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Review of the Hunter 38 by David

Year built 2008  
Location of boat Michigan  
The boat is sailed on The Great Lakes  
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 2009  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, we are very pleased with the boat. She's not perfect but with all things in balance we have been very happy with her.  
Gear that's been added Came with dodger, we added full Bimini. Added MaxProp this year Anchor riding sail Upgraded from 22 pound Delta anchor to a 35 pounder Sounds crazy I know but we hated the blue interior fabric she came with so we had our local canvas / cushion guy re-upholster all the cushions in a higher quality nicer looking fabric. It's lighter and you can't imagine what that did to open up and warm up the interior. Replaced stuffing with gore tex packing.  
Structural or complex improvements Installed Zarcor companionway doors and absolutely love those. Makes getting in and out much easier than handling hatch boards.  
The boat's best features Accommodations are terrific. Very live able and comfortable. Love the refrigeration capabilities. Given how hot its been last couple of summers we have appreciated the air conditioning too. Feel kind of spoiled with it, but does make those hot nights a lot less miserable. Sail handling is a dream too. Love the furling main. We bought the boat for ease of handling as we thought about wanting to sail until we are really elderly. We've noticed too how we are quicker to reef, un reef, and reef again as weather conditions call for it. Makes sailing much more comfortable.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. We have had several gel coat voids pop open. Have had to have glass man fix those. One pretty large one was in the top sides at the bow right above the stripe. Was 2 Ito 3 inches in diameter. Have some more that will need fixing next summer. This time in the cockpit. In terms of design the boat has a lot of freeboard and that coupled with the wing keel makes her sail like a banshee on the anchor. Have almost felt like a carnival ride on some occasions. Swings in circles, back and forth, and yes, she will frequently be 180 to all other anchored boats. It's unsettling to say the least. Bought a Fin Delta anchor riding sail and that tames her some but doesn't cure it. I've dragged a stern anchor a few times to try to slow it down. Hunter was a bit skimpy on putting sealant on when they bedded ports. One you could see light through the gap. Had to pull several of them and recaulk. Seriously guys its a few penny's worth of caulk. Splurge a little and do a good job.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails well As winds hit 12 to 15 knots you want to roll in some main. She flattens out and takes right off. The dealer told us during our commissioning sails that you need to bring her upright a bit otherwise its like dragging a huge barn door through the water.  
Motoring characterisitcs Motors right along. She has the 40 horse and I would not be without that. My previous boat was a bit skinny on power and I appreciate having extra oomph when it is needed. I did upgrade to MaxProp and picked would highly recommend that. She backs with authority now and has much less side slippage when backing from dead stop. And stopping is right now when you drop in reverse. Love not having to listen to the prop whirling when we sail as e prop feathers. Gained about 1 knot of boat speed too.  
Liveability Very comfortable. Love the queen size master bed with a real mattress. We did add a foam topper so that we don't feel the mattress springs. Galley great and very convenient. Could always use a bit more storage but not bad. Boat came with a fridge and separate freezer. We don't carry a lot of frozen stuff so what we do is not set it really cold and use it for beverages. Keeps the beer just right. We have used the shower on occasion and find it works well. The port side settee in the main cabin could use a better back rest against the nav table. But not horrible.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Very good when I've called or emailed. Responsive with helpful information.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Excellent. Bought her new from Racine Riverside Marine in Wisconsin. Wonderful dealer to work with. They delivered boat to our slip (across Lake Michigan) They were very responsive on service needs and worked with our own yard since we were 80 miles across the lake and they couldn't do it themselves.  
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