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Review of the Hunter 40 by Peter Whiting

Year built 1989  
Location of boat Alameda, CA  
The boat is sailed on Bays, sounds, or protected salt water  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 23-30 knots  
Average size of crew 2-4  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1996  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Absolutely......this is one great boat. It has plenty of room, sails very well and has a very stout rig. I am extremely pleased with my Hunter 40.  
Gear that's been added Heart Freedom 25 Inverter to replace a Freedom 10Lectro-San unit  
Structural or complex improvements None so far.  
The boat's best features Roomy, comfortable liveabord that also sails very well.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Had problems with rear holding tank, but that was due to former owner. Minor electrical problems have also been caused by former owner not wiring correctly.  
Sailing characterisitcs Everything from extremely light conditions to winds in excess of 35 kts. The boat has sailed well in all conditions so far. If canvas is reduced to control heeling angles (20 degrees) then the helm is very light and has almost no weather helm.  
Motoring characterisitcs I have installed a feathering 3 blade prop. Boat motors at 7.3 knots and when put into reverse stops very quickly. The boat also backs very well and tracks fairly straight in reverse.  
Liveability A large aft cabin with an almost queen size bunk make sleeping very comfortable. The galley is roomy enough for 2 people to work in preparing a meal without continually bumping into each other. The 2 heads come in handy at times when there are several guests aboard. We have had 9 people sitting around the dinette and while it was cozy, it was workable. The dinette table is not very strong, however, and I will need to do some modifications to improve it. The only drawback that I see is a lack of good storage for long distant cruising. I am going to do some modifications in the rear cabin to add storage.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) No experience, other than asking some questions of the tech people when I was negotiating to buy the boat. They were very courteous and helpful.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Although the boat is now in California, I purchased it through Kentucky Lake Sails in Grand Rivers, KY. Marty Colburn is one of the most honest, straight talking boat brokers I have ever met. That is probably why he is one of the most successful Hunter dealers in the country. I would buy a boat from him again in a heartbeat. I even would consult with him before buying another Hunter in California or some other remote area to Kentucky.  
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