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Review of the Hunter 34 by Gary Graham

Year built 1984  
Location of boat South Carolina to Key West  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard? Yes  
Owner bought the boat in 1998  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. The owner was anxious to sell (divorce) so I got a good deal at 25,500. The boat had very little use, and had reverse cycle heat and air, auto helm, very low engine hours, bimini, roller furling, and clean. On the HOW DO YOU USE YOUR BOAT question, I could check all catagories, plus I live aboard full time. And yes, I'd do it again.  
Gear that's been added No, I immediately hauled it and replaced all through hulls, seacocks, and cutless bearing, and some running rigging. A year later, after a brutal grounding and pounding on hard sand, which shifted the engine on the bed, I hauled it and replaced the bent shaft, cracked strut, and installed a drippless shaft seal. So I haven't added, just fixed what got busted. I was honestly baffelled that the keel didn't break off. And I added a Raycor fuel filter and electric lift pump to prime it.  
Structural or complex improvements Living alone on the boat, I removed the aft cabin door and vee birth cabin door and threw them away. I removed the toy fuel filter that was impossible to get to, and replaced it with a big RAYCOR which I mounted OUTSIDE the engine compartment port side in the aft cabin - which was another reason to get rid of the door. I can change the fuel filter, prime it, and be running in seconds.  
The boat's best features I'm 6'2", love the headroom. It's easy to single hand. Love that Yanmar. Price was right.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Watch the wiriing!!! My boat caught fire because of the unfused 12 volt main panel feed running around sharp corners after it goes through the rough openeing under the engine. Luckily, I caught it in time with no major damage except shattered nerves. I rerouted the wires through the back cabin and have added a main fuse at the isolator switch. The wireing problem was made worse by a diesel fuel leak which put a lot of fuel in that area, and broke down the insulation. I also have added engine oil pressure, volts, and water temp. guages. Had to replace the strut and shaft as mentioned above.  
Sailing characterisitcs I agree with everybody else. On my return from Cuba, however, I got caught in the infamous gulf stream in 35 - 40 knott winds and 12 foot waves on a beam reach. So I got beat half to death for about 10 hours. Boat did great, I had a 110 on a roller, about 1/4 out and the main double reefed. At first I fought it, then just let her round up in the gusts, and fall off when she wanted to. But it was NOT fun. While primarily a waterway weeneie, I have had her in the ocean a lot, and she does well. I need a 3rd reef on the main, and am not going to the Bahamas without it. Incidentally, lots of these 34's are all over the Carribean.  
Motoring characterisitcs I need a three blade prop. Every body says it makes a huge difference. And like everybody else says, strong headwinds and into the current means slow going. So what else is new?  
Liveability It's great. I'm a full time liveaboard, usually at anchor. My last boat was a Catalina 27, I lived aboard for 3 years, and this is a huge improvement. At anchor, I use a coleman light (bottled gas variety) and the alcohol stove. I personally have no need for solar pannels, wind generators, or motor generators.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Well, I needed a new strut and they shipped me one, next day delivery. I also needed a new shaft but bought that locally for about 2/3 the cost. Incidentally, the new strut is a lot "beefier" than the old one.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Yes, the boat was at Port Royal Landing Marina in South Carolina, and the marina staff gas pumper managed to get a $500 finders fee out of the deal. And I had to pay that to close the deal. They would not give me the owners phone number, but called the owner and said for $500 they would let me talk with a potential buyer.  
Other comments As yet, I haven't seen any compression post problems. I have also heard about the rudder breaking off in heavy weather, so both times I've had it out, I check for wear and delamination, but everything good so far. I am getting increasing flaking and rusting along the rudder, so each time I just clean it up, reglass it and go again. I also have heard that the original factory roller furling system has failed repeatedly causing falling masts and even some deaths. The person telling me this said that Hunter did a recall and replaced the furlers with Harkin. I'm gonna call Hunter on this one. I have yet to find any owner that didn't love this boat. Even owners who have moved "up".  

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