Hunter 260 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

What sets the 260 apart is its water ballast: a 2,000-pound tank runs the length of the hull, filled after launch so the dry boat weighs only 3,000 pounds and tows behind most full-size cars and SUVs water ballast that runs the length of the boat. The standard version carries a retractable, lightly weighted centerboard and kick-up rudder giving 1 foot 9 inches of draft for beaching, extending to 6 feet when the board drops. A fixed-bulb wing-keel variant, the Hunter 270, draws 3 feet 6 inches and takes a 9-horsepower Yanmar inboard. The hull layup uses end-grain balsa core in the fiberglass with plywood in the deck, and the interior is built from fiberglass pans with no bulkheads. The hull-to-deck joint is a modified shoebox bonded with glass and screwed through the rubrail, while stanchions sit on glassed-in aluminum plates. Foam flotation fills many cavities—reassuring, if a hassle when running new wiring.

Rig and Handling

The 260 adopted the swept-back B&R rig, a three-stay arrangement with reverse diagonal bracing and deck-level solid struts, developed by Lars Bergstrom and Sven Ridder as a lighter alternative to conventional rigs three-stay B&R rig. There is no backstay to dodge at the helm. The mainsail mixes full and partial battens, lazy jacks came standard, and most lines lead aft to cabintop winches. Test sailors found her quick to come about with little fuss and steady off the wind; in an 8-knot breeze she accelerated and tracked well to windward, heeled fast then stood stiff, and romped at about 5 knots on a reach. She is not exceptionally close-winded but performs well cracked off a few points. Owners report the water ballast kept her stable in 40-knot winds, though the offset starboard outboard made motoring handle peculiarly.

Accommodations

To gain cabin volume Hunter chose a flush deck and high topsides, yielding near-standing headroom for a 5-foot 10-inch sailor throughout, a bit more at galley and head. The interior is open save for the head compartment to port at the foot of the steps, fitted with sink, vanity, and Porta Potti. A huge U-shaped dinette surrounds the table on the mast post, which spins to lengthen the V-berth forward; the main double berth lies aft under the cockpit. The starboard galley has a small sink, manual water, butane stove, and an insulated cooler acting as icebox. Three opening ports and large windows light the space, though only one port opens over the galley and one in the head. The cockpit is wide and comfortable with fender lockers and drink cubbies, but the transom is open—no bridge deck, so drop boards are wise in following seas.

Known Issues

Leaky windows are likely the principal maintenance headache. The 2004 model year saw rudders cracking from a short-term build problem Hunter corrected by sending updated rudders; Foss Foam still supplies original-style fiberglass rudders and Rudder Craft offers HDPE replacements. On the 260 the mainsheet is anchored to the cockpit sole, a tiller-boat leftover that is all but inaccessible from the helm of a wheel-steered version. The centerboard protrudes below the hull when retracted, demanding care in thin rocky water, and below-waterline through-hulls with valves serve the 260's drains.

Refits and Ownership

The interchangeable molded cockpit and transom section let Hunter build tiller and wheel versions from one hull mold, and the 260 was offered with Edson wheel steering as a popular option. The mast-raising struts double as grab rails and stabilize the rig via a tabernacle hinge owners have praised for ease. A walk-through stern with hinged swim ladder and platform for the kick-up rudder rounds out the trailering package. For the shopper, the 260's novice-friendly manual remains available and the boat's simple systems suit owner upkeep.

The Verdict

The Hunter 260 is a cleverly packaged trailer-sailer that trades offshore ambition for dock-side simplicity and family room. Its water ballast, B&R rig, and open transom make it a distinctive coastal and lake cruiser, but the window leaks, floor-mounted mainsheet on wheel boats, and retracted centerboard vulnerability are real ownership considerations.

Pros