Design and Construction
The Hunter 19-1 is a fiberglass monohull with wood trim, solid fiberglass below the waterline, and a centerboard rather than a fixed keel. It has a raked stem, a slightly reverse transom, and a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller.
The boat measures 18.67 feet overall and 14.58 feet at the waterline, with a beam of 7.33 feet and a displacement of 1,250 pounds. Its centerboard is central to the design: draft is 4.50 feet with the board extended and just 0.58 feet with it retracted. That shallow draft allows beaching or transport on a trailer and defines the boat’s role as a trailerable day sailer and small cruiser.
Rig and Handling
The Hunter 19-1 carries a fractional Bermuda sloop rig. The foretriangle measures 21 feet high with a base of 6.50 feet. The mainsail has a 21-foot luff and an 8.33-foot foot.
Mainsail area is 87.47 square feet, while the jib adds 68.25 square feet, for a total sail area of 155.72 square feet. With its 1,250-pound displacement and 14.58-foot waterline, the design has a theoretical hull speed of 5.12 knots.
The tiller-steered, transom-hung rudder and lightweight hull make for a simple, low-powered package. A single small outboard is normally fitted for docking and maneuvering.
Accommodations and Equipment
The Hunter 19-1’s provisions are minimal but functional for day sailing and modest cruising. Equipment includes a portable toilet, a cooler, a self-bailing cockpit, and a built-in outboard engine mount.
The outboard is the standard auxiliary and is intended for docking and close-quarters handling rather than sustained propulsion. The self-bailing cockpit is a practical feature on a boat designed to be launched, beached, and trailered.
Verdict
The Hunter 19-1 is a straightforward, lightweight trailerable sailboat from the early 1980s. Hunter Marine built it to serve as both a day sailer and a small cruiser.
Its centerboard arrangement is the heart of its appeal, trading fixed-keel stability for a retracted draft of just 0.58 feet, which opens up beaching and trailering. The fractional sloop rig and tiller steering keep handling simple, while the self-bailing cockpit and basic provisions suit its modest cruising ambitions.
Pros
- Retracted centerboard draft of 0.58 feet allows beaching and trailering
- Self-bailing cockpit and built-in outboard mount support practical day use
- Light 1,250-pound displacement and simple fractional rig ease handling
Cons
- Minimal cruising accommodations, with only a portable toilet and cooler
- Out of production since 1983
- Limited to outboard auxiliary power
