Hunter Yachts Review

Summary

Hunter Marine comes from a long line of marine experience. The actual line was established in 1973 by Warren Luhrs with the desire of combining his love for sailing with his knowledge of ship building. He was following a long tradition of ship building beginning in 1800 with Henry Luhr and his grandson, also named Henry who took the work to New Jersey. The company is now based in Alachua, Florida. The original goal of Hunter yachts was to produce a quality boat for an affordable price. Hunter sells through dealers internationally. According to the Hunter Marine website, some of the differences that make them stand out are value, low maintenance, and ease of sailing. Each Hunter, regardless of size, is designed to be easily managed by one or two individuals. They also claim their warranty as the best in sailing - offering a 5 year Hull warranty that is not pro-rated and is transferable.

Pricing

The price of the various Hunter yacht models can be as low as $4500 (used, 1984 model) to over $170, 000. p>  

Pros

• Hunter yachts come from a long line of experienced shipbuilders with many years of experience.
• Boats that are 33 feet and up include isolation transformers. Also included are hardware from brand names Lewmar, Spinlock, and Harken among others.
• These boats are designed for low maintenance and easy handling by one or two individuals.

Cons

• Hunter produces approximately 800 large boats and 1,200 smaller boats each year, giving them a more “mass produced” feel than some boat builders who take great pride in customizing each boat.

Featured Models

Hunter models include the Daysailers (14-21 feet), Pocket Cruisers (25-27 feet), Edge Motor Sailer, MidSize Keelboats (31-38 feet), Large Cruisers (39-49 feet), and Center Cockpit (45-50 feet). The Daysailers utilize a process called Advanced Composite that uses a higher density foam along with a bi-directional stitch that improves on the resistance of normal fiberglass. The Pocket Cruisers have cabin space that allow for overnight cruising and both the 25 and 27 offer an enclosed head. The Center Cockpits are the largest of the boats and feature a cockpit traveler arch and backstayless B&R rig. p>  

Conclusion

Hunter Marine yachts offer years of experience and a quality product for reasonable prices. These boats are recreational in nature, but as a part of Luhrs Marine Group, the line also includes Silverton Marine Corporation (inboard cruisers), Mainship Trawlers, and Luhrs Corporation (sportfishing boats). These boats offer many amenities and can be found through dealers.