Hunter Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997
Contact us
Hunter OEM Parts
General Marine Parts
 
 

Review of the Hunter 34 by BILL CUNNINGHAM

Year built 1983  
Location of boat Eden Ilses, Louisiana  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Racing  
Normal wind strength less than 10 knots  
Average size of crew 6  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1983  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Most definitely! This boat has met all our family's needs for 14 years. It is a great racer and a very comfortable cruiser. For example, each year we race from Gulfport, Ms. to Pensacola, Fl. (5 First in Class in last 6 years), then spend the next two weeks gunk-holing our way back. Try that on a stripped-out race boat.  
Gear that's been added KnotmeterDepth SounderVHF radioLemar 43 winchesHarken travelerRacor fuel filterBackstay adjusterAutohelmBBQBiminiLORANGPSNew toilerrebuilt transmissionstainless shaftreplace rudderMartec folding proprope clutchesmicrowavespinnaker gearTVStereofans throughoutLemar ports  
Structural or complex improvements Split the bench seat in half...allows more room for toilet lid, yet still permits a shower seat.Faired the box-like shaft exit.  
The boat's best features Excellent performance when racing in light airs.Lotsa room below deck for a 34-foot boat.Although it may not sound like it from my complaint list below, this is a lot of boat for the money.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Trapped water that doesn't reach the bilge due to the starboard list...I use a syringe to suck some of this water through a weep hole, but can't get it all. This has caused a noticable increase of hull blisters in this area on the starboard side. Hull blisters, small but numerous...I had the hull sprayed with black epoxy before it was commissioned, but needed a new barrier coat (Interlux) by 1990. They have reappeared, so Iplan another two-month haulout next year.Oil changes are a nightmare.The ice box next to the engine compartment saps ice supply on cruisesNo fuel guage requires frequent topping off.Drinking water system hard to prime.  
Sailing characterisitcs Obviously the yacht is tender, but we have raced successfully in 25 knot winds. (Our local racing rules allow a crew of nine...I put eight on the rail.)We can point with almost any boat on the lake, with the exception of fractional rigs in heavy air.She will broach easily under spinnaker in anything over 15 knots.  
Motoring characterisitcs The boat turns on a dime and backs straight as an arrow.The motor is quiet and smooth, now that I fixed the transmission problem. (When the boat was commissioned, they failed to adjust the throw that engages the forward disc in the gear box. That resulted in heavy vibrations when in forward at anything over 1500 RPM. A boatyard spent weeks looking for the problem , at Hunter and the dealer's expence, before they discoved the adjustment). The wear and tear, however, caused the forward gear to fail last year. Works great now, but I'm $600 poorer.  
Liveability Excellent for my family of three. When cruising, we only return to shore when the ice runs out.We even managed once to sleep our crew of nine at the end of the Gulfport race.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) No direct dealing...only through the dealer, who I blame for the poor commissioning.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any The dealer was a friend who is no longer a friend...need I say more?  
Other comments  

Contact
About
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Limited Liability
Advertise Here
Copyright 1997-2024 SB Owners, LLC
All rights reserved.

Other Sailboat Owners web sites:
CatalinaOwners.com | HunterOwners.com | MacgregorOwners.com | OdayOwners.com | SailboatOwners.com | 10,000 Boat Names |