The boat measures 26 feet 3 inches overall, with a 9-foot beam, high topsides, and a flush deck. It carries a Category C rating and was designed for stability and safety, but it’s explicitly not suited to offshore sailing.
Design and Construction
The Hunter 260’s defining feature is its water ballast. A 2,000-pound tank runs the length of the hull and fills after launch. Empty, the boat weighs only 3,000 pounds, allowing it to be towed behind most full-size cars and SUVs. The water ballast runs the length of the boat.
The standard model carries a retractable, lightly weighted centerboard and a kick-up rudder, allowing beaching. With the board raised, draft is 1 foot 9 inches for beaching; with it lowered, draft increases to 6 feet. The fixed-bulb, wing-keel version, called the Hunter 270, draws 3 feet 6 inches and has a 9-horsepower Yanmar inboard.
The fiberglass hull layup uses end-grain balsa core, while the deck contains plywood. Inside, fiberglass pans form the structure, with no bulkheads. The modified shoebox hull-to-deck joint is bonded with fiberglass and screwed through the rubrail. Stanchions mount to glassed-in aluminum plates.
Foam flotation fills many of the cavities. That’s reassuring, though it can complicate running new wiring.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The Hunter 260 uses a three-stay B&R rig, with a swept-back arrangement, reverse diagonal bracing, and solid struts at deck level. Developed by Lars Bergstrom and Sven Ridder, it was intended as a lighter alternative to conventional rigs. With no backstay, there’s also nothing for the helmsperson to dodge.
The mainsail combines full and partial battens, and lazy jacks were standard. Most sail-control lines lead aft to winches on the cabintop.
Test sailors found the 260 quick and undemanding through a tack, as well as steady off the wind. In an 8-knot breeze, she accelerated well and tracked properly to windward. She heeled quickly at first and then stiffened up, reaching at about 5 knots. She isn’t exceptionally close-winded, but performs well when cracked off a few points.
Owners report that the water ballast kept the boat stable in 40-knot winds. Under power, however, the offset starboard outboard gave the boat peculiar handling.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Hunter used high topsides and a flush deck to create more cabin volume. The result is nearly standing headroom throughout for a sailor measuring 5 feet 10 inches, with slightly more room at the galley and head.
The interior is open except for the enclosed head compartment, which sits to port at the foot of the companionway steps. It contains a sink, vanity, and Porta Potti. Forward, a large U-shaped dinette wraps around a table mounted on the mast post. The table rotates to extend the V-berth, while the main double berth is aft beneath the cockpit.
The galley is to starboard and includes a small sink, manual water supply, butane stove, and an insulated cooler that serves as an icebox. Large windows and three opening ports brighten the cabin, although only one port opens above the galley and one in the head.
The cockpit is wide and comfortable, with fender lockers and drink cubbies. The transom is open, however, and there’s no bridge deck, so drop boards are advisable in following seas.
Trailering and Owner Upkeep
Hunter used an interchangeable molded cockpit-and-transom section to produce both tiller- and wheel-steered boats from a single hull mold. Edson wheel steering was a popular option.
The mast-raising struts also serve as grab rails. Working with a tabernacle hinge, they stabilize the rig during raising and lowering, and owners have praised the arrangement for its ease of use. A walk-through stern, hinged swim ladder, and platform for the kick-up rudder complete the trailering package.
For prospective owners, the novice-friendly manual remains available. The boat’s relatively simple systems also lend themselves to owner maintenance.
Known Issues
Leaking windows are likely the Hunter 260’s main maintenance headache.
Rudders fitted during the 2004 model year were prone to cracking because of a short-term production problem. Hunter responded by sending updated rudders. Foss Foam still supplies original-style fiberglass rudders, while Rudder Craft offers HDPE replacements.
On the Hunter 260, the mainsheet is anchored to the cockpit sole. This arrangement was carried over from the tiller-steered boat and is almost impossible to reach from the helm on a wheel-steered version.
The centerboard still protrudes below the hull when fully retracted, so care is needed in thin, rocky water. The 260’s drains also use below-waterline through-hulls fitted with valves.
The Verdict
The Hunter 260 is a cleverly packaged trailer-sailer that trades offshore capability for dockside simplicity and family space. Its water ballast, B&R rig, and open transom distinguish it as a coastal and lake cruiser. Window leaks, the hard-to-reach mainsheet on wheel-steered boats, and the exposed retracted centerboard remain genuine ownership considerations.
Pros
- Tows at 3,000 lbs dry and takes on 2,000 lbs of ballast after launch
- Roomy, flush-deck cabin with near-standing headroom and an aft double berth
- Quick, stiff handling under a B&R rig with no backstay
Cons
- Leaking windows are a known chronic maintenance issue
- Mainsheet tackle on wheel-steered boats is difficult to reach from the helm
- The retracted centerboard still protrudes below the hull, making rocky shallows a concern
