Hunter 335 - You opinions?

[markjc]

Hi there, I am considering Hunter 335 and looking for our views or opinions on this boat. I'm after a boat that handles well but not looking to race it. I want it to be comfortable and be ok for me at 6"3'. I know not many boats let me "stand up" but I don't want to be on my knees either!

Also any alternative boats you can recommend?

Thanks all!

 

[markjc]

Someone must have an opinion.... not like a forum to have no one with a view!?....

 

[richardsn9]

I have owned a '93 vintage 335 for two seasons and I am very happy with her. Below decks she is very comfortable, with plenty of space, comfortable berths and a big galley, as you might expect when built for the US market. She rates highly in the internal space department for her LOA, but this means her looks are not stunning, but no worse than many AWB's of the same vintage. The interior is very and well ventilated.
She sails reasonably well, but takes a bit of a breeze to get her going. She still has a conventional rig as she was launched before the switch over to B and R rig. She is solid and seaworthy, her layout would not suit for long offshore passages, but fine for cross channel etc.
Build quality is good, and I have no issues here, and the Yanmar engine is very reliable. The 335 predates some concerns raised over some later Hunter boats. Some fittings and systems are US supplied so spare parts may need some hunting down, however. Hope this helps!

 

[markjc]

Thanks for that, good to hear from someone who has lived with one of these ships for a while. Also good to hear your honest view on it. Lets face it anything that is comfortable is gonig to need a bit more pushing to get it moving and vice versa! Thats the nature of these things.

By concerns on later boats do you mean loosing the rudder? I don't suppose you know if all 335s are clear of this?

 

[davidej]

Is it one of those backstay-free Hunters = not very keen on that configuration for reasons well aired on these pages.

 

[markjc]

I have seen a few posts on here about the backstay-less Hunters, and lots of comments from people that don't have one speculating about the design. But those that have them seem to have not had any problems? Unless I've missed a load of threads!

 

[davidej]

I dont have a Hunter but have sailed quite a few miles (2-2500 approx) in a much larger one -41ft, I think. my main gripe is that you really can't wing the boom out properly

 

[RichardTaylor]

I dont get the lack of back stay argument, coming from a dinghy background, I raced many different dinghies over the years and NONE of them had a back stay. In fact my laser didnt have any standing rigging what so ever.

Having seen the difference in sweep back of the spreaders between a Bav and Hunter Legend, the difference is not that great.

 

[Poignard]

Two things would worry me:

1. the rudder might break off

2. and without it the boat would be impossible to control

 

[richardsn9]

The 335 was one of the last Hunters with a 'normal' rig, before they switched to the B and R configuration. They relaunched the hull with this and it became, I think, the 336! The Hunter website has loads of info on this, with build dates etc.
I am very happy with the backstayed rig as is, and have no desire to change. No issues with the rudder, which seems very solid. My earlier reference to build quality was based on some hull deck join issues which surfaced with this builder at a later date, according to some... Cannot comment on this, but the earlier boats seem solid enough to me.

With reference to your post about the wheel steering column on the PBO forum, it is an Edson unit, so you could do worse than talk to their agent. My guess would be a boatyard job at some expense to switch it, unless you are handy with that sort of thing. PM me if you would like any more details!

 

[RichardTaylor]

Two things would worry me:

1. the rudder might break off

2. and without it the boat would be impossible to control

And the keels fall off several boats including my last boat the very strong and capable Westerly Griffon.

Also please give a link to someone who has ACTUALLY had the rudder fall off. It would appear to be an urban myth or at worst a one off, as my research for the ACTUAL event drew a blank, though there are plenty off "I heard" and a "friend of a friend" type comments.

 

[Poignard]

Also please give a link to someone who has ACTUALLY had the rudder fall off. It would appear to be an urban myth or at worst a one off, as my research for the ACTUAL event drew a blank, though there are plenty off "I heard" and a "friend of a friend" type comments.

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/printthread.php?t=36703

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217968

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/followyoufollowme/?xjMsgID=106417

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/followyoufollowme/?xjMsgID=108043

 

[RichardTaylor]

2 incidents....

Like I said Westerly Griffon Keels fall off unless they have been modified, as they do on various other boats (including at least one in the Solent this year - Maxi??), but does this get held against them. As I understand Hunter did use a "composite" shaft but have since reverted to S/Steel.

 

[Poignard]

2 incidents....

One more than you asked for.

 

[Tranona]

One more than you asked for.

As I recall there have been something like 25 failures of Hunter composite stocks - couple of them very high p[rofile.

However, now irrelevant as the earlier boat discussed here probably does not have a composite stock, neither do recent models.

 

[markjc]

Thank you for all the history on this, is quite interesting reading, and the fails seem to be when the boats are doing some amazing adventures! (Guess I would be ok in the solent then!)

There seems to be mix knowledge though, does the Hunter 335 have one of the all GRP stocks or is it a SS one?

 

[Poignard]

(Guess I would be ok in the solent then!)

Imagine entering Portsmouth Harbour through the small boat channel on a summer Saturday morning , or the Hamble, and your rudder falls off

Or Lymington River when one of those new new ferries is coming towards you!

Spade rudders? Not for me thanks! I'd rather have my rudder attached at 4 places and well shielded from nets, lines and other debris by a long fat keel; even at the cost of some loss of speed and manouverability astern. But I'm not trying to tell you what to do - just offering an opinion.

By the way, my boat has 6ft+ of headroom in the saloon.

 

[Tranona]

Imagine entering Portsmouth Harbour through the small boat channel on a summer Saturday morning , or the Hamble, and your rudder falls off

Or Lymington River when one of those new new ferries is coming towards you!

Spade rudders? Not for me thanks! I'd rather have my rudder attached at 4 places and well shielded from nets, lines and other debris by a long fat keel; even at the cost of some loss of speed and manouverability astern. But I'm not trying to tell you what to do - just offering an opinion.

By the way, my boat has 6ft+ of headroom in the saloon.

Think that the number of spade rudders now in use - that don't fail - way exceeds the number of full attached rudders!

One can imagine all sorts of things, but if your imagination exceeds the facts you will never go anywhere.

 

[markjc]

Imagine entering Portsmouth Harbour through the small boat channel on a summer Saturday morning , or the Hamble, and your rudder falls off

Or Lymington River when one of those new new ferries is coming towards you!

Spade rudders? Not for me thanks! I'd rather have my rudder attached at 4 places and well shielded from nets, lines and other debris by a long fat keel; even at the cost of some loss of speed and manouverability astern. But I'm not trying to tell you what to do - just offering an opinion.

By the way, my boat has 6ft+ of headroom in the saloon.

Haha awesome, almost sounds like a sails pitch... how much is she going for?!

 

[markjc]

Think that the number of spade rudders now in use - that don't fail - way exceeds the number of full attached rudders!

One can imagine all sorts of things, but if your imagination exceeds the facts you will never go anywhere.

Yeah, you got to have a bit of danger to add some excitement to life! Otherwise things would be very boring!