Hunter 27: Blue Water Capable?

[laxaholic]

right now, i have a 25 foot catalina tall rig. in the marina there is a 27 foot hunter for a reasonable price. it is wheel steer (which i want) more head room (which i want) and is 2 feet longer with alot more headroom. it does need some work. but is a 27foot hunter able to go in the ocean?

i have always heard hunters arent the best sailing boats. what do u guys think?

[s/v 'Faith']

Define 'bluewater'... you ask;

is a 27foot hunter able to go in the ocean?

. Going outside of inland protected waters is different from 'bluewater' as many speak of the term.

Hunter is not my choice, but if you are asking if it is safe to take out on the ocean the answer is yes....

Capability is probably much more dependent on the skipper then the boat.

[Mark1977]

All depends on who's at the helm....

[boatman61]

Question... why do you want 'wheel steer'... dya think its more salty...
Or have you just never had to steer one of these heaps of **** for over 1000 miles... tillers are king... wheels are seriously hard work when your AP dies

[sailrj]

The older the Hunter the better. Their newer small boat leave a lot to desire and I would think long and hard before going off shore in a Hunter 27 that is less than 20 years old. I am trying to sell a 1999 H260 and there is noway would I go off shore in it.

[laxaholic]

i just want a wheel, not really sure why... i have had tiller boats for my entire life. the hunter is an older boat and does need some work, but i would be moving from a 25 foot to a 27 foot for very little extra money...
although it is a catalina to a hunter...always thought cats sailed better.

the hunter offers a lot more head room and i think that it would make the boat more comfortable to stay on for longer periods of time.

[squarpeg]

You can take a hunter offshore, not a problem. By that I mean coastal cruising. The bahamas is doable in a wait for weather situation. If you want to cross oceans and go around the world look for something else.

[Sailorman Ed]

Lax,
I started with a 78 or 79 H27 modified with a transom hung rudder to help the weather helm....help but not solve it. Was a great boat, lots of fun but I would not consider taking it in any serious wind/waves. The bottom is just too flat and boat too tender. Is easy enough to singlehand but a little tight for 4 adults for a week. Is a great sheltered water boat or not too nasty off shore.

[Goldencrab95]

I'm looking at a Hunter 27 too. But it is the EDGE motor sailor version I'm looking at. I wonder if it is as capable offshore as the regular Hunter 27 you're talking about. It should due to deep keel and great stability flotation systems and a water ballast.

[squarpeg]

This boat is not meant for ocean sailing. I like the fact that it can't sink but other then that I would rather be in an old hunter. People need to define "blue water capable" I define that as being far enough offshore to not be able to get back to safe harbor when NOAA says things are going to get nasty. You don't want to be out in the ocean in this boat in bad weather. No reason you can't sail "offshore" for day sailing in nice weather. If you want wander far from the sight of land, find another boat.

[paddyd]

In the seventies Lots of peopled crusied all over the world in 27ft Hunters and Catalinas ....todays cruisers have changed as have boat size ......if that is what you can afford and have the experience and drive ...set your boat up right and .....go for it .....

[foolishsailor]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Question... why do you want 'wheel steer'... dya think its more salty...
Or have you just never had to steer one of these heaps of **** for over 1000 miles... tillers are king... wheels are seriously hard work when your AP dies

+1

My boat is over 40' and has a tiller. Most fun to sail cruising boat i have owned.

And what a surprise another bluewater thread.

I long for the guns pirate and anchor threads...

[Travelnik]

Originally Posted by foolishsailor

And what a surprise another bluewater thread.

I long for the guns pirate and anchor threads...

So, if you had some really good guns, and a Chinese Rocna, could you make the Hunter into a good coastal pirate boat?

[bgallinger]

I owned a 27 ft. Hunter and loved sailing it in the Great Lakes. The perfect boat for a weekend outing, but too small for any longer trips. That means not enough comfortable sleeping berths, enough fuel, water and waste tank storage etc.

[Andrew Troup]

If you don't have a specific reason to choose wheel steering, then I would say a tiller is preferable, especially offshore.