Design and Construction
At nearly fifty feet on deck with a 14-foot, 9-inch beam, the 49 is unquestionably a wide boat, though reviewers noted it carries its volume without looking ungainly. The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass below the waterline and end-grain balsa cored above, with the bow reinforced with Kevlar. The deck is also balsa-cored, with solid-aluminum plates backing all hardware mounting points. The hull-to-deck joint is formed by two outward-turning flanges, both bolted and bonded with 5200 adhesive — a belt-and-suspenders approach to one of production sailboats' most common failure points. The keel is lead, and all through-hulls are bronze. Two keel options were offered: a shoal draft of 5 feet 6 inches and a deep draft of 7 feet, with ballast varying slightly between configurations.
One genuinely surprising structural feature is the bilge. Lifting the floorboards reveals an enormous deep sump with centrally mounted through-hulls — a welcome departure from the ultra-shallow sumps that became fashionable on many production cruisers. The engine and generator are mounted on centerline in the lowest part of the boat, keeping heavy weight where it contributes to stability rather than compromising it.
Rig and Offshore Handling
The standard rig is a B&R configuration with an in-mast furling main and a roller-furling jib. On a 180-mile offshore passage from St. Augustine to Charleston, the 49 showed genuine upwind ability in light air: in 8 to 12 knots over flat water, the boat logged 7 knots of boatspeed through 80-degree tacks. Once the sails were trimmed, she tracked well and held consistent speed, though she needed time to accelerate out of tacks.
Off the wind in the high twenties, the 49 rewarded her crew more. Broad- and beam-reaching in winds in the high 20s, speeds ran consistently in the 8-to-9-knot range and occasionally topped 10 knots. The boat was well behaved as conditions built — the cockpit stayed dry, and she never came close to rounding up. When the reefs went in on the in-mast main, the boat accepted them without protest.
Under power, a 75-horsepower Yanmar pushes the 49 to 8 knots of boatspeed at 2,500 rpm. The 150-gallon fuel capacity gives the 49 meaningful range for coastal and offshore passaging. A standard bow thruster makes close-quarters maneuvering manageable for a shorthanded crew.
Cockpit and Sail Handling
The cockpit is designed with singlehanded operation in mind. Sheet leads at the helm station allow for easy singlehanded sail trim, and a shallow well behind each wheel gives a standing helmsman useful bracing points as the boat heels. The twin-wheel layout is a Hunter signature at this size, freeing the companionway ladder and providing clear sightlines forward. The arch-mounted traveler system is standard equipment, keeping the mainsheet system out of the cockpit.
One persistent complaint from the first-generation test was steering that felt responsive but stiff, attributed at the time to the Lewmar Mamba steering system needing fine-tuning rather than any fundamental design flaw. Buyers should verify that boats they consider have had the steering system properly attended to.
Accommodations
Below, the 49 delivers on its flagship billing. The saloon is airy enough to seat eight for dinner, with two excellent seaberths, 6-foot-9-inch headroom, and numerous fixed ports for natural light. Handholds are plentiful — two sturdy posts near the companionway and grabrails below the ports — though testers noted the grabrails had some give when really loaded, and the companionway step lacks adequate handholds.
The forward master cabin has excellent headroom, a walk-around double bunk, two hanging lockers, several cabinets, two opening hatches, and an ensuite head with a separate shower. Two identical guest cabins aft accommodate two couples, though they are considerably tighter than the master. The galley is fitted with four separate refrigeration units, Corian countertops, and glass-paneled cabinet doors with LED cabinet lighting. A dedicated nav station with a good-size table and a bucket seat rounds out the below-decks layout.
The electrical system leans heavily on creature comforts: flat-screen televisions in both the saloon and master cabin, Bose surround sound, and a generator are all part of the package. The electrical system includes three 8D batteries totaling 600 amp-hours plus a separate starting battery and a 100-amp battery charger.
Known Issues and Weak Points
Several specific items surfaced during first-build evaluation. The stiff steering was flagged as the most notable handling issue, even if it was chalked up to tuning rather than engineering. The grabrails in the saloon had noticeable flex under load — not reassuring in a seaway for a boat positioned as an offshore cruiser. The companionway lacked adequate handholds on the first step. An ornamental light strip built into the vinyl headliner near the coachroof drew criticism for being both a tempting grab point and entirely unsuitable as one — a safety detail that deserves attention on any used example. Ventilation in the saloon was also flagged as limited given the boat's volume.
The Verdict
The Hunter 49 is a serious offshore cruiser that can genuinely surprise sailors who approach it as a marina queen. Its passage-making credentials were tested early and held up: a fifty-foot boat that stays dry, behaves when reefed, and pushes double-digit reaching speeds in a breeze earns respect. The deep bilge sump, centrally located ballast, and bronze through-hulls reflect sound engineering priorities that aren't always found at this price point in the production market. Buyers should go in clear-eyed about the steering, the flex in the saloon handholds, and the electrical appetite of a boat built around this level of onboard comfort.
Pros
- Deep bilge sump with centrally mounted through-hulls
- Engine and generator low and on centerline for stability
- Strong offshore passage-making ability, including double-digit reaching speeds
- Capable upwind performance in light air
- Bow thruster standard; large fuel and water tankage
- Serious live-aboard accommodation with four refrigeration units and ensuite master head
Cons
- Steering can feel stiff; early examples needed Lewmar Mamba tuning
- Saloon grabrails flex under load — a safety concern offshore
- Companionway lacks adequate handholds on the first step
- Ornamental headliner lighting near the companionway is dangerously grab-able
- In-mast furling main limits sail shape options compared to a slab-reef setup
- High electrical load from onboard systems demands attentive battery and charging management
