Sudden Attraction to Hunters

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by simonmd

Thanks Don, hope she serves you well. Clear blue skys and 72deg here!!

I take it you have the 3 cabin version (to be honest, i don't know if they did a 2 cabin 'owners spec')? If so, how did you find the front 'master cabin' for space? I like the layout on paper but havent physicaly been to see one yet so was wondering if they are as spacious as they look in the pics. The idea of having a private 'en suite' head right in the bow looks very nice but is it big enough to use?

No; I got an owner's cabin verison with a queen aft that I plan on being the owners cabin. The forward cabin is very roomy with pullman berth and would be GREAT for a single, but a little tight for a couple. But the saloon does have a nice drop down double if you are popular enough for that much company.

The forward head is pretty big and may be bigger that the aft "main" head. The shower is definitely more roomly in the forward head and I've read of people mainly using that for showers (would be hard to pee there in rough conditions though). So I would consider the forward head as mainly used in port/anchored/moored.

Really the only thing I wish the boat had more of is fuel capacity, but I have a plan. Time will tell but this is going to be the boat I cruise off in unless I win the lottery (should buy a ticket).

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Really the only thing I wish the boat had more of is fuel capacity, but I have a plan.

You may find that 50 gallons is plenty. With the Yanmar 4JH2E and a three-blade flex-o-fold, I could run it at 2,800 rpms and get 6.5 knots (or better) at .65 gph. That gave me a motoring range of 200 nm for planning purposes, where I always knew that I'd do better under actual conditions.

[FrankZ]

Originally Posted by Bash

Congratulations, Don.

We lived aboard a Hunter 410 for eight years, cruised it 10,000 nm, and never once had it sink beneath us.

May your 410 treat you as well.

Whew.. dodged a bullet didn't ya?

[simonmd]

Sounds great Don, thanks again for your insight. Here in Europe, i've found that 'owners spec' boats of any make are like hens teeth, most of them having two small aft doubles for the charter market. However, sounds like a 410 would suit me well. I can use one for storage and the other for guests, using the forward pullman berth for myself. As it's just me and the dog most of the time, that's not an issue.

[xxuxx]

My $.02! I recently sailed a Passage 450 off the coast of Hatteras. I got caught in 55MPH gale winds that took the vessel some 150 miles off course in running with the gale off my starboard quarter. The vessel is a rock!! with just 1/3 of a foresail to give the vessel stability, we ran 10-11 knots but were never in danger of capsize. 25% of the waves, some 20'+ were breaking hard. While there may be stiffer vessels, I highly doubt they could perform better than this Passage 450 in severe boat breaking conditions. This is a 1% occurance and given the other 99% will be better and less severe, one cannot ignore the value Hunter brings to the table. Go for the Hunter!!!

[meyermm]

Interesting difference between first hand experience and armchair theorists.

[SaltyMonkey]

Its a bloody 450 - large boat.

I'd like to know more about the medium size boats and how they fair.

OK im attracted to hunters...and Catalinas...and Bavarians...and Bennies...and Jenneau

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Its a bloody 450 - large boat.

I'd like to know more about the medium size boats and how they fair.

OK im attracted to hunters...and Catalinas...and Bavarians...and Bennies...and Jenneau

What's a medium size boat to you?

But I kind of thought you were on the production boat bashing camp.

[SaltyMonkey]

lets say between 30-40 feet. Personally, looking between 30-36. Anything below 30 is small IMHO.

Boat bashing...nawh...im over that. Too many options and I re found my love for speed. But fins and keel bolts still scare me.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

OK im attracted to hunters...and Catalinas...and Bavarians...and Bennies...and Jenneau

You can't possibly be married?

[SaltyMonkey]

SaltyMonkey married??? Are you out of your banana tree? Show me the boats!!!

[RTB]

Congrats to Don. His thread lasted 6 months, and finished with a happy ending. Enjoy your new Hunter!

Now if someone else could find his perfect boat....

Ralph

[Otia]

Originally Posted by xxuxx

My $.02! I recently sailed a Passage 450 off the coast of Hatteras. I got caught in 55MPH gale winds that took the vessel some 150 miles off course in running with the gale off my starboard quarter. The vessel is a rock!! with just 1/3 of a foresail to give the vessel stability, we ran 10-11 knots but were never in danger of capsize. ...

I had similar; took a Bavaria 46 from NYC to Nassau this past November, got the remains of Tomas, 40+ kts winds, 7m seas. Did just like you, went running with tiny piece of the Genoa rolled out. The vessel was very stable (except for those breakers hitting us on the side, coming out of nowhere at night...)

Hunter, Beneteau, Bavaria... Let's face it, they are all economical boats. Without them probably I would not have the means of ownership. They all have their weaknesses, and once you get the boat you must address them before sailing long distances. Personally I like the Bavaria, it seems to me a sound foundation to work from.

[SaltyMonkey]

Bavaria - there have been some nice $ used ones on the market recently.

[Otia]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Bavaria - there have been some nice $ used ones on the market recently.

Indeed, I got a nice 40ft a year ago at a very good price, which leaves me ample budget to make the improvements and add the equipment I wish for.

I've been bareboat chartering different makes and types of boats the past few years, and based on my hands on experience it sails great, I mean really great.

I saw the new Bavaria 45 2 weeks ago, nice, I mean really nice, but it is not nearly as well built as they were just a few years ago (mine is 2005). For instance, cabinets made out of laminates, IKEA style, rather than multilayer-lacquered hardwood.