Design and Construction
The 170 is built using Hunter's Advanced Composite Process, known as ACP, a method that begins with a weather-resistant polymer on the outside and a knitted fiberglass fabric on the inside, with urethane foam injected between those layers. The builder described the result as light, durable, and virtually unsinkable, and the reference data records 1,500 pounds of built-in positive flotation to back the unsinkable claim. The exterior plastic is scuff-resistant, which keeps cleaning and maintenance simple, and Hunter Marine stated that because the layers are bonded rather than laminated, delamination is not a possibility. The process is also presented as environmentally friendly: the plastic used is recyclable, and scraps from the building process are recycled on-site at the factory. For the skeptic, the hull carried a five-year warranty from the builder.
Rig and Handling
The rig is a fractional sloop with a Bermuda configuration, and the mast is light enough that one person can step it, though the review noted it is easier with two. The jib runs on a roller-furling system with sheets led back to swivel blocks in the cockpit, and the furling line itself returns to the cockpit next to the starboard jib-sheet cleat. The mainsail is kept simple: one line serves the outhaul and the main halyard is reached on the mast from the cockpit, while the mainsheet sits near the helm yet swivels so crew can trim it just as easily. Reef points for the main are an option, and the test boat showed only two hoist settings rather than a full range. Under sail, the wide beam provided plenty of stability and the boat did not develop a heavy weather helm even when fully heeled, though testers found it sensitive to weight placement. A toerail down the center of the cockpit floor gave footing when heeled, and the builder suggested the jib is easier to roll up when sailing dead downwind. An asymmetrical spinnaker was offered as an option for those wanting more downwind fun.
Accommodations and Deck Layout
Despite the 170's dinghy scale, the cockpit layout can accommodate six people, matching the stated maximum crew, with contoured benches that testers found comfortable for sitting back and enjoying the view. The boom carries a good three feet of headroom above a seated sailor's head, sparing the Lightning-sailor reflex to duck. Forward, a canvas-covered storage area and sheet bags mounted at the mast are standard, but the canvas does not support a person's weight when leaning forward to reach the long way to the bow cleats; it unsnaps easily when forward access is needed. The open reverse transom gives straightforward swimming and boarding access, and the swing-up rudder paired with the retractable centerboard lets the boat draw only about six inches board-up for beaching or a sandbar rest.
Known Issues
The documented awkwardness centers on the bow: the long reach from cockpit to forward cleats combined with a canvas cover that will not bear a person's weight makes leaning forward unsafe, mitigated only by unsnapping the cover. The optional nature of reef points means a boat equipped as the test example was — main either fully up or at a single alternate hoist — lacks real heavy-air mainsail reduction unless the option was selected. Otherwise the structural and flotation package is presented as sound, with no recorded degradation pathways beyond those two usage limitations.
Ownership and Refits
Ownership touches on lightness and trailerability: at 480 pounds with a 0.49-foot retracted draft, the 170 is built for ground transport and routine beaching. The 2.5-horsepower outboard was a factory option for docking and maneuvering, and the 202-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker was another factory option worth considering for recreational speed. The ACP hull's scuff-resistant skin and bonded construction argue for low ongoing maintenance, and the five-year hull warranty spoke to the builder's confidence in the product as delivered.
The Verdict
The Hunter 170 is a thoughtfully engineered small daysailer that trades ballast and cruising pretension for a bonded, unsinkable composite shell and a rig any solo sailor can manage. Its centerboard-and-swing-rudder draft range and open transom make it genuinely beachable, while the wide beam and fractional rig deliver stable, well-mannered handling without weather helm. The bow-access limitation and optional reefing are real but minor caveats against an otherwise clever package.
Pros
- Bonded ACP construction with positive flotation and a scuff-resistant, low-maintenance skin
- Light 480-pound hull and one-person-steppable mast for easy trailering and setup
- Centerboard and swing-up rudder yield a 6-inch board-up draft for beaching
- Wide beam and fractional rig give stable, weather-helm-free handling
- Cockpit accommodates six with contoured benches and convenient near-helm mainsheet
Cons
- Canvas bow cover does not support weight, making forward cleat access awkward
- Mainsail reef points are optional, leaving some boats with only two hoist settings
