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Review of the Hunter 410 by BJ Hansen

Year built 1998  
Location of boat Oalville, Lake Ontario  
The boat is sailed on The Great Lakes  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 16-22 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? No question, when I looked at the boat in New York I phoned my wife in Ontario and said I was not coming home without this boat. We have now sailed her for 1 summer and can only say that the 410 sails with powerfull dignity. The 410 is not a racer but is a very well laid out cruiser that can handle rough waters. The 410 performs well with little heel until you get to 20 knots or more where it will heel at about 15-20 degrees and scoot with the feeling of rock solid stability.  
Gear that's been added We added dodger/bimini and complete enclosure and over this winter (2007/8) we have commissioned a complete new leather interior. I have on order a Gennaker as I feel with the furling main there is not enough sail area to perform well when more than 90 degrees off the wind. ( Still love the main furling though) We bought a boat cover which is wonderfull as it is like a big circus tent and the cockpit area is as big as during the summer. The rest of the boat has about 3 1/2 foot headroom so it is possible to tend to repairs or simple maintenance. Radar and integrated chart plotter allow me to feel comfortable in any (fog) weather.  
Structural or complex improvements No, The boat is solid and has had the factory upgrade to the chainplates. I had to remove the fibreglass arch in order to truck her from the Hudson River to Lake Ontario ( Oakville) and found that I was able to package the arch in about 4 hours. The re-installation was not difficult as it only took about 2 hours BUT I spent 4 hours cleaning all the bedding compound from the mating surfaces to insure a good seal. So re-installation will run about 6 hours. On the back burner is the hope of adding a genset  
The boat's best features The 410 sails like a dream, solid, predictable and tracks with only a fdew degrees of rudder offset. The AC/Heat pump is a feature I would not live without. Loved it on our past Hunter and would not buy a boat without air. The 410 has a very good below decks layout, well suited to live aboard or well suited to cruise with guests for an extended period. My wife can enjoy her cooking and has made meals that most people can't make at home. The cockpit area is huge. We hosted 15 people for a dockside party and everyone had a place to sit. ( the red wine however was a bitch to clean up the next day) The stern seats are likely " the best seat" in the house when sailing. Put "George" to work, set a course and enjoy. Walk through transoms are the only way to go. I have built my BBQ to swing into this area from the radar post so it is at waist level and can be pusshed out over the water when it starts to drip fat. The stern locker can house an amazing amount of gear, however they need to be caulked at the seams to be water tight. In mast furling is smooth and reliable. My only complaint is that the "ratchet lock" lever is on the mast. It should be controllable from the cockpit. Access to the engine is stellar, can get to front and back easily.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Grip Time: The closures for the freezer and fridge are not installed well. They have been installed hap-hazardly and broken. Repalcement clasps must be installed with due attention to clearance and mating areas or you will be buying more latches. Ceiling lights have a frail switch and the newer replacement units are not much better. The freezer and refridge could benefit with a better sealing area around the perimeter of the doors. The engine fan belt gives off a lot of black particles as the 3 pulleys are not lined up very well. ( This was a problem on my 33.5 Hunter as well) Check the inside of the motor housing for "soot"  
Sailing characterisitcs The 410 sails well in winds above 10 knots. She starts to power up approaching 15 knots and will fly at anything over 15. The boat tracks very well, the balance of sails is good and little rudder is needed to keep on heading. The 410 will only heel about 10 degrees until you hit 15 to 20 knots of wind and then still only heel up to 20 degrees. At 25 knots of wind you might consider a reef to the main ( go 75% main ). Over 25 knots bring both sails in equaly. The boat is still solid in all but gale force winds. Then reef.  
Motoring characterisitcs The 50 HP Yanmar runs like a top. It starts within 2 seconds and has very little "start up smoke". I have read other owners complaining about heavy smoke but I seem to be free of that problem which tells me it is simply an adjustment to the injector rack. While motoring the helm must be tended as the prop wash will make the rudder swing to starboard very quickly. The constant tending can be felt in the helm as you need to hold the course. "George" does a great job. I have motored at 8.1 knots and can't ask for much more from a 22,000 + pound boat with 50 horses.  
Liveability Accomodations are excellent. The layout is good. Storage can be found throughout the boat. The galley is great as my wife will say(as above) We are considering converting some below deck storage areas to freezers to allow us more off shore time. No solution at this time.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) We bought both our Hunters used so I can't say yes or no to the dealers. I have found that Hunter helps the used boat buyer with support. We have phoned Hunter and have had replacement parts sent to us and arrived before our local dealer has found the time to return our call. Good work Florida.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Bought the 410 through Great Hudson Sailing Yachts in West Haverstraw New York. They were a great help in the details encountered in preparation for trucking. They were Beneteau dealers.  
Other comments I think the most important thing I can say about my Hunters is that I sold my 33.5 Hunter in 5 days after I had bought my 1998 Hunter 410. If I ever decide to buy another boat it will likely be a hunter and I hope to sell the 410 just as quickly.  

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