Changing Boat

richardbayle

richardbayle

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Aug 2006
Messages
446
Location
French Antilles
www.richardbayle.com
Good afternoon to you all.

Time for a change and I think I've found the yacht to replace my Bénéteau 323, a Hunter 41 DS. Any of you have any views, opinions, violent disagreements? All welcome. Any thing I should look for? She was launched in 2008.

For additional info, based in France, boat in marina in French Med, le Cap d'Agde and this will probably be our very last boat and we intend to extensively cruise almost to the point of live a board.

Look forward to hearing from anyone.
 
I've only been on a Hunter once (not a DS 41 but the rig is the same, I think?), but I found the lack of a backstay very disconcerting in spite of the owner's earnest protestations that it was as strong - if not stronger - than a conventional rig. Performance was OK but not startling, which one could say about many boats, but I'm guessing accommodation - which looks good - may be your priority if you're looking to cruise almost to the point of a liveaboard?

Big naturist scene in that area of France.
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We holidayed near Cap D'Agde last summer. The World is not ready for me with my clothes off and I was delighted to discover that it didn't take much ingenuity to avoid the nudist beaches (mostly peopled by fat, naked Germans, so far as I could tell from a brief inspection :D)
 
I was told that, but it did win Yacht World's Cruising Yacht of the Year 2008! Backless rig sort of concerns me, bit plenty cross the pond each year. Thanks for the input and it's not compulsory to have no clothes in Cap d'Agde. Actually I've never been to that sid eof the beach in case my glasses mist up!!!
 
I am not sure if this comment applies to that model but the Hunter forums keep coming up with problems of accessability.

To the point where a sawzall is regarded as a piece of must have kit and inspection hatches to fill the hole left behind.

I liked the Hunter Passage 42 layout and would have preferred the model with the backstay but my research did not come up with rig problems on version without the backstay.

A few Hunters have lost their rudders but not an unusually high percentage considering it is a spade.

Personally I would only have a deck salon version if I knew I was going to be in colder climes on a regular basis and had A/C if it was very hot. Man it is a greenhouse even with white screens on the windows!
 
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OK to summarise so far.

It doesn't sail well, the mast doesn't stay up, altho' I can find no instance of one falling down, I need a saw to open the hatches and we have the greenhouse effect.

Sounds like just the yacht for me then.

I can not find a UK review of this boat, nor a French, only American and Australian/ New Zealand and they all loved it. As I say, Cruising World's Yacht of the Year 2008. Can anyone assist with more?
 
richardbayle said:
OK to summarise so far.

It doesn't sail well, the mast doesn't stay up, altho' I can find no instance of one falling down, I need a saw to open the hatches and we have the greenhouse effect.

Sounds like just the yacht for me then.

I can not find a UK review of this boat, nor a French, only American and Australian/ New Zealand and they all loved it. As I say, Cruising World's Yacht of the Year 2008. Can anyone assist with more?
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Sounds about right :). Just to clarify: I, too have no knowledge of any masts falling down and I wasn't implying that they did, just that it felt innately wrong not to have a back-stay. But it obviously works ;)
 
I know how you feel about the backstay, put me off for a while but hey, nothing ventured... Interesting thing is tho', the insurance premium is almost the same as for my 323!

Either I'm paying too much at the moment or the boat, as you say, must work
 
No doubt your going to get the 'anti legend' brigade out but lets face it they exist for every make of boat afloat, it horses for courses, down to budget, what your going to do with it and where !

I sail a Wing keel Hunter Legend 335 which does have backstays and sails exceptionally well so much so that we finished 3rd in class and 39th overall in this years RTIR, you should have seen the look on the faces as we past the competition ???

Back to your prospective purchase, a colleague of mine has a newer 42 legend and loves it apart from the keel ? i can only assume he has a bilge keel fitted, but the room on board, value for money etc etc makes it hard to beat :p
 
TQA said:
A few Hunters have lost their rudders but not an unusually high percentage considering it is a spade.
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Nothing to do with the rudders being spades. Everything to do with poor choice of materials for stocks made worse by poor manufacturing. Just about every mainstream production builder uses spade rudders - and they don't fail in the same way as the composite stock Hunter ones do. Don't think they use such stocks now because the numbers failing became quite significant and high profile.
 
Thanks for this, kinda expected the anti-legend brigade had the same when I bought my Bennie 323 which I love, but looking to go further and it is a bit small for long periods. Wife and I need our quiet zones!!

Not concerned by the lack of back stays, especially as some of the big racing yachts now have a similar configuration and the Legend owners website and their members very encouraging, so survey permitting, I'm going to go for it.

SWMBO very much in favour so all well on the domestic front.

Early start tomorrow so nighty night to all my readers
 
richardbayle said:
I was told that, but it did win Yacht World's Cruising Yacht of the Year 2008! Backless rig sort of concerns me, bit plenty cross the pond each year. Thanks for the input and it's not compulsory to have no clothes in Cap d'Agde. Actually I've never been to that sid eof the beach in case my glasses mist up!!!
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Just a couple of observations.

It would be helpful if you want meaningful feedback, if you gave an idea of the other boats you considered and rejected in favour of the Hunter. Awards have little meaning without knowing the criteria used by the judges and knowing what other boats were considered. (Think how many dogs have won the "Car of the Year" awards). Finally, assume the boat you are looking at is a European spec boat and fully street legal (ie properly imported with a CE mark and duty and VAT records available).

Could well be that the boat in question is the boat of your dreams, but there are many highly desirable boats from European builders in the same category.
 
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Yachting monthly did a review of the 41DS a few years back. Unfortunately thrown my back issues out, but it should be in the archive. Main thing I remember was incredible headroom (something I look out for at my height).

Sorry can't remember any of the conclusions.
 
Re alternatives:

Bennie 40, Hanse 40, Dufour Grande Large 405. really like the Southerly, can't afford it.

Why I like the Hunter? Great living space, comfortable in the Med and built for big Americans. Americans love a law suit and I can find no successful law suit against a failed Hunter.

Also, there have been no warranty claims against the 41 DS from two months after it's launch. Now that cannot be said re all my alternatives! I'm very fond of the Beneteau range and my 323 has been wonderful fun, but knocking on a bit now and need the caravan!!!
 
richardbayle said:
Re alternatives:

Bennie 40, Hanse 40, Dufour Grande Large 405. really like the Southerly, can't afford it.

Why I like the Hunter? Great living space, comfortable in the Med and built for big Americans. Americans love a law suit and I can find no successful law suit against a failed Hunter.

Also, there have been no warranty claims against the 41 DS from two months after it's launch. Now that cannot be said re all my alternatives! I'm very fond of the Beneteau range and my 323 has been wonderful fun, but knocking on a bit now and need the caravan!!!
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Then a Hunter caravan it is!

Although there may not be any lawsuits at least 40 Hunter composite rudders have failed - in some cases resulting in the loss of the yacht through scuppering. Problem well reported in the press (one of the boats was on the ARC) and forums such as the Liveaboard. However your 2008 prospective boat will almost certainly have a metal stock just as the other major builders use. If it does not then perhaps you give it a miss, particularly if you intend sailing in heavy weather!
 
I realise that this is a historical thread but on the offchance that this reaches you am keen to find someone who has experience of a Legend 335 (with backstay)! I'm on 023 8036 6196
 
I presume with no backstay(s) the spreaders are seriously swept aft? Are there lowers swept aft too?

My concern (i.e. crash jibing on a cruising boat) is how far will the mainsail go out before being stopped by the rig? If 150 degrees then acceptable imho but if close to 120 degrees becomes an issue (again imho)
 
E39mad said:
I presume with no backstay(s) the spreaders are seriously swept aft? Are there lowers swept aft too?

My concern (i.e. crash jibing on a cruising boat) is how far will the mainsail go out before being stopped by the rig? If 150 degrees then acceptable imho but if close to 120 degrees becomes an issue (again imho)
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As far as I know the Bergstrom & Ridder (sp?) rig has spreaders that are swept back 30 degrees from the lateral plane on either side and therefore exactly 120 degrees. What issue do you foresee? Just idyll curiousity?
 
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