Design and Construction
Mazza gave the 336 a straight sheer that rises slightly toward the bow, a wraparound windshield foredeck window, and a bow-to-bow rubber rub-rail for dinghy access protection. The hull and deck earned American Bureau of Shipping Plan Approval, a strict series of regulations concerning deck and hull structure, chainplat. Above the waterline Hunter Marine's standard practice placed balsa-core sandwich construction over a solid fiberglass hull below the waterline, with an outward-facing flange hull-to-deck joint sealed and through-bolted; the builder's era-appropriate method lent the structure a documented approval pedigree without exotic claims. Stainless steel handrails minimize topside maintenance, and the walk-through transom eases boarding from a dinghy or dock.
Rig and Handling
The 336 carries a fractional sloop rig designed by Lars Bergstrom, with swept spreaders angled aft to eliminate the backstay entirely. The intermediate shrouds are discontinuous, and the power lives in a massive, mega-roach full-batten mainsail — a 110 percent jib on a Profurl furler rounded out the test boat's working sail plan. A short traveler mounted in front of the wheel and a bridgedeck that routes sheets from the mast aft keep the deck clear of working lines, while lazyjacks make single-handed or two-person reefing and dousing straightforward. The reefs use a smooth single-line system leading under the bridgedeck for cockpit adjustment. Sailing Breezes found the fractional rig pointed well and powered up between 2.5 and 3 knots in 3 to 5 knots true, then "really took off" in 5 to 8 knots. Writing in Sailing Breezes, test sailors found the 27-horsepower Yanmar diesel anchor smooth and relatively quiet, easily powering the boat to hull speed at about half throttle.
Accommodations
Below, the 336 reads light and airy, with 11 opening windows and hatches and hand-rubbed teak and ash sealed with clear varnish. Two layouts were offered: one with a large open salon, full wrap-around settee, and curtained forward V-berth; the other an enclosed forward stateroom for family or friends. The aft cabin uses the cockpit volume to gain headroom and holds an extra-wide queen berth, hanging locker, and ample storage. The wrap-around galley is well thought out, with twin deep basins, dual cutting boards, a separate drain board, built-in dish rack, and glass holders. A hydraulic-assist icebox lid and a line locker ahead of the companionway round out the considered details.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The distinctive circular cockpit extends outboard to the toerail, seating six to eight with higher backrests and a pedestal-mounted table. Twin stern rail seats, a stainless swim ladder, transom shower, and twin transom storage lockers make the stern a genuine social and service space. The halyard locker positioned in front of the companionway keeps the cockpit neat underway.
Known Issues
The swept-spreader rig that removes the backstay creates a real downwind penalty: it is impossible to fully ease the mainsail when sailing downwind because the spreaders simply get in the way anchor. The same spreader geometry produces chafe at the spreader tips, addressed on the test boat by two sets of well-placed spreader patches. Buyers and owners should inspect for patched or worn chafe protection at the spreaders and understand the mainsail-ease limitation before committing to broad-reach cruising.
The Verdict
The Hunter 336 is a thoughtfully laid-out mid-1990s cruiser that trades ultimate downwind mainsail control for a clean, backstay-free deck and a powerful roached main. Her accommodations are genuinely roomy for the length, and the ergonomic cockpit with walk-through transom suits a couple or small family moving up from a smaller boat. The ABS plan approval and Mazza's measured design give her credibility as a coastal cruiser, provided the spreader-chafe and downwind-ease limits are respected.
Pros
- Beam-forward hull and circular cockpit deliver exceptional social and aft-cabin space for 33 feet
- Bergstrom fractional rig with mega-roach main sails well from 3 knots up
- Quiet 27 hp Yanmar reaches hull speed at half throttle
- ABS Plan Approval and documented construction discipline
Cons
- Swept spreaders block full mainsail easing on downwind legs
- Spreaders chafe the main unless patched
