Hunter 19-1 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 19-1 is a small trailerable sailboat built by Hunter Marine in the United States from 1981 through 1983, now out of production. Originally marketed as the Hunter 19, it was later retagged to separate it from the unrelated 1993 Hunter 19-2, and was designed by the Hunter Design Team as a day sailer and small cruising boat. On the used market it draws buyers who want a light, beachable package rather than a fixed-keel weekender.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Hunter 19-1 shares the same essential plan: an 18.67-foot monohull with a 7.33-foot beam and a centerboard in place of a fixed keel. With the board up the boat sits at 0.58 feet draft for trailering and beaching; with it down she draws 4.50 feet. Below the slightly reverse transom is a transom-hung rudder on a tiller, and the cockpit is self-bailing. Interior provisioning is bare — a portable toilet and a cooler — consistent with the day-sailer and small-cruiser intent.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The only factory equipment of real buyer consequence is the built-in outboard engine mount and the small outboard motor normally fitted for docking and maneuvering. A self-bailing cockpit is standard. Used boats may carry owner-fitted canvas or a newer outboard, but the design's simplicity means there is little structural or systems upgrade path to evaluate.
What to Inspect
The Hunter 19-1's known documentation is sparse, but a few points deserve a buyer's attention. Confirm the centerboard pivots freely and the trunk shows no delamination where the board retracts to its 0.58-foot draft position. Check the transom-hung rudder and tiller stock for play at the pintles and gudgeons. Verify the self-bailing cockpit drains are clear, since a blocked drain defeats the feature. Inspect the built-in outboard mount for stress cracks from motor weight.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
- Verify centerboard freedom and trunk condition
- Check rudder and tiller for play
- Confirm cockpit drains are clear
- Inspect outboard mount for cracks