well, my wife and I have decided (maybe) that our ultimate sailboat is the
mid 80s Hunter 345. we like the looks, layout and what we have read as far
as how she sails and performs is good. Any comments on this boat?

I don't much like Hunters in general, but if that's what's going to work
for you, go for it. They're listed in the local rag as good starter boats.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"FamilySailor" wrote in message
...
well, my wife and I have decided (maybe) that our ultimate sailboat is the
mid 80s Hunter 345. we like the looks, layout and what we have read as far
as how she sails and performs is good. Any comments on this boat?

Just closed the deal on a Reinel 26' It will be a long time before we could
get a Hunter 345. But I don't want it as a starter boat. I want to
eventually have it as my last boat. We want something to take across the
Gulf of Mexico to winter in the Caribbean (If "W" says I can leave the U.S.
that is)

well, my wife and I have decided (maybe) that our ultimate sailboat is the
mid 80s Hunter 345.

LOL.......... I didn't know a Hunter made it onto anybody's "ultimate" sailboat
list. Usually a Swan, Baltic or Oyster might.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

LOL.......... I didn't know a Hunter made it onto anybody's "ultimate"
sailboat
list. Usually a Swan, Baltic or Oyster might.

Well, it has to be within my price range, which is $20,000 to $25,000. I
don't want to take a loan to get it. I just want to buy it.

While we are "OT" (on topic), What are the down falls and faults with
Hunters? Give me the down and dirty facts. I don't want to eventually get my
dreamboat and find it is a nightmare! :-O

While we are "OT" (on topic), What are the down falls and faults with
Hunters? Give me the down and dirty facts. I don't want to eventually get my
dreamboat and find it is a nightmare! :-O

Cheap construction. Balast/displacement ratios probably not suited to ocean
sailing. Interior layout would not be conducive to your Carib. cruise plans
which requires days at sea.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

I'll second Loco on the Ballast/Displacement ratio.

I used to teach on these boats and we were required
to write up three probelms on every boat we took out.
The joke for these Bent-e-toads was the instructors
put "Not enough lead in keel" for a probelm.

In any kind of wind you are reefing down. Roller furling
kills the shape of the head sail. Offshore, with reefed sails
the leeway is horrible. You are lucky if you get 1 knot made
good upwind.

These boats are for inland and coastal waters where you can
anchor at night.

SAIL LOCO wrote

While we are "OT" (on topic), What are the down falls and faults with
Hunters? Give me the down and dirty facts. I don't want to eventually get
my
dreamboat and find it is a nightmare! :-O

Cheap construction. Balast/displacement ratios probably not suited to
ocean
sailing. Interior layout would not be conducive to your Carib. cruise
plans
which requires days at sea.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

I'll second the comments on poor performance with any kind of wind. I took
a Hunter 310 out for a weekend at a local anchorage. In 15 knots sailing
upwind there was extreme weather helm even with the traveler eased quite a
bit. Even after putting in a reef the handling was very poor compared to a
Catalina 30 or Beneteau 323. The 310 is nice for taking my non-sailor
friends out for a daysail though. It's cheap to charter for a day, and they
all think it's a beautiful boat.

I took a Hunter 420 to Catalina Island for a 3-day weekend. With the center
cockpit, this thing had a spectacular aft cabin with queen sized bed,
standing room, nice head. But in 18 knots of breeze she was out of control.
It was better after I rolled in some of the main (effectively reefing). But
honestly, this much difficulty handling wind in a boat this size? Awful
performance. Also, the roller furling main was a nightmare. Okay, I
suppose it provides an infinite number of reef points. But the sail shape
is horrible, and it's MUCH more work than just hoisting a sail with a
halyard - I don't see the point at all.

I am no expert in sailing. It's possible I didn't have the boats properly
trimmed. But these experiences sure left me with a poor impression of
Hunters.

"Bart Senior" wrote in message
t...
I'll second Loco on the Ballast/Displacement ratio.

I used to teach on these boats and we were required
to write up three probelms on every boat we took out.
The joke for these Bent-e-toads was the instructors
put "Not enough lead in keel" for a probelm.

In any kind of wind you are reefing down. Roller furling
kills the shape of the head sail. Offshore, with reefed sails
the leeway is horrible. You are lucky if you get 1 knot made
good upwind.

These boats are for inland and coastal waters where you can
anchor at night.

SAIL LOCO wrote

While we are "OT" (on topic), What are the down falls and faults with
Hunters? Give me the down and dirty facts. I don't want to eventually
get
my
dreamboat and find it is a nightmare! :-O

Cheap construction. Balast/displacement ratios probably not suited to
ocean
sailing. Interior layout would not be conducive to your Carib. cruise
plans
which requires days at sea.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

Why do you think Caribbean cruising "requires days at sea"? On a trip
from Ft. Lauderdale to Trinidad there are only 4 areas that are more
than 73 nmi. Turks and Cacous to Dominican Republic 78 nmi, D.R to
Puerto Rico (Mona Passage) 76 nmi, Virgin Gorda (BVI) to St. Martin 81
nmi, and Grenada to Trinidad 73 nmi. All the rest of the Eastern
Caribbean is basically coastal cruising, 6 nmi to 30 nmi between
islands. Been there, done it.
krj
s/v Isle Escape

SAIL LOCO wrote:
While we are "OT" (on topic), What are the down falls and faults with
Hunters? Give me the down and dirty facts. I don't want to eventually get my
dreamboat and find it is a nightmare! :-O

Cheap construction. Balast/displacement ratios probably not suited to ocean
sailing. Interior layout would not be conducive to your Carib. cruise plans
which requires days at sea.
S/V Express 30 "Ringmaster"
"No shirt, no skirt, full service"

I agree with krj, it does not required days at sea. It is only a 4 to 6 day
sail from Galveston to Cancun, then hopping around like you said. we just
want a boat that is comfortable enough to live on when we are on the boat.
And, the layout of the early to mid 80s Hunter 345 is perfect for us to be
comfortable. I like the queen sized berth under the cockpit. The stern rides
much smoother than the bow. I think the full keel model would be perfect.
All sailboats need to reef down when the wind picks up. It will be our
floating home while we are away from the old land base. What other sailboat
would you recommend for 20 to 25 Gs that is as comfortable?