Its defining feature was a rig that dispensed with standing rigging altogether. A free-standing aluminum mast, stepped far forward, carried an enormous mainsail in a quasi-cat arrangement, with no shrouds, spreaders, or backstay.
Design and Construction
Hunter Marine’s design team created the Vision 32 in the late 1980s. Its complete lack of shrouds, spreaders, and backstay reflects influences from earlier Freedom Yachts designs associated with Garry Hoyt.
The hull is primarily solid, hand-laid fiberglass. Inside, a one-piece, box-beamed grid system is glassed to the hull to manage the loads from the unstayed mast. Below the waterline, a fixed fin keel with a large bulb lowers the center of gravity and increases stability, while an internally mounted spade-type rudder handles the steering.
The boat has a beam of 11 feet 4 inches and a bulb-keel draft of 4 feet 3 inches. Its wide beam adds overall stability. The Vision 32 is regarded as a midrange-quality production cruiser suited to coastal use.
Rig and Handling
The free-standing mast is set far forward, eliminating the wires, turnbuckles, corrosion concerns, and rig-tension issues of a conventional sloop. At 53 feet, the mast clears most fixed highway bridges in U.S. ports.
The rig carries a large mainsail that some owners say is comparable to what you’d typically find on a 40-foot boat. Lazy jacks guide the sail onto the boom, a roller furler manages the jib, and all control lines lead back to the cockpit. Two Barient 21 primary winches and a Schaefer traveler system handle the manually operated mainsail winches, while an Edson wheel provides steering.
Period writing called the Vision 32 a lazy sailor’s boat because it is so effortless to sail. The rig’s ability to spill wind aloft is also said to work well in heavier weather.
With 567 square feet of sail area and an average PHRF rating of 177, the boat is positioned as a relaxed coastal performer rather than a racer.
Accommodations
Because the far-forward mast creates a roomy saloon, the interior feels larger than the boat’s 32-foot length might suggest. The saloon has 6 feet 3 inches of headroom and a teak-and-holly sole.
A convertible dinette provides two berths, supplementing a private aft cabin for two and tighter V-berth quarters for another two. The boat sleeps six in total.
The galley is arranged around a center island containing a double-basin stainless steel sink, stove, and refrigerator. There is one head with a compact shower, finished mainly in plastic for easy upkeep. A nav station, hanging locker, five opening ports, and three opening hatches complete the layout.
Tankage includes 45 gallons of fresh water and an original 12-gallon waste tank.
Engine, Deck, and Stern
The Yanmar 3GM30F diesel produces 27 horsepower and draws from a 22-gallon fuel tank. The engine is accessible from three sides for maintenance.
On deck, a recessed stainless steel grabrail runs the length of the cabintop. Behind the Edson helm, a gate opens onto a swim platform built into the reverse transom. The platform also has a stainless steel boarding ladder and a shower hose.
Known Issues and Ownership Considerations
One owner report identifies the holding tank, encased in the shower seat, as an area needing special attention. The boat’s aluminum fuel, holding, and freshwater tanks are also a known material choice worth evaluating for corrosion over time.
The production run is linked to a supposed cause: the cost of the masts is said to have ended the Vision after roughly five or six years.
The Verdict
The Hunter 32 Vision is a genuinely distinctive coastal cruiser. Its unstayed, forward-stepped rig trades conventional tuning concerns for an open, airy interior and remarkably easy handling. It’s best suited to sailors who value simplicity and interior volume more than outright upwind performance or resale familiarity.
Pros
- Free-standing mast has no shrouds, spreaders, or backstay, removing conventional rig-corrosion and tension concerns
- Far-forward mast creates a roomy, six-berth interior with 6 feet 3 inches of saloon headroom
- Solid, hand-laid hull has bonded grid reinforcement and a stabilizing bulb fin keel
- All lines lead aft, and lazy jacks make the large mainsail easier to manage
Cons
- A mainsail sized for a 40-footer can be demanding on manual winches
- Aluminum tanks—including the holding tank inside the shower seat—need careful inspection
- The unconventional rig limited production and may complicate the cost of mast replacement
