Do Hunters Make Good Bluewater / Liveaboard Boats ?

[highseas]

I'm not saying he anchored properly ,only that the boat sheered around alot compared to most of the other 50 or so boats anchored there.

[prof_mariner]

@highseas - Gotcha. A Hunter is not the first boat I would pick if I were to head down to Baja, but plenty have done the trip and I know of at least one that sailed around the planet. I personally prefer a faster, lighter boat over a slower, heavier one. There are some tradeoffs though, one being she will likely bounce around in a sea while at anchor. I'm also a big fan of big anchors and lots of chain. I've lost more nights sleep worrying about an anchor not holding because of inadequate tackle than I care to recall.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

PS - it is not a given that lighter is weaker just as heavier isn't stronger. Otherwise we would still be driving cars built like a 1950 Buick.

Last I checked F still equals MA. I'll take the Buick against the Prius. As long as I can have shoulder belts and maybe airbags...

I'd also take the 18 wheeler over the Buick.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Last I checked F still equals MA. I'll take the Buick against the Prius. As long as I can have shoulder belts and maybe airbags...

I'd also take the 18 wheeler over the Buick.

yes but those aren't really fair comparsions. I would take a supertanker over a 50' sailboat also

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Polux

boats designed primarily for bluewater sailing are lousy as a comfortable place to enjoy living on the sunset.

Only if you lack imagination in design (or another hull)

Mark

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

yes but those aren't really air comparsions. I would take a supertanker over a 50' sailboat also

And I would have you both beat with a Lear jet...

Mark

[Polux]

Originally Posted by prof_mariner

@highseas - I would argue if the guy was dragging anchor he either didn't have the right ground tackle for the conditions or hadn't set it properly (or both). Too many people are quick to blame the boat for issues caused by poor seamanship.

Or used the wrong anchor, smaller than he should or an old one. Modern ones can have more than 3 times more holding power than old ones.

Regarding that movement, I guess you were on an older heavier boat? That movement is typical of light boats and it is not only due to windage but also due to the boat being light.

That can be resolved with a stabilizing small sail rigged on the back on the boat. That sail will not only reduce greatly the amplitude of the movement as it will take pressure out of the rode.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by colemj

Only if you lack imagination in design (or another hull)

Mark

Well, to really have the seaworthiness of a true purposely built bluewater boat, a cat has to be much bigger and therefore much more expensive. That would not be a problem for some but it is for me, as well as the prices and availability of places in the marinas. But give me an Outremer 49 for the price of a First 40 and I will be happy.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Polux

Sorry about my ignorance about the kevlar protection I am not very familiar with Hunter.

I could not agree more with you about weight and I prefer light and strong boats but that implies the use of more modern techniques like vacuum infusion and high tech materials like epoxy or carbon or the use of interior frames in carbon or stainless steel (all expensive unfortunately).

Vacuum infusion was initially developed by Hunter. First, the other production boat companies ridiculed it, claiming their "hand-layed" systems to be superior. One by one, however, they all came to copy it. Nowadays, a vacuum-bagged hull is considered superior because of how it prevents voids.

Same thing happened with kevlar reinforcement. Hunter pioneered it, now everyone else does it.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by elliebell

What' the general consensus?

Ultimately it depends on how well you sail. I have a Hunter and I would not use it as a bluewater cruiser. There are better choices.

[Polux]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Not sure if you are confusing Hunter (US) with British Hunter (UK) - which had to change it's name a few years back.

Yes, you are right. I thought that they were made under licence with some modifications

It seems that it is not the case

Home

[Rakuflames]

I'm going to add to my answer. The 1983 31' Hunter I own has swept-back spreaders but a good, stout backstay.

I think the issue is sailing skill and experience BECAUSE they're very tender boats. They will respond more to, for instance, strong gusts. You'll have to have good feet on you if you have to go up to the bow because of that. I personally would use a very short tether when forward because of that ... you really don't want to go over the side and be dragged behind your boat in a storm ...

[Bash]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

I used to be down on Hunters, but this year I met a couple on a Hunter 46 in Hawaii who cruised it down to Mexico, then Hawaii, Alaska, and have just passed me going down to Mexico again.

I know that couple! We crossed paths last summer, doing a bit of river cruising, and I spent an hour on their boat checking out their modifications, after which they spent an hour on my 46--which happens to be Hull #350, the last one that Hunter built--checking it out.

It's the only boat I've ever been on that had a better cockpit stereo system than mine. Woofers!

[Polux]

Originally Posted by Bash

Vacuum infusion was initially developed by Hunter. ...

Vacum infusion was developed on racing boats many years ago (40 years ago or more).

About Kevlar reinforcements I don't know but Bavaria uses them at least for 10 years. I don't know when they start to use them.

[svHannabel]

Per the 2011 Pacific Puddle Jump fleet roster (http://www.pacificpuddlejump.com/fleet.html), 2 Hunters made the jump this year (One was a 450, the other a Passage 42). This doesn't help answer the OP's question about whether they make "good" bluewater boats or not, but it does indeed indicate that some sailors use them as such.