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Review of the Hunter 23 by Jim Kneale

Year built 1985  
Location of boat Chesapeake Bay  
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?  
Owner bought the boat in 93  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Yes. It has been very reliable and appropriate for our needs, without driving us into the poorhouse with yard bills.  
Gear that's been added Cam cleats at the jib sheet winches. A turnbuckle cover on the forestay keeps the jib from snagging at the bottom. Cleats just aft of the anchor locker. VHF, depth sounder, 12V outlet.  
Structural or complex improvements Epoxy bottom paint, although it really didn't need it. Additional weight at the end of the swing keel to help pull it down. (epoxy and lead shot in 1  
The boat's best features Not too much exterior teak, so maintenance is minimized. Looks good, although not particularly  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Swing keel pull-down was very difficult before adding counterweight to the keel. Barnacles foul the area where the keel rubs together and jams it 1/2 way through the season (slathering it with trailer axle grease helps). Block for rudder pull-down gets bent up if rudder hits bottom. (I'll be putting on some shock cord this year). Front hatch support is difficult to lower and lock. Always seems to have a little water in the bilge. It needs something for the helmsman to lean against as a backrest  
Sailing characterisitcs Sails fine, but upwind performance is like a bale of hay. The rig could need some tightening and tuning, though.  
Motoring characterisitcs We have a 10HP 4 cycle Yamaha that will push it through anything. Rudder hits the prop, especially if kicked up to back into our shallow slip  
Liveability The cabin layout for sleeping with the backrests over the floor boards gives a roomy berth for adults with the kids in the V-berth. Fabric bonded to the upper interior surfaces is a nice touch. Sliding galley is a neat idea. Spent a few weekends on it and it worked out fine.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Nothing so far  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any GBS boat sales in Mayo MD was great. They deal with more of the low budget boats, and don't sniff at only having a mere $6K to spend.  
Other comments  

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