Hunter 490 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Hunter 490 means chasing a small, distinctive 1970s lifting-keel cruiser rather than a mainstream production boat. Designed by Oliver Lee and built by Hunter Boats at Rochford, Essex, she is a 16-footer with a documented claim of roughly 80 built, though observers have recorded sail numbers only as high as 41 — so patience, not a quick purchase, is the realistic posture for a buyer.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 490’s footprint is fixed by her 4.9-meter length and 2.01-meter beam, with berths for two or three below. The lifting keel occupies cabin floor space, so interior arrangements are uniform across the class: a compact cuddy for a couple and a third occasional berth, suited to estuary weekends rather than liveaboard cruising. Buyers should expect the same minimal footprint on every example and judge condition, not layout variation.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The market record for this model carries no commonly fitted or often-seen factory equipment tiers, so buyers should treat any added equipment as an individual owner’s choice rather than a class standard. Given the boat’s size and 1,000-pound displacement, the meaningful questions are whether the lifting-keel gear and basic systems are present and serviceable — not whether she carries offshore electronics.
What to Inspect
The inspection should center on the specifics that any small lifting-keel boat demands: the lifting keel mechanism is the one moving structural element unique to this design and warrants close attention for wear or water ingress at full 3.25-foot draft, the solid-fiberglass hull below the waterline, and the 300-pound iron ballast for corrosion.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical markets for the Hunter 490 are the United Kingdom and Netherlands, where shallow tidal waters suit her draft range. For a buyer, the takeaway is straightforward: confirm the keel lift works, verify the iron ballast and solid hull are sound, and accept the two-to-three-berth cabin as the whole living space. She is a quick, safe small cruiser with a racing-designer’s pedigree — a niche find, not a fleet boat.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 490. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $1,567 | — |