Hunter 40-2 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 40-2 is the later expression of a 40-foot cruiser that Hunter Marine introduced in 2012 under Glenn Henderson's design leadership. For a shopper scanning the brokerage market, the boat presents as a beamy, bulb-keeled fractional sloop of about 19,700 pounds with a spacious interior and a twin-helm cockpit. Knowing which layout and which small defects to look for will matter more than hull count.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two principal interior plans appear. The two-stateroom version places a large island double berth aft under the cockpit and a nearly equal double forward, each with its own head and separate shower stall. The three-stateroom alternative substitutes smaller twin double cabins aft. In either case the saloon settee and port bench make usable sea berths, and the galley is genuinely workable with ample counter and storage space, though the sinks and stove run small. The nav station is compact.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The most consequential buyer items cluster around power and sail handling. The mainsheet arch on many boats carries a hard targa top that shelters the helm and mounts solar panels, and a removable bowsprit was available for flying gennakers and A-sails. A 54hp Yanmar diesel turning a saildrive powered the test example, generous for the size. Some owners will have swapped the standard two-blade propeller for faster-biting gear. In-mast furling with vertical battens appeared on shoal-draft examples, while a deep keel and full-batten main were the racier order.
What to Inspect
Cockpit storage was limited on the tested boat, with only a shallow locker and a lazarette reachable when the transom was raised, though the builder reported later improvement anchor. Aft-stateroom vertical clearance was also tight on the test boat and said to be corrected on future hulls. When shifting astern, the default folding prop was slow to catch. The steering felt bumpy, which a tester believed simple cable adjustments would fix. Check the targa leading edge for head-strike damage and confirm engine access on three sides despite the backward-mounted, tight saildrive layout.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not specified for this model. When evaluating a used Hunter 40-2, run through these points: confirm whether you prefer the two- or three-stateroom layout; verify cockpit locker and transom access; measure aft-cabin headroom against your needs; inspect the steering cables and propeller bite; and review the arch and targa for modifications. A well-found example rewards the buyer with a fast, comfortable coastal and offshore cruiser.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
10 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau, France Oceanis 40 | 39.86' | $ 129,000 | 158 | 51 |
| Hunter 40.5 Legend | 40.17' | $ 69,000 | 52 | 17 |
| Hunter 420 | 43.42' | $ 119,500 | 47 | 14 |
| Sabre 402 | 40.18' | $ 168,900 | 42 | 14 |
| Luhrs Marine Ltd 33-2 | 33.5' | $ 57,799 | 31 | 5 |
| Beneteau 40 | 39.83' | $ 152,466 | 14 | 1 |
| Marlow-Hunter 40 | 41.25' | $ 186,000 | 13 | 7 |
| Marlow-Hunter 33 | 33.5' | $ 79,900 | 13 | 5 |
| C&C 40-2 | 39.58' | $ 25,000 | 11 | 5 |
| Marlow-Hunter 37 | 39.08' | $ 180,000 | 9 | 6 |