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Review of the Hunter 170 by Edward Smith

Year built 1999  
Location of boat Macon, Georgia  
The boat is sailed on Lakes  
How the boat is used Day sailing  
Normal wind strength 10-15 knots  
Average size of crew solo  
Liveaboard? No  
Owner bought the boat in 1999  
If the clock could be turned back, would owner buy again? No, I think I would either go for a keel boat or smaller such as JY-15.  
Gear that's been added No, I purchased with seat pads, motor, and spinnaker.  
Structural or complex improvements Had to fabricate a new motor mount after a small accident in Corpus Christi and couldn't get the dealer in Houston to work on it.  
The boat's best features I like the way it handles at winds below 20 knots. The Jib and Mainsail are easily balance so I seldom have storm rudder. The spinnaker is a great value at windspeeds below 8 knots when sailing sigle-handed and they are fine up to 15 knots with 1 or 2 crew. It is like a Genoa so you don't really want to run downwind but slightly off and up to a broad reach so you get a large area of use. It flies at 8 to 15 knots. don't try beyond because no way to control it and you can lose $800 worth of gear very fast.  
Problem areas in terms of design, materials, maintenance, etc. Those darn plastic strips at the centerboard well. The leaks between hulls that take on too much water to be able to leave the boat at adock for the summer. You have to trailer or be a submarine.  
Sailing characterisitcs It is exhilerating to overhaul and pass 25 to 35 footers in a brisk wind in heavy chop on the bay. I find this to generally handle very well for single handed sailing but also a lot of fun for two or three to crew.  
Motoring characterisitcs I don't like the outboards of less than 5 horses. I have been in downwind slips for the 7 months I was in Corpus so I had to motor in and out of the slip most of the time. I got pretty good but you have to be careful and get the centerbord down and as soon as you begin forward, lock the motor and use the rudder. Any side winds will give you trouble cause your boat sits so high.  
Liveability I did a couple of overnighters by beaching and camping on shore. No space for an anchor since it took all space with the spinnaker and cooler and other supplies needed. We had to watch tides closely.  
The owner's experience in dealing with Hunter (if any) Hunter does not reply to customers, only to Dealers so good luck on picking a good dealer. So far everyone talks a good deal but then it is wait. I had better luck contacting JY Sailboats and Dwyer Aluminum for help directly.  
The owner's experience with the boat dealer or broker, if any Ordering and paying were easy parts. Delivery was supposed to be a 11:00 on Monday morning. When I arrived they were surprised that I was there and we got to wait till about 7:00 PM to hook up and go. I was hooking up when they mentioned that I had to have a 1 7/8 inch Ball, unfortunately I had just had trailering equipment intalled and it was a 2 inch ball. I', still not sure who I bought from since Hunter coorespondence says Weathermark and Dealer coorespondence says Southern Sailing. I think and individual purchased both and now uses Southern Sailing Center.  
Other comments My feelings are mixed and if I could rely on anyone to do repairs and maintenance when needed I would be much happier with it. Most everyone thinks it is throw away plastic and when I can no longer sail it and since no one seems to know how to repair it, that won't be very long. I thought I was going to have a boat that would last forever and now it seems it wil as litter on some beach.  

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