Hunter Owner Reviews

Serving sailors online since 1997
Contact us
Hunter OEM Parts
General Marine Parts
 
 

Review of the Hunter 44DS by Emily & Mark Fagan

Year built 2008  
Location of boat Right now: Puerto Chiapas, Mexico  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Blue water, extended passages  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard? Yes  
Owner bought the boat in San  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely. It is a fantastic boat for cruising. We have cruised 6,000 miles so far in 2.5 years of ownership.  
Gear that's been added -Stainless steel solar panel arch -555 watts of solar power -38 gallon/hour engine-driven watermaker -Ultra 60lb anchor -300' 5/8" G4 chain -22" wide screen TV -A 4th 4D AGM batter (dealer installed the 1st 3)  
Structural or complex improvements -A stainless steel solar panel arch extension onto the existing Hunter arch. Pics & info: http://roadslesstraveled.us/solar.html -Engine-driven 38-gallon per hour watermaker (pics & info on website coming soon) -Stainless steel lifelines surrounding the cockpit  
The boat's best features Comfortable, easy to sail, fast under sail and under power, bright and airy interior, roomy cockpit, huge amounts of storage, pretty to look at, extremely clever and thoughtful engineering and construction from the factory. See why we chose the Hunter 44DS and our thought process behind buying a boat for long-term cruising at http://roadslesstraveled.us/Hunter44DS.html  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Little things that all sailboats are prone to due to chafing and exposure to salt water. Like all prudent cruisers, we do daily maintenance to keep the boat in tip-top condition.  
Sailing characterisitcs Very easy to sail. Both of us could single-hand it if necessary. Fast in light winds, easy to reef in heavy winds. Responsive steering, sails close-hauled really well. The boat's favorite point of sail is a close reach - she flies!! The forward facing windows are fantastic for overnight sailing: you can sit on the top step of the companionway, where it is warm and dry, and look out the windows at what's in front of you (provided you have some kind of moon).  
Motoring characterisitcs Moves very quickly under power. Energy efficient - 2/3 to 3/4 gallon per hour at 2400-2800 rpm. Averages 6.5-6.8 knots if no current. We have motored at 8 knots and 5 knots at 2400 rpm in favorable and adverse currents.  
Liveability We have lived aboard for 2.5 years and find it extremely comfortable. Both berths are spacious enough for two. Galley is a dream to cook in. Main salon and cockpit are ideal for entertaining, lounging and relaxing. Swim step is awesome for getting in and out of the dinghy with groceries/laundry.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Unbelievable!! The best way to contact customer service is via email. Whenever I send an email to customer service during daylight hours I have a response within 15 minutes. One Easter weekend I sent in a query after mid-night on Easter-eve. At 6:00 am Easter morning, just 5 hours later, I had a response. That is way way way above and beyond the call of duty. Hunter is an awesome company to work with.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any We bought our boat used from a broker located in Virginia. The boat was located in San Diego. So the local San Diego Hunter dealer, Cruising Yachts, owes us nothing. However, they did the original commissioning on the boat for the first owner, and they have stepped up to the plate repeatedly to help us out, even though we did not buy from them. Their service department is outstanding.  
Other comments Hunter sailing yachts are the best kept secret in the boating industry. You hear some of the weirdest things about Hunter. However, none of the people saying those ugly things has been aboard or sailed a Hunter in at least a decade. In our 6,000 miles of cruising our Hunter 44DS we have been nothing but thrilled with every aspect of our boat.  

Contact
About
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Limited Liability
Advertise Here
Copyright 1997-2024 SB Owners, LLC
All rights reserved.

Other Sailboat Owners web sites:
CatalinaOwners.com | HunterOwners.com | MacgregorOwners.com | OdayOwners.com | SailboatOwners.com | 10,000 Boat Names |