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Review of the Hunter 36_80-82 by Michael W. Jones

Year built 1981  
Location of boat Oyster Point, South San Francsco  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 23-30 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. I would like to buy up (Junneau 52.5) but the old pocket book does not have enough for now.  
Gear that's been added I replaced the old dodger canvas and added canvas all the way back to the stern with the upper (roof) section supported using the double backstay and tag lines to the stays. For now I've added a microwave, small Magic Chef refrigerator and an Oster electric oven. Since I like to sail in rough sea conditions, (Been out in the ocean in 60 knott winds and big (30 feet?) seas, I've been quite rough on the sails. I've replaced the 130% Genoa and need to replace the main. I replaced the head stay since the old one had only 2 of the s.s. shround wires not broken! I also blew out most of the main sheet cars (Plastic) on a wild run down the Santa Barbara Channel. Big following seas in high winds. Yaa Hoo!  
Structural or complex improvements None  
The boat's best features The boat can really take a pounding. One trip back to Pete's (Redwood City) Harbor, winds over 60, main luffing and jib full, engine backing at slow idle to keep from going too fast into waves likely 6 feet in South Bay! Several waves came over the bow and doused me at the wheel with green water. I was glad to get back into the berth on that trip. I'd worked all day and was sailing back to my old berth @ Pete's Harbor.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The Yanmar engine experienced a cracked head. The engine is over 20 years old. What more can you ask of it? I plan on changing it with the new 3 cylinder Yanmar which fits into the space and actually has more horsepower (27HP vs 18HP), has less vibration and uses a smaller envelope! Costs about $6,500. - if you install it yourself. I would like to replace my main with a better cruising type with more reef points etc.,. and I'd like an inverter, a quiet generator, and new standing rigging. The old rigging looks ok, but it is 20 years old. I'd also like to add a couple more sheaves at the base of the mast. There is a mod for spinnaker which includes a 10"? rise in mast height and the needes sheaves for internal spinnaker lines which can be lead aft as is perceived necessary. A cruising spinaker would be nice for my christmas wish list as well.  
Sailing characterisitcs As others have mentioned, the boat does have rather severe weather helm in winds over about 15t knots. I compensate by slacking off my main which helps most times. I do keep my mast back stay tight going to weather. That helps a little as well. I've considered a main cut with less square footage and I've toyed with increasing the size of the rudder. I'm told mine was replaced with a modified one years ago.  
Motoring characterisitcs The boat moves along nicely at about 7 knots perhaps 7.5 with the existing 20? more like 18HP Yanmar. It backs ok so long as the boat is moving backwards with some speed. It backs slightly to port (right screw) and does nothave much steerage as is expected with a boat this size with an engine that size. In high winds on the bow with waves, the boat does not have the power to plow through. That seldom occurs so is not a big problem for me.  
Liveability I'm a 6 foot 200 pound guy and find the boat ok for my purposes, but would think it difficult for a woman to enjoy spending a great deal of time on the boat in a live aboard situation. The head room is fine and the head is better than many, but there are other boats with more space...  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) No experience with Hunter  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any The broker, Island Yachts in Alameda, Ca. was professional, courteous etc.,. Couldn't ask for more.  
Other comments For its age, the boat is really in good shape and is a lot of fun. For the price I paid, it's a fantastic deal.  

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