Hunter Owner Reviews

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

Review of the Hunter 26 by Pete Shirley

Year built 1996  
Location of boat Bend, Oregon  
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? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2003  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. And no other H26 in particular, since this one is the original Trailer Sailor filmed by Visual Thinking for Hunter. You can still get the tapes of my boat sailing on five different lakes. But now she is named My Alibi after my grandmothers old Arabian Quarterhorse. I love what she has allowed my wife and baby daughter to do up on the high lakes, the Columbia, and Puget Sound.  
Gear that's been added Not much. Reinforced the steel guide-bars on the trailer cause they broke off the first year... Cut and finished some 1/4" alder plywood for aft bulkhead covers in the aft berth. Replaced the stereo system... Made some flags and ran a tackle line up to the spreaders for signals and represents... Made a removable steel connecting rod to steer the outboard with the tiller... And replaced the aft foam mattress with an air filled one. And got a hand-held GPS.  
Structural or complex improvements None.  
The boat's best features The interior space and the ease of trailering. I can go anywhere there's a ramp and launch. Sometimes my 4x4 needs its extra 2 to get back out again!  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The enclosed head is too small for comfort, but it helps when its really needed. The water pumps had to be replaced, they were shot. And the trailer wheel bearings killed the axles, both of them the weekend of the 4th of July 2005. Boo Hoo... The Poly space plates holding the tiller arm wore out so I cut new ones. And the trailer still needs a better centering system of guides or rollers, and another roller to support the forward keel area. I'm trying now to find a double bow roller. Tie downs are an absolute neccessity on the transom. Would prefer eye rings to secure it rather than the stern seat supports.  
Sailing characterisitcs She has serious weather helm. But on this boat its a blessing because she lets you know when shes overpowered, and she lays way over to submerged windows if one doesn't dump some main in a blow. But she comes up safe every time. We hit 9kts on the run by sheer luck and ignorance on our first run at Detroit Lake. Many spinouts since then trying to repeat... She's squirrely down wind above 20kts of wind. We reef early now, and drop the main in a blow with a reefed jib to run. I've sailed the Columbia in 5ft breakers at 6kts upwind under reefed main alone. Thats fun! Easy to tack, easier since I've discovered the winches... Got used to light airs, and haulin the jib sheets gets tough in real winds... There's a reason wind surfing so big on the Columbia...  
Motoring characterisitcs She motors well. Most of out trip among the San Juans in 04 was spent under steel jib. Frolicking among the Orcas off San Juan she handled beaufully and the Honda is very reliable. Have to watch the fuel though. Vacuum in warmer climate stalled the engine once causing a last minute plunge in the water with the mooring line as we drifted past the dock toward the rocks of the marina jettys... I'll have to try docking under sail again...  
Liveability My wife and I fit in the aft berth, but its tight. And the one on the outside must get up when the insider needs... Out daughter loves the forward V-berth. We put up a screen so she wouldn't fall out at night or during naps underway. We BBQ off the stern rail propane unit some excellent dead animal every evening while gunkholing near waterfalls, quiet coves, swimming holes, or dockside. Its a great way to relax from the work week.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Haven't had to...  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Bought her from the third owner up on Coure D'alene.  
Other comments I love this boat. I'll keep her for the kids. And I'll get my H405 before I'm much older, and sail her out of the Columbia. Unless I first have to sail her into the Columbia to bring her home...There's a beauty for me out there, she's mine, she just doesn't know it yet...  

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 |