Design and Construction
The hulls are solid laminate fiberglass with a fiberglass structural grid system, and the deck is balsa-cored anchor. Hull and deck join on an outward-turning flange with aluminum toe rail and stainless fasteners.
Rig and Handling
The rig is fractional, most sold with mainsail and 120 jib. A Yanmar 3GM diesel rated 24 hp at 3400 rpm provides auxiliary power, judged more than sufficient for the displacement.
Accommodations
Both models share a v-berth forward, port dinette, starboard settee, port galley, starboard head, nav station between head and settee, and port-side double quarter berth. The 35.5 has larger dinette and head, smaller nav station, and more room to move about in the quarter berth cabin than the 35.
Known Issues
On the 35.5, jib furling lines through the foredeck are a persistent water path into the balsa core anchor. The thin-gauge aluminum waste holding tank has a maximum life of ten years.
Refits and Ownership
Plan around core penetration re-bedding on the 35.5 and scheduled tank replacement.
The Verdict
The Hunter 35 Legend WK + 246 is a beamy shoal-draft cruiser with a manageable fractional rig and a revised 35.5 berth. Bounded deck-core and tank weaknesses define ownership.
Pros
- Solid laminate hull with fiberglass grid and bolted flange deck joint
- Winged keel gives 4-foot 6-inch draft for shoal access
- 35.5 layout adds larger dinette, head, and quarter berth room
- 24 hp Yanmar 3GM adequate for displacement
Cons
- 35.5 foredeck furling-line penetrations persistently wet the deck core
- Thin-gauge aluminum holding tank is a ten-year consumable
