Hunter Owner Reviews

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

Review of the Hunter 35 by John Nantz

Year built 1988  
Location of boat Puget Sound  
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 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1988  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? YES. We actually bought her as a "temporary" boat and that was over 20 years ago. Just have not seen another boat anywhere near what we paid for her that we'd rather have, but we've been looking all these years. The second year we had her we circumnavigated Vancouver Island and without radar, GPS, or Loran. Two years later we sailed up the outside, Cape Scott direct to Cape St. James in the Charlottes. Very few boats have done that. At the time this was through the area (at night) where the worlds tallest measured waves were (almost 100 feet). Since then taller waves have been measured. Placed second in the worlds first Hunter Rendezvous beating the Dealers new 37.5 by a mile. Subsequently the dealer supported the new 35.5 (almost the same boat) in the Pacific Cup where they won their class and beat a top rated Cal 40. A friend with a 35.5 cruised down the west coast, through the Panama Canal, and to Florida with their boat. We've cruised Southeast Alaska including the outside in comfort with forced air heat.  
Gear that's been added Lots. Below the waterline: Started out new with an Interlux barrier coat (never had a blister); Max-Prop (adds almost 1/2 knot under sail); Shaft seal (keeps water out of the bilge). Electrical: 4-golf cart batteries + group 27 start; upgraded all battery cables to 00; Freedom 10 inverter/charger; Autohelm 4000ST autopilot; Link 2000 panel; Balmar 70 Amp alternator and Balmar regulator; upgreaded wire size to main panel; Datamarine Link electronics for helm with repeater at the nav station; Raytheon radar; ICOM VHF with hailer. Removable items: Standard Horizon automatic fog horn system, GPS, solar panels, wind generator. Cabin: Refrigeration; cabin fan in salon; added insulation to the ice box; forced air heater (to extend sailing season, nice when it gets cold), upgraded salon lights to halogen. Rigging: Backstay adjuster (really helps when sailing close hauled); Spinnaker system (adds about another 1 knot over the prop); 150 jib (adds about another 1/2 knot over the prop); Full-batten North main (next heavier weight cloth to prevent being blown out so quickly); North 110 jib with padded luff for furling; Lewmar 43 primary winches and moved the old primaries aft for use with the spinnaker. Have 12 sheet stoppers with new turning blocks on the coach roof.  
Structural or complex improvements Replaced old 2 x group 24 battery boxes with 4 x golf carts boxes in a battery enclosure. This really, really increased the amp-hour capability. This is almost a must-do. Mezzanine in lazarette which really aids in storage there. Can put a mountain bike in there! Replaced the Forward/Reverse cable last year and now you can shift easily with your little pinky. One of the best fixes in a while. I've really considered adding a watermaker for our longer cruises as clean water resources are few and far between.  
The boat's best features Very easy to sail and single-handed and easier double-handed. Wife has an easy time with me running the jib sheets. Nice galley layout. Uses CNG (got a second tank). Could convert to propane with a tank storage under the starboard aft cockpit seat (open under, could install a piano hinge or other setup to have tank under). Large ice box (slightly too deep) we use a plastic box in the very bottom which helps to elevate everything and just put long term items in the box). The cabin deadlights were a selling/buying point with us. We had some leaks initially but after figuring out the proper way to seal them have not had a leak in many years, and it rains a lot here and where we cruise. You just have to know how to do it. "Plastic" holding/water/fuel tanks. Never rusted! No problems. We carry drinking water in separate gallon containers.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Coachroof deadlights in the salon leaked the first few years. See "fix" above. Currently the upper galley sliding door is stuck. I'll try and fix it when I get to it.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails really nice. This is the shoal-draft model. We've been at 10 knots through the water on numerous occasions, with and without spinnaker, and in 35 to 40 knots true (on a run) all day several times. As the old sails get blown out she becomes progressively more "tender" but with a proper cut she sails really nice. About 21 knots apparent is about all I'd like with full main close hauled but with one reef in at 18 she's a pussycat. Full-size tri-radial spinnaker really make for fun sailing. The 150 jib adds to performance in light air. It's not a racing boat like a J-boat but does quite well against larger boats without a low-drag prop.  
Motoring characterisitcs Motoring? 6 knots at 2750 RPM without a fresh bottom is good for trip planning. "Prop-walk"? Hey, this isn't a car! Use it to your advantage. We once arrived at a yacht club rendezvous with all the people wanting to help us tie up. I got directions from different sources to starboard tie or port tie. We wound up in the middle of a tripple-wide slip. Ouch. Never mind, I used prop-walk to slip the boat sideways and starboard tied. Now bow thruster. The power boaters dropped their jaws, they couldn't believe it!  
Liveability Great. We'd really like a bigger boat now. We all get older and we've started lugging more stuff along. On the other hand, we know what we have and a newer one would cost double or tripple what this is worth with only marginal improvement in benefits. Tough decision, especially in a 8.6% sales tax state. What other boat in this size class, or even much larger, do you know of where you can put a full-size mountain bike in a storage locker below deck? And, along with the outboard?  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Good. Like others have said, they can become pretty busy. This forum is a good resource.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any The broker went out of business and the current Seattle broker, well, I wouldn't go there if he was the last broker in the world.  
Other comments They try hard. I prefer the older designs though. Personally, I don't care for the droopy sterns and fiberglass arches. Guess I'm old fashioned that way.  

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 |