Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 36 by Bernd Ahle

Year built 2008  
Location of boat Deale, MD  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 2009  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes  
Gear that's been added Already came nicely equipped with Mariner package; bimini, dodger and connector; Raymarine 6002 LD autopilot but added the following: Raymarine C90w, ST60 wind, Xantrex Freedom 25 inverter, Dantenna TV antenna.  
Structural or complex improvements None.  
The boat's best features Very easy to sail single-handed. Arch is an awesome feature and gives you a traveler that's out of the way, easy access to the traveler sheet, great support for the bimini, light, speakers. Cockpit is nice and roomy. Hatch above the bed in the aft cabin has a cover (accessible from the cockpit) means you will have good ventilation at night even when it rains. Head and separate shower is very roomy. Many smart and convenient little features/details. Galley has nice large Corian countertop. Drying compartment for dishes with drain and fan. And of course the best seat in the house, the stern rail seats! I don't know why they still make boats without these! Water and electrical systems are well thought-out. Boat comes with a great owners manual! We just chartered a Beneteau 393 in the BVIs and noticed many things that we thought are much better on our boat.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. -Could use a little more storage in the galley. -I miss having a deck light. -Wish the cockpit light was switchable between white and red. -22lb Delta anchor is undersized for this boat -Access to trash compartment through the countertop is not the best idea. -Seat behind the wheel is pretty useless because it's much too low to see anything from there. So I either stand behind the wheel or am on autopilot.  
Sailing characterisitcs Very well balanced even in heavy winds. In-mast furling system works very well and the convenience factor outweighs the slight loss of performance considering we don't race.  
Motoring characterisitcs Handles well, does 5.5 - 6 knots at about 3000rpms. Bigger engine would be nice going against heavy wind and waves but 29hp is adequate for this size boat. Engine is not too loud below and engine compartment is pretty well insulated (i.e. it doesn't get hot in the room and doesn't smell (at least not yet!).  
Liveability Very comfortable and plenty of room for 2 people. We have not had more than the two of us on board but I think that would not be a problem at all for a weekend. Spacious head and shower make a big difference. AC/heat work VERY well.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Have not dealt directly with Hunter.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Very good. Bob Walker at Tidewater Marina in Annapolis was very nice, helpful, very knowledgable and great to deal with.  
Other comments We did a lot of research before buying our Hunter. For what we were looking for (comfortable cruiser with the latest gear for weekends or up to a couple of weeks), this is the perfect boat. Comparing our boat to the competition and also looking at all the other Hunters at the boat show, we are very impressed with Hunter as a company. They seem to make quality boats, with smart features, they look great, have great components and are competitively priced. If you're looking for a good cruising boat, Hunters are a great choice.  

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