Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 410 by Don

Year built 2001  
Location of boat Salem Ma  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
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 2011  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes, the boat is everything I thought it would be and more. The boat sails a lot faster and better than I expected with hardly any weather helm. I worried that the light weight would make for a choppy ride, but it seems better than my last boat that was 39' and much heavier displacement. Contruction and quality are good. Not a lot of fancy wood, but that to me is a plus!  
Gear that's been added I have so far only added a 3-blade flex-o-fold prop, dinghy davits. larger Manson Surpreme 60# anchor with 350' of chain, and a battery monitor. Could really use a solar panel!  
Structural or complex improvements None. Having been a Hunter basher at one time who got over it; the contruction is much better than I expected. In fact I feel the consrtuction overall is excellent! Don't believe the crap you read about Hunters on various forums. Maybe there was a time that they cut coners to stay in business, but the modern boats are very good.  
The boat's best features The room inside and the cockpit, the ease of sailing with the big roached main and smaller fractional head sail. Haven't found any bad features yet!  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Like most 410 reviews my freezer ices up a lot. But it really isn't that big a deal and only takes a few minutes to pour some warm water over the plates to fix. Haven't had any problems in terms of "design, materials, breakage".  
Sailing characterisitcs I've sailed eveything from light winds to 30+ knots in choppy weather. The boat handles better than expected and based on sail choices you can chose to be comfortable and go pretty fast or be stressed more and go real fast. If you can not get a 410 to sail well; it isn't the boat its' you!  
Motoring characterisitcs motors fast and seems to like 6.5 knots, I tend to motor around 5-6 knots and save the fuel, if I do 5 knots I seem to average out to about .5 gph of fuel, with a clean hull and flat seas I can hit 8.5 knots at 6.5 knots I seem to use around .7 gph  
Liveability excellent, the only way to be better would to have a larger boat that could have a centerline master berth the forward berth is comforty, but is pretty hard for a short personel to get into the aft master is huge, but the aft person has to crawl over the over to get out in the middle of nigh, but there is good headroom to do so and it is what you exect when you see the room the forward head has a bigger head and better shower (we have never showered in the aft shower yet)but the aft head is a good arrangement for sea use  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) all I have ever needed was some info and they always have responsed quickly  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any I got the boat used from a dealer who had sold it orginally and took it back as trade for a larger Hunter they were a little slow in getting the few items complete they were suppose to fix, and didn't do a very good job of spring lanuch prep but this doesn't really have anything to do with my Hunter 410  
Other comments This is an excellent boat!!! I don't have any items that I would change other the "minor" stuff that every boat has, and will have even if you had a custom boat built. For the price it is hard to beat and for a couple who has guests once in a while is a great boat! I would, and plan to, take this boat anywhere!