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Review of the Hunter 260 by Stephen Howard-Brown

Year built 2001  
Location of boat Preveza Greece  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Multi-week coastal cruising  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? Yes  
Owner bought the boat in 2001  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? yes.It has good headroom,plenty of space for storage,an excellent Galley plus plenty of cupboard space.The rear cabin gets very hot in the summer,the forward sleeping berths are better as they are better ventilated with the overhead hatch.The lifting keel allows the boat to go where most other yachts cannot go, in only one foot nine inches of draught! The boat is very light and the wind will take it easily therefore one has to have a heavy anchor and plenty of chain to keep it firmly anchored.I use a 15kg Bruce with 40 metres of chain out there in Greece.I also have a heavy Delta Anchor and 3 other heavy anchors on board plus more chain and anchor-plat rope.The winds in the Ionian Sea can reach force 8-9 quickly. I use a 15 HP Outboard which gives me a cruise speed of 9-10 knots.  
Gear that's been added Sprayhood which covers the boat from side to side An Eagle Classic Fishfinder with depth sounder. A Generator a Honda Ex500 giving 240 volts.  
Structural or complex improvements Have added an electrical powered water pump to the Galley taps and Heads taps.The Taps merely have to turn on to produce water.  
The boat's best features Space down below,spacious cockpit,ease of sailing the boat,it sails like a dinghy.Stability of the boat is good.Speed is good its a fast boat. Good access to the water from the back of the boat,good access to the engine mounted on the back.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The Rudder is rubbish.This is difficult to deploy into the water without physically standing on the swim ladder and forcing the rudder down into the water. The rope work holding the rudder down is frayed already.I doubt if the rudder would cope with a strong wind or storm it is too weak. The lifting keel needs winching to bring it fully up.Its ropes are also suspect in terms of long term wear.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sailing it is easy it handles like a large dinghy. It can broach quickly in gusts if one is not too careful. The Rudder can be overwhelmed easily in strong conditions.  
Motoring characterisitcs I use a 15 Hp Mariner which gets me out of trouble quickly.It gives me 9-10 knots cruising speed. As most of the time in the Ionian one motorsails power in the engine is important The more power one has the safer one is.  
Liveability Very spacious and comfortable. We stay on board for 2-3 weeks at a time.Cooking is easy,plenty of working top space,plenty of food storage space. Basically only up to 3 people can stay on board for this length of time without too much difficulty. Lighting is good. The side bunks tend to slope downwards and make sleeping on them difficult as one tend to want roll off them.Plenty of room in the Heads plus wet locker hanging space.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Had difficulties with Opal Marine initially as they were not helpful in describing the boat fully. Did not think they commissioned the boat well enough before it was handed over to me. Got more advice and help from Greg Emmerson directly at Hunters.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any As above.  
Other comments The boat is very much admired in Greece. It is a very attractive boat and stands out from the rest. It is easily trailable. We drove ours across Europe to Venice from England on a double axled trailer pulled by a Susuki Vitara long wheel base Jeep.I estimate the overall weight of boat plus trailer was 3 tonnes, the Susuki has an overall towing capacity of 1800kg.The Jeep found no trouble in towing this weight at all.The trailer never snaked,was always stable and we averaged 60 mph most of the way.  

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