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Review of the Hunter 320 by Rick Lee

Year built 2001  
Location of boat Bayville, NJ, USA  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2001  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? No, maybe yes.  
Gear that's been added GPS - Garmin 176C. I was getting tire of finding all the shallows.  
Structural or complex improvements None.  
The boat's best features In mast furling system is the best feature. Ths feature definately is a plus for sailing solo or with inexperienced sailors on board.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. After sailing for a few months, noticed the rigging was very loose between lower and upper spreaders. Engine mounts came loose twice - no lock nuts or lock-tite on bolts. SHYS mechanic reluctanly came down to my house to re-aligned the engine. I only live 5 minutes by car, but they asked me to bring the boat to their marina because they needed special tools! I hit somthing in the water and cracked bow at the water line. Found 1/4 air gap between several layers of out skin and inner skin. I asked the broker to survey the boat, but it got patched up without a survey. Still think it needs further inspection on the hull. Anchor roller side plates chafe lines - it could be designed with the roller further forward, larger roller, or bevels on side plates. Water leak on port windows. Still waiting for them to repair - again. Jib furling line came off twice. End of the furling line is pushed into a small hole in the drum and a sheetmetal screw is screwed into the line. Also, furling drum seems to be a bit small. With the current jib (110%?), it is bearly enough space to furl under some load. If I were to go with a bigger jib, either I have to use a smaller furling line of need to modify the drum diameter. Holding tank vent fitting has no vent hose running outside the hull. Naturally, the rear berth always has a foul smell to it, if it is not pump out clean. Ask you guest to use the facilities before coming on board! Traveller cam cleat mounts on the arch came loose and had to be pop-rivetted but they are coming loose again. Main sail furling line at times come off if loose end of the line does not have any tension - subsquently it unfurls when unwanted. May consider using a slightly larger line size.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat seems to handle great between 15 to 20 knots. I love the in-mast roller furling option. I don't think the jib sail furled holds a good shape, so I tend to sail with a full jib and main furled in stronger wind. Auto pilot seems to work very well, and a great feature when sailing solo or just relaxing on a sun set cruise. It does not sail down wind well at all . Maybe my sailing skill need to be improved!  
Motoring characterisitcs No comment.  
Liveability No comment - never slept in it.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) No comment.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Well, buying the boat was an easy task. The boat had every option it had, so I did not have to make any decisions on options other than the finance issue. As for service from the broker is different story. I admit I have not had much in boating, but it seems that boat brokers do not care about after sales follow-ups. One of the reasons why I chose to buy a new boat was so that if I had a problem the broker would handle it properly. I sent about 10 e-mails and yet to receive an e-mail back. All the after sales "warranty repairs", I have yet to have a copy of service work - they just show-up and do their work and disappear no calls or trace of someone worked on the boat.  
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