Design and Construction
The Hunter 19-1 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, a monohull with solid fiberglass below the waterline and a centerboard rather than a fixed keel. Its profile carries a raked stem and a slightly reverse transom, with a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller. The centerboard is the defining trait: with it extended the boat draws 4.50 feet, and with it retracted just 0.58 feet, a shallow enough draft to permit beaching or transport on a trailer. That versatility is the core of the design's identity as a trailerable day sailer and small cruiser.
Rig and Handling
The boat wears a fractional sloop rig of the Bermuda type, with a foretriangle height of 21 feet, a base of 6.50 feet, a mainsail luff of 21 feet, and a foot of 8.33 feet. The mainsail area is 87.47 square feet and the jib 68.25, for a total sail area of 155.72 square feet. At 1,250 pounds displacement and a waterline length of 14.58 feet, the design carries a theoretical hull speed of 5.12 knots. The tiller-steered transom rudder and lightweight hull make for a simple, low-powered package suited to the single small outboard normally fitted for docking and maneuvering.
Accommodations and Equipment
As a day sailer and small cruiser the Hunter 19-1 keeps creature provisioning minimal but functional. It features a portable toilet and a cooler, a self-bailing cockpit, and a built-in outboard engine mount. The outboard motor type is the standard auxiliary, fitted for docking and close-quarters handling rather than sustained propulsion. The self-bailing cockpit is a practical detail for a boat that can be launched, beached, and trailered.
The Verdict
The Hunter 19-1 is a straightforward, lightweight trailerable sailboat from the early 1980s, built by Hunter Marine as a dual-purpose day sailer and small cruiser. Its centerboard arrangement is the heart of its appeal, trading fixed-keel stability for a 0.58-foot retracted draft that opens up beaching and trailering. The fractional sloop rig and tiller steering keep handling simple, while the self-bailing cockpit and portable provisions suit its modest cruising intent.
Pros
- Retracted centerboard draft of 0.58 ft enables beaching and trailering
- Self-bailing cockpit and built-in outboard mount aid practical day use
- Light 1,250 lb displacement and simple fractional rig ease handling
Cons
- Minimal cruising accommodation (portable toilet, cooler only)
- Out of production since 1983; limited to outboard auxiliary power
