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Review of the Hunter 33.5 by Norm

Year built 1992  
Location of boat Menominee, MI  
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 2002  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, definitely. I previously owned a 1992 Hunter 28, I found someone with a 1992 33.5 Hunter who was willing to make a trade with my boat. The boat was in excellent condition, used very little. I have thoroughly enjoyed the greater room of the 33.5 was very familar with the layout and controls. It's a great boat.  
Gear that's been added The standard bilge pump was too small. Installed Rule 2000 2000 gph electric bilge pump. I added a 3rd reef to the mainsail, which makes it more manageable in heavier air.  
Structural or complex improvements Added a Adler Barbour Cold Machine. It was a great addition. Have to watch power use with it. While sailing with engine off, we usually shut it off, and it holds the cold well. On a 10 day trip, the bag of ice we bought held up well.  
The boat's best features Easy livability. Tons of storage space, airy cabin with mulptile opening ports and skylights. Easy handling and sailing.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. No problems of note to date (the boat is 13 yrs old!).  
Sailing characterisitcs Typical winds on the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Michigan where I normally sail are less than 20 kts. The sailing is easy, stable, and comfortable. The Auto Helm 1000 handles well on the wind, but struggles downwind, especially in heavy seas. I have had the boat out in 30 kt winds, crossing Lake Michigan. I reefed down the jib considerably and used the triple-reefed main. The boat could still be sailed with the Auto Helm 1000, felt stable and solid with the heavier seas. I have a Dodger and the sailing was dry.  
Motoring characterisitcs The Yanmar 3GM diesel runs like a watch. I have motored across Lake Michigan several times without it missing a beat. It always starts great and is thoroughly reliable. Motorsailing in light winds when I have to make time is fun and the AutoHelm 1000 autopilot handles it with aplomb!  
Liveability Mostly just my wife and I. It's very comfortable for weekends, but we did recently have a 10 day vacation aboard and had plenty of room. I have had 5 guys on board with gear for a sail to Beaver Island from Menominee and we had ample room. We were in heavy seas, winds and rain and everyone was snug! The alcohol oven is a great addition and does a great job once I learned to use it properly. Hint: turn up the heat and monitor temp to get to desired temp, then turn down to maintain. I ditched the standard themometer and bought a larger easier to read model. There is a microwave on board, which I know is a step to decadance, but a great boon for heating my coffee in the morning when on shorepower. The galley is very well laid out and functional. My wife and I use the V berth and enjoy the drawers and storage space and greater ventilation of the v berth. We installed a "Tufted Topper" pad over the Vberth cushion and its now much more comfortable to sleep on.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Bought the boat used.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any The broker I dealt with did a great job in facilitating a trade plus cash deal. I was very happy and had the deal closed 10 days from the time I first saw the boat on the internet.  
Other comments This is my second Hunter boat. It's well made, affordable, and functional. I really enjoy it.  

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