At 17 feet overall, with a 7-foot beam and a displacement of just 480 pounds, the Hunter 170 is a lightweight, fractional-rigged sloop with a retractable centerboard.
Design and Construction
The 170 was built using Hunter’s Advanced Composite Process, or ACP. The construction combines a weather-resistant exterior polymer with knitted fiberglass fabric on the inside and urethane foam injected between the two layers. The scuff-resistant outer plastic helps keep cleaning and maintenance straightforward.
Hunter Marine described ACP as environmentally friendly because the plastic is recyclable and factory scraps are recycled on-site. Because the layers are bonded together rather than laminated, the builder claimed delamination is not a possibility. The hull carries a five-year warranty.
The boat has 1,500 pounds of built-in positive flotation and is an unsinkable recreational dinghy.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig is deliberately simple. Its mast is light enough for one person to step, although the job is easier with two. The roller-furling jib’s sheets run to swivel blocks in the cockpit. Its furling line also leads aft, ending beside the starboard jib-sheet cleat.
The mainsail needs only one line for the outhaul, while the main halyard can be reached on the mast from the cockpit. The mainsheet is close to the helm but swivels so the crew can trim it just as easily. Reef points were optional; the test boat had only two hoist settings.
Under way, the 170 turns quickly through the wind. It is stable but remains sensitive to crew weight placement. The broad beam provides plenty of stability, and the boat showed no heavy weather helm even when fully heeled. The builder noted that the jib is easier to furl while sailing dead downwind. An optional asymmetrical spinnaker was available for sailors looking for more downwind fun.
Centerboard, Rudder, and Beachability
With the standard centerboard lowered, the Hunter 170 draws 4 feet 6 inches. A counterweight makes the board manageable to raise without extraordinary effort. Retracting it reduces draft to just 6 inches.
Together with the swing-up rudder, that shallow draft makes it straightforward to land on a beach, stop on a sandbar, ground the boat, or load it onto a trailer. The open reverse transom also provides easy access for swimming and boarding.
Cockpit and Storage
The clean cockpit layout can accommodate six people. Test sailors found the contoured benches comfortable, and a boom roughly three feet above the heads of seated sailors provides generous clearance for a boat of this size. A toerail running down the center of the cockpit sole gives the crew secure footing when the boat heels.
Forward, a canvas cover protects a storage area in the bow, with sheet bags mounted at the mast. The canvas unsnaps easily when someone needs to reach forward, but it can’t support a person’s weight while leaning toward the forward cleats. As a result, reaching those cleats from the cockpit is a long stretch, and work at the bow requires unsnapping the cover.
Verdict
The Hunter 170 works well as a lightweight, beachable daysailer that one person can rig and launch with minimal fuss. Its ACP construction, positive flotation, and simple systems suit it to use as a durable, forgiving trainer or a recreational boat for lakes and bays. The retractable centerboard, swing-up rudder, and open transom also make it useful in shallow water and easy to trailer.
The unsupported bow-storage canvas is a minor limitation rather than a flaw.
Pros
- Virtually unsinkable, with 1,500 lb of positive flotation and ACP composite construction
- Centerboard and swing-up rudder allow a 6-inch draft and easy beaching
- Light mast and simple mainsail controls allow single-handed rigging
- Wide beam and fractional rig provide stable handling with little weather helm
Cons
- Bow-storage canvas won’t support a person leaning forward
- Mainsail reef points were optional rather than standard on early boats
