Hunter 31 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 31 is a light-displacement coastal cruiser built by Hunter Marine from 1983 through 1987, designed by Cortland Steck. On the used market she appeals to sailors wanting simple systems and easy maintenance, but the known construction and drainage weaknesses deserve a careful look before any offer.
Layouts on the Used Market
Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, though both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. Either way the boat gives a dinette seating four to starboard, a port settee, a forward V-berth, and a tight quarter berth with low clearance. The head sits forward to starboard and the simple galley carries an Origo alcohol stove and a well-insulated icebox.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats on the market carry a bimini and a chartplotter as standard coastal kit. Often-seen additions include a swim platform, furling main, dodger, and autopilot, which together signal a boat set up for shorthanded day sailing and anchoring comfort. Less common but worth noting as owner upgrades are a simplified shorthanded sail-handling setup and an EPIRB for offshore-minded buyers.
What to Inspect
The balsa-cored deck is the first worry: probe for softness and listen for voids, especially beneath the mast and compression post, where delamination and a weakened crossmember are known to appear. The bilge is shallow and compartmentalized, and because the shower sump and icebox both drain into it, trapped water can rot the cabin sole — smell for must and press the sole for sponginess. Check the steering pedestal base and cabin windows for staining that marks the common leaks at those spots. Work the winches and compare to expected loads, since owners report substandard winches; some have also swapped the flimsy fuel tank, so confirm its condition and locate the fuel filter gauge buried in the starboard locker where it is hard to read. With the grid-pattern pan, water in a seaway reaches pockets that do not drain straight back, so inspect those concealed areas for old moisture. Finally, the cast-iron keel bolts to the hull, so examine the joint for rust.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. Before you commit:
- Check the chainplate bedding and deck core under the mast.
- Smell the bilge and press the cabin sole for rot.
- Test winches and locate the buried fuel filter gauge.
- Inspect keel bolts for rust at the hull joint.
- Confirm pedestal and window seals are dry.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 31. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 19 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $49,500 | — |
| Mar 25 | 1 | $49,000 | -1.0% |
| Apr 25 | 2 | $27,500 | -43.9% |
| May 25 | 2 | $33,950 | +23.5% |
| Jun 25 | 2 | $10,625 | -68.7% |
| Jul 25 | 3 | $15,000 | +41.2% |
| Aug 25 | 3 | $39,500 | +163.3% |
| Sep 25 | 5 | $15,350 | -61.1% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $19,900 | +29.6% |
| Nov 25 | 5 | $27,500 | +38.2% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $39,000 | +41.8% |
| Jan 26 | 5 | $25,000 | -35.9% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $62,500 | +150.0% |
| Mar 26 | 14 | $16,900 | -73.0% |
| Apr 26 | 16 | $19,992 | +18.3% |
| May 26 | 8 | $42,803 | +114.1% |
| Jun 26 | 3 | $14,500 | -66.1% |
| Jul 26 | 5 | $14,500 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 3 | $15,000 | +3.4% |
Where they're listed
Hunter 31 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 58 (86.6%), followed by Ireland and United Kingdom.
Country view
67 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $18,400 | 58 | 10 | 86.6% |
| Ireland | $16,901 | 4 | 0 | 6.0% |
| United Kingdom | $25,076 | 3 | 0 | 4.5% |
| Canada | $49,991 | 2 | 0 | 3.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
9 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter 33 | 32.67' | $ 64,644 | 99 | 23 |
| Hunter Marine 36 | 35.92' | $ 75,000 | 91 | 26 |
| Beneteau Oceanis 31 | 31.69' | $ 78,491 | 87 | 16 |
| Hunter Marine 31You are here | — | $ 21,200 | 70 | 12 |
| Hunter 34 | 34.42' | $ 23,700 | 50 | 9 |
| Hunter 386 | 38.25' | $ 85,900 | 37 | 4 |
| Hunter Marine 310 | 30.83' | $ 35,000 | 25 | 8 |
| Elan Boats 31 | 30.84' | $ 48,862 | 15 | 4 |
| Marlow-Hunter 33 | 33.5' | $ 79,900 | 13 | 5 |