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Review of the Hunter 40.5 by Bill Roosa

Year built 1993  
Location of boat Harrington Harbor North, MD  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Multi-week coastal cruising  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? Yes  
Owner bought the boat in 2008  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, I got a great deal on it as it was in need of some cosmetic repairs. The boat had been sailed in southern climes and had been through some pretty rough weather from the pictures patches in the hull and sand inside the helm and engine compartment. After cleaning battery terminals, rebuilding the battery box, re coating the full cover Bimini (I love that thing) to make it water proof, hooking up the seatalk (5 instruments and only the depth and speed hooked together???) and a whole lot of TLC on the interior finish she is shaping up nicely. Sails great on all points of wind. Motors great with the stock 2-blade prop. Backs well too. Sails easily solo. Outo can handle the boat by himself in most cases. He gets confused at low speed and light winds but that is a universal problem. I love the electric halyard winch and windlass.  
Gear that's been added Sun shades, microwave, stereo/CD player I did find and remove a lot of old electronic gear and wiring the was from apparently 3 different navigation setups that was just setting there. Balmar high output alternator regulator to control the 155 amp alt. Needs a twin belt set up as the regulator has the alternator "de-powered" to the max extent possible and there is still belt dust.  
Structural or complex improvements Repaired the large salon skylight water leaks. Fixed sidelights water leaks fixed. These things where just stuck in without ANY fasteners. There are holes for the fasteners but Hunter just relies on the silicon to hold the lextan in place!! rebuilt the starboard cockpit locker floor, anchor spirit rebuilt. Macerator plumbing rebuilt  
The boat's best features The enclosed cockpit and full Bimini. I will never have another boat with a doger!!! I'm 6' and stooping to get in, getting wet from the gap between the bimini and dodger....... Having a bimini that extends all the way to the companionway and has side panels is a vastly superior design!  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The floors in the aft cockpit lockers are not fastened well and have failed around the aft edge. Window leaks but this could be just normal age. I hate the salon cushions. They are HUGE and sewn together so that you can't stack them or use them to cover the table when using it as a birth. The jib roller furler is temperamental about exactly how high you hoist it and jams if you don't get it right. Works fine if adjusted correctly but the rope clutch slips slightly over time. the AC wiring is kinda bazaar as there are neutral and ground busses in addition to the ones on the backside of the panel. The panel busses are not used for some reason. The DC system is not what I'd install but works. Lots of long large cable runs that could be eliminated by better (in the salon) battery bank placement.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails well on all points of sail. Have had the girlfriend (less than 50 hours sailing experience) get her up to 7 knots on several occasions without my help. We routinely sail faster than similar boats (yep, I race anybody anytime they get near and are on the same course) and even beat a catamoron once. The bow seat is a favorite of guests.  
Motoring characterisitcs Motors well on the stock 2-blade prop. Propwalk is significant in reverse at low speed. I have not noticed it in forward though. The Hunter starting circuit leaves something to be desired as it may or may not work due to the 9 connectors in the circuit which all corrode at various rates.  
Liveability I live aboard and love it. The first super-efficiency apartment I've ever owned that had two toilets!  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) N/A  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any N/A  
Other comments  

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