Hunter 340 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The three-cabin arrangement is the more commonly encountered configuration on the used market, pairing a forward V-berth stateroom with a dedicated aft cabin and a central saloon that converts a dinette to a double. This layout gives the 340 sleeping capacity for a surprisingly large group on a thirty-three-foot boat, and the full-height headroom throughout the saloon — over six feet — makes the below-decks space genuinely liveable rather than merely adequate. Both keel variants appear on the market: the shoal-draft option opens up shallower anchorages and is appealing on the American East Coast and in the Great Lakes, while the deeper fin keel offers better upwind performance and tends to be preferred by buyers in open-water sailing regions.

The cockpit layout deserves attention as part of any evaluation. The signature stainless steel arch — standard on 2000 and 2001 models, fiberglass on the 1998 and 1999 production run — supports the mainsheet traveler clear of the cockpit, which keeps the working area remarkably uncluttered. Buyers who care about the arch material should confirm which version they are looking at, as opinions among owners on the relative merits of each vary considerably.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Most examples on the brokerage market come fitted with a bimini attached to the arch, an autopilot, and a dodger — practical additions that reflect the 340's role as a weekend and coastal cruiser. The integrated swim platform and freshwater deck shower, both factory features, are almost universal.

Chartplotters, VHF radios, cockpit showers, air conditioning, and hot water systems are widely seen on used examples. Chartplotters and VHF radios are often updated by owners from the original factory electronics. Air conditioning is particularly prevalent on boats from warmer-water markets, as the cabin volume makes it a worthwhile addition in summer conditions.

Owner upgrades worth noting include solar panels and inverters — a natural addition given the 340's draw as a weekender where shore power is not always available. A spinnaker and associated hardware represent a common upgrade among owners who enjoy light-air sailing and want to address the boat's modest overlap on the jib. In-mast furling, originally a factory option, is seen on a portion of used boats and is worth evaluating carefully for condition and ease of operation.

What to Inspect

The 340's known inspection points are well established and should be addressed methodically before any survey concludes.

The deck-stepped mast is the first place to focus. Excess compression over time can cause deck delamination from water infusion, a failure mode common to many boats with deck-stepped rigs. Probe carefully around the mast base and inspect the surrounding deck structure for softness or flex.

Keel attachment deserves close scrutiny. Some owners report thin line cracks on the hull bottom near the bolted-on keel, most likely fairing compound that over time has become brittle and cracked. This is distinct from structural failure but should be distinguished from it with care. If weeping is evident, a boatyard should tighten the bolts, and any signs of movement or water intrusion at the keel-to-hull interface warrant a professional opinion.

The swim platform's bilge-access hatch is secured only with rubber latches, which has been flagged as inadequate in rough conditions. Inspect the latches and consider whether a more robust securing solution has been added by a prior owner.

The electrical system on the 340 was described as bare bones at the factory level, with few breakers and a single 30-amp shore power inlet. On a boat now decades old, the electrical panel and wiring harness should be inspected carefully, particularly if owners have added equipment over the years without professional installation.

The gray nonskid deck paint tends to wear and peel, which is largely cosmetic but common enough to expect on older examples. Budget for repainting if the deck surface shows significant wear.

The rig merits close examination given the B&R swept-spreader configuration. The absence of a backstay is by design, but it means the shrouds and mast support struts carry all the compressive load. Inspect turnbuckles, chainplates — which connect to both the cabin exterior and the toerail — and the strut attachment points for corrosion or movement. In-mast furling systems, where fitted, should be exercised through their full range of travel to confirm smooth operation and checked for wear in the furling mechanism.

Finally, the autopilot, where fitted, should be tested upwind in a chop. Weather helm in breeze can overpower a battery-operated autopilot, and understanding the autopilot's limits matters for shorthanded passages.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Hunter 340 is widely available across the United States, with concentrations on the East Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast reflecting Hunter Marine's primarily North American customer base. Examples also appear regularly in Canada and Australia, and occasional listings surface in European waters including the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean. It is not a rare boat, and patient buyers will find options across a range of conditions and equipment levels.

The 340's combination of cabin space, cockpit comfort, and easy shore-side entertaining appeals to a specific buyer — one who values weekending with friends and family over racing performance. It is not a singlehander's boat in its stock configuration, and upwind sailing in fresh conditions requires active sail trim and timely reefing. But as a coastal cruiser for two to four people who want genuine comfort afloat, it remains a strong value proposition in its size range.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm arch material (fiberglass vs. stainless steel) and inspect for stress cracks or corrosion
• Survey deck around mast base for compression damage or delamination
• Inspect keel-to-hull joint for weeping, crazing, or movement; test bolt torque
• Evaluate swim platform latch hardware for security
• Review electrical panel and wiring for age-appropriate condition and overcrowding
• Assess nonskid deck for wear and budget accordingly
• Exercise in-mast furling (if fitted) through full range under load
• Test autopilot upwind in meaningful breeze
• Confirm which keel variant (shoal or deep draft) relative to your intended sailing grounds
• Check shroud chainplates at both cabin side and toerail attachment points