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Review of the Hunter 380 by Westby

Year built 1999  
Location of boat Poole UK  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Multi-week coastal cruising  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1999  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes  
Gear that's been added Radar,gps chartplotter,autopilot,wind,radio,eperspacher heating,pole,fridge,sprayhood.Bruce anchor and more chain.Deck light trilight.  
Structural or complex improvements modified battery arrangements adding 105 amp hours making a total of 285. Installed 7 hand holds.The boat just wasn't fit for the open sea without them.  
The boat's best features General living arrangements and seaworthyness. Very easy to handle in a marina. Goes backwards a treat.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Cockpit too shallow, it frightens the ladies when we heal or it is rough. Generally we harness on at around 25 knots of breeze in open seas. I had a leak forward which took a long time to fix, the boat is full of builders debris which still comes into the bilges after 5000 miles,the cutlas bearing failed after 2 years,the Interstate batteries lasted less than two years, the shower sump box by design will not work and I will reorganise this winter.The mainsheet is very hard to manage, but I like the arch arrangement. The oven failed in the third year.The clips on the gas cylinder boxes fail often,the light on the compass failed.Quite a lot of picky points too long for me to type out  
Sailing characterisitcs Good downwind and off wind but the pole is essential for goosewinging. Upwind she will do 6 knts in a force six tacking through 95 degrees.Sail her upright and reef early, 1 reef at 15 kn, 2 reefs at 20kn, 3 reefs at 25kn THEN start to wind in some jib say 50 % at 30 kn plus. What you do next I don't know.She needs 8 or 9 knots of breeze to start sailing at more than 4 kn. I dont have a chute.  
Motoring characterisitcs Noisy rough dont like it much. 2.5 Litres an hour at 2500 revs.  
Liveability Good galley. Main cabin large, good heads and shower. At anchor very rolly in the mildest of swells, and she swings at mooring buoys up to 180 degrees in a wind, also she creaks VERY loudly when at sea or rolling at anchor.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Opal in the UK are fairly hard nosed and don't give much when things go wrong. If I buy again I will get a much tougher contract because they walk away from doubtfull unprovable claims.  
Other comments  

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