Construction and Structural Integrity
The 50 CC is built with a solid hand-laid fiberglass hull and vinylester resin throughout, with Kevlar reinforcement running from the stem through the keel area — the zone most likely to take an impact. Hunter assembles the interior in prefabricated modules that are dropped into the structural grid before the deck is bonded on; each module is then glued and tabbed to both hull and deck, creating a single rigid structure rather than an interior that floats independently inside the shell. The hull-to-deck joint flange turns outward, is both screwed and bedded in 3M 5200, and is capped with a heavy-duty rubrail — a straightforward approach that eliminates the chronic leak paths found where builders rely on mechanical fasteners alone.
Rig and Sail Handling
Hunter fitted the 50 CC with a B&R rig built by Seldén that eliminates the need for a backstay entirely, simplifying the standing rigging and removing one more adjustment variable for shorthanded crews. Sails are supplied by Doyle, winches by Lewmar, and the trademark mainsheet arch keeps the traveler off the cockpit sole — a genuine quality-of-life improvement on a boat this size. With 1,131 square feet of working sail area and a displacement-to-length ratio sitting near 196, the boat is not a flyer; it is a heavy, stable cruiser that prioritizes control over pace. In a light-air demonstration, Hunter's chief tester brought a spinnaker, which the boat carried easily, suggesting the sail plan rewards downwind additions for passages where time matters.
Deck Layout and Cockpit
The cockpit seats are deep and long enough to stretch out on, which matters when crew are standing watch for hours. Hunter also built what the design team calls an admiral's seat into the stainless stern surround — a double seat with an integrated tabletop that replaces the conventional stern seats found on most cruising boats of this era. Multiple deck lockers are sized to swallow fenders and docklines without compromise, and the builder made specific provision for a liferaft — a detail that offshore sailors notice and appreciate immediately. The seatbacks in the cockpit are on the low side; crews who intend extended offshore passages may want to evaluate custom backrests or cushion solutions.
Accommodations
Hunter has long been associated with interior volume, and the 50 CC makes that reputation literal. The aft owner's cabin is built around a fully walk-around bed with a walk-in closet, a contoured recliner, and built-in drawers — a layout that genuinely functions as a private stateroom rather than a slightly enlarged aft berth. A flip-up berth base conceals a full-size tub with water jets, an unusual feature for a production sailing yacht and one that generated significant discussion when the boat launched. The slightly raised saloon benefits from large fixed windows and multiple opening ports and hatches; headroom reaches 6'8". The galley includes high fiddles, solid handholds, and generous stowage — features that offshore cooks will use constantly. The nav station is full-size and forward-facing. Companionway stairs on early hulls were steep and somewhat awkward; Hunter addressed this before production boats shipped, replacing them with wide, straight steps with handholds and large non-skid treads.
Known Issues and Considerations
The companionway configuration drew early criticism — the curved stairs seen on the first hull were replaced, which means buyers evaluating very early examples should verify which configuration is fitted. Cockpit seatbacks are a bit low by the assessment of reviewers who sailed the boat at launch, a subjective complaint that nonetheless matters on long passages. The center-cockpit layout introduces steps between the various sections of the accommodation — saloon, galley, forward cabin, aft cabin — which some sailors find ergonomically awkward below, particularly underway in a seaway.
The Verdict
The Hunter 50 CC is a purpose-built liveaboard cruiser that takes comfort seriously without abandoning a functional offshore sailing platform. The Seldén B&R rig, Doyle sails, and Lewmar winches represent a competent, matched package. The structural approach — vinylester resin, Kevlar reinforcement, module-drop-in interior — is honest production-boat engineering. The boat won Sailing World's Best Boats award for excellence in accommodation, and the interior genuinely earns that recognition. Where it makes compromises, it makes them knowingly: this is not a lightweight performance cruiser, and anyone approaching it as one will be disappointed.
Pros
- Spacious, purpose-designed liveaboard accommodations with genuine owner's stateroom
- Backstay-free B&R rig simplifies handling for shorthanded crews
- Kevlar-reinforced keel and stem zone adds offshore impact resistance
- Dedicated liferaft provision and ample deck stowage
- Full-size, forward-facing nav station suitable for offshore passages
- Walk-around aft berth with walk-in storage — rare at this length in production boats
Cons
- Cockpit seatbacks are low for extended offshore watches
- Multi-level accommodation layout requires navigating steps below in a seaway
- Heavy displacement and moderate sail area mean the boat performs best as a passagemaker, not a coastal racer
- Early hulls had awkward companionway stairs — verify configuration on pre-production examples
