Hunter passage 450 or island packet 460 et al

[steve yates]

Indulge me please, we are currently on honeymoon in the Caribbean, and met a few cruising folk, enjoying some parties aboard.
It's got my wife thinking she will eventually want bigger than jojo ( westerly longbow) once we take her to the med.

We were always thinking towards a long term liveaboard boat, even if it was only 6 months of the year, now we are starting to pick "ideal" boats.

We would seriously consider a cat for the Carrie an, perhaps but out her and sell at the end, but too expensive for the med where there will be proportionately more time spent in marinas.

I would like a solid, seaworthy blue water boat, but jo wants comfort and space. The age old compromise

She has seen pics of the hunter passage and loves the interior, she loved the ip but thought it smaller inside than expected.

I know this has been done to death but I've rarely seen the us hunter passages mentioned.

Would love to hear from anyone with experience of these, or any others that might be similar to either boat.

She would prefer 3 sleeping cabins to accommodate guests, in the med, tho one spare would prob do for the Carribean.

I prefer to avoid a discussion on bags/jeans etc, but having seen them at the boat show they are definitely ruled out.

An ip looks around £160k, which seems a lot, tho they hold their value. Whereas a hunter is half that at least!

Anyone direct experience of them? Or what similar boat would you suggest?

Thx.

 

[jwilson]

It's a bit Landcruiser/Range Rover vs Vauxhall Mokka/Citroen Cactus. Both will drive perfectly adequately over lumpy wet grass, which is the worst most road vehicles ever meet.

If your ambition is Med cruising on passages that are short enough (several days) to pick a decent weather forecast, then either. If heading for Greenland or the Straits of Magellan, don't go in a Vauxhall Mokka.

 

[steve yates]

There will be no Greenland trips with jo aboard, just coastal cruising, I'll keep the longbow for proper adventure trips.
This is just to spend time sailing and exploring warm places with my wife for as long as her cancer allows it.

 

[jwilson]

Any of the bigger US Hunters offer a lot of boat for the money: I almost bought one myself. They have interiors that look better than the budget build they are, and are entirely satisfactory coastal cruisers. People worry about the Bergstrom backstayless rig, but it works OK, though inefficient deep downwind.

Look also at bigger Catalinas - big boats for their size and pretty solidly built.

 

[steve yates]

I did wonder if a twizzle rig and two genoas, leaving the main down, would work for trading sailing if I had to take one across the Atlantic

 

[Norman_E]

For Med sailing the Island Packets are not ideal because you moor stern to, and the long keeled Island Packets can be difficult to maneuver astern, particularly into tight marina berths.

 

[ashtead]

I don't think having seen an IP park in the berth next to us that it's the easiest vessel to control but clearly that depends on experience . I gathered speaking to the US owner he had bought in Med and planned to travel back to homeland so perhaps this was a deciding factor for him compared to the desire of most on south of something that behaves in a tricy marina . I suspect ultimately decision might be driven by what's around at time and extras on board and for coastal trips where you can probably choose your weather more carefully the Hunter might be a less stressful vessel . I am sure there must be Hunter owners though who can advise on any vices but they seem fairly uncomplicated boats to my eye provided you can live with the inmast reefing I guess.

 

[TQA]

The Hunter 450 has the best center line aft cabin queen bed so is great for quiet nights but is short on good passage bunks. Light and airy below and there is excellent engine access. I personally prefer a boat with a backstay but the rigs seem to stay up. The rudders however do not always stay attached. A number of 450s have had stock failures and rudder loss. You will get s*** and derision thrown at you by Hunter haters.

The IP is a very different boat. Overbuilt heavy solid slow and it is a bit of a cult boat so often offered at unrealistic prices. No lost rudders AFAIK. I would want a bow thruster for marina parking. Buy this and you are immediately part of the IP fraternity and will not suffer any s*** and derision. IMHO it is a much prettier boat.

Either will give you a good Caribbean cruise though

Before you buy either at least look at a Beneteau Oceanis 45 owners version. Cheaper than the IP and better looking than the Hunter.

 

[dansaskip]

Go for the Island packet. I have some friends who have one and I have see quite a few on my travels in the Caribbean and across the Pacific . They are a good solid blue water cruiser and won't let you down and yes there have been Hunters lost at sea because of rudder failures.