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Review of the Hunter 260 by Shuey Wolfe

Year built 2004  
Location of boat Niceville, FL  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2003  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Probably. Already shopping for a larger boat better set up for single sailing.  
Gear that's been added VHF and antenna, Honda 15hp outboard with electric tilt and start E-Z Steer connecting rod between outboard and rudder AC shore power system Flexible Furler Roller Furling jib Cold water pump for sinks Anchor roller  
Structural or complex improvements Moved standard single battery from stern location to under the port side seat inside the cabin. Added a 2nd battery and a power management system. Replaced standard anchor/steaming light with a dedicated steaming light and an LED anchor light with auto activation dusk todawn (only draws 1/4 amp/hr) Solar powered fan installed on forward hatch to provide continuous air flow in cabin (has eliminated mold and dampness) Added two 12v power outlets, one at stearn and one in ceiling above the dining table  
The boat's best features -A lot of boat for the money, trailerable and good in shoal waters. -Water ballast system works great, boat is easily trailered. -Mast dismount system is a breeze. One person easily handles the task. Great design. -Fractional rig with NO backstay is GREAT! -Interior layout is comfortable for two people as a weekender. -Kitchen and head are nicely laid out. -Rotating dining table allows cabin to be roomy when more floor space is needed and very comfortable for feeding 4-6. -Cabin window arrangement and natural light are superior. Tinting of the windows greatly limits interior fading I've seen in older models. -Good shoal draft boat, easy to raise and lower the center board and rudder.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Not set up for single sailing and I haven't found an adequate solution yet, other than buying another boat. Jam cleat and winch locations make them diffficult to use. Sheets and lines on the winch can't be placed in the cleat while under load. Locating batteries at the back or side of the aft birth compartment makes it extremely difficult to replace them unless you routinely work out holding 45+ lb. weights at arms length while trying to crawl out of the "cave." Easily resolved by moving them forward to a less "back breaking" location. I'm sure it's a weight/balance consideration but not practical. Put something else back there, or allow some storage space for . . . clothes maybe.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sailed in up to 25-30 knot winds with seas up to 4 feet - no problems. Boat sails really nice. When healing, the rudder does NOT come out of the water as it did in my Hunter 22, allowing control to be maintained. Enjoyable sailing.  
Motoring characterisitcs Outboard and boat match up well. Above about 4 knots of forward speed the mounting board becomes something of a scoop as the stearn settles in the water resulting in water being brought in an around the gas tank. Probably a plus as the area gets a good rinse.  
Liveability Forebirth isn't very usable for sleeping. With table rotated into the sleeping position, there is no cushion to pad the table and bring the sleeping height up to the forebirth cushions. I noticed recently that this has been corrected in the new H27. Rear birth is adequate. Would like a little more "butt" height. Window for light and fresh air is located nicely. Cooler is under a hinged counter top behind the sink. Difficult to not use the counter top while fixing meals which prevents access to the cooler contents. Not a big deal just annoying.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Hunter has always been great in answering any question.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Like buying a car. No way to know if you're getting a good deal or not. Everyone needs to earn a living, but . . .  
Other comments In general, with Hunter boats, there should be included in the design somewhere a place to store the cabin entrance pieces. I have yet to come up with a good solution.  

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