Hunter Liberty

I hope it's the cat ketch version, such lovely boats, I always fancied one, but sadly the cabin was too small for a growing family. If I ever end up sailing on my own all the time I will definitely get one. I love the idea of short-tacking up a creek without touching a rope.
 
Suggest you get onto PBO for back copies of tests/reviews. The Liberty has been well covered (favourably - but most boats are!) on at least two occasions.
 
Yes I have those but I distrust boat tests having had totally different experiences on some craft to the tester, I like to work upon opinions from people who own the boat, these I find are more honest and possibly no axe to grind.
 
Generally I would agree with you, but in this case there have been a couple of articles about Geoff Hale's boat which he has owned for many years so based on long experience rather than a quick sail and several pints in the club bar!
 
I have a special fondness for these as we used to moor our Jaguar 22 next to one back when I was a kid and the owners very pretty wife regularly sunbathed naked onboard:D

Can't think why I have always loved being around boats since then ;)
 
There used to be one that short tacked effortlessly through the boats anchored in South Deep (Poole) and cut through the shallows at the top of Blood Alley or round the top of Brownsea at low water (plate up presumably). Seemed a perfect boat for big shallow harbours like poole or Falmouth. Never sailed one but she seemed to slip along quite nicely!
 
I had the Minstrel as my first cruiser which is the gunter main with a roller jib rigged version of the Liberty which is cat rigged and has the same hull.I often sailed in company with Liberties on Hunter Liberty/Minstrel Association meetings.Both boats perform well.I could point a fraction higher but they were faster downwind as they could square off each sail on different sides.They are great for creekcrawling as with the centreplate up they draw just over a foot.3ft 6ins with it down.They will still go to windward with the plate up as there are two stub keels one either side of the centreplate,but you do make lots of leeway with the plate up.There is lots of room inside and for a 23 footer a huge loo compartment .I had a portapotti in mine but some have proper toilets.Obviously you cannot stand up inside but sitting and cooking is comfortable.I towed mine behind a 2.9l Ford Scorpio and the launching system works well.We probably had more fun with this boat for money spent than my later bigger boats.My old Minstrel still resides in the Tidemill marina at Woodbridge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top