Hunter 212 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 212 is a 21-foot American trailerable sailboat from Hunter Marine, with Chuck Burns as its designer and a build run from 1996 to 2002 as a day sailer and cruiser. On the used market she appeals to buyers who want a genuine four-berth interior that still fits on a trailer and launches at a ramp, but her unusual ACP hull and minimal ballast stability plan deserve a careful look before purchase.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example follows the same accommodation plan: a double V-berth forward, two straight settee berths in the main cabin, a port-side galley under the bow berth, and a starboard-side portable head under the V-berth. Cabin headroom is 52 inches. The centerboard keel and swing-up transom rudder are universal, giving a ten-inch board-up draft for trailering and a 5-foot board-down draft afloat.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Factory specification centered on a small 3 to 6 hp outboard for docking and a portable head as standard. An asymmetrical spinnaker and a one-person mast-raising device appear as the meaningful optional upgrades; the mast device is the item with real consequence for a single-handed owner who must step a 31-foot mast repeatedly.
What to Inspect
The ACP hull is the central inspection point. Because repairs require special adhesives and ordinary resin, epoxy, or marine filler will not bond, examine any gelcoat crack, dock rash, or transom impact for prior amateur repair attempts that may be failing. Tap the hull and ask the seller who performed any past work. Stability is another concern: with only a 135-pound weighted centerboard for ballast, practically all righting comes from hull form and crew, so confirm the centerboard pivots freely and retains its weight — a seized or lightened board removes what little reserve she has.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States. Before you commit, run through this short list:
- Confirm the ACP hull has no non-specialist repairs
- Verify the centerboard swings and still carries its weight
- Test the swing-up rudder pivot for free movement
- Check the portable head and port galley for rot under the berth
- Confirm the optional mast raiser is present if buying solo
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 212. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $2,100 | — |