This is a beamy, volume-driven cruiser rather than a lithe racer. At 42' 1" overall, with a 14' 6" beam and 23,936 pounds of displacement, its breadth shapes everything from its motion to its accommodations.
Design and Construction
The 426 DS is a beam-hulled cruiser with an L/B of 2.9 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 178. Those figures place it firmly in the high-volume cruising camp. Its pounds-per-inch immersion of about 1,500 pounds points to a hull that sits heavily and moves with deliberation rather than skittishness.
Below the waterline, Hunter used solid fiberglass. The deck and topsides have balsa-core sandwich construction, while the bow carries Kevlar reinforcement for impact resistance. All were consistent with Hunter Marine’s late-Henderson-era practice.
Inside, modular manufacturing techniques produced a veneered-panel ceiling that visually ties the saloon together and adds subtle warmth. The electrical wiring runs cleanly through conduits and chases, with careful regard for American Boat & Yacht Council recommendations. Plumbing is logically arranged, and through-hulls and manifolds are readily accessible and clearly labeled.
Rig, Cockpit, and Sailing Performance
Hunter’s adherence to the Bergstrom rig defines the 426 DS above deck. Both versions of the boat carry the Bergstrom & Ridder rig, with a deck-stepped mast whose lower panel lacks the benefit of a belowdecks bury and is therefore reinforced and stiffened by two stainless struts.
The B&R arrangement uses spreaders swept back 30 degrees and dispenses with a backstay entirely, allowing a generous mainsail roach. The listed SA/D is 16, though that figure excludes the roach shown on the drawings.
Because the spreaders are swept so far aft, Hunter fitted reinforcing patches where the mainsail rubs against the shrouds. Representatives recommend trimming the main to keep it off the spreaders during long downwind passages. The Seldén in-mast furling system worked acceptably in testing, provided someone maintained tension on the outhaul while furling.
All control lines from the mast lead to two cabin-top winches flanking the companionway. Built-in tail bins help keep the lines orderly. The jib-sheet winches are well aft and within easy reach of the helm. The mainsheet leads to a traveler on a stainless arch spanning the cockpit, keeping the boom clear and leaving the crew unobstructed.
Writing in Cruising World, one tester recorded the 426 DS reaching at 5.3 knots in light air and praised the Whitlock steering for its excellent control. The emergency tiller is close at hand in the port seat locker and is designed for use with lines led to the jib-sheet winches.
Accommodations
The deck saloon’s large windows all have sliding shades and screens, which the reviewer called musts for tropical sailing. Outside, the molded brow above the tinted glass gives the boat its purposeful profile.
The main saloon centers on a glossy varnished table served by a U-shaped dinette. Its center leaf pulls out to form a coffee table, and the whole table drops to convert the dinette into a double berth. A pivot-mounted flat-screen TV on the starboard bulkhead, complete with cable socket, is standard.
The generously sized galley has a practical L-shaped layout, a two-burner stove, and twin deep stainless sinks set into Corian. Two opening ports, a hatch, and the companionway provide ventilation. According to the builder’s own tests, the custom under-counter stainless-steel refrigerator and freezer draw fewer amps than many top-opening boxes.
Forward, the V-berth cabin has its own head and ample storage. An optional Pullman arrangement substitutes a port-side double berth and opens the starboard side to a dresser.
Aft, an athwartships queen innerspring berth shares the cabin with a short couch and Corian vanity. The passageway head serves both the main cabin and aft stateroom and includes a separate shower stall. A locker beside the aft couch can accommodate an optional washer-dryer.
Systems and Service Access
Service access is one of the 426 DS’s strong points. Swinging the companionway steps aside and lifting the aft vanity reveals the entire Yanmar 56-hp diesel, simplifying routine maintenance.
The clean electrical installation and logically arranged plumbing also help when systems need attention. Wiring runs through conduits and chases, while labeled through-hulls and manifolds remain readily accessible.
Known Issues and Ownership Considerations
Two findings from the test sail warrant a buyer’s attention. The first was a persistent squeak traced to the secured exhaust hose rubbing against the aft bulkhead. It’s a minor issue, but a telling detail of how the components were routed. Any owner should verify the hose’s clearance at that bulkhead.
More consequential are two low hatches in the swim platform, about 32 inches above the waterline at rest. They open into a large compartment that drains into the main bilge. Hunter states that the hatches are watertight when closed, but the small hinges and fasteners securing the fiberglass lids could be beefier. Upgrading that hardware would be a sensible early refit.
The emergency tiller’s slotted shaft mates loosely with a pin through the fiberglass rudderstock head. The arrangement is acceptable, but it’s worth knowing that the boat has a spade rudder.
The rig also calls for disciplined handling. The in-mast furling mainsail requires continuous outhaul tension while furling, and the swept-back spreaders mean the mainsail must be trimmed carefully downwind to keep it off the spreaders.
The Verdict
The Hunter 426 DS is a thoughtfully engineered, high-volume cruiser with a bright, practical deck saloon and useful light-air performance from its B&R rig. Construction is clean and serviceable, with particularly good access to the engine and other systems. A few lightly built hardware details and rig-handling quirks are reminders that this is a production boat optimized for comfortable coastal and tropical cruising rather than offshore austerity.
Pros
- Beamy, high-volume hull with deliberate, stable motion
- Bright deck saloon with shaded, screened wraparound windows
- Clean, ABYC-aware wiring and logically arranged, clearly labeled plumbing
- Excellent engine access through the movable companionway steps and lift-up vanity
- Easy handling, with lines led to cabin-top winches and the traveler mounted on a cockpit arch
Cons
- Swim-platform hatch hinges and fasteners are lightly built
- In-mast furling requires continuous outhaul tension to avoid jams
- Swept-back spreaders demand vigilant downwind mainsail trim
- Exhaust hose rubbed against the aft bulkhead during testing
