This 37-foot 6-inch cruiser combines the volume of a modern boat with a sleek profile. Its low coachroof, fractional rig, and performance-oriented sail plan give it a distinctive place in Hunter’s late-1980s range.
Design and Construction
The 37 Legend measures 37 feet 6 inches overall, with a 31-foot 4-inch waterline and a 12-foot 10-inch beam. It displaces 14,900 pounds and carries 6,000 pounds of lead ballast. Buyers could choose either a deep fin keel or a shoal-draft winged bulb keel.
The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, while the deck is balsa-cored. That combination keeps weight down, but it also calls for the usual caution about water intrusion. Longitudinal stringers run through the hull’s midsection on each side of the keel, providing additional structural support at the center of the boat.
The lowered coachroof blends smoothly into the foredeck, giving the boat a clean, uncluttered profile. Flush-mounted deck skylights and a reverse transom reinforce that look. A balanced spade rudder and a Bergstrom & Ridder fractional rig with swept spreaders complete the design.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The 37 Legend is a fractional sloop with a nearly 60-foot mast. Its 59-foot fractional rig, high sail area-to-displacement ratio, and large mainsail give it the character of a performance boat.
Owners report remarkable light-air performance. They also say the boat remains fast in heavy wind when reefed correctly and sails well upwind even with the shoal wing keel and bulb. It points well, and one owner reported coaxing 8.5 knots from the boat—beyond its 7.5-knot hull speed.
The cockpit is sculpted to seat six and has pedestal steering with a large destroyer wheel. Space behind the helm is tight, however, and many owners have removed the arched bench behind the wheel to open up the area. Wide sidedecks and a clean foredeck make routine deckwork straightforward, while the low coachroof improves sightlines from the cockpit.
Accommodations
Below, the saloon combines exotic woods with a teak-and-holly sole and provides 6 feet 3 inches of headroom. A drop-leaf table sits within a circular seating arrangement, and the settees on either side can serve as single berths.
The U-shaped galley is to port. It includes a two-basin stainless steel sink, a top-loading refrigerator, and either a two- or three-burner stove with an oven. To starboard, the navigator’s station has a hinged desk drawer and storage.
The aft cabin lies beneath the cockpit and contains a pedestal queen bed. It can be reached from either side through the cabin door or through the head, though headroom over the berth is limited. Forward, the V-berth cabin sleeps two and includes a hanging locker and a vanity sink with a mirror. Some owners have removed that sink to gain more stowage.
A single shared head also serves as the shower. It is accessible from both the aft cabin and the saloon.
Engine and Systems
The freshwater-cooled, 34-horsepower Yanmar 3HM35F reportedly drives the boat at 7 knots at 2,800 rpm. Most pre-owned examples retain this factory engine and its two-bladed propeller.
Engine access is mixed. The sides can be reached through twin side doors or a larger opening at the front, but tight clearance makes servicing the top of the engine more difficult.
The 33-gallon aluminum fuel tank sits beneath the aft berth and has been known to corrode. Problems with the Edson steering system have also been reported.
Known Issues and Common Alterations
The balsa-cored deck is the boat’s main structural weak point, as water infiltration can lead to delamination. Some owners have also claimed that the cabintop handrails were secured with screws that pulled out.
Common owner alterations include removing the arched cockpit bench to create more room behind the helm and taking out the forward-cabin sink to increase stowage. More broadly, the 37 Legend has proved adaptable to refits.
The Verdict
The Hunter 37 Legend is a quick, roomy fractional-rig cruiser from Hunter’s late-1980s range. Its low coachroof is distinctive, its accommodations are generous for the length, and its sail plan offers genuine performance.
The structural package is sound apart from the balsa-cored deck’s vulnerability to water intrusion. Reported steering problems, fuel-tank corrosion, handrail fastener issues, and restricted access to the top of the engine are additional drawbacks. It’s a boat that rewards an attentive survey and careful ownership.
Pros
- Fast in light and heavy air, points well, and can exceed hull speed downwind
- Roomy cockpit and saloon, with 6 feet 3 inches of headroom and versatile berths
- Solid-fiberglass hull with midsection stringers and a balanced spade rudder
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck is prone to delamination from water intrusion
- Aluminum fuel-tank corrosion and reported Edson steering problems
- Tight access to the top of the engine
- Some reports of cabintop handrail screws pulling out
