Anybody know about the Wind Hunter 19?

T

The Stoker

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It's a plastic gaffer from Character Boats, imported from a manufacturer in Poland. Advantages are out board engine and long/ bilge keels, so no inboard engine, centreboard casing and mechanism to complicate and clutter things up. This seems to give a more accommodating cabin than the other 19 footers out there which combined with the lower price has caught my attention.

I guess it'll loose something in how close it can get to the wind, but I wouldn't buy this type of boat if that was my main interest.

Introduced to UK market in 2013, but despite an internet search, there's virtually nothing out there in terms of reviews/ 2nd hand etc...

Any views or opinions?

Link: http://www.characterboats.co.uk/wind-hunter-19/
 
I see there is a second hand one on the Characterboats website. Maybe the only one??

My observation is that they have tried to put too much accommodation into a small package, which makes her look a bit top heavy. I am pretty confident that the performance will be poor compared to the Shrimper or the Memory. I write as a previous owner of a CB lune pilot 14, which I loved despite its windward performance needing patience and care. The pilot was in many ways a just as good at sailing, more useful and better looking boat for me than its obvious competition, which was drascombe shaped.

Given your choice, I personally would go for a Memory every time, mostly because most of my time is going to be spent sailing the boat, rather than crouching in its cramped accommodation. However, horses for courses.
 
Yes, probably the only one in the Uk. Would have difficulty in making an impression in a new boat market against the well established competition such as Shrimper, Cape 19, Swallow boats etc.
 
Glad for the responses, I am now erring on the memory - I've heard they're not so trailerable though. I think there isn't enough out there + the comments here to make me commit to the wind hunter.
 
I have read in an article that the inspiration behind the creation of this craft were the Bristol Channel Cutter Boards. This small yacht is intended for sailing coastal waters,it is also suitable for inland waters. This craft only has a 0.55m (2ft) draught making it ideal for exploring those creeks and estuaries.
 
Sandgrounder said:
You have added the word pilot. The blurb simply says "Bristol Channel cutter boats". Maybe they did use cutters to load and unload; I have no idea!
Click to expand...

Yes, I did, but the idea that ships were unloaded in open water by 'cutters' in 'all weathers', rather than in harbours, is a bit fanciful. Especially in the Bristol Channel.The rest of the blurb is pretty poor English, so I would assume that they were refering to the pilot cutters to get some pedigree. They did operate in all weathers (up to a point..)

And, while I am here, does Jason U have any vague connection with Character Boats? or should I say Boards?

To add, I just had a look at some of the other boat descriptions, they read OK, so it seems that the one for the WH19 was written by someone without the same grasp of English??
 
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A cutter is a fairly broad term for a small boat. RN used to have cutters and whalers as ships boats. Sailors tend to correct you if you use the term for anything other than a boat with a "cutter rig" of a mainsail and two foresails. A cutter would reasonably unload stuff or people from a larger boat at sea I would have thought, especially if they were not overly enthusiastic about carrying out such operations where everything they were doing could be observed.
 
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