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Review of the Hunter 450 by Mike Pilolla

Year built 2000  
Location of boat Baltimore, MD  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Multi-week coastal cruising  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? Yes  
Owner bought the boat in 2000  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. We looked at many boats before making our final decision. Once we decided we wanted to become full time live aboards we then needed to consider where, when and how we would do most of our cruising, once retired. In addition, we needed a boat that would allow us to convert part of it's living space into an office for most of the time and back into it's intended use, without great difficulty, on ocassion.  
Gear that's been added Fully integrated Raytheon instrumentation including radar, chartplotter (recently upgraded to color), ST80 masterview (3), wind machine, ST7000 Auto pilot, Standard Horizon Spectrum (DSC) VHF, Fischer Panda 8kw Genset, Vacuflush head, 2 gallon water accumulator, Link 200 battery monitor, additional cabinetry in main salon, forward stateroom and master stateroom, bow thruster, full enclosure for the cockpit, rear deck awning mounted to the back of the arch, inner forestay, Max prop was added this year, whisker pole and many interior modifications that Hunter was flexible enough to do at the factory. We plan to add an assym spinnaker, Spectrum water maker in a couple of years, ice maker, anchor/deck wash.  
Structural or complex improvements The structural changes I made was to modify the starboard settee in the main salon to allow the entire cushion platform to be removed when I need access to the storage area and systems under that settee. Since the platforms are glassed into the hull, it was impossible to get full access. I've cut the panels approximately 12 inches from the hull and secure them by adding a backing strip screwed into the panel which is still secured to the hull. The cut away piece now just sits on top and is screwed down just as if it were always a removeable panel. Also, replaced the small shelf on the starboard side, above the forward stateroom bed, with cabinets that run entire length as well as "L" toward centerline of forward cabin. Also added 2 additional cabinets in main salon, one port and one starboard, integrated into existing cabinetry and just aft of the non opening ports near the forward bulkhead. Hunter replaced the aft stateroom settee/desk with a full cabinet, hanging locker and night stand. I made hinges for all the interior screens, both hatch and port, so the screens are easy to open and close, as well as always in place.  
The boat's best features It's open design and "light" interior make it very easy to live aboard, even during the past winter. She sails beautifully and is easy enough for one person to handle in light to moderate conditions. We love the scoop transom and aft deck is great for entertaining and lounging. Being a center cockpit it sits nice and high and we tend to stay dry much longer than most of our aft cockpit counterparts.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Access to the port side of the engine scares the hell out of me. If I ever need to work on that side of the engine I'm certain I'll be cutting into my shower in the main salon. The electrical panel is very poorly laid out. Earlier hull numbers of the 450 have a split, vertical hinged, double door arrangement. It was beautiful!! The newer hull numbers have a horizontal hinged, single drop-door arrangement which is very difficult at best and dangerous at worst , to work on.  
Sailing characterisitcs She points between 35 and 30 degrees on the wind, much higher than I expected. Reefing is essential beginning at just under 20 knots of wind. She will turn up when over powered, but when well balanced she is true pleasure to sail. I've let the wheel go for minutes at a time when she is properly balanced. A whisker pole is absolutely essential for down wind performance. In 15 knots of wind on the beam we will easily do 6 to 7 knots, including fully loaded water and diesel tanks. That's 200 and 100 gallons respectively. earlier this year we made 10.3 knots (SOG) heading south on the Chesapeake with 18 to 22 knots of wind on the beam. We have an inmast furling main and the standard furling jib, 110%. Like all shallow draft keel boats, she is "squirrely" going down wind with following seas. It gets very tiring steering her in those conditions and we generally give the steering up to "Boo", the autopilot, in those conditions.  
Motoring characterisitcs Engine is powerful and makes the vessel responsive under power. She easily hits 9.1 to 9.3 knots at 3200 to 3300 rpms. We usually power at around 2200 to 2600 rpms and make around 7 knots. The engine is very quiet and smooth running. The bow thruster is some of the best money we spent. Can't tell you how many times people's jaws have dropped when coming into a tight situation and you know folks on the dock are taking bets as to which boat or piling or dock you're going to run into.  
Liveability We've been living aboard for just over 13 months now. This is the best liveaboard 45 foot boat on the market. We compared her to Island Packet, Moody, Gozzard, Catalina, Beneteau, Jeneau, Caliber and Westerly before we made our purchase decision. In our opinion, all of these boats had great features which made us fall in love with some part of them, but the 450 ended up giving us the greatest seaworthy "living environment" and the absolute best value for our money. She is very comfortable for the two of us and we enjoy the occassional visitor. Two weeks this summer we circumnavigated the DELMARVA penninsula and took two of our clsoest friends with us. We are still very close friends and would do it again!  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) For the most part Hunter has been very responsive. It took some prodding and negotiating to get some of the modifications we wanted before we purchased the boat. They did come around and eventually delivered what we wanted. I would buy from Hunter again.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Our sales person was very easy to work with and we felt he did a lot to help us make some good decisions when deciding what we needed to add, vs what would be nice to add, at the factory. The service department performance has been inconsistent. Some of the people were great, knowledgeable, and always wanting to do the right thing. Some have been less than responsive in that I always have to intiate the follow through on things. If I don't do the follow up myself, it just doesn't happen. That has been very frsutrating, but I have not had any situations where the dealer has no been willing to step up to fix or replace something for which they are responsible. It has just taken more effort than I would have liked.  
Other comments What more can I say? We love Carolina and plan to spend many years living aboard our 450.  

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