Hunter 19- good first boat?

Kelpie

Kelpie

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I've been gaining some experience crewing with friends and am now looking to buy a boat for myself. I have a rather limited budget and the Hunter 19 seems to be crop up often in my price range. I like the look of it, and the fact that it would be easily trailed. It also seems to suit my needs for day sails and possible overnights if I can drag the girlfriend along!

My main concern is that, living in Stornoway, I could be facing potentially quite serious sailing conditions. I certainly don't intend to seek out rough weather by any means, but on the other hand I can't discuont the possibility of being caught out.
The Hunter is obviously a very small boat- would I be crazy to leave harbour in one?
Thanks!

Rob
 
The Hunter 19, and the marginally more civilised Hunter Europa, same hull different coachroof, are excellent boats. Very seaworthy and surprisingly quick. Obviously limited on accomodation but super wee boats. David Blagden sailed his across the Atlantic.
 
My wife and I had a Hunter Europa as our first boat. It was very seaworthy and surprisingly quick. We had a triple keeled version which always fell over on its drying mooring but fin keel versions are also out there. Its hull was from a Squib keelboat but with a deck moulding fitted. I would say it is ideal as a first boat although rather cramped inside. If you like more comfort (though not as quick to sail) we have also owned a Newbridge Venturer which are 22ft but much more space including a separate heads. Visit www.newbridge-nava.co,uk for the owners association website.
 
[ QUOTE ]


My main concern is that, living in Stornoway, I could be facing potentially quite serious sailing conditions. I certainly don't intend to seek out rough weather by any means, but on the other hand I can't discuont the possibility of being caught out.
The Hunter is obviously a very small boat- would I be crazy to leave harbour in one?
Thanks!

Rob

[/ QUOTE ]
If you have never been I recommend a trip (by land or sea) to Rodel at the S end of Harris. In the old church there you can see the best extant depiction of a medieval hebridean galley. Some of these were probably little bigger than 20' or so and were used for 00s of years as the mainstay of the local economy, and primitive compared to what you are considering (open to the sea, poor windward performance, no lifesaving equipment etc. etc.). A boat like a Hunter 19 with a full deck and self-draining cockpit will stay afloat long after the crew have given up caring. Stay away from the Blue Men of Shiant and you'll be fine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
That would be, as said, a good boat.
There's quite a few sound little boats like that. Prelude, Foxcub etc., all available for less than £1500 for a good one with a trailer.
Don't be tempted to buy a rough one cheap. a set of sails would set you back £700, so you may as well shop for a top quality example.

There is a young guy who was on the next mooring to me with a rough Europa was planning to take it to sea and do a Round-Britain. He is an RYA Instructor so presumably knows what he is about.
 
I seem to remember considering one of these back in 2002, and I got a PBO report on it.

If I'm correct then it was the lifting keel version I was interested and the only downside as I recall was that the lifting mechanism was hydraulic and the ram is installed upside down in the keel box, which meant if it corroded/failed it had to be cut out as it was otherwise inaccessible (and I suppose irreplaceable). So watch out for that
 
I threw that nugget in so that he didn't sound like a complete wacko.

As he'd had the boat on the mooring with a broken rudder pintle for 2 years, I'm not so sure. The rudder was in the cockpit and as this pic was taken in Oct 2006 and it wasn't fixed last time I looked in January this year, safe to say it's not being loved.



FadedGRP.jpg
 
Thanks very much for the responses- clearly a lot of good feeling for these wee boats! There seem to be quite a few around, and from what I've seen less than £2000 in good condition on a trailer (or with a tender and a cradle) seems to be about right. If I can haggle that down then that's all the better. Any idea what the hull speed would be for one of these? Also, (and I know this is a hard thing to quantify!) how much of a chop does it take to make things slow and unpleasant?

[ QUOTE ]

If you have never been I recommend a trip (by land or sea) to Rodel at the S end of Harris. In the old church there you can see the best extant depiction of a medieval hebridean galley. Some of these were probably little bigger than 20' or so and were used for 00s of years as the mainstay of the local economy, and primitive compared to what you are considering (open to the sea, poor windward performance, no lifesaving equipment etc. etc.). A boat like a Hunter 19 with a full deck and self-draining cockpit will stay afloat long after the crew have given up caring. Stay away from the Blue Men of Shiant and you'll be fine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, St Clements church is a very interesting place- I'll need to look out for the craving next time I'm there though. Out of interest, much of my sailing has been aboard traditional Sgoth Niseach fishing boats (see www.ansulaire.com) which have a shallow double-ended clinker hull and a dipping lugsail. They're good, fun boats, but windward performance is a bit lacking compared to modern rigs! However at 27 and 33ft the two that I have sailed are obviously a bit bigger than the Hunter, but I guess I'm comparing Apples and Pears now.
 
They will do about 5 knots and a bit. But are not easy to get planing as they have a narrow stern. Which is good news in a rough following sea.
My Foxcub had a broad flat stern which would plane but was a pain in the arse when running.
 
PaulR said:
my first boat was also a europa - folly - super first yacht - we used to trail sail and then after that kept her afloat - sailed her 3 up from harwich to oostende and loved her - lead to strong faith in hunters - have had 3 - go for it
Click to expand...
Hi Paul,
I came across this thread as just in the process of purchasing 'folly' which has been advertised as built in 1995 as a Hunter Europa 19, although a previous bill of sale states it was built in 1972, the boat is still in he water and i have looked at here and she seems fine, just wondered if you know exactly when she was built or can offer some information, advice, or feedback for her please?
 
EZLee said:
Hi Paul,
I came across this thread as just in the process of purchasing 'folly' which has been advertised as built in 1995 as a Hunter Europa 19, although a previous bill of sale states it was built in 1972, the boat is still in he water and i have looked at here and she seems fine, just wondered if you know exactly when she was built or can offer some information, advice, or feedback for her please?
Click to expand...
The Sailboat data website suggests these were built between 1972 and 1982. Certainly 1995 is way too late, so assume 1972 much more likely.
 
Well this thread was a bit of a blast from the past!
I never did buy the Hunter. Got a Wayfarer instead, then a year later an Albin Vega.
I do wonder how things would have worked out with the Hunter. Might well have put off the other half for life.
 
EZLee said:
Hi Paul,
I came across this thread as just in the process of purchasing 'folly' which has been advertised as built in 1995 as a Hunter Europa 19, although a previous bill of sale states it was built in 1972, the boat is still in he water and i have looked at here and she seems fine, just wondered if you know exactly when she was built or can offer some information, advice, or feedback for her please?
Click to expand...
Sometimes people put in the age of the engine, if they don't know the age of the boat. Could it be that?
 
BashkoN said:
I was just about to tell you that Hunter is a bad decision, but now I see the topic is from 2008 and you got Wayfarer)) great choice
Click to expand...

Welcome @BashkoN good to have your views.

Others have expanded on why they think the Hunter would, at that time, have been a good first boat. Did you have a bad experience?
 
Kelpie said:
Well this thread was a bit of a blast from the past!
I never did buy the Hunter. Got a Wayfarer instead, then a year later an Albin Vega.
Click to expand...

And 15 years on from the Wayfarer, you are now in the Caribbean with your Moody, dodging potential hurricanes!

All far removed from Stornoway, but slightly warmer temps..... The irascible (and smug - he is currently far away from the Crabby Ian) @Stingo has started a thread about our hurricanes here
For the Crabby-Ian dwellers. Early hurricane season
 
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