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Review of the Hunter 27_75-84 by Jim Lindsay

Year built 1978  
Location of boat Port Moody  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1990  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely yes. 'CHEECHAKO', my Hunter 27, was the perfect boat to learn to sail solo. She's a tough girl and I can always trust her to pull me through. My doubts have never been for the boat; they've most often been for my courage. I would like to have a 36-38 foot boat now, but as like most sailors, I'll just keep the dreamin' going.I dreamed of have my own sai boat for over 40 years before I was matched up with my girl, I suppose I can dream for another 40, what the heck, eh!  
Gear that's been added Yes. Full battened Main; furling Genoea; recut original head sail to a 110; wenches on the mast for Main and Genoea; Outhaul jam cleat on the Boom; Back-Stay adjustment; second safety line on the stancheons as well as a second bar on the Push-pit;installed VHF and Loran, new compass; natural gas 2 burned stove in the galley; Force 10 heater(natural gas); BBQ off the stern(propane); I tore out the Port side shelving and installed a much larger chart table, shortened the length on the Port side berth and strengthened the main bulk head, added a full length cupboard for clothing and along the same side in the Head, I installed a larger/deeper sink/half more cupboard storeage for towels etc. a half length mirror on the V-berth door; I re-did the cool box; replaced the galley sink with one much larger then the old; I replaced the bronze drive shaft with stainless and the 2 blade prop with a 3 bladed 'Campbell Sailor'. I added sound proofing around the engine compartment and addedon a much improved filtering sustem to the diesel. Oh yes, I also added an 800 Autohelm.  
Structural or complex improvements See above comments  
The boat's best features She's very sturdy. I never get nor have I see any flexion in the haul. The fibre glass layup was originally very well done in respects to moisture. I have 'zero' blistering after 23 years(except for the bottom paint.... tooo many applications..... which I am attending at this very moment via a 5 month refurbushing.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The only annoyance had to do with the SB8 Yanmar. I was too slow, noisy and a heck of a lot of fibration. Well, want you to know, I love to whip the rails off bigger boats under sail, but felt let down when they passed me under motor on the way into the docks. I partly solved that by adding the Campbell Sailor prop. I also added sound proofing around the engine compartment. The vibrations I can't do much about and I could never afford a new more quieter/less vibrating engine(the solution is to use the engine as little possible, eh!)  
Sailing characterisitcs I find she heads well. Certainly she runs like a cheeta. She's a bit heavy but I'd rather that tan a boat too light especially when the breeze stiffens. She's reasonable to shorten sail with when I'm alone. The autohelm I have is too slow to trust when I go forward in a blowup, so the traditional helm tie while turned to, does a trust worthy job.  
Motoring characterisitcs See above comments  
Liveability I've made it comfortable for the summer stuff I do, but of course with mountain bikes and kayaks, not to mention the dingy and outboard, I probably look something like the 'Ma and Pa Kettle' version of sailing.... I've sure Tom Neale's Chez Nous 11 and Cheechako would look like kin.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I haven't had the pleasure other than a salesperson at a boat show locally. When he saw I wasn't buying but interested in lookey-looing, I got the proverbial cold shoulder.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any When I bought, I had saved the $, so was able to offer $ directly and paid totally upfront. Solved a lot of problems and made life a lot easier at the bargaining table, so to speak.  
Other comments Hey, if you've got a free 36-38 footer you want to get rid of?????  

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