Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 450 by George Fletcher

Year built 1998  
Location of boat San Diego, California  
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 1998  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? No.  
Gear that's been added Yes, Genset, auto pilot, VHF, GPS/Plotter, Electric Winch, Furling Main,  
Structural or complex improvements No  
The boat's best features Roominess  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Very poorly designed engine access. Port side of Yanmar diesel is unaccessible. Requires removal of the alternator and hoses to get to an impossibly placed raw water pump. (3 hours AT DOCKSIDE to change an impeller), I would consider it almost impossible in heavy seas. Access to the starter or its electrical connections requires complete removal of the manifold and exchanger. (Time 12 to 16 hours AT DOCKSIDE) Completely impossible by any average owner in heavy seas as it requires disassembly of major engine parts.  
Sailing characterisitcs Good broad reaching. Mediocre close hauled and running.  
Motoring characterisitcs Tendency to pick up large amounts of soot on the stern due to the location of the exhaust and the broad stern surface. (station wagon effect). Requires a lot of cleanup after any long motoring.  
Liveability Very liveable  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Poor. I have been unable to get any help in resolving my problems with engine access. Requests for help in a remedy for easier access to the starter and the raw water pump were answered with, "you bought a sailboat, not a motor yacht."  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Dealer service has been okay.  
Other comments I would not take the boat on any long passage due to the poor accessibility of the raw water pump and starter. These two items are normally simple maintenance and service items that can be "spared" and serviced by the owner on long passages. A loss of either one of these may render the engine useless in times of critical need in rough seas when an engine is required to maintain steerage and/or headway.  

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