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Review of the Hunter 36_80-82 by Mark Langenwalter

Year built 1980  
Location of boat Lake Pepin, MN  
The boat is sailed on 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 2002  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, lots of bang for the buck.  
Gear that's been added 2000 watt inverter, Garhauer rigid boom vang.  
Structural or complex improvements none  
The boat's best features This boat is fast, easy to sail and backs well. I really like the layout. It has a very large salon with two setees. both over 6 1/2 feet long, which allows a couple to both stretch out and watch TV. There is no quarter berth, but there is a huge, L-shaped nav station with it's own fixed chair. The John Cherubini Sr. penned lines are sleek, with an attractive curved sheer, reverse transom and low cabin house. The boat has relatively low freeboard yet has 6'5" of headroom. The interior is attractive as well as spacious with a teak and holly sole and quite a bit of interior teak. The cabinetry and joinery are not fancy, but not plain either.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The ports are cheap plastic, although mine are still in very good shape. Although most lines are led to the cockpit, they end at the companionway, not the helm so the boat is not easy to singlehand. There is deck delamination around both port and starboard chainplates. Attention should also be paid to the lower support in the bilge beneath the compression post. This was originally made of mild steel or iron and it rusts. It has completely disintegrated in some boats which leaves the deck stepped mast with no support (bye-bye mast) Look for cracks around the tabernacle.  
Sailing characterisitcs I've seen several writeups about severe weather helm in winds over 15 kts. Apparently those skippers don't know how to reef! I find the boat a delight to sail and was out last week in 25 to 30 kt. winds with a reefed mainsail and about a third of my 150 genoa rolled out. I had no excess weather helm and was averaging 5 to 6 kts. Full sail in 15 kt. winds consistently gives you 7+ kts. of boat speed. I quickly got used to passing other boats (including J30s, much to their chagrin)  
Motoring characterisitcs The 22 hp 2QM20 Yanmar is reliable and seems to have plenty of power to move this boat despite its 13500# empty weight. I'm running a 2-blade composite prop and it gives very good performance both in forward and reverse. The two cylinder has more noise and vibration than the 3 cylinder 3QM30 found in the H37C but not so much that it's objectionable.  
Liveability Excellent liveaboard for 2, excellent cruiser for 4. I wouldn't hesitate to take a 2 week cruise with another couple. This boat has more useable space and storage than some 38 footers I have been on.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) N/A  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any I bought from a brokerage in Douglas, MI. The broker drove a BMW and was obviously more interested in selling megabuck power boats than old used sailboats. He promised to get several things done that did not get done and he probably had no intention of doing them in the first place. Fortunately, the previous owner and I hit it off and managed to get the deal done despite the broker.  
Other comments For the price you'd pay for a Catalina 30 (sometimes much less) you can own a Hunter 36 that is much larger, faster, prettier and just as well constructed. There weren't many built, but if you get a chance to get aboard one, don't pass it up. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.  

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