Hunter 31 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Steck, who graduated from the Westlawn School of Yacht Design in 1979 and opened his own yacht-design practice in 1984, gave the 31 a hull of hand-laid, pre-cut fiberglass for consistency, with a full-length internal frame and stringer system of unidirectional fiberglass bonded directly to the hull to add stiffness. Chainplates were tied into that framing and brought up through the deck just outside the coachroof, which opened up interior volume. The deck itself is balsa-cored, while the cast-iron keel — offered in deep or shoal draft — is bolted to the hull, a junction where rust is an inevitable consideration. Owners who have lived with the boat describe the hull as rock-solid, yet the same owners frequently criticize the overall build quality, a tension worth holding in view.

Rig and Handling

The boat wears a masthead rig with double swept-back spreaders and a B&R configuration that gives her a racy look, carrying a mainsail with considerable roach and two reef points. With a 135-percent jib she typically shows a slight, pleasing weather helm. She is a forgiving boat with a balanced helm and, as owners contend, a no-brainer to sail and a joy to singlehand, cruising comfortably at 5 to 6 knots. The light-displacement sloop can be tender in a gusty wind, and once the breeze passes 20 knots, one or two reefs are strongly advised; writing in Cruising World, one longtime owner found she wanted a reef as early as 15 knots. Off the wind she is less happy — the swept spreaders limit how far the main can be eased, and a broad reach is not her fastest angle. The puffed-out mainsail can contact those swept-back spreaders downwind, and heaving to in the conventional manner is nearly impossible; writing in Cruising World, one owner found her almost too eager to sail, making 2 or 3 knots with the jib backed and the mainsheet free.

Accommodations

Inside, the saloon carries 6 feet 3 inches of headroom, with a dinette to starboard seating four and a settee to port. The dinette table rests on a single centerline leg and the full outboard length, making it steadier than the usual single-pedestal table and useful as a navigating station that takes a full chart, though the dedicated chart table at the quarter berth is small. The quarter berth itself is tight, with low clearance and protrusions to bruise against, while the forward V-berth is of decent size. The head sits forward to starboard, simple and functional. The simple galley holds an Origo non-pressurized alcohol stove with two burners and an oven, and a well-insulated icebox where a block of ice lasts three to five days. Water and waste tanks are molded into the hull, and the boat carries 35 gallons of water against 18 of diesel.

Known Issues

Several recurring faults trace to the construction and systems. The balsa-cored deck is prone to delamination beneath the mast and compression post, where a weakened crossmember may accompany it. The shallow, compartmentalized bilge collects drainage from both the shower sump and the icebox, and trapped stagnant water has rotted cabin soles on some boats. Leaks under the steering pedestal and at the cabin windows are common. Owners also report substandard winches and a flimsy fuel tank that some have replaced; the fuel filter gauge is tucked inside the starboard locker where it is hard to see or reach. Because of the grid-pattern pan construction, water in a seaway migrates into inaccessible pockets rather than draining straight back to the bilge.

Ownership Notes

Early hulls from 1983 to 1985 carried a 13-horsepower freshwater-cooled Yanmar, while later boats — including the 16-horsepower Yanmar described by owners — were beefed up. The engine compartment offers surprisingly good access for a 31-footer, with outstanding acoustic insulation. The T-shaped cockpit is somewhat cramped around the pedestal and wheel, though owners praise the very large cockpit with ergonomic seating and ample locker stowage. Side decks and handholds are more than adequate for going forward under way, and the easily reached anchor well and bow roller let ground tackle be handled by hand without a windlass.

The Verdict

The Hunter 31 is a practical, easy-to-maintain coastal cruiser with a stiff, well-framed hull and a rig that is a pleasure to short-hand. Her weaknesses are concentrated in deck-core integrity, bilge drainage, and a few owner-scrutinized fittings, but none undermine her role as an accessible entry to modern 1980s cruising.

Pros