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Review of the Hunter 54 by Hall Palmer

Year built 1984  
Location of boat Alameda CA  
The boat is sailed on Open ocean  
How the boat is used Racing  
Normal wind strength 16-22 knots  
Average size of crew 5-6  
Liveaboard?  
Owner bought the boat in 1997  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? Possibly. I am very taken by the design and looked at 7 boats before finding Pegasus. I put new sails, carbon poles, and g rigging on her plus a stainless shaft and 3 blade Maxprop. I have intended to use her for cruising to Mexico, however she does flex and make more noise than any other boat I have owned and I find the boat hard to steer off the wind when powered up. Having lost a mast I am out of action for a while.....Time will tell  
Gear that's been added I haver modified the boat by taking out the anchor windlass and well to create a sail bin forward of the forward cabin, installing a crash bulkhead and chain locker I have a smaller, vertical windlass in front of the sail locker, and have added a hard vang, two carbon fibre spinnaker poles plus a carbon fibre sprit for an asymetrical chute. I took off the origiinal anchor roller and put a one inch thick stanless plate on the bow which is tapped to take a fitting for the sprit or a new large anchor roller which will handle a large bruce anchor.  
Structural or complex improvements As mentioned above I put in a crash bulkhead about 6 feet aft of the stem. I also replaced the upper rudder shaft bearing support beam and had almost 2 gallons of clear epoxy injected into the decks to cure potential delamination from dry voids, etc whic become springy. Much of the interior carpentry has been upgraded with a lot of hardwood.  
The boat's best features It is a beautiful boat to my eye with a very easily driven hull in light air and the dingy garage is great. The boat now motors with minimal vibration at 8.5 knots and tops out at 9.5. The boat gives great privacy to two couples when cruising and is very easy to single hand.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. I worry about the rudder placement and the boat's tendancy to get squirrely downwind in a blow. This cost me a rig but hopefully I can avoid a repeat. Has anyone tried a larger I also notice a fair bit of flexing of the cabin top at the traveler which I have reinforced by putting it into a section of aluminum channel.  
Sailing characterisitcs The boat sails well except hard on the wind. She is somewhat tender and has to be reefed early going uphill. I find it hard to get into a groove, but the hull speed of 10 knots is easil reached and maintained. After that it takes a surprising amount of wind to get her going although we have sustained 14 knots of boatspeed in 32 knots true.  
Motoring characterisitcs The boat motors very well since I put on a 3 blade Maxprop with cruising speed of 8.5 knots and a top of 9.5 from a 52 horse Westerbeke and 2.6x1 Hurst tranny.  
Liveability Excellent, large cockpit great salon and complete privacy for two couples. The galley is something of a problem from a traffic standpoint but the mid ship companionway helps.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) I have corresponded with them several times during my search for the boat and found them very help[ful.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any My dealings with the broker were satisfactory  
Other comments  

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