Design and Construction
The hull combines a nearly plumb bow and 14-degree entry angle with a generous 10-foot-10-inch beam carried well aft. Below the waterline, it is solid fiberglass laid in alternating 24-ounce roving, 18-ounce unidirectional roving, and 1.5-ounce mat. The laminate is three-quarter-inch thick at the keel, while a vinylester outer ply provides blister resistance.
Hunter offered the bulbed keel in two versions: a shallow variant drawing 4 feet 4 inches and a deeper version drawing 5 feet 10 inches. The boat carries 3,200 pounds of ballast against 8,550 pounds displacement, for a 37-percent ballast ratio.
The topsides are cored with end-grain balsa, while the deck uses half-inch marine-grade plywood. The hull-deck flange is bonded with 3M 5200 and through-bolted on 4-inch centers beneath a 2-inch rub rail.
Hunter’s builders installed the furniture as prefabricated modules before fitting the deck. The headliner is a molded pan, and all woodwork is marine-grade plywood finished with teak or mahogany trim. One cost-saving decision stands out: areas beneath winches, stanchions, and deck hardware were reinforced with extra laminate but lacked backing plates, an omission Practical Sailor considered serious.
Rig and Sail Handling
The 320 carries a B&R rig on a Selden mast, with two pairs of spreaders swept 30 degrees aft. The seven-eighths fractional layout keeps the 46-foot-9-inch mast clear of the side decks. With no lower shrouds led to the rail, the side decks are a clean 13 inches wide.
A stainless steel arch at the aft end of the cockpit carries the end-boom mainsheet in place of a conventional traveler. The Bimini is built into the arch, though this arrangement can obstruct the view of the mainsail from the helm.
The roller-furling jib is a modest 110-percent lapper sheeted to the cabin top. It was deliberately sized so that large genoas wouldn’t be needed, although the small sail leaves the boat underpowered in light air. Standard winches are a Lewmar 30 two-speed and a single-speed self-tailer on the cabin top. Extra coaming bases are provided for owners who want larger primary winches.
Lazyjacks and a canvas pack allow the mainsail to drop and zip away in about five minutes, making sail handling straightforward for a short-handed crew.
Performance Under Sail and Power
Testers recorded 3.4 knots to windward in 5 knots apparent and 5.8 knots in 7 knots. In a 14-to-16-knot breeze, the boat cruised easily at 5.5 to 6 knots under mainsail alone, although 14-knot waves reduced her speed to 4.4–4.6.
Under the 18-horsepower Yanmar, she made 2.6 knots at 1,500 rpm and 5.6 at 3,000. Lead-cored soundproofing kept engine noise to a low rumble.
Accommodations
Carrying the beam well aft creates room for both a transverse double berth beneath the cockpit and a separate aft stateroom. The aft cabin has a 52-by-72-inch queen berth and 69 inches of headroom. A 12-by-17-inch hatch beneath the port cockpit seat provides light.
Forward, a double V-berth sits behind a louvered bulkhead. One side is full-size, while the other uses a drop-in cushion. In the main saloon, an 86-inch L-shaped settee wraps around a mast-mounted table with a single drop leaf. According to the brochure, the table lowers to form a double berth, allowing seven people to sleep aboard.
Cabin headroom is a full 6 feet 3 inches, and the sole is teak and holly. The galley includes a Corian countertop, a Force 10 two-burner stove with oven, twin sinks supplied by a 50-gallon water capacity, a large icebox, and a small microwave. There are 110-volt outlets throughout the cabin.
The head measures 44 by 43 inches and includes a handheld shower. A navigation table is mounted forward of it.
Cockpit and Equipment
The cockpit seats six adults and has its own table. A folding helmsman’s seat converts into a step down to the transom, while a concealed freshwater shower sits to port of the helm. The seat/step is heavy and shouldn’t be lowered by a child.
A 32-inch destroyer wheel handles steering. Wells in the coamings provide stowage for the mainsheet and stray lines. Standard instruments include a tachometer, inclinometer, and Autohelm knot and depth sounder.
The Verdict
The Hunter 320 is a thoughtfully packaged coastal cruiser that trades offshore austerity for space, easy handling, and a sociable cockpit. The B&R rig, arch-mounted mainsheet, and lazyjacks simplify sail handling for short-handed crews. Meanwhile, the beam carried aft makes room for an aft stateroom and transverse berth rarely found in a 32-footer.
The trade-offs are clear. The modest 110-percent jib limits light-air performance, and the absence of backing plates beneath winches, stanchions, and other deck hardware is a serious omission. Those compromises come with the boat’s emphasis on price, simplicity, and interior volume.
Pros
- Aft stateroom and transverse berth contribute to seven-person sleeping capacity
- Arch-mounted mainsheet and lazyjacks simplify short-handed sailing
- Solid-fiberglass bottom, vinylester blister resistance, and 37-percent ballast ratio
- Large cockpit with a table, concealed shower, and folding transom step
Cons
- Winch, stanchion, and deck-hardware mounts lack backing plates
- Small 110-percent jib leaves the boat underpowered in light air
- Bimini-integrated arch can obstruct mainsail visibility from the helm
