Design and Construction
Steck graduated from the Westlawn School of Yacht Design in 1979 and opened his own yacht-design practice in 1984. For the Hunter 31, he specified a hull of hand-laid, pre-cut fiberglass for consistency. A full-length internal frame and stringer system of unidirectional fiberglass was bonded directly to the hull to add stiffness.
The chainplates were tied into that framing and brought through the deck just outside the coachroof, opening up interior volume. The deck is balsa-cored. The cast-iron keel, offered in deep- or shoal-draft versions, is bolted to the hull, and rust at that junction is an inevitable consideration.
Owners who have lived with the boat describe the hull as rock-solid. Many of those same owners criticize the overall build quality, however, and that tension is worth keeping in mind.
Rig and Handling
The Hunter 31 has a masthead rig with double swept-back spreaders and a B&R configuration that contributes to her racy appearance. The mainsail has considerable roach and two reef points. With a 135-percent jib, the boat typically develops a slight, pleasing weather helm.
She’s forgiving, with a balanced helm. Owners describe her as a no-brainer to sail and a joy to singlehand, and she cruises comfortably at 5 to 6 knots. As a light-displacement sloop, though, she can be tender in gusty winds. Once the breeze exceeds 20 knots, one or two reefs are strongly advised. Writing in Cruising World, one longtime owner found that she wanted a reef as early as 15 knots.
She’s less happy off the wind. The swept-back spreaders limit how far the mainsail can be eased, and a broad reach isn’t her fastest point of sail. Downwind, the full mainsail can contact the spreaders. Heaving to in the conventional manner is nearly impossible: writing in Cruising World, one owner found the boat almost too eager to sail, making 2 or 3 knots with the jib backed and the mainsheet free.
Cockpit and Deck
The T-shaped cockpit presents a mixed picture. It’s somewhat cramped around the pedestal and wheel, yet owners praise its overall size, ergonomic seating, and ample locker stowage.
Side decks and handholds are more than adequate for moving forward under way. The anchor well and bow roller are easy to reach, allowing the ground tackle to be handled by hand without a windlass.
Accommodations
The saloon has 6 feet 3 inches of headroom, with a dinette for four to starboard and a settee to port. The dinette table is supported by a single centerline leg and along its full outboard length, making it steadier than the usual single-pedestal arrangement. It also serves as a useful navigation station with room for a full chart. The dedicated chart table at the quarter berth is small.
The quarter berth itself is tight, with low clearance and protrusions that are easy to bruise against. The forward V-berth is a decent size. Forward to starboard, the head is simple and functional.
The equally simple galley has an Origo non-pressurized alcohol stove with two burners and an oven. Its well-insulated icebox can keep a block of ice for three to five days. Water and waste tanks are molded into the hull. Tankage is 35 gallons of water and 18 gallons of diesel.
Engine and Systems
Early hulls built from 1983 to 1985 carried a 13-horsepower, freshwater-cooled Yanmar. Later boats—including those with the 16-horsepower Yanmar described by owners—were beefed up.
For a 31-footer, the engine compartment offers surprisingly good access and outstanding acoustic insulation. The fuel-filter gauge is less conveniently placed: it sits inside the starboard locker, where it’s difficult to see or reach.
Known Issues
Several recurring problems stem from the boat’s construction and systems. The balsa-cored deck is prone to delamination beneath the mast and compression post, sometimes accompanied by a weakened crossmember.
The shallow, compartmentalized bilge receives drainage from both the shower sump and the icebox. Trapped, stagnant water has rotted the cabin soles on some boats. Because of the grid-pattern pan construction, water taken aboard in a seaway can migrate into inaccessible pockets instead of draining directly aft to the bilge.
Leaks beneath the steering pedestal and around the cabin windows are common. Owners also report substandard winches and a flimsy fuel tank, which some have replaced. The cast-iron keel and its bolted hull joint also make rust at the junction an inevitable consideration.
The Verdict
The Hunter 31 is a practical, easy-to-maintain coastal cruiser with a stiff, well-framed hull and a rig that’s a pleasure to handle short-handed. Her main weaknesses lie in deck-core integrity, bilge drainage, and several fittings that owners have scrutinized. None of these issues undermines her basic role as an accessible entry into modern 1980s cruising, but they remain important parts of the ownership picture.
Pros
- Rock-solid, hand-laid hull with full-length internal framing for stiffness
- Forgiving, balanced helm; easy to singlehand and comfortable at 5 to 6 knots
- Spacious saloon with 6 feet 3 inches of headroom and a stable dinette that doubles as a navigation station
- Good engine access and an unusually quiet compartment for a boat this size
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck can delaminate, especially beneath the mast and compression post
- Shallow, compartmentalized bilge and grid pan can trap water and contribute to rotten cabin soles
- Common leaks around the pedestal and windows; reports of substandard winches
- Potential corrosion at the cast-iron keel joint and a flimsy fuel tank noted by owners
