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Review of the Hunter 35.5 by Jack Grehan

Year built 1990  
Location of boat Miami Beach  
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?  
Owner bought the boat in 1990  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. I am quite pleased with how the boat has stood up. She is placed in a charter fleet, and had been since new. The engine has over 4000 hours with only normal maint.  
Gear that's been added Bimini, spare halyard, spinnaker (doesn't go out with charter customers), 155 genny (generally send the boat out with a 135), refridgeration, air conditioning/heat, high output alternator w/3 step regulator, 4 golf cart batteries  
Structural or complex improvements Replaced holding tank with a larger version. This entailed cutting through the aft bulkhead in the aft cabin for access. The original tank had begun to leak at a seam (1997). Also reloacated the holding tank vent to the starboard quarter.  
The boat's best features The boat is fast under sail, accelerates quickly, can be balanced nicely by judicious trimming of the main vs the genny. I have two gennies, a 155 and a 135. The boat points higher with the 155. It also handles well under power, and is easy to back down. The boad does not seem prone to pounding and does not oil can when it does. Others have commented the boat seems tender, but I don't think so, and certainly not when compared to the other Hunter's I have sailed (the new 376).  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. I replaced the OEM roller furler (a Hood continous line system) with a single line furler. I had trouble with the original one jamming and slipping. The shower enclousure leaks. I have had to recaulk it several times. The counter weight for the saloon table has frozen in the compression post, and the table is very hard to move up and down. Fortunately, it doesn't get used as a berth very much. The cushions split on the seams, and were twice replaced by Hunter. The second replacement was OK. I have since replaced them as well (they wore out). The cabin sole was not sealed on the seams, and eventually delaminated and had to be replaced.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat accelerates quickly when tacking. Attention must be paid to the proper triming of the main in relation to the genny to keep the boat balanced or a great deal of weather helm can be developed. Boat is stable and tracks well going downwind wing in wing (genny poled out) or under a spinnaker. Have personally reached speeds of 11kts surfing and my brother, who also sails her, has reported 13kts.  
Motoring characterisitcs Engine has vibration between 2000  
Liveability OK with up to four people. With 5 people it feels as though you have 3 to many. Could use more storage space. The aft cabin is stuffy, even with the addition of a fan to help circulate air. The V-berth is bit high due to the water tank being below it. I isolated the bilge section just aft of the keel to act as a sump for the shower drain, and added a dedicated pump to that section. This allows easy cleaning and helps cut down on the grey water oders.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I've not had to personally deal directly with Hunter. My dealer has handled that for me.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any See above. The service is very, very good.  
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