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Review of the Hunter 410 by Jim Watson

Year built 2000  
Location of boat Melbourne, Australia  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Racing  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 6  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2001  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes  
Gear that's been added Yes Radar / Chart Plotter / HF Radio / Replacement VHF incl DSC facility / Masthead nav lights / Manual pump to retrieve water from tanks / Spinnakers / Storm jib and Trisail / Sacrificial Anode / Boom outhaul / Cunningham / Effective electric bilge pump / Second gas bottle (stainless steel) / Six stacker CD player.  
Structural or complex improvements No  
The boat's best features 1. Sea-kindly aspect 2. Comfort down below 3. Dryness - both on deck and below 4. Relative maneuvreability under power 5. Stern access - especially since we are on a swinging mooring requiring dinghy access 6. Electrical system 7. Cockpit comfort  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. 1. Lost our first major race due to spinnaker halyard failure - only been used for about six hours. (Hunter reputation diminished!!) 2. Propellor shaft separated from the drive shaft (all 4 bolts ataching the coupling disengaged) leaving the boat in a perilous state 3. Seriosly bad odour from heads due to dead marine organisms trapped in suction line. (Some 50 pumps clears each line but with some discomfort to the pumper!!) 4. Chocks are required for helsman's feet in heavy weather heeling 5. Jack lines are required for safety at sea at night and in storm conditions 6. Chart table collapsed when a crewman fell against it in a sea-way 7. Putting in the third reef in 40kts was interesting/challenging given that one needs to climb up on the arch to do so..... perhaps we should have installed a mouse.  
Sailing characterisitcs 1. Gales in Bass Strait (one of the world's most notorious stretches of water, as encountered during the Sydney-Hobart race). For seventy hours or so the Hunter 410 handled these conditions very comfortably. The hull is forgiving and sufficiently responsive to avoid crashing off waves if properly helmed. 2. Most remarkable from my previous ocean experience is that, although some hull distortion was apparent, there were NO leaks through hatches or portholes. 3. Most of our sailing conditions since delivery (6 months ago) have been in the relative shelter of Port Phillip Bay where the chop rarely exceeds 6ft and the wind speed this season has generally been moderate (No more than one reef required). 4. In a drifter we are always beaten by lighter boats, but in a brisk reach we excel so long as we use a gennaker.  
Motoring characterisitcs We have motored in dead calms, in violent storms, and frequently as a convenience around the harbour. The motor has always been responsive and a pleasure to use apart from the dreaded time that we lost our prop shaft (referred to above). The motor is quiet, smooth, and responsive, with excellent accessibility for service and repair.  
Liveability We have not stayed aboard for more than a night or two apart from the six day trip down from Sydney to Melbourne (guys only - and in very adverse conditions), however I have every reason to believe, given the day trips we have done, that its "liveability" would be very acceptable.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) The Hunter staff have been very good, though there is an obvious (and understandable) bias towards salesmanship. I have not had dealings, however, since completing the purchase, and now look forward to receiving some un-biased advice about tuning the B  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any No comment at this time.  
Other comments In hind-sight it is always easy to think of improvements, however I find little to improve on the 410 as a cruising boat of this length apart from, perhaps, the introduction of a sail locker - but of course this would reduce space down below: It's always a compromise!!!  

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