Hunter Owner Reviews

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

Review of the Hunter 29.5 by Bruce Leidal

Year built 1994  
Location of boat Port Sanilac - Lake Huron  
The boat is sailed on The Great 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 1994  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. Though, the boat was expected to have higher performance numbers (PHRF proposed: 129, actual: 189). I purchased the boat as a way of envolving my whole family. I raced a 18 foot Buccaneer on the national level for nine years. This was a two person boat. The 29.5 added the security of a bigger boat at a reasonable price point. No other boats in its class have the combination of roominess, ease of sailing, performance, and price.  
Gear that's been added Electronics: Standard: Autohelm ST-50 Tri-data. Added: Autohelm GPS, Wind, Multi(2), ST-600 Chart Plotter, ST-4000 autopilot. AM/FM/Cassett Radio and Guest battery charger. Additional Sailing Related Items: Oversized wheel, Hard boom-vang, 7:1 internal outhaul, Jib pole track on front of mast, EZ-Jax (retractable Lazy-Jacks), Flex-O-Fold folding prop, UK Tape-drive sails, spiniker. Additional Internal Related: Tank Alert on the holding tank, Nicro day/night vent.  
Structural or complex improvements Added a gate to the starboard side life lines. Involved adding a stantion and bracing. Added an Askeland Coolerator (Thermoelectric heat pump) to the icebox.  
The boat's best features Roominess inside. Sail handling. Very forgiving, yet responsive. Great internal visability. I don't get sick inside. Halyard storage locker at the base of the cabin. Keeps the boat very organized. A huge swim platform. The 1994 has double spreaders. This makes the mask stiffer in a blow.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. When adding a folding prop, there is no place to add a zink. This is due to this model having the molded strut from the hull to the end of the cutlass bearing.  
Sailing characterisitcs Extensive club racing. Will sail to the numbers (PHRF 189) in light air and will sail to the promised numbers (PHRF 129) in a blow (wind over 15 knots). The B&R rig needs a 150% jib or spiniker off the wind. The standard 110% jib is great upwind, but is not enough housepower off the wind. The boat sails on its feet. Must reef early (12 knots). Performs well when reefed.  
Motoring characterisitcs The engine will push the boat at 6 knots. We do a lot of motor/sailing on the Great Lakes. Minimal RPMs to add a couple of knots to a light wind day.  
Liveability Good weekender. We have two childern and they have adjusted well. The space gets to be a bit cramped after 4-5 days.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) This was a boat-show boat. because of the rush to get this model to the Detroit Boat Show in February of 1994, they switched the diesel and waist collars and caps. My first experience at the fuel dock was to top-off the holding tank with about a gallon of diesel fuel. Hunter and the dealer were very responsive to "fixing" the problem. After some negotiation they gave me a hard boom-vang for our troubles.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Good.  
Other comments I have read a number of inquires on the forums suggesting the 29.5 is "tender". I have sailed this boat extensively on the Great Lakes in all kinds of conditions and have never found the boat "tender". Like a dingie, it turns into the wind when overpowered. This makes the boat very safe and when properly tuned can bring home the flags in the race series. I have written an artical about racing and winning in the 29.5. It is a tuning guide to getting the most out of the boat. I have found it to work on other Hunter B&R models as well.  

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 |