Hunter Yachts 380 & 410 Cruiser

The happy Hunter range of yachts didn't pop-out of the everyday sailing-boat mould. As part of the Luhrs Group, a giant production-boat house in America, these are yachts that dare to be different. Taking a path less travelled, Hunters can be distinguished by their ambitious styling, nouveau lines and a surfeit of space above and below decks. They can also be distinguished by the laid-back demeanour of their owners.

Designed to win over would-be-if-they-could-be yacht-owners, the Hunters have attributes you won't find on traditional yachting marques. While the styling is different, it's not different for the mere sake of it. For example, the integrated targa arch, the huge windows, the extra-wide cockpit and the big transom platform all make good practical sense.

While designed for the silent majority of aspiring yachties, Hunters have attributes that hardened skippers should experience. The yachts' responsive handling and carefree controls take the stress out of sailing. In fact, life aboard is the antipathy of that on pressure-cooker racing yachts.

When you sail a Hunter you need not worry about the technicalities like maximising boat speed, picking every shift and lift, trimming the headsail to within a hair's-breadth, or lifeboat drills for that matter. Most of the yachts in the range don't profess to be around-the-world racing yachts.

Instead, Hunters see the wind as just one element in the sailing experience.

Though there is a serious 50ft passagemaker in the Hunter range based on the well-known yacht Thursday's Child, the models I tested - the 380 and 410 keelboats - were, to my way of thinking, ideal party boats.

On both models, a crowd of revellers could sit back and enjoy the journey, converse in comfort and share in the spoils of a sunny day on the water, without worrying about the twaddle of the blue-blazer sailing set. Or, to put it another way, commanding the Hunters was a bit like driving an automatic instead of a manual.

HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAMS
Not surprisingly, the 380 and 410 were owned by husband-and-wife sailing teams. The rig on both yachts, with a big mainsail but non-overlapping headsail, makes tacking a snap. But the unique thing is the traveller arrangement.

Mounted on the cockpit arch, the Harken traveller is controlled by sheets leading back to cam cleats. These cam cleats are located on the inside of the arch, thereby putting the traveller within reach of the helm.

The arch, which sets the Hunters apart in the fashion department, is fashioned from stainless (or fibreglass on aft-cabin models) and doubles as a mounting point for stereo speakers, cockpit lights and, of course, the canvas for a bimini. Attach infills and you can make a dodger for all-weather sailing.

With the boom above head height and the mainsheet and traveller out of the cockpit, new chums needn't worry about getting in the way of flying ropes or losing their heads during tacks and gybes. The simple rig makes sailing a breeze, though it was sometimes hard to see the telltales on the headsail and the wind indicator on top of the main. The clear window in the bimini top needs to be positioned just right.

Another nice touch, though an option, was the electric halyard winch on the 380. In the moderate winds, the electric winch was a godsend for hoisting the fully-battened main. In-mast furling made life even easier on the 410. Both couples seemed well in control of their boats under sail.

An innovative touch were the halyard wells next to the self-tailing winches on the cabin top. These also helped keep the sheets neat and tidy.

RIGGED TO LAST
Both the 380 and 410 had fractional, swept-back, twin spreader rigs with lower shrouds and lower-mast struts. The shrouds are located inboard to make moving forward a breeze. The lower struts help prevent the rig from pumping. The absence of backstays contributes further to the uncluttered cockpit.

According to Hunter, the B&R rig is based to some degree on that which has proven reliable in the BOC around-the-world race. Hunter claims to be the first production-yacht manufacturer to use the rig. An inner forestay is a listed option which serious cruising types should consider. The 410 also had a kite and the optional deck gear needed to fly it.

Short-handed sailing is helped by the fact that all lines lead back to the coachroof. Halyard winches are two-speeds, with two-speed, self-tailing models from Harken for the jib. The rack and pinion wheel steering was well-balanced and the rudder proved responsive, despite the fact we were overpowered in the 380 on occasions.

Displacement of the Hunter 380 is 7080kg, with 2495kg of ballast. The deep fin keel draws 1.98m. The 410 felt heavier and less lively, despite having a displacement of 8853kg and 3042kg of ballast. Its fin keel draws just 1.93m.

Other nice touches about the deck include a good grade of non-skid, reasonable flat deck mouldings, optional recessed windlass, twin gas lockers in the transom for two 2.4kg bottles, and taffrail or pushpit seats.

In fact, dare I say it, the Hunter yachts are almost powerboat-like above decks. By taking the coamings out to the gunwales, the cockpits can seat eight people around a pedestal with wheel steering, fold-out lunch table and plenty of drinkholders. The 380 also had a must-have stainless steel, rail-mounted barbie.

A big walk-through transom with boarding ladder is sufficiently big to park a seal - like those you see sunning themselves on Port Phillip Bay's bigger channel markers. There are three cockpit storage lockers, and a hot/cold transom shower. Cockpit cushions, Sunbrella canvas for the bimini and Autohelm instruments are listed options.

DOUBLE THE BOAT DOWN BELOW
Both the 380 and 410 come in an optional three-cabin layout, but for my money the two-cabin versions are the standouts. While these are terrific party boats, there's nothing less festive than a boatload of sleepaboards.

The twin-cabin Hunters seem to honour the needs of a couple or a family of four. Compared with some traditional yachts with poky cabins and no shoulder room, the Hunters better assuage their owners with a more modern design.

Unlike a lot of other yachts, the cockpit sole doesn't need bracing and, therefore, the aft cabin isn't divided into two small cabins. The result for owners is a huge queen-size bed running right across the boat. The surfeit of surrounding space, and two companionways, put paid to any sense of stuffiness.

Though the 410 had an even more generous aft cabin, inner-spring mattress in both cabins, and a dedicated nav station amidships to port, both models aren't short on amenities. Owners get at least one cedar-lined hanging locker and wardrobe storage, storage recesses behind the bedhead for personals, and built-in lounge chairs. I also like the fact that Hunter includes a bedding package with fitted sheets on its yachts.

The Hunters have a feeling of airiness below, thanks to lots of hatches and ports. Maurice and Val Byrnes, who previously owned a Noelex 25 and had travelled to the Whitsundays on six separate occasions, bought their Hunter 38 because they "liked its general design, airiness and roominess, and the abundance of light below".

Finishing touches include Corian - the good, granite-like stuff - on the benchtops in the galley and head, teak-and-holly flooring, and traditional teak veneer for the walls and bulkhead, which has a cut-out so you can see through to the bow. The ceiling liner, which is one big, curvaceous moulding, is impressive.

Headroom is 1.98m on both models, but the broad beams of both yachts are what creates the space. While the 410 has two heads - one doubles as an ensuite back aft and there is a head in the bow - the 380 at least provides a sink with hot and cold water in its forepeak or guest's cabin. Water capacity on the 410 (549lt) is almost twice that of the 380.

With a three-burner gas oven/stove, microwave, twin stainless sinks, plenty of storage cupboards, built-in receptacle, and rather excellent, top-loading recessed icebox with separate fridge/freezer compartments, you can cruise the coast in your Hunter 380 or 410. The boats are well-equipped, right down to the crockery.

When the wind doesn't blow, the yachts still get along just fine with their 36hp and 50hp Yanmar engines. Again, I found the boats responded well to the throttle and compared to the Carter 33 I have to park between poles in Sydney, these were a snap.

But good sailing manners coupled with space are Hunter's best strength.

While we reached speeds up to 7.5kt, it was the ease with which we got there that was important. We sailed along nonchalantly, unconstrained and informally, admiring the scenery, nattering away, and sometimes while huddling behind the bimini.

For would-be yacht-owners, the Hunters are worthy of a look-see, while old salts set in their ways might learn a thing or two about being a skipper from spending time with a Hunter.

Gadding about the waterways and making friends was a nice change from taking orders from a cranky skipper aboard a highly-strung, go-fast yacht.

I must admit to appoaching this sail being slightly suspect of the faddish looks of the Hunter yachts. But having tried the boats, they rate highly for harbour and at least short-haul coastal cruising. Those who tell you otherwise haven't been aboard, are racing sailors, or sell another brand of boat!