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Review of the Hunter 340 by Larry Schultz

Year built 2001  
Location of boat Harbor Island, Seattle, WA  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
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 2008  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. This purchase was a very methodical decision. After sailing almost every major boat design by chartering at Windworks - Seattle I was fairly certain of features I wanted. I started a boat partnership complete with a limited partnership agreement and a proposal for a boat purchase. It was a Hunter 376. I am 6'4" and wanted headroom. My preference was for an aft head to reduce motion in waves. It needed to have a wet locker. One partner wanted a motorsailor but would compromise on a Bimini and Dodger. I often take family out sailing and wanted a dinette that turned into a berth and swim step entrance that allows older passengers easy access. I preferred a roller furling jib. All these preferences the Hunter 340 fulfills and the decision was very easy.  
Gear that's been added Just a Lowrance 5300c GPS chartplotter that can also be expanded to include radar but we haven't done the radar part yet.  
Structural or complex improvements No.  
The boat's best features Spaciousness, headroom, arch, and the layout does seem to give good access to everything.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. While investigating shower drainage we put a hose in the shower drain and water came shooting out the refrigerator like a cartoon scene. Someone had connected shower and refrigerator drain hoses. Then we found that no hole had been drilled from the aft bilge to forward bilge so water was collecting in the middle and not making it to the bilge pump. Somewhat of a disappointment in Hunter quality. Also put in a new bilge pump with built in check valve to address the back draining discussed elsewhere in the forums. General construction seems somewhat light in that there is a lot of structural flexing in seas and the fit of all doors has suffered from it. The roller furler seems a bit more likely to jam than some but adjusting the upstream pulleys to straighten the feed into the drum has helped.  
Sailing characterisitcs With the lighter boat, higher freeboard, more sail area, we tend to reef very early. Going to about 1/2 a mainsail by 15 knots, 1/2 of both sails by 20 to 25, and about a 1/3 of the mainsail by 35 knots wind.  
Motoring characterisitcs High freeboard can make maneuvering a bit of a challenge in winds but that is a tradeoff from having great headroom below. Otherwise it is very maneuverable both forward and reverse.  
Liveability Very comfortable for up to 5 adults and could do more with some small kids. No complaints from any aspect of "living aboard".  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) A good response but have only had to consult them on a couple minor problems.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Signature Yachts in Seattle is very professional and great to work with. Good advice to us on everything from sail repair to surveying.  
Other comments I wish I had done it 20 years ago.  

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