Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 26.5 by Jim Phillips

Year built 1988  
Location of boat Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength less than 10 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2006  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, this boat rocks,the tiller keeps the cockpit open and makes for easy entry in and out of the water. Great quality and very fast in both light and heavy winds. Points amazing, almost feels like you can put her directly into the wind. The inside looks like it is brand new.  
Gear that's been added Made an extension to settee seating to make an extra slide out berth. And new cusion to add width. Added a solar vent to the front hatch and drop in screens for the main hatch. Made a slide in fan housing for the front hatch to blow air inside. Roller furling Genoa. New Sheets. Magma grill Tiller extension, must have  
Structural or complex improvements Reglasses the anchor locker to eliminate a large puddle that captured debris. Also glassed around the top of the same area at the deck and hull joint as some water seemed to be entering there as the joint was not glassed securely as per water entry. Now it is perfect. Refinished the tiller and replaced the teak hatch slides. I would love another halyard to fly a spinnaker, there is an exit on the mast base but I have not been up the mast to see if thats possible. Or know if the loads would be to great. Added a tiller extention and you will need it if you like to go fast and push the rail under.  
The boat's best features Everyone is amazed how useable this boat is for the size and yet it really goes. We run down boats designed for speed. Sleeps four easy with the bunk extension. A fantastic boat to learn on, get in trouble and just let go of the tiller. Everyone raves about the look of the inside. I have a teenager and a 9 year old and the entry from the stern is as safe and easy as you can get. You don't have to worry about anyone haveing problems getting on or off this boat and inside is the same. It is roomy and has great headroom. My wife and I use the rear bunk and it is actually larger than the front V bearth. The boat being designed well is dry and tight, no mold, mildew, bugs or wasps.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The knotmeter only goes to 10 knots. I read from another owner that the boat tends to heel to the starboard side due to engine and galley on that side and I agree. We are adding a two battery setup on the port side and that should go a long way to fix this and I think I got that info from the other post. You must remember to close the gas tank vent or gas will get into the cockpit when she leans to starboard.  
Sailing characterisitcs Fast and points almost directly into the wind, may be the wing keel? You will love it on a reach as the seating is perfectly designed. As easy to sail as they get if you have roller furling, if not going forward is also very safe and easy. We are on a lake that gets light in the summer and we can sail well in very little wind.  
Motoring characterisitcs This boat was designed for sailing. Be careful leaving the dock as the tiller is not very responsive until you have speed when motoring. When you have forward motion she motors perfectly. I am happy with this short coming as this is my first boat with an open transom and to be honest from a traditional wineglass stern boat I will never go back. The motor being offset causes this minor issue but it is worth it as we are sailors and love the access the open transom give. (of course when I fall in love with an older C&C or what ever becomes my next boat I am sure I will eat these words)  
Liveability It is a 26.5, no real fridge. We stay on it all weekend with a real ice cooler under the stairs down and pack another cooler in the gally. You would not believe a family of four on this boat, but the pull out settee and cushion I made makes three large sleeping areas. It has a port-a-pottie. We added a magma so all cooking is outside so we never have used the alcohol grill. We took one of the coleman camping fans, as it has a 12volt plug and made a bug proof powered vent from the forward hatch. The air does not move much in the summer and you would fry on board without one. Everyone in my family is voting for air conditioning for next summer and I agree. Personally I think it takes a pretty big boat to really live on, but I'm a 5 bedroom 4 baths kind of guy.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I tried calling them once and asked if they had any teak rails for the slides. The guy said on a boat made in 88? No way. I guess thats fair, so I ordered teak from West Marine and made my own. I'll let you know again as I want new spacers for the tiller mount and will eb calling them.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any  
Other comments My wife and I love this boat. The design, speed, cost. It looks new and we all love to go fast. It really is about as much bang for the buck as you can get in any sailboat. My mom asked my daughter how she liked the boat. She said she was having the time of her life. Then mom asked how mommy and daddy like the boat. My daughter replied. If were not sailing, all they do is clean and stand back and admiring the boat. Shes right.  

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