Design and Construction
The Hunter 50 CC measures 49 feet 11 inches overall, with a waterline length of 43 feet 10 inches. In shoal-draft form, it displaces 36,945 pounds and carries 12,500 pounds of lead ballast.
The hull is built of solid hand-laid fiberglass and vinylester resin. From the stem to the keel, the forward section is reinforced with impact-resistant Kevlar. The hull-to-deck joint has an outward-turning flange, screwed and bonded with 3M 5200, then concealed beneath a heavy-duty rubrail.
Rather than constructing the cabin furniture in place, Hunter built the interior in modules. These were lowered onto a structural grid in the hull before the deck went on, then glued and tabbed to both hull and deck. The resulting one-piece structure is stiff and well sealed, and it doesn’t rely on freestanding joinery for its backbone.
Rig, Machinery, and Handling
The boat carries a Seldén-built B&R rig that eliminates the need for a backstay. Hunter’s trademark mainsheet arch keeps the traveler clear of the cockpit, simplifying the working space. Doyle supplied the sails, Lewmar the winches, and a Raymarine electronics package handled navigation.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16 and a displacement-length ratio of 195, the Hunter 50 CC is no featherweight. Its large, heavy hull, however, is substantial enough to stand up to a breeze.
Auxiliary power comes from a 75-horsepower Yanmar driving a conventional shaft. The house electrical system uses three 8D batteries charged by an 80-amp alternator.
Accommodations
The Hunter 50 CC earned a Best Boats award for excellence in accommodation, and its layout makes a strong case for that recognition. The slightly raised saloon feels bright and airy, with large fixed windows and several opening ports and hatches. A full-size, forward-facing nav station serves the offshore navigator, while an easy-access wet locker sits beneath the companionway steps.
The aft stateroom is the centerpiece. It has a fully walk-around bed, a walk-in closet rather than a simple hanging locker, a contoured recliner, and a built-in chest of drawers. The bed lifts to reveal a full-size tub equipped with jets.
The curved companionway stairs fitted to the first hull were replaced by wide, straight steps with handholds and broad antiskid treads. Period testers still found the steps a little steep.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The cockpit seats are deep and long enough for stretching out, although testers noted that the seatbacks were a little low. Instead of conventional stern seats, the Hunter 50 CC has an “admiral’s seat” built into the stainless steelwork around the stern. It seats two and includes a tabletop.
Multiple deck lockers can swallow fenders and docklines, and the boat includes provision for a liferaft. Along with the deep cockpit, these details mark the boat as intended for extended living at anchor as much as passage-making.
Known Issues
Period testing identified two minor ergonomic drawbacks: the companionway steps were somewhat steep, and some sailors may find the cockpit seatbacks too low. Both points applied to the reviewed boat and were noted alongside the otherwise praised accommodation plan. Neither concerned the boat’s structure or systems.
The Verdict
The Hunter 50 CC is a thoughtfully engineered center-cockpit cruiser. Its tabbed modular interior and screwed-and-glued hull-to-deck joint create a genuinely rigid structure. The B&R rig and arch-mounted traveler simplify cockpit workflow, while the aft cabin is exceptional for the class.
This is a heavy boat rather than a lithe one, but that mass allows it to carry its extensive accommodations and stand up to wind.
Pros
- Rigid one-piece structure formed by the tabbed modular interior and outward-flange hull-to-deck joint
- Outstanding aft stateroom with a walk-around berth, walk-in closet, and concealed jet-equipped tub
- B&R rig without a backstay, plus an arch-mounted traveler clear of the cockpit
- Bright, raised saloon with a full forward-facing nav station and wet locker
Cons
- Companionway steps are a little steep
- Cockpit seatbacks are a little low
