Hunter 356

When so many modern production yachts seem to be variations of each other, it's refreshing to go for a sail on a Hunter yacht.

The folks at Hunter Marine have developed their own vision for keelboats to match the modern lifestyles of potential buyers in their domestic US market, as well as a growing number of international ports of call.

Hunter yachts are strikingly different from most other production yachts, although within the range there's a strong family resemblance. Features like the B&R rig, cockpit targa arch and bimini, heavy-duty vinyl rubrail, semi-circular cockpit seating and the transverse double berth in the aft cabin have become Hunter staples.

Clearly, the intention is to provide a great floating platform for socialising with friends and family, as well as a getaway vehicle for one or two couples or a family when there's enough time for a weekend or week away.

There are yachties who look down their noses at the Hunters because they don't look like sleek racers or traditional cruisers, they're not covered in teak and they've got that big 'lid' over the cockpit, so how can they possibly be a 'proper yacht'?

The founder of Hunter Marine, Warren Luhrs, has brought a large amount of short-handed ocean racing experience with boats like BOC/Around Alone entrant Hunter's Child to the development of the Hunter production yachts.

Judging by the test sails I've enjoyed on several Hunter models and particularly this latest addition to the range, I'd have to say that to dismiss these yachts because they look different from the rest is to miss out on all they have to offer - and that's a lot.

KEVLAR ZONE
The Hunter 356 is produced in fibreglass sandwich construction with balsa core and Kevlar laminate from the stem to the keel sump to give added protection against collisions. The company says MaxGuard gelcoat is used for its resistance to yellowing and crazing.

The hull and deck join is glued and thru-bolted, with extra epoxy added in the chainplates area. A high-density vinyl rubrail with a stainless steel insert is wrapped all the way around the hull for added protection against marina berths, jetties and raft-ups with other boats.

The keel is antimonious lead, attached with stainless steel keelbolts. Deep draft (1.96m) or shoal draft (1.52m) versions are available. Hunter fabricates its own composite rudder post, preferring this alternative to stainless steel posts.

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
As with all the Hunter models, a distinctive feature of the 356 is its B&R rig (named after its designers, Bergstrom and Richter). This uses a relatively small-section anodised aluminium mast, stepped on the deck and pre-bent using two sets of diamond stays, plus two sets of swept-back spreaders, the sidestays, two sets of diagonal stays, and fixed strut lower supports, with a wide shroud base to the gunwales.

In the case of the B&R rig, swept-back spreaders really does mean swept-back; we're talking about a 30º angle. This allows the designers to dispense with any kind of backstay and incorporate a big-roached mainsail, thereby allowing the use of a smaller (110º) furling headsail rather than a big genoa to reduce sail handling work.

The designers argue that by pre-bending the rig and reducing its movement, the rigging works less and suffers less fatigue, reducing the chance of rig failures, while the smaller mast section means less weight aloft.

It all seems to work well enough, the only drawback being the fact that the swept-back spreaders prevent the mainsail from being let out far enough to run dead square to the wind. The polar diagram for the yacht's speed at various wind strengths and angles would no doubt indicate that its most efficient course downwind is to gybe from one broad reaching angle to the other. Besides which, reaching through life is a pretty attractive notion.

The spars are by the Swedish company Selden, with lots of nice features including the single-line reefing system for the mainsail, solid boom vang and internal halyards led back to the cockpit. An in-mast furling option is offered as an extra.

Standard dacron sails are by the UK Sails loft. They appear well-reinforced for protection agains the spreaders, and hoisting and lowering the mainsail is made easier with lazyjacks.

A standard inclusion in the cockpit is an electric self-tailing Lewmar winch on the starboard side of the coachhouse, operated by a foot button on the cockpit floor. It can be used to take the grunt out of operating halyards, sail control lines or genoa and mainsail sheets and is definitely one of those items that are hard to live without once you experience them.

The winches to either side of the companionway are Lewmar 40 and 30 self-tailers.

Another distinctive Hunter feature is the targa arch over the cockpit, which supports the optional bimini cockpit cover providing protection from the elements. The mainsheet traveller also runs across the top of the arch, which clears the cockpit of rope and traveller clutter. The arch is also a good place for a deck light and cockpit speakers. On other Hunter models we've seen moulded GRP cockpit arches, but here stainless steel is used to good effect. An optional dodger can also be fitted to the front of the cockpit.

COMMAND STATION
The Whitlock wheel steering is set up on a large, moulded console which is a veritable cockpit command station, housing the Raymarine ST40 wind and navigation instruments, single lever engine control and fold-down table, autopilot if added, plus drinkholders, a lighted Danforth binnacle compass and wheel brake.

The rounded coamings and seating are arranged to make the most of the available space for the cockpit, particularly for socialising with a crowd. Fast drying, breathable cushions are provided.

The transom seating hinges up to provide walkthrough access to the boarding/swimming platform, complete with shower and stainless steel telescoping ladder. There is a very large storage compartment under the port side cockpit seats, plus other, smaller compartments in the transom and the starboard side. The pushpit supports teak seats in each aft corner.

The two-tone deck has non-skid surfacing and at the bow is a large anchorwell with space for a windlass.

GALLEY SLAVES
The large volume of the 356 hull provides a very spacious interior, which is well lit and ventilated by numerous hatches, portholes and a Dorade vent, plus the large windows at the front of the coachhouse which Hunter calls the 'windshield'. The company says: "These frameless windshields are set in an elasticized bedding compound that will not leak or dry out, and they require only minimum maintenance."

The interior also has quite a warm and cosy atmosphere due to the extensive use of teak veneers and solids with a sprayed lacquer finish highlighting the wood grains. The standard of finish is uniformly good.

The amount of space allocated to the galley indicates the central importance Hunter Marine credits to this function. The U-shaped area has Corian benchtops, a Force 10 Marine two-burner stove and oven, Origo microwave, big top-loading Waeco fridge/freezer (285lt capacity) with two compartments, twin s/s sinks with hot and cold pressurised water supply via mixer tap, a dedicated garbage bin compartment and lots of drawers and cupboard space for provisions and utensils. Dishware is supplied.

The bathroom is opposite, immediately to port of the companionway and includes an enclosed shower compartment with wooden grille. The manually operated toilet is also in this compartment, and is connected to a 110lt holding tank. On the aft side of the shower stall is a door into a large storage area with shelves for towels, etc, and hanging space for wet weather gear, wet swimming costumes, etc. The shower has separate hot and cold taps.

A moulded vanity unit with Corian benchtop, sink with pressurised hot and cold water and storage space in cupboards above and below, occupies the remainder of the bathroom.

The main saloon area has a central table surrounded by a U-shaped settee to starboard (which converts to a double berth if required), and a settee to port. Eight adults could be seated for dinner in this area, which has shelving and cupboard space outboard.

AFT-FACING NAV STATION
The aft end of the port side settee serves as the seat for the aft-facing navigation station, which has a large nav table with space for storage of manuals and charts, plus wall space for mounting the standard VHF radio, AM/FM radio and CD player and electrics panel, as well as whatever optional instruments are selected.

The boat is equipped with an inverter, dockside power capability with multiple AC outlets around the cabins and AC/DC switch panel, battery charger and electric automatic bilge pump, as well as tank monitors.

There are two separate double sleeping cabins. The forward cabin includes a V-berth, hanging locker to port and wardrobe to starboard, plus open shelving along the hull above the cupboards and bunk, and drawers and storage hatches underneath. Besides the door and the overhead opening hatch, there is an opening louvred timber window in the main bulkhead to allow further light and ventilation to the forward cabin, or just to include its occupants in the social flow elsewhere in the saloon when preferred.

The aft cabin, entered from the starboard side through the galley, has a large transverse double berth, plus lots of storage compartments either side, and light and ventilation from a large hatch under the cockpit seat, which can also serve as a rapid escape hatch for the aft cabin's occupants in the event of a disaster.

Access to the 27hp Yanmar diesel is by lifting the companionway steps. There are two 100amp/h batteries, one for house use and the other for starting the engine.

PERFORMANCE
We sailed the Hunter 356 two-up, and then single-handed, from its home at Cammeray Marina on the protected, peaceful upper reaches of Sydney's Middle Harbour.

There wasn't a lot of wind - from 0-12kt - conditions which are testing for almost any boat, and particularly one carrying all the interior trappings. So I was surprised by how well the Hunter 356 responded to wind increases by accelerating willingly and smoothly, achieving good speeds while being very easy to handle and manoeuvre.

Having said that, I need to acknowledge that the water was as flat as a tack throughout this test; in a rough seaway I would expect this boat with its large volume hull and relatively modest sail plan to take its time to get places. But it looks fully capable of offshore coastal passages and is sure to provide pleasant, sociable sailing in protected waters.

I think this would be a great boat to charter for a week's R&R around Sydney Harbour, Pittwater or the Whitsundays. There are many thoughtful touches which equip the boat for socialising, which after all tends to be the primary purpose for which most owners buy their boats for in the first place, and the chief aim of most bareboat charterers.

And the starting price of $260,000 seems very competitive, given the standard inclusions.