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Review of the Hunter 34 by Jim Lynk

Year built 1985  
Location of boat Juneau, AK  
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 2-4  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1993  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, we often look at other boats and say we are happy with the one we have.  
Gear that's been added Manual anchor winch. Dodger. Forced air diesel heater. Engine-heat heater. Spinnaker. Autopilot  
Structural or complex improvements  
The boat's best features Good quality parts, the same stuff you would buy if you were building from scratch. Sails in light air.Reasonable price: lots of boat for the money.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The boat really stinks, and nothing we can do will help it. Clothes we wear on the boat retain the smell. The closed or blind bilge is the culprit.Tuning the mast is tough.Pounding on transom and flat bottom from big following seas out in the ocean.We have had a lot of motor problems, even after an engine rebuild. The Yanmar is not tough or reliable.  
Sailing characterisitcs Great in light airs. You go somewhere, even if there is not much wind.In high winds and waves I can't shorten sail enough with roller reefing and two main reefs.  
Motoring characterisitcs Motors ok until you have a lot of waves on the bow. Then you don't have power to punch through the waves, and your speed is reduced. With a current and waves against you very little headway is made (3-4 knots).If you let go of the wheel the helm goes hard over and you do tight circles.  
Liveability Nice kitchen, good sleeping in stern, nice to sit around and talk. Handy to have sink outside of WC so that one person can brush teeth while another pees.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I call up for help and info. They are polite and accessable. I don't think the guys answering the phone go sailing a lot. When my sink faucet froze they had another one and sent it to me. A boat with no existing factory could have trouble replacing such things.The company does not allow me to see some things I could use, like blueprints so I can re-wire and add things.Hunter seems very backward in using the Internet  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Get a real deisel mechanic to survey the engine. do not trust the opinion of the all-purpose surveyor.  
Other comments  

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