cockpit. d) This boat is lively and responsive… The first time I sailed the 33 was right after I test sailed a Hunter 36. It was very apparent that sailing the Hunter 33 was driving a nifty sports car as opposed to larger sedan. e) The boat is stable and handles well in a chop. I read a review from Australian magazine that characterized the Hunter 33 as a bit “tender”. Maybe not as stiff as a full-keel heavy displacement cruiser, but it’s plenty stable for its class, and definitely not tender. f) My wife and I especially like the large cockpit... great to stretch out in and relax in the breeze, waves, and sunlight. g) The boat is a great compromise... for a boat with great weekend accommodations, it is still quite fast and agile. I would not consider the boat or myself a serious racer, but it’s a lot of fun to run in the “bowling league” style of race. On the other hand, we have really enjoyed spending time on our new “weekend cottage”.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Design Problems: a) With full tanks of water (50 gal) and fuel (25 gal), the boat has a slight list to port. b) The boat came with 6 line stoppers (Jib Halyard, 2 reef lines, main sheet, main halyard & topping lift. If the vang and outhaul are run back to the cockpit, you will need two additional stoppers. c) The Door stoppers on head and forward cabin are not strong enough to hold doors open in heavy seas or in strong healing. d) The boat, delivered with a two-blade prop, sometime has problems maneuvering in reverse, in tight spaces… especially with some moderate to strong wind and/or current conditions. e) The DC Charger beaker has no alarm when if it is tripped. If not noticed, the fridge can wear down the batteries without warning. It would really help if the there was some kind of visual or audible alert that went off if the charger breaker is tripped. Boat Defects/Problems: a) The boat zigzags slightly while running the ST4000 autopilot. This dealer has promised to resolve this problem next spring. (This may be related to the keel problem – see below) b) After the fall haul-out, I noticed that the vertical fin at the rear of the keel had a 2-3” bend to port. There was not a nick, scratch or dent on the keel to indicate any kind of collision. I’m reasonably sure that the bent keel did not occur during the haul-out either, since I watched the boat raised at the exact lift points indicated in the Hunter manual. Hunter told the dealer that the problem was not a manufacturing defect and disavowed any responsibility in the matter. Fortunately, the dealer agreed to repair the keel in the spring. One footnote... just after taking delivery on the boat, I used black tape to mark the “center” of the steering wheel by turning the helm wheel from hard port to hard starboard and finding middle point in the rudder pivot path. Through the summer, I noticed that center mark seemed to be off by a few degrees… when motoring and steering on that mark, the boat would drift a little to starboard. After the haul-out, I noticed that the rudder and the tape mark were perfectly lined up on the centerline position. I then noticed the bend in the keel for the first time. It seems that this was the probable cause of my slight drift to starboard and perhaps the autopilot zigzag as well. c) The drain in the head sink had a slight leak. This was tightened and resolved by the dealer. d) The engine sometimes has a slight one to two-second high rpm rev after breaking (revving in reverse and then throttling down quickly to neutral. I am still working on this one. e) The neutral button on the end of the throttle lever fell out. The dealer has repaired this. f) The boat had several small fiberglass voids. The dealer repaired these. g) The fuel and waste sensors on Snake River Tank monitoring system failed. The dealer replaced these they now work well. h) While taking a shower with AC/Heat, hot water and water pump on, the main breaker will sometimes trip. I’ve seen other Hunter owners on the list describe this problem. Its best to turn off the AC or Heat before using the shower. i) After the fall haul-out, I noticed hundreds of small blisters and bubbles in the VC17 bottom coat. Apparently, the boat was hurried into the water and the new hull bottom was not properly prepped prior to application of the bottom coat. Fortunately, these are not serious, (there was no damage to the fiber glass hull) and can be easily removed with very light sanding.  
Sailing characterisitcs Here's a story that describes my intial impressions: We first test sailed the boat on a breezy summer day last July. There wind was blowing at 20-25 knots and the waves were building on the west end of Lake Erie. As we headed out into the white-capped lake, I was impressed with the quick and responsive feel of the helm. The boat seemed to react crisply and easily as I maneuvered the wheel. Shawn Taylor, the Toledo Beach Sales Manager, edged the throttle forward a bit and suggested I take a hard 360-degree turn. I rolled the helm hard over quickly, and braced, expecting the boat to lean over with centrifugal force. Even though I was beginning to lose my own footing to the strong outward pull, the boat was digging in and stood straight and balanced as it tracked through the tight circle. While still motoring out, a 20-foot powerboat rapidly decelerated across our path into the channel, churning up a good-sized wake headed directly at our beam. As the surge approached, I braced again, waiting for the familiar “sailboat rock”. The waves smacked along the port side, but the boat held its ground quite well, deflecting the force without event. My wife and I were both looking for stability in a boat, and this one was making an impressive showing of it. We finally turned into the wind ready to sail. Shawn raised the doubled reefed main and unfurled the genoa. I stopped the engine and we were off. Heading out on a beam reach, I was hoping to keep the boat from heeling too much in the brisk winds. I was thinking about my wife, Mary, who enjoyed a good sail, but was definitely not fond of riding with rails in the water. The boat darted ahead, rapidly accelerating across the wind. Again, I noticed the lively feel of the helm as the boat settled into a groove. I glanced at the speed … 6.4 knots and climbing. I felt a sense of exhilaration as the water rushed by churned behind the stern. We tweaked and trimmed the sails and the boat kicked into a higher gear, sprinting across the waves at 6.8 knots. I was impressed with the boats steadiness as it sailed on, planted firmly on a 10-degree heel. The wind began to puff and I nudged the helm slightly off wind, riding a header that seemed to slingshot the boat forward as the boat speed reached 7.3 knots. The puff subsided and I inched the wheel back into its groove. The ’33’ continued to charge on, hardly missing a beat. The puffs came again and again. Each time I edged off, riding the wind and occasionally surfing to hull speed and beyond. I had learned this technique on my former boat, but it was rarely accomplished and never this easy! We sailed the boat for another 30 minutes putting the boat through its rounds, tacking and sailing along on several points of sail. All the while, Mary sat perched comfortably up on the stern rail seat, enjoying the fast ride. The next day, I went back for another test sail. This time, my wife was not with me and Shawn invited me to go out and put the boat on its “ear”. The winds on Lake Erie were obliging (22-25 kph) and I was extremely pleased to see the boat sailing so well on a close reach. As the “rails” dipped near the water line, the boat remained surprisingly well balanced with just some marginal but easily managed weather helm. Since then, I’ve really come to appreciate the significant amount of lift generated by this boat. The boat flies on reaches with just moderate (10-20 degrees) heeling. (My wife really likes this!) In heavier winds (20-25 kph), with sails reefed, the weather helm is easily handled. I’ve only managed to round the boat up a few times, in 35+ knot winds and heavy chop. Although not a pure bread racer, the boat sails fast for its class, especially upwind. It points well and will tack through 80 degrees. The boat easily reaches 6-7 kph in 12+ knot winds. In 14+ kph winds, the boat will consistently sail at hull speed (7.3 kph) and beyond. On some occasions, the boat has surfed on a reach to speeds of 8+ kph in 20+ knot winds. I usually set the first reef in about 18 knots of wind and set the second reef at about 22 knots of wind. The 110 Genoa works well with the oversized mainsail. The smaller genoa is much easier to handle in heavier winds. I have discovered that this a great advantage while sailing short handed. While I have not been able to get he boat to perform as well downwind, its still very adequate… and I’m still learning.  
Motoring characterisitcs Overall, the boat performs well with the 27hp 3GM30 Yanmar and a fixed two-blade prop. The engine is smooth, quiet and very fuel-efficient. At about 2800 rpm, the “33” will cruise at about 6 kph and reaches hull speed (7.3 kph) at a wide-open 3600 rpm. The 27 hp engine has plenty of power to comfortably cruise in most wind and wave conditions. Motoring in reverse can be a challenge as with most two-bladed prop sailboats. Backing up in a crowded marina with cross currents and unfavorable wind conditions can sometimes be a little exciting. Forward maneuverability is excellent.  
Liveability We really enjoy spending weekends on the boat! Below deck, the layout is simple, roomy, and relaxing. The teak woodwork provides a cozy atmosphere. My wife and I both enjoy reading and are pleased with the quantity and quality of lighting. With amenities like gas oven, microwave, fridge, ice-chest, hot water, shower, head, and ac/heating, overnight stays are comfortable. We often call our boat the “week-end cottage”. For the most part, we find the storage space to be adequate, although we wish the closets were a little larger. The bed in the aft cabin is comfortable at a about a queen size or larger. I wish there was a little more headroom above the bed. It’s pretty tight when the person on the inside wants to get up and has to crawl over the outside person. The refrigerator is small, but there is an additional ice chest in the counter that we find useful on weekends and when we entertain guests. We both manage to fit in our morning showers without completely depleting the 5-gallon hot water tank. In the slip, when still, we learned that the boat does have not great ventilation. After spending some hot afternoons and evenings on the boat, we decided to add air conditioning. The cockpit is large enough to entertain a group of 5-7 or great for two to stretch out and relax.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) So far, my dealer, Toledo Beach Yachts, has handled pretty much everything. I haven’t needed to contact Hunter directly.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any For the most part, I have been very pleased with Toledo Beach Yachts (TBY). Shawn Taylor, the Sales Manager is fair, knowledgeable and great to work with. Shawn helped make the purchase easy by offering a decent trade-in on our old boat and setting us up with a lender that offered a great interest rate. Last summer, TBY had an inexperienced service manager who presented some challenges, but since then, service has been excellent. I would definitely buy another boat from them.  
Other comments The day we decided to buy the Hunter 33, I must admit that I was really more interested in test sailing a Hunter 356. After sailing that boat, I decided to go out on the Hunter 33 basically because it was “there”. I had only seen one “average” review on the “33” and I was not all that impressed with the boat’s predecessor, the “326”. Needless to say, after sailing the Hunter 33, all that changed. I had just one problem while trying to decide. I’ve been sailing mid-size boats for six years now and though I like to think that I’m experienced, I had doubts on my ability to judge a great boat without lots of help and "evidence" from magazine reviews and awards. I’m glad to say, that after going with my “gut” on this one, I couldn’t be happier with the purchase. On top of that, I’ve been vindicated… since then, the Hunter 33 has been the subject of a number of excellent reviews and has been honored with boat of the year awards.  

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