This compact recreational keelboat is intended to be launched, sailed, and towed home. It measures 19 feet overall, with a waterline length of just under 16 feet, a beam of 7 feet 8 inches, and a displacement of 2,000 pounds.
Design and Construction
The Hunter 19-2 is built predominantly of fiberglass as a solid monohull. It has a slightly raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom that makes swimming and dinghy-style access easier. Its transom-hung kick-up rudder is controlled by a tiller, while the retractable centerboard reduces draft from 4 feet 8 inches with the board down to 1 foot 2 inches with it raised.
Unusually for a boat of this size, the Hunter carries 500 pounds of flooding water ballast instead of fixed lead or iron. The ballast tank is drained for road transport, and the design also claims positive flotation. A self-bailing cockpit and built-in outboard engine mount complete a hull intended for casual, forgiving use.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Hunter 19-2 has a fractional Bermuda sloop rig, with a mast height of 29 feet above the waterline and a modest sail area of 167 square feet. Period testing described it as a boat aimed squarely at relatively inexperienced sailors while still offering room below.
That same reviewer noted the compromises imposed by its ballast arrangement and hull form. The water ballast sits high, making the boat tender and quick to tip, while the small sail area keeps it slow. Its unusually high freeboard also catches the wind abeam, tending to push the boat sideways and limiting maneuverability under power.
A PHRF average handicap of 282 places the Hunter firmly among leisurely cruising designs rather than racers.
Accommodations
Below, the Hunter 19-2 sleeps two on a double berth in the aft cabin. The galley is on the port side, just forward of the companionway ladder, and includes a stove and sink. A portable stove and cooler supplement meal preparation.
The head occupies the forepeak and uses a portable toilet. These are practical, modular appointments rather than built-in cabinetry, in keeping with a trailerable daysailer that can be stripped for transport.
Equipment and Trailering
A highway trailer was standard equipment, emphasizing the boat’s road-going role. Before towing, the flooding water-ballast tank must be drained. The retractable centerboard and kick-up rudder fold clear for launching and recovery at the ramp.
An outboard motor mounts on the built-in bracket, keeping the propulsion system portable and serviceable away from the boat.
The Verdict
The Hunter 19-2 is a purpose-built, entry-level trailerable cruiser. It is easy to launch, simple to own, and roomy for its length, but its high water ballast makes it tender, and its small rig limits its speed.
It best suits a newcomer who values cabin space and ramp-side convenience more than pace or precise maneuvering under power.
Pros
- Trailerable on its standard highway trailer once the ballast is drained
- Walk-through reverse transom and self-bailing cockpit provide easy access
- Sleeps two and includes a galley and head in a compact, portable layout
- Positive flotation and shallow draft with the centerboard raised
Cons
- Tender because the water ballast sits high
- Slow under sail because of the limited sail area
- High freeboard catches the wind abeam, pushing the boat sideways and hampering maneuverability under power
