Hunter 19-2 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 19-2 is a trailerable American sailboat built by Hunter Marine from 1993 through 1996, now out of production. On the used market it presents as a small cruising day sailer designed by the Hunter Design Team, with a retractable centerboard and water ballast that must be drained before towing. Shopping one means weighing simple, portable accommodations against the handling quirks of a high-freeboard, water-ballasted hull.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example follows the same plan: sleeping for two on a double berth in the aft cabin, a port-side galley just forward of the companionway with stove and sink, and a forepeak head using a portable toilet. A portable stove and cooler travel with the boat rather than being fixed, and the cockpit self-bails with a walk-through reverse transom. Because the centerboard retracts and the rudder kicks up, the boat trails behind a car on the highway trailer that originally came as standard.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A dodger is commonly fitted on brokerage boats, shielding the companionway from spray and extending comfortable days aboard. Beyond that, buyers should expect the as-supplied portable gear — stove, cooler, toilet, and the built-in outboard mount — rather than extensive factory options. The fractional sloop rig and Bermuda sailplan are unchanged across the class, so canvas and trailering gear matter more than electronic add-ons for this size.
What to Inspect
The defining used-boat check is the flooding water ballast tank, which must drain fully for transport. The retractable centerboard and transom-hung kick-up rudder are moving parts exposed at the hull ends, so confirm free operation and undamaged pivot gear. With positive flotation part of the design, any modification to sealed compartments warrants a close look. Steve Henkel's 2010 review flagged that the high freeboard invites beam-wind drift, so inspect the hull sides and rub rail for past grounding or dock contact scars.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. For a shopper, the short checklist is: verify the trailer and drained ballast, cycle the board and rudder, confirm the portable galley and head gear are present, and look for a dodger as a common comfort add. The 19-2 rewards the first-time owner with easy launch and cabin room, provided its tenderness and slow pace under sail are accepted.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 19-2. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25 | 1 | $5,500 | — |
| May 25 | 1 | $1,800 | -67.3% |