The boat measures 35 feet 7 inches overall, with an 11-foot 9-inch beam and displacement ranging from 12,100 to 13,000 pounds. The WK designation identifies the winged bulb-keel version, which draws 4 feet 6 inches. The original 6-foot 6-inch fin keel was dropped with the introduction of the 35.5.
Design and Construction
The boats have solid-laminate fiberglass hulls with a fiberglass structural grid system and balsa-cored decks. The hull and deck meet at an outward-turning flange secured with stainless-steel fasteners and finished with an aluminum toe rail.
Rig, Handling, and Auxiliary Power
The Hunter 35 Legend and 35.5 use fractional rigs, and most were sold with a mainsail and 120 jib. Auxiliary power comes from a Yanmar 3GM diesel rated at 24 hp at 3400 rpm, judged more than sufficient for the boat’s displacement.
Accommodations
Both models share the same basic arrangement: a V-berth forward, port-side dinette, starboard settee, port galley, starboard head, and a navigation station between the head and settee. A double quarter berth lies to port.
The revised 35.5 has a larger dinette and head, along with a smaller navigation station. Its quarter-berth cabin also provides more room to move around than the one aboard the 35.
Known Issues and Refit Planning
On the 35.5, jib-furling lines routed through the foredeck create a persistent path for water into the balsa core. Owners should plan to re-bed core penetrations.
The thin-gauge aluminum waste-holding tank has a maximum life of ten years, so scheduled replacement should also be part of the ownership plan.
Verdict
The Hunter 35 Legend WK + 246 is a beamy, shoal-draft cruiser with a manageable fractional rig. The revised 35.5 offers more room in the dinette, head, and quarter-berth cabin, though it has a smaller navigation station. Ownership is defined in part by the boats’ limited but significant deck-core and holding-tank weaknesses.
Pros
- Solid-laminate hull with a fiberglass grid and bolted-flange deck joint
- Winged keel draws 4 feet 6 inches, allowing shoal-water access
- Revised 35.5 layout provides a larger dinette and head, plus more room in the quarter-berth cabin
- The 24 hp Yanmar 3GM is adequate for the displacement
Cons
- On the 35.5, foredeck penetrations for the furling lines provide a persistent path for water into the deck core
- The thin-gauge aluminum holding tank is effectively a ten-year consumable
