Sudden Attraction to Hunters

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Khagan1227

Don't know what a coach builder is, but I am a pretty good cabinet maker and have built a few things over the years.

I agree with your accessment of the quality of the Catalinas, but I didn't think the quality was too much superior to the Hunters. The Beneteaus were a distant third, then the Island Packets, then the Halberg-Rassey and J/boats and a WAY distant, plastic looking, butt-ugly Jeanneau.

While the way the interior of the boat doesn't determine how the boat sails, I was very disappointed in the interior of most of the boats I looked at during Strictly Sail - Chicago this year. After all, these boats will be my and more than a few other peoples homes.

A Coach Builder builds Coaches... like what you guys call Greyhound... very popular with poor folk and Europeans...
What do you want for a home... somewhere dry and comfortable to sleep, an adequate galley and a reliable crapper..
Space for storage and an ability to claw off a lee shore under storm conditions...
Or... you want a poseurs palace...
Most production company's these days are... sadly... incapable of producing the most basic or lavish anymore... its boiled down to the 'International Boat'... like the 'International Car' they all look alike.... US and USSR excluded in last...

[SaltyMonkey]

you mean like this?

2011 Tuscany Overview | Tuscany by Thor Motor Coach

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by boatman61

A Coach Builder builds Coaches... like what you guys call Greyhound... very popular with poor folk and Europeans...
What do you want for a home... somewhere dry and comfortable to sleep, an adequate galley and a reliable crapper..
Space for storage and an ability to claw off a lee shore under storm conditions...
Or... you want a poseurs palace...
Most production company's these days are... sadly... incapable of producing the most basic or lavish anymore... its boiled down to the 'International Boat'... like the 'International Car' they all look alike.... US and USSR excluded in last...

Ah ha! They build buses... Had visions of the horse drawn variety. Hard to believe I lived in England for two years... of course that was 40 years ago.

I did look at a Hunter 50CC with a jacuzzi tub under the master's berth.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

you mean like this?

2011 Tuscany Overview | Tuscany by Thor Motor Coach

That would be awesome here in Thailand ...I could clear out some motorcycles.

[SaltyMonkey]

another secret desire of mine - airstream!

[meyermm]

Originally Posted by reiner

I have never sailed a Hunter or a Catalina and I only got into sailing 2 years ago. No way could I judge a Boat being good or not. But I am a coach builder by trade and I went to the Boat show here on the Gold Coast in Australia 2 weeks ago and was very disappointed in the finish of the Hunter. A friend of mine is building boats all his life and was telling me before the show how good the Hunter is. My guess is the standard has slipped to keep prices down but my next Boat is a Catalina. I hope I didn't step on any toes but I think there is nothing wrong with voicing opinions .
Good or bad. So I thought the Catalina was a better finished boat with many extras......my 2 cents worth.

Reiner - My wife and I also ventured to the show last week and were also impressed by a couple of Catalina's. The Hunter's were okay nothing wrong just thought the Catalina's were a little better all round. Last year we did a Bare boat charter in the Whitsundays aboard a Hunter 35 thoroughly enjoyed it no problems. Interesting point though was after returning we found out that the boat we had was one of if not the oldest boat in charter up there. I would have been happy to buy her if I was looking to buy.

[reiner]

Originally Posted by Khagan1227

Ah ha! They build buses... Had visions of the horse drawn variety. Hard to believe I lived in England for two years... of course that was 40 years ago.

I did look at a Hunter 50CC with a jacuzzi tub under the master's berth.

Buses is one thing Coach builders do, in the old days they built Coaches.....like the ones drawn by horses . Coachbuildesr fit out buses and all sort of trailers. They are cabinet makers who work with odd shapes and curves .
Sorry but I had to say that :-).....building buses sounded so boring...hehe

[reiner]

Originally Posted by meyermm

Reiner - My wife and I also ventured to the show last week and were also impressed by a couple of Catalina's. The Hunter's were okay nothing wrong just thought the Catalina's were a little better all round. Last year we did a Bare boat charter in the Whitsundays aboard a Hunter 35 thoroughly enjoyed it no problems. Interesting point though was after returning we found out that the boat we had was one of if not the oldest boat in charter up there. I would have been happy to buy her if I was looking to buy.

Hey meyermm thanks for your comment , I felt the same way and I bet the older Hunters are well built or better built. A bit like the furniture industry today. Most people go by price only and have no eye for quality. I rather pay a bit more and get something good.

[SaltyMonkey]

you mean like this incredibly well thought out beauty?

Edge Motor Sailer

[avb3]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

you mean like this incredibly well thought out beauty?

Edge Motor Sailer

If it was an animal you ride, I think it could be called a "mule".

If it were a dog, I think the similar term is "mutt".

No offense intended to anyone who loves theirs.

Wasn't this the boat model that turtled in very small seas of California?

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

you mean like this incredibly well thought out beauty?

Edge Motor Sailer

See, ads like this make me question any builder's integrity. When I read "equally at home sailing the high seas as wakeboarding" I automatically wonder what else is glossed over in an attempt to make a sale.

However, maybe they are onto something. When I am sailing at 7 knots, the wake of my CCA era boat is probably possible to wakeboard on. Wonder if Robin Lee Graham knew this when he sailed my boat's sistership across oceans.

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

you mean like this incredibly well thought out beauty?

Edge Motor Sailer

Hunter is now competing with MacGregor. But for what are they competing?

Cherubini would be rolling in his grave.

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by avb3

If it was an animal you ride, I think it could be called a "mule".

If it were a dog, I think the similar term is "mutt".

No offense intended to anyone who loves theirs.

Wasn't this the boat model that turtled in very small seas of California?

It was a MacGregor 26, overloaded (10 on board with a capacity of 6) and possibly without the water ballast full.

MacGregor has a video of one of thier 26's out in the Pacific in a gale with pretty good sized seas and I know several people that have been out in theirs in 30 kt winds.

Nice boat for someone who wants a bit of both worlds..

[reiner]

I bet I get in trouble soon but I didn't know that 30knts was something special.......my old H28 loves 30knts and wants more.....

[Graeme Colmer]

I have a Hunter 36 I found very Frustrating with performance. Changed from 3 bladed fixed prop to 2 bladed folding Gori-Different Boat altogether-Amazing