Hunter conceived the 456 for comfortable coastal and offshore living rather than racing. It measures just over 46 feet overall, with a 14-foot beam and a displacement of about 26,200 pounds. Roughly 9,700 pounds of lead ballast accounts for nearly 37 percent of that displacement.
Design and Construction
The 456 is a fiberglass monohull with a raked stem and a walk-through reverse transom, complete with a swimming platform and folding ladder. The hull is solid fiberglass below the waterline, with Kevlar reinforcement in the bow for impact resistance, while the sections above use balsa-core sandwich construction.
Hunter Marine’s standard hull-to-deck joint of the period used an outward-facing flange, sealed with adhesive and through-bolted around the perimeter. The boat has a center cockpit, an internally mounted spade-type rudder with wheel steering, and a fixed fin keel as standard.
Its lead ballast ratio of nearly 37 percent places the 456 among the stiffer cruisers of its size and contributes to predictable behavior in a seaway.
Rig and Sail Handling
The 456 carries a B&R-rigged masthead sloop, using a Bermuda rig. Its standard factory sail plan included a 110 percent roller-furling genoa.
Deck equipment included anodized spars and three two-speed, self-tailing winches: one for rigging and two for the jib sheets. An electric self-tailing halyard winch was also standard. Factory options included in-mast mainsail furling and an asymmetrical spinnaker with its rigging.
Accommodations
Hunter fitted the 456 for liveaboard use from the factory. Enclosed staterooms lie forward and aft, while two separate heads each have a shower. The aft head also includes a bathtub. A dinette table converts into a berth, adding sleeping capacity beyond the dedicated cabins. A double aft cabin was a factory option for those wanting more berth separation.
The center-cockpit arrangement allows the aft cabin to be both full-standing and removed from the working foredeck. Residential touches include a sealed teak-and-holly cabin sole, a microwave oven, dual sinks, and a three-burner gimbaled liquid petroleum gas stove with an oven. The provisioning package even included bedding and a complete set of kitchen dishes for six.
Factory Equipment and Options
The standard equipment list extended well beyond the boat’s structure and sail controls. Electronics included a marine VHF radio, knotmeter, depth sounder, and an AM/FM radio and CD player connected to eight speakers.
The boat also left the factory with dual offset anchor rollers, an integral solar panel, and a hot-and-cold-water shower at the transom. Safety equipment included a fog bell and six life jackets.
Available factory options included air conditioning, a clothing washer and drier, GPS, a Bimini top, in-mast mainsail furling, and an asymmetrical spinnaker. The list reflects Hunter’s aim to provide couples or small families with a turnkey cruising boat that did not require immediate upgrades.
Verdict
The Hunter 456 is a purpose-built center-cockpit cruiser whose factory specification reads much like a liveaboard checklist. Its lead-ballast stiffness suits a comfort-oriented owner, while the walk-through transom, swimming platform, and folding ladder remain genuine assets at anchor. The main considerations are inherent in the center-cockpit concept and the chosen rig.
Pros
- Stiff, predictable handling from a nearly 37-percent lead-ballast ratio
- Turnkey liveaboard interior with private cabins, two enclosed heads, and an aft bathtub
- Walk-through reverse transom with swimming platform and folding ladder
- Comprehensive factory equipment, including an integral solar panel and electric halyard winch
Cons
- B&R rig with swept spreaders departs from a conventional backstayed mast
- Relies on the factory-standard genoa and large mainsail for power distribution
