Hunter 38 Test Sail

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Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• sailing
• sail
• sailboat
• hunter
• 38
• latitudes
• attitudes
• boat
• review
• test

[lunarcod]

To anyone looking at this or any other boat: Make sure you assess a boat based on what it is intended to do. Coastal cruiser or blue water passagemaker? High end semi-custom quality, or mass production? These are big differences. Do your own research, and be wary of opinions on the internet - including ours! If you really want to know about a particular boat talk to people that own or sail that specific boat. Other than conducting your own test sail, that's your best source of information.

[PatrickBrass]

It would likely be the last choice on my list for a blue water crossing. While I haven't sailed the 38, I have sailed the 33 and 36. It's a very pretty looking boat, both inside and out. That certainly doesn't mean it sails well though... Easy for solo sailing. However, try to sail this thing in a strong wind on upwind tack, or very close haul, and you'll quickly see why many don't care for this boat. It's like a brick with a sail attached, and a toothpick for a rudder!

[lunarcod]

@PatrickBrass Whether you like or dislike Hunters, the 38 is a very popular model for coastal cruisers who are looking for a comfortable boat with good performance. To say it's like a brick with a sail/toothpick rudder shows you are uninformed. Glen Henderson-designed hulls have very good performance characteristics and employ balanced spade rudders. John Kretschmer was quite impressed with the 38's sailing ability. His informed and experienced opinion matters much more.

[PatrickBrass]

I think if you actually sailed this boat, your opinion might actually be closer to mine than Kretschmer's. Has he ever given less than a positive review on any boat? While I'm not a professional boat reviewer, or sailor for that matter, it has been a hobby of mine for the better part of the last 33 years. I currently belong to a west coast sailing club, and have logged over 1000 miles in the last 1.5 years in '08/9 Hunter 33 &36 in good AND bad weather.

[lunarcod]

Your credentials are impressive. However, I HAVE sailed the boat, and for what it is designed to do it does it very well. It is a coastal cruiser with spacious accommodations, built to a price point. It is not, for example, a Valiant. So why you brought up crossing an ocean in one does not make sense. And though John Kretschmer is a professional sailor (with more than 250,000 documented miles at sea), his opinions were developed on the spot while actually sailing the boat.

[shifttradition]

Hey everyone. ive been recently considering purchasing a sailboat and ive herd mixed reviews. a lot of people are saying Hunter 50s are not good for open water, does anyone care to enlighten me on some facts why? it seems to be a really nice boat and for a good price with some great features like the in mast sail, something that i really like and seems easy to single hand, another plus. im mostly looking for a cruzer boat but would like it to be able to sail around the world if i so choose. help

[lunarcod]

You will receive a HUGE range of reactions with this question. I've been in the industry for many years, and Hunter evokes more negatitvity than any other builder, but at the same time sells more sailboats than anyone. To answer your question directly, I know a man (semi-paraplegic) that singlehanded his Hunter 49 around the world. He'll tell you the boat was wonderful. Ask the next person, and they will tell you they'd never venture out of the bay on one... My advice? Ask Hunter 50 owners.

[therabbitrevolution]

Ill admit im a novice, but I get the feeling that the people who dislike it are the same people who will tell a person to buy a nikon over a canon, or an Apple over a PC (its not that i hate apple, I just think the users are inhuman monsters), I have found the layouts make so much more sense than anything else I've been on. Since I've seen these, it seems as though most sail boat layouts were designed by people who enjoy living in a dog kennels by comparison.

[kbryon]

Im no sailor however I have completed basic courses,,my only experience is on this 38,,its rookie proof as advertised. 2 weekends of classes with maybe 4 hours of sailing experience and this boat is a dream for the chesapeak bay

[JEEP5599]

People question the rigging of hunter due the lack of a back stay. I sail on the great lakes. i have sailed on the hunter 38. Lets say i am addicted. Hunter are good boats. but tartans sabre are way better

[shifttradition]

Thank you very much. i guess my next step is to find a Hunter bulletin and talk with some owners. Thanks again.