Hunter 426 DS Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Hunter 426 DS means looking at Glenn Henderson's deck-saloon cruiser from the 2003-era Hunter range: a 42-foot sloop with the raised, windowed trunk and the B&R rig that sets it apart from the aft-cockpit sister model. On the used side you'll find boats whose appeal rests on voluminous accommodation and easy handling rather than spartan offshore pedigree, and the typical examples reflect a cruising-ready specification rather than a bare bones one.
Layouts on the Used Market
The DS layout centers on a deck saloon with large windows fitted with sliding shades and screens, a U-shaped dinette around a glossy table that drops to a double berth, and a standard pivot TV on the starboard bulkhead. A practical L-shaped galley with Corian counters and under-counter stainless fridge-freezer serves the main cabin, while forward a V-berth with private head and a Pullman option with port-side double berth cover the owner's choices. Aft, the queen innerspring berth sits athwartships with a vanity and short couch, and the passageway head with stall shower serves both cabins. A locker by the aft couch can take an optional washer-dryer. The cockpit is wide with a centerline table and no cleats, keeping seating clear.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples commonly carry an autopilot, chartplotter, furling main, bimini, inverter, air conditioning, dinghy davits, radar, bow thruster, electric winches, and dodger as standard-fitted cruising gear. Heating is often seen, while solar, hot water, a swim platform, and a cockpit shower turn up as occasional owner additions. For a buyer, the power-and-energy cluster—inverter, autopilot, bow thruster, electric winches—determines how comfortably the boat runs at anchor and under short crew, while the canvas-and-handling cluster—furling main, bimini, dodger—shapes daily livability in sun and rain. Radar and chartplotter are the navigation baseline; air conditioning and dinghy davits signal a warm-water cruising intent.
What to Inspect
Two construction details deserve a close look. The swim-platform hatches sit about 32 inches above the waterline and drain into the main bilge; Hunter states they are watertight closed, but the small hinges and fasteners on the fiberglass lids could be beefier, so check for stress or water staining. Also listen for an exhaust hose rubbing the aft bulkhead where secured, a squeak noted on the test boat that hints at tight component routing. The in-mast furling should be cycled with outhaul tension maintained to confirm no jam, and the emergency tiller's loose slotted shaft at the fiberglass rudderstock head is worth verifying.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats turn up in the United States, Greece, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. For a buyer, the checklist is simple: confirm the swim-platform hatch hardware is sound and watertight, verify exhaust-hose clearance at the aft bulkhead, cycle the in-mast furling under tension, and review the arch-traveler rig and accessible Yanmar for service history. A well-kept 426 DS offers a bright, roomy cruiser with clean systems access and a forgiving rig.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 426 DS. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 11 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $138,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $149,868 | +8.6% |
| Nov 25 | 2 | $149,000 | -0.6% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $163,139 | +9.5% |
| Jan 26 | 3 | $145,000 | -11.1% |
| Feb 26 | 3 | $137,000 | -5.5% |
| Mar 26 | 2 | $134,995 | -1.5% |
| Apr 26 | 5 | $137,000 | +1.5% |
| May 26 | 5 | $129,999 | -5.1% |
| Jun 26 | 5 | $153,000 | +17.7% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $163,559 | +6.9% |
Where they're listed
Hunter 426 DS listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 19 (73.1%), followed by Greece and Saint Lucia.
Country view
26 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $145,000 | 19 | 4 | 73.1% |
| Greece | $163,139 | 3 | 1 | 11.5% |
| Saint Lucia | $134,995 | 3 | 0 | 11.5% |
| Grenada | $129,000 | 1 | 0 | 3.8% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
11 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagoon 46 | 45.9' | $ 757,430 | 552 | 130 |
| Bavaria Yachts 46 Cruiser | 46.58' | $ 170,030 | 364 | 88 |
| Beneteau Oceanis Oceanis 46 | 47.24' | $ 183,519 | 131 | 20 |
| Jeanneau Sun Sun Odyssey 42 DS | 42.42' | $ 157,017 | 96 | 15 |
| Sabre Yachts 426 | 42.5' | $ 279,900 | 33 | 12 |
| Hunter 45 DS | 43.21' | $ 199,000 | 31 | 7 |
| Hunter Marine 426 DSYou are here | — | $ 144,900 | 27 | 6 |
| Moody 45 DS | 45.01' | $ 537,984 | 17 | 6 |
| Catalina 426 | 43.5' | $ 539,000 | 9 | 1 |
| Hunter 44 DS | 43.21' | $ 127,500 | 8 | 1 |
| ETAP 46 DS | 47.44' | $ 244,126 | 8 | 2 |