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Review of the Hunter 34 by Barry Olsen

Year built 1983  
Location of boat Lake Champlain, Vermont  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1994  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Sure! I wanted a comfortable boat with headroom that I could afford on the ONE PAYMENT PLAN. Performance and the ability to single hand was secondary and I seemed to have got all I asked for. Although I expect to be in the market for a blue water boat in a few years this old Hunter is OK. If I was staying in protected waters I would keep it long term.  
Gear that's been added Autohelm 3000, GPS (45XL Garmin), Back Stay Adjuster, dodger, awning, refrigeration, Freedom 10 inverter, battery combiner, bronze thru-hull ball valves, 35#CQR, 100' chain, 140 Genoa, Full Batten Main, Storm Jib, Cruising Spinnaker .....  
Structural or complex improvements I removed the forward starboard locker to increase the vee berth length. I replaced the rudder because it was the wrong design and had frost damage.  
The boat's best features Affordability has to be on top. Then the comfortable accomodations combined with good performance sold me on this model.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. I had to re-bed the toe rain to correct leaks and still continue to chase water problems after rain storms. My Xatalina friends stay drier than I do. My boat (hull#56) had a smaller rudder installed than others I have seen. My surveyor (previously a Hunter dealer) told me Hunter replaced these for free on early models but .... I ended up writing the check since the boat was 11 years old. This boat needs all the rudder it can get. Keel rust is annoying get continued attention even if it is only cosmetic. I'm waiting to inspect the compression post until I have time to remove the mast.  
Sailing characterisitcs With the deep fin keel it goes very well up wind. As previously documented it is tender and sails need reefing early. Performance is equal or better to vessels costing a lot more money.  
Motoring characterisitcs I have the Westebeke 21 and find it to be excellent. It motors up to 7 knots and has a self bleeding fuel system. I regularly back it into my slip and it's handling is predictable. No problems maneuvering in tight quarters once you get used to the normal prop wash in reverse.  
Liveability I needed the 6'3" headroom. I live on it 4 month/year in comfort. Cruise comfortable with four. If you try it with more than four you better be good friends  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Hunter was as helpful as I would expect them to be with a decade old boat. They acknowledged that I had the wrong design rudder on the boat but would not correct it after 11 years. They refered me to the original manfacturer to get a new one made at my cost. When the new (expensive) rudder had poor workmanship due to use of an "old" mold Hunter wanted no involvement. The manfacturer eventually made it right but ... a little assistance from the Hunter factory might have been in order here since they sent me there in the first place.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Bruce Hill - although this was the first vessel they showed me they had me look at others for a comparison which was good. Complications with tax and tax credit almost stopped the deal until the broker accepted my trade in credit which is legal in my state. Overall they did a good job and I'd do business with them again.  
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