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Review of the Hunter 260 by David Hoch

Year built 2005  
Location of boat Lake Mead, Nevada  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2004  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely. The 260 is the most boat you get get that's trailerable. It's slightly more difficult to rig and un-rig than my previous boat, a MacGregor 26D, but it is still easy to load onto the trailer and launch. We love spending time on this boat - we keep her in a slip with canvas on all the vulnerable places.  
Gear that's been added 1) Pedestal guard, instrument panel (NavPod) 2) Raymarine ST-40 BiData, Wind 3) Raymarine ST-4000 MKII wheel pilot 4) Garmin GPS 376C (Awesome Unit!) 5) Macerator and valving 6) Two group 27 batteries 7) Shore powerm charger and AC panel, voltmeter 8) Link 10 DC power monitor 9) DC Panel 10) In-dash DVD/MP3 player and fold-down flat panel LCD screen 11) Bose Speaker system and two 6X9 in rear 12) Anchor roller 13) LED Anchor light, wind Rotovecta, steaming light 14) Electric water pump and new faucets 15) Refrigerator - it's a 40 quart that looks like a cooler but has a compressor. Very efficient and fits where the cooler was meant to go. I need to lower the floor of the cooler compartment to allow the OE counter top/cover to fit again. This is the best piece of creature comfort gear I ever bought. No more ice!!!! 16) VHF with DSC and WHAM - at helm 17) Honda 9.9 with electric tilt and electric start 18) Deck flood lights on spreader 19) stern shower 20) 1750 watt inverter so wife can use portable iron and hairdryer. She loves it and looks great! 21) Rudder-engine connection. Having the engine move with the rudder allows me to maneuver the boat like it is a powerboat. Very handy in high winds.  
Structural or complex improvements No - not needed except for lowering the floor where the cooler sits to accommodate the refrigerator. I did remove the existing bulkhead aft of the rear berth and installed two mirrored plexiglass sliding doors so I can access the macerator and valves. It also creates some storage for blankets and other soft items. I moved the batteries to the area under the seat just ahead of the head on the port side. They offset the weight of the motor and she floats level.  
The boat's best features This is a comfortable boat for a 26 footer. My wife and I spend days at a time aboard and no problems. She sails off the wind very well with stock sails and can hit 8 knots on a beam reach with 20 knots of breeze. The trailer is sufficient for the boat and pulls well. I love the walk-through transom - it's the way we come and go from the boat. The fully-enclosed marine head is awesome. I love the anchor locker and roller. The stern seats are a hit with everyone who comes aboard. Hunter installed conduit from the mast base to the area around the electrical panels. Great idea but a bit hard to use. Without it, running wires from the mast would be much harder.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. There are some areas where the gel coat failed such as the base where the compression post passes to the hull. The stock hand-actuated water faucets are a joke. Can't believe Hunter installs such hopelessly useless devices on a boat of this quality. The electrical system as it comes stock is underpowered. I replaced it entirely with a Blue Seas panel.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat has too small a headsail for winds below 8 knots. There are no tracks or hardware for installing a larger sail. She has a light helm feel and steers well under all points of sail. I have a whisker pole for downwind sailing. She does well in the ocean too - I've raced her from Marina Del Rey to San Diego and finished in the top 4 in cruising class. The main has one reef point which is fine for heavy air.  
Motoring characterisitcs I couldn't ask for better behavior under motor power. With the engine connected to the rudder I can get in and out of slips very well. With the electric tilt and start I can go from sailing to motoring quickly and easily.  
Liveability I charter larger yachts several times a year. This trailerable has all the amenities of a larger yacht and for two people is equally livable except for hot water and a shower inside the head. It has a one-burner butane stove and lots of storage under the galley sink.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Hunter was about average - this is my first new boat. We had trouble with the dealer and Hunter would not intercede. They kept sending me back to the dealer who was not responsive.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any This was the worst part of the whole purhcase experience. The dealer admittedly had no knowledgeable sailor/rigger available when we did our sea trial. They provided the wrong headsail, did not rig the boat properly and would not compensate me for the work I had to do to make her seaworthy. We bought the boat in Florida and towed her to Las Vegas so we had to deal long-distance. I do all my own work, so nothing really got in the way. If I would have had to depend on the dealer to make it all work, we never would have gotten out on the water safely.  
Other comments The boat is solid, beautiful and sails as well as any trailerable could. It is spacious and well-appointed inside. Her nearly 9-foot beam provides ample space for living and with the hatch up and companionway cover installed gives me ample headroom to live inside. I'm keeping this boat until I retire in 8 years or so, then we're buying a bluewater boat and heading out...  

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