Hunter 40-2 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Below the waterline the hull is handlaid solid polyester laminate with vinylester in the outer layers and NPG gelcoat to resist osmotic blistering, while above the waterline the hull is cored with end-grain balsa anchor. Kevlar is added to the laminate in forward areas of the hull from the keel up, and the deck is also balsa-cored with solid laminate under all hardware. The 40-2 shows a low-profile coachroof and a near-plumb bow that reflect the visual direction of Hunter's recent models. With a 41-foot-3-inch overall length, 13-foot-2-inch beam, and roughly 19,700 pounds of displacement against 6,027 pounds of lead ballast, the boat sits on a bulb-keeled hull with a hard chine that test sailors credited with giving the boat good form stability and tracking.

Rig and Handling

The mainsheet arch overhead keeps the cockpit free of clutter while also enhancing functionality, and the double-ended mainsheet running off the arch can be handled from either the coachroof to starboard or from the port-side helm station anchor. All jibsheet and traveler controls can be reached from the helms, which makes the boat easy to sail singlehanded. The foretriangle is rather small and the standard 110 percent headsail, though efficient, has limited area, but the boat can be equipped with a removable bowsprit for flying gennakers and A-sails. On the wind the test boat was fully powered up at a 35-degree apparent wind angle, making just under 7 knots in 12 knots of apparent wind, and pinching still held 5.8 knots at 20 to 25 degrees. Bearing away she hit 8.6 knots at 60 degrees before slumping to 7.3 on a flat reach, and the boat did not gripe when well heeled. Helm response was very good, though the steering action felt a little bit bumpy; a tester assumed this could be corrected with simple cable adjustments.

Accommodations

The two-stateroom version tested featured a generous aft stateroom with a large island double berth under the cockpit and an almost equally large double stateroom forward, both with en-suite heads and segregated shower stalls anchor. A three-stateroom layout with smaller twin double cabins aft is also offered. In the saloon, the bench seat to port and the outer limb of the dinette settee to starboard were long enough to serve as comfortable sea berths. The galley had plenty of counter space and lots of storage, though the two sinks and double-burner stove may strike some as undersized. The nav station was a bit too small to impress a traditionalist, but finish quality throughout the interior is good for a mass-produced boat.

Cockpit and Deck

High coamings provide good back support behind the bench seats, and access between the twin helm stations to the immense fold-down transom is superb, with two comfortable quarter seats built into the stern pulpit corners anchor. On the test boat the arch incorporated a hard targa top that provided permanent shelter and a location for solar panels. The fixed cockpit table was easy to move around when leaves were folded down. A tester did bang his head twice on the targa's leading edge stepping down from the side deck, and cockpit storage was limited to one shallow locker and a lazarette accessible only when the transom was raised.

Known Issues

Cockpit storage space was limited on the test boat, though Marlow Hunter reported that storage would be improved on future boats anchor. Vertical clearance in the aft stateroom was a bit limited and was also said to be improved on later boats. The stock two-blade wheel took its time to engage when the direction was reversed. The undersized sinks and stove and the bumpy steering feel round out the practical caveats.

Refits and Ownership

The manufacturer claimed cockpit storage and aft-stateroom headroom would be addressed on subsequent hulls, useful context for anyone comparing early and late examples. The 54hp Yanmar diesel on the test boat turned a saildrive and was mounted backward in a tight space, though all vital parts were within reach on three sides. At 2,000 rpm she made 7.9 knots, rising to 8.2 at 2,200 and 9.2 at 2,900 wide open.

The Verdict

The Hunter 40-2 is a modern mass-production cruiser that sails exceedingly well and offers a genuinely roomy two- or three-stateroom layout. Ordering the standard full-batten mainsail and deep keel instead of the shoal-draft in-mast rig would likely give many racer-cruisers a serious run. The arch and twin-helm cockpit are well thought out, and the build approach below the waterline is sound.

Pros