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Review of the Hunter 31_83-87 by Pizzazz

Year built 1984  
Location of boat Marina del Rey, CA  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
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 2015  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely  
Gear that's been added It came with a water heater and a heart interface inverter. I added radar, autopilot, SSB radio (used the back stay as an antenna), gauges for fuel, waste and water, forced air diesel heater, a Power Survivor 35 water maker, replaced the 2GMF with a 2GM20f engine, subwoofer below the nav table, microwave, 4x golf cart batteries, forward looking cameras.  
Structural or complex improvements Reworked the compression post top support, switched to PVC tubing for the head (no smell anymore), replaced on the keel bolt support plates, resealed water and waste tanks, replaced side windows, added a teak swim step.  
The boat's best features Very smart use of the interior space, very good upwind performance, good deck hardware.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Most of the things I broke and replaced on the boat were my fault such as replacing the shaft and strut after an accident, The cabin sole needs care but it is natural of a boat of this age.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails very well upwind, tacks over less than 90 degrees. It needs a 155 genoa for light winds and a 110 jib for strong winds. It is important to reef the main early. Achieves hull speed at all points of sail above 16-17 knots. Needs a spinnaker for downwind work in light winds.  
Motoring characterisitcs Much better performance after I upgraded from 13 to 16 hp engine. It motors at 6.5 knots in flat seas.  
Liveability It is an excellent live aboard boat. The forward cabin extends under the anchor locker and the rear cabin extends all the way to the back (there is 8.5 ft of space in the back). The dinette table only seats four but is out of the way which allows free movement inside the boat when people are sitting at the table (vary rare in boats below 40 ft.).  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Never dealt with them.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Avoid brokers, add no value.  
Other comments I have not come across a better layout in any small cruiser to date.  

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