Hunter 310 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 310 was built with a single, well-defined interior arrangement centered on privacy: a forward V-berth stateroom and an aft double cabin amidships, separated by the saloon. Solid doors enclose both staterooms, which was unusual for a 31-footer and remains one of the model's most appealing features for couples or small families. The galley is set slightly forward of the conventional position, which opens up the midships area and gives the aft cabin more room, though owners note that berth height in the aft cabin can feel low. The saloon settees offer stowage beneath but not behind them.

The engine box sits as a free-standing unit in the main living area, a layout consequence of Hunter's decision to prioritize engine access. It works mechanically but adds noise and vibration to the cabin when motoring. On the used market you will find essentially one interior configuration; the 310 was not offered with meaningful layout variants.

Keel configuration is where used examples diverge. The standard deep keel draws around five and a half feet, while the optional shoal-draft version brings that down to roughly four feet, enabling access to shallower anchorages. The shoal-draft variant sacrifices some upwind performance — particularly in lighter air — so buyers should know which version they are looking at and weigh that tradeoff against their intended cruising grounds.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The factory Cruise-Pac bundle that Hunter included with new boats means most used 310s come with a reasonable baseline of safety gear already aboard. On the used market, biminis are commonly fitted — the cockpit arch that drew mixed aesthetic opinions at launch turns out to be an ideal attachment point, and a Bimini integrating with the arch is among the most satisfying features owners discover. Swim platforms and cockpit showers are found on most examples, reflecting both Hunter's standard spec and the obvious practical appeal for coastal use. Chartplotters have become widely fitted across the fleet regardless of the boat's age, as electronics upgrades are among the first things owners undertake.

Autopilots appear on a large portion of used 310s, particularly on boats that have seen any offshore or extended coastal use. Dodgers are seen as an owner addition, improving the cockpit's weather protection beyond what the arch alone provides. AIS transponders and inverters appear as upgrades on boats that have changed hands, as owners modernize the electrical systems. Gennakers and asymmetric spinnakers appear on boats whose owners wanted more downwind horsepower to compensate for the 310's modest sail area in light air; a whisker pole or spinnaker setup is worth noting as a value-add when present. Heating systems and life rafts are seen on examples from higher-latitude cruising contexts.

The B&R rig deserves particular attention. Full-length battens and lazy jacks are standard equipment and tame the mainsail effectively when dousing. Some examples were delivered or later converted to in-mast furling rather than the original lazy-jack arrangement, so prospective buyers should verify which mainsail handling system is fitted and inspect it accordingly. The arch-mounted traveler controls and VHF/instrument console at the helm are signature features that, when well-maintained, remain genuinely useful.

What to Inspect

The 310's B&R rig is central to how the boat sails, and it demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection. The swept-back spreaders and diagonal shrouds eliminate backstays entirely, but the system relies on precise tuning and undamaged standing rigging. Inspect every element of the B&R rig carefully, including the deck-mounted struts above the gooseneck, intermediates, and cap shrouds. The chainplates on this design are bolted horizontally through the exterior of the deck bulwark rather than tied down through the interior, which provides a wider shroud base but creates deck penetrations that can work loose and admit water over time. Budget time to probe around every chainplate fitting.

The mast base and mast plate gasket are a known weak point. Owners have reported mast leaks requiring the mast to be dropped to reseal the mast plate, so check the area around the mast partner and the interior headliner below for any staining or delamination.

The hull/deck joint is formed with a double out-turning flange sealed with 3M 5200 and through-bolted on close centers, then capped with a vinyl rubrail. The construction is sound in principle, but the vinyl rubrail cap can conceal deterioration in the sealant or fasteners below. Probe carefully along the rail.

Below the waterline, the balsa core used above the waterline is vulnerable anywhere water has found a path through deck hardware. Sound the deck thoroughly, paying particular attention around the many deck windows and hatches, which pierced the hull and cabin top in unusual profusion and require diligent resealing over time.

On the mechanical side, the Yanmar 18 hp two-cylinder diesel is a reliable engine when serviced, but the throttle and shift cable arrangement has generated owner reports of cables coming unlinked or breaking, so test both forward and reverse carefully and inspect the cable runs. The rack-and-pinion steering system is mechanically precise and widely praised, but verify it operates smoothly without play or binding. The cockpit bilge pump hose routing is worth checking; cracked bilge pump hoses were noted on early examples and rubber degrades with age. The cockpit well drains slowly by design — a consequence of the tall topsides and high sill — so confirm the drain through-hulls are clear and operational. Finally, instrument gauges and electrical connections have been sources of early complaints, so run every gauge and circuit during the survey.

The shallow bilge limits the 310's ability to carry significant standing water, which makes prompt attention to any leak especially important. The modest freshwater and fuel tankage — sized for coastal rather than offshore passages — is worth noting if extended voyaging is your intent.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Hunter 310 circulates primarily through the United States brokerage market, which is where the largest concentration of examples is found. The model also appears in Australian waters, across parts of the Mediterranean and Turkish coast, and occasionally in the United Kingdom, reflecting the global reach of American-built production cruisers of this era. Because Hunter was one of the two largest sailboat manufacturers in the country during the 310's production run, parts and service knowledge are relatively accessible, and a network of experienced Hunter owners and dealers provides reasonable support.

The 310 suits buyers who prioritize cockpit comfort, two-cabin privacy, and sailing ease over outright performance or blue-water capability. She is not a boat for serious offshore passagemaking — the high cockpit sill rather than a proper bridge deck, the slow-draining cockpit well, and the modest tankage all point toward protected coastal use. Within those parameters she performs her role well and has earned genuine loyalty from owners who use her as intended.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Verify keel type (deep versus shoal draft) and confirm it matches your cruising area
• Inspect the full B&R rig: spreaders, diagonals, intermediates, deck struts, and shroud tension
• Probe all chainplate penetrations through the deck bulwark for water intrusion
• Check the mast base and interior headliner below for any evidence of mast-plate leaks
• Sound the entire deck for balsa core moisture, especially around windows and hatches
• Test forward and reverse under power; inspect shift and throttle cable runs for wear
• Operate the rack-and-pinion steering through its full range for smoothness and play
• Confirm cockpit drain through-hulls are clear and bilge pump hoses are intact
• Run all instrument gauges and electrical circuits
• Verify whether the mainsail uses lazy jacks with full-battens or in-mast furling, and inspect the system accordingly
• Confirm the Bimini integrates properly with the cockpit arch and is structurally sound