The result was a 34-foot 5-inch coastal cruiser with striking interior volume and a towering rig. It proved fast in light air, but its handling became divisive as the wind built.
Design and Construction
The Hunter 34 has a solid fiberglass hull, 5,000 pounds of iron ballast, and a displacement of 11,820 pounds. Its balsa-cored deck was laid up to provide stiffness while reducing weight. With an 11-foot 7-inch beam and a 28-foot 3-inch waterline, it was the first “small” Hunter to receive a molded hull liner.
Owners who had previously owned earlier Hunters generally considered the 34’s construction details superior to those older boats. Even so, Practical Sailor’s survey criticized Hunter’s quality control. Some owners complained that both the interior and exterior teak trim was poorly fitted and finished.
The molded non-skid proves ineffective when wet. Reported deck problems include gelcoat voids and blistering, while at least one owner found the outer cockpit laminate separating from its wood core. A leaking hull-to-deck joint was reported by one owner, and several noted that the cockpit locker covers were too light and prone to cracking.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Hunter 34’s performance character comes largely from its complex B&R rig. Swept-back spreaders and diamond shrouds make it potentially tricky for novices to tune, and the entire assembly towers more than 51 feet above the waterline.
That tall rig drives a fast boat, especially in light air. Owners report that the Hunter 34 is practically unbeatable in club racing in winds between seven and 12 knots. The deep-keel version typically carries a PHRF rating of 135, which is better than that of most cruiser-racers of similar size. It is very fast upwind, though only average off the wind.
Stability is the trade-off. A number of owners describe the original Hunter 34 as very tippy in either keel version, and lack of stability was the most frequently criticized aspect of its performance in the survey. The deep-draft keel carries most of its weight and volume high. Although the shoal-draft version has an additional 220 pounds of ballast, it still has a high vertical center of gravity. Boats built late in the production run carried more ballast: the 1985 brochure lists about 450 pounds more than the 1983 brochure.
When true wind reaches 15 knots or more, it’s time to reef the mainsail when sailing upwind. Several owners also report substantial weather helm in anything beyond very light air.
Rig, Rudder, and Keel Concerns
The original rudder attracts the most pointed criticism. Some owners say it was both too small and too weak, and several reported cracking. Hunter subsequently fitted a larger “high performance” rudder as standard equipment on 1984 and 1985 boats.
The B&R rig creates other compromises. On any point of sail freer than a broad reach, the mainsail fetches up against the spreaders and shrouds. The rig also has no forward lower shrouds, baby stay, or inner forestay, so a headstay failure can bring it down. One owner lost the rig after a roller-furling failure.
The iron keel presents an ongoing maintenance burden. Some owners say it left the factory without adequate rust protection, while others report that the keel-to-hull seam can crack open and admit salt water. The “Hunter Smile” hairline crack at the joint’s leading edge is well documented.
Other reported problems include stuffing-box leakage that can become trapped between the hull liner and hull without reaching the bilge. The holding-tank system can also smell because of porous hoses and poor venting.
Accommodations
The Hunter 34 was one of the first boats under 35 feet to offer a tri-cabin layout, and its interior remains a primary reason buyers choose it.
The V-berth is set far forward to maximize space, which leaves it narrow at the foot—the only real interior complaint. The extended trunk provides good headroom in the forward cabin before clearance drops below six feet.
A full-width head sits aft of the V-berth. The main saloon has a somewhat old-fashioned athwartships dinette that seats four for dinner. A single fixed main-cabin berth allows the boat to sleep five without converting the table. The aft cabin is small and offers limited standing room.
A U-shaped galley to starboard and a navigation station opposite complete the layout. The boat was originally specified with a kerosene stove before switching to alcohol.
Engine and Ownership
Most Hunter 34s have the reliable Yanmar 3GMF, a three-cylinder, fresh-water-cooled diesel producing about 22.5 horsepower. Some early boats instead received a Westerbeke 21. Access for engine servicing is good.
Under power, the boat cruises at 5½ knots or better. Its 25-gallon fuel capacity provides a range of roughly 275 miles.
On early hulls, the improved rudder is worth confirming. The iron keel’s protective coating also demands vigilance. Teak-trim and gelcoat flaws are largely cosmetic, but they reflect the broader quality-control concerns reported for the model.
The Verdict
The Hunter 34 is a light-air rocket with a genuinely roomy tri-cabin interior that punches above its length. Against those strengths, it has a high-center-of-gravity stability deficit and a cluster of factory shortcuts involving the keel, rudder, and deck core. It’s a boat that rewards a careful survey and an owner willing to stay on top of its known issues.
Pros
- Exceptional light-air speed and upwind performance for its size
- Tri-cabin layout with real headroom and a primary-saloon berth arrangement rare in boats under 35 feet
- Good engine access and a dependable standard Yanmar diesel
Cons
- Tippy, weather-helm-prone handling that calls for early reefing
- Original rudder is too small and weak; the iron keel and keel-to-hull joint require constant corrosion vigilance
- Documented shortcomings in gelcoat, deck core, and trim fit
