Hunter Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997
Hunter OEM Parts
General Marine Parts
 
 

Review of the Hunter 37-cutter by Ray Locke

Year built 1981  
Location of boat Baltimore, Md  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Multi-week coastal cruising  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1987  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes.......two of them.  
Gear that's been added All the usual stuff that the other have added: autohelm,propane locker and stove, keel cooled refregiration, 8dgel in the bilge, tigres windlass just aft of the inner forestay with 200chain into the v berth locker, new mbow rollers, convertedhanging locker into sliding baskets,made davits, teaked wheel,cockpit shower, radar, treadmaster on deck,etc.'  
Structural or complex improvements see above.Reinforced the bow sections by laminating in the insides and forward partof the clothes locker ( over the feet of the Vberth) to the sides of the hull.Installed ss backing plaates behind all cleats, winches, etcLIned sides of cabin with ash strips.Added ss mast collar on deck with holes for sheavesNew Main with dutchman ( thinking about putting reef lines in staysail boom in lieu ofa storm jib)Cleaned up engine room by relocating hoses  
The boat's best features stability........speed.......unless youre trying to race it with all the gear and 3 bladed prop, dodger, bimini, etc  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Still some engine vibration. Tried lots of things butfinally the boaryard had to lower the front of the strutto get it in line. This seemed to help but I still get some noisewhen theboat is a rocking.Problem now is that after havingadded a 100 amp altI am advised to use another sheave from the engineor I will side load the raw water pump and wear it out.Anybody have any wisdom on that?  
Sailing characterisitcs Great most of the time.......except when you've had agreat sail........and are returning home and running befgore thewind, the staysail becomes uselessDoes anyone have it configured out how to run the staysail boom outboard so as to run wing-wing  
Motoring characterisitcs OK with the camppbell sailor 3 bladed prop.  
Liveability GreatHad to eliminate and recess protrusions on doors leadingv berth so our butts could pass.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Great  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Seems ok  
Other comments