Hunter Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997
Contact us
Hunter OEM Parts
General Marine Parts
 
 

Review of the Hunter 456 by Robert Forbes`

Year built 2003  
Location of boat Newport Beach, CA  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2002  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely yes. The boat is well thought-out, easy to sail and maneuver, surprisingly fast for a cruising boat, very comfortable and at a price below other center cockpit cruisers with these features.  
Gear that's been added We have prepared this boat for comfortable extended cruising – 8kw genset, power winch, furling main and headsail, dual air conditioning, Raymarine nav package, Xantrex battery monitor, and exhaust temperature monitor for impeller protection. We added the new Jabsco silent fresh water pump to replace the somewhat noisier standard pump.  
Structural or complex improvements We had a radar mast installed at the stern that included mounting stingers for the radio antennas and a davit and motor mount for the dinghy. We plan to have an inspection panel installed in the bathtub for easier engine impeller access while at sea.  
The boat's best features Nothing beats the value – we considered more expensive boats and couldn’t get the features or the sense of space and luxury that the 456 provides. Hunter has incorporated top brand equipment (Seldon, ProFurl, Harken, Corian etc.) and new technologies into the boat faster than their competitors (e.g. freshwater heads, dual compressor reefers, Whitlock steering, Kevlar reinforcing). The interior is great looking – the main salon is featured in Hunter’s magazine ads – and the desk and settee in the master stateroom are great design features. The bathtub was also important for those of us that wanted more that just a shower during extended stays on the boat. Hunter’s service group is customer-oriented and extremely knowledgeable.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. When problems arose during commissioning, they were dealt with effectively by the dealer, H&S Yachts, and well-supported by Hunter.  
Sailing characterisitcs The 456 is very easy to sail and highly stable.  
Motoring characterisitcs The engine is almost silent from the cockpit and normal volume below. The fact that the propulsion and (Kohler) genset engines are both Yanmar is important for maintenance management.  
Liveability The best floating condo on the market – we use it as a second home.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Support from Eddie Breeden and Greg Emerson of Hunter’s service group was always patient, knowledgeable and very responsive when advice or other needs arose. As an engineer, I had some questions and ideas that arose during my decision to buy, the initial selection of equipment, and during commissioning. Hunter brought technical specialists onto the phone call when service personnel couldn’t answer the questions directly.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any H&S Yachts is the largest dealer on the West Coast. They responded to all my requests promptly, and replaced faulty components without a fuss. During commissioning, I got to know H&S’s service personel quite well, including Mike Van Tuyl, Scot Matney, and Milton Santos. They’re first class people that care about their customers’ boats. I highly recommend H&S Yachts.  
Other comments We are very pleased with the boat in all respects. From our experience, it’s critical that new owners stay closely involved during commissioning, get to know their boats in detail during the process, and that they stay on top of any questions, issues or decisions that need to be dealt with.  

Contact
About
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Limited Liability
Advertise Here
Copyright 1997-2024 SB Owners, LLC
All rights reserved.

Other Sailboat Owners web sites:
CatalinaOwners.com | HunterOwners.com | MacgregorOwners.com | OdayOwners.com | SailboatOwners.com | 10,000 Boat Names |