Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 240 by Jim Dreiling

Year built 2001  
Location of boat Lake Murray, South Carolina  
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 2005  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely. This has been the perfect starter boat for my wife and I to learn to sail. It is very forgiving and easy to sail in 5-15kt conditions. Reefed, it can handle a bit higher winds if the gusts aren't too bad. Good in light winds, too. We do well when racing against similarly rated boats, and we beating the Cat 25s. Our next boat is likely to be a Hunter due to the experience we have had with this one.  
Gear that's been added The boat was in great shape when we bought it, having only been in fresh water for a total of about 6 months since it was new.  
Structural or complex improvements We haven't needed to do much other than minor maintenance.  
The boat's best features The roler furler and the simple reefing system on the main make it easy to adjust to changing weather conditions. We also have a solar panel which does a great job of keeping the battery charged. The bimini is also a big plus in our hot southern summers. The seats at the stern are very popular with the ladies. It is relatively easy to step down and raise the mast. The water ballast system has worked well.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Like other 240 owners, we don't particularly like the jib cam cleats on the top of the cabin. They make it a bit hard to single hand the boat in heavier winds.  
Sailing characterisitcs The better I get at sailing, the more I realize that this is a great boat for beginners. Most of the problems I have had were minor, and were due to my poor seamanship. With several ASA certifications and a couple of years of racing and crewing behind me now, this boat continues to be even more enjoyable.  
Motoring characterisitcs I originally had problems maneuvering into a tight marina when it was windy. I got a throttle extension for my Honda 8hp and now, with a lot more practice and experience, it is very easy to maneuver into slips, even in modest winds.  
Liveability Great as a weekend getaway, but not a long term live-aboard boat.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I have called Hunter a few times and they have always been very helpful. They have also responded very well to email questions. Very good support.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any I bought the boat from the original owner who had great things to say about Hunter, but nothing good to say about the dealer he bought the boat from. If I buy another Hunter, which I am planning to do, I will buy it from a dealer who has been in business a very long time.  
Other comments "Five O'Clock" has been a great weekend and evening getaway for my wife and we have fallen in love with sailing as a result of owning her.