Hunter Owner Reviews

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Review of the Hunter 54 by Mike Mickelwait

Year built 1981  
Location of boat Honolulu, Hawaii  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Weekends and longer  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 5-6  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1986  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? yes!  
Gear that's been added Added ballenger spars in 93, added spring loaded boom vang, discontinuous rigging, harken roller furling, cutter rigged, harken main sheet blocks, new rope clutches, new harken heavy duty traveler, new teak and white maple floors, north sails, awlgrip topsides, sumbrella bimini top, heads are raritan, easy opeeration, brace for rudder post is all stainless steel with stainless steel back up tiller. Boat is set up with a 150 genoa, 110 genoa, yankee cut working jib and heavy duty self tending staysail used a lot in heavy weather. Main is 11oz triple stichted triple reef. Electronics minimal,but boat now has new yanmar 50hp diesel .  
Structural or complex improvements Only the new spars and new Yanmar engine. Noother improvementsneeded even after 10 years of of hard sailing in Hawaiian waters  
The boat's best features Easy to steer, well balanced helm, tracks wellup wind or downwind, acclerates fast and surfs easily with easy control in large following seas. Going to weather, boat is very dry in cockpitWe took the dodger off! also, garage in swimstep is terrific, gets a lot of use with roomfor 9' dingy and surfboards, snorkel gear.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. We could use new windows as the current onesleak.  
Sailing characterisitcs eerything form becalmed to full gale  
Motoring characterisitcs Backs up anywhere you want to go, turns in itsown length, very easy to dock in tight places  
Liveability Boat is light and airy below with four opening hatches  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any)  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any  
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