Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 42 by Ed Johnson

Year built 1996  
Location of boat San Francisco Bay  
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 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2000  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes! However, now that I am getting older (62) I wish I had looked for one with main furling. It's getting harder now to climb the mast to clip on the main halyard.  
Gear that's been added Radar/chart plotter combo with display mounted at helm. Icom IC-706MKIIG, a multi-mode (AM, FM, SSB, RTTY,& CW) and multi-band (HF, VHF and UHF) radio with Pactor modem (for e-mail & weatherfax). Link 2000 battery monitor. AirMarine-X wind generator. Balmar 90 Amp alternator with ARS-4 multi-stage regulator. Dutchman boombrake. EPIRB. Magma barbeque. ATN topclimber system. DSC residential type alarm system. Replaces wet cells with AGM batteries.  
Structural or complex improvements None.  
The boat's best features Stiffness. Caulking aroung ports and bulkheads. This boat has no creaks or strange noises while sailing.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Dutchman flaking system.  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails consistanly at 6.5 to 8 knots in SF Bay.  
Motoring characterisitcs Coincidentally, when motoring, all three engine gauges (temp, oil pressure, tach) point nearly straight up. Makes it very easy for my mechanically challenged First Mate to tell whether all is OK or not. Motors at 6.5 knots using approx 0.8 GPH.  
Liveability We lived aboard for 6 years. Very comfortable, but cozy (I'm 6'4").  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Very good. Responsive.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any H & S Yachts in Newport Beach, CA. Excellent.  
Other comments Prior to my Hunter I owned a 1994 Catalina built Morgan 45. Although the woodwork on the Morgan was superior to the Hunter, my Hunter, although a little smaller, is a better built boat. No leaks around the ports like I had with the Morgan.