Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 240 by Erik Doll

Year built 1998  
Location of boat Indianapolis, IN  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2007  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. This is my second review of this boat. I wrote the initial one shortly after purchasing it. After sailing it for 4 months (several times a week), I thought it was worth sharing my second opinion... I would absolutely buy this boat again.  
Gear that's been added The companionway hatch leaked. I bought a hatch cover from the Hunter Owners chandlery. Problem solved, and it looks great!  
Structural or complex improvements Nope.  
The boat's best features It's roomy. It's comfortable. It's a snap to rig with the mast-raising system (now that I know how to do it... The owners manual was an interesting and confusing read the first time around). The water ballast system makes it easy to launch.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. The water ballast system makes the boat easy to launch, but I have also had problems with odor-control. Boat stays on the water for the summer, and the water gets gank. I have tried treating it with bleach, but it still stinks. I have actually pulled it out of the water just for the purpose of dumping and re-filling it. The companionway hatch leak was solved with a hatch cover, but the hatch under the starboard cockpit seat also leaks... If the Hunterowners chandlery made a cover for that one, I would buy it in a heartbeat.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat does whatever I ask it to do. I thought it was tender at first, but I am over that. I was out the day I wrote this second opinion review, wind was gusting to 17 knots/20 mph and the boat just got more fun to sail. When I have guests aboard, I generally don't like to get the boat up over a 10 degree heel, but solo I have seem my inclinometer measure 30 degrees (everything that wasn't tied down in the cabin was flyin). It's a simple boat to sail... You point it in the direction you want, and she goes. It's also a simple boat to single-hand.  
Motoring characterisitcs I motor in and out of the mooring space, and to the dock to pick up passengers. I have a 9.9 and it does the job.  
Liveability It's comfortable for day-sailing. Still have not camped out on it.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Have not.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Bought it from a private seller.  
Other comments I wish the boat had a wheel instead of a tiller... There, I said it. I know many people think you get a better feel for the boat with a tiller, but I would prefer to pilot the boat from the rear, rather than the center of the cockpit. A wheel would also free up a lot of space for guests... Right now I have to make everyone either sit foreward of the arc of the tiller, or on the stern-rail seats. The boat also has a list on the starboard side from the weight of the outboard. I wonder when desigining the boat if it would have been feasable to incorperate a 50-75 pound counterbalance tank on the port side to offset that?  

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