Hunter 50 CC Sailboats for Sale

The construction approach is worth understanding from the outset. Hunter built the hull in solid hand-laid fiberglass with vinylester resin, and reinforced the stem-to-keel area with Kevlar for impact resistance. The interior modules were glued and tabbed to both hull and deck before the two halves were joined, creating a rigid integrated structure. The hull-to-deck joint is both screwed and bonded with 3M 5200, then covered with a heavy rubrail — a detail that matters when evaluating used examples, because that joint is a common water-ingress point on lesser builds. The wing keel configuration, available in shoal and deep variants, shapes both docking convenience and windward performance, and knowing which keel your target boat carries matters for the waters where you intend to sail it.

Layouts on the Used Market

The 50 CC came to market with a consistent layout philosophy centered on the center-cockpit configuration that gives the model its name. The aft stateroom — genuinely deserving that word — features a fully walk-around berth, a walk-in hanging locker, and Hunter's signature built-in hot tub (a Jacuzzi-style installation that doubles as a tub when the berth platform lifts). The forward cabin is a proper double as well, with the raised saloon amidships offering comfortable dining and settee berths. Used examples hold closely to this arrangement; Hunter did not meaningfully vary the internal layout across the production run. The nav station is forward-facing and full-size, which cruising sailors appreciate for extended offshore work. The galley is positioned to benefit from the structural stability of the center-cockpit arrangement and is fitted with high fiddles and dedicated offshore handhold points. Buyers should expect a consistent floorplan across the fleet.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used Hunter 50 CCs consistently arrive on the market well equipped, reflecting the liveaboard and bluewater intentions of their owners. Electric winches are commonly fitted, as is air conditioning — a practical necessity given the boat's popularity in Florida, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. A dodger, bimini, and chartplotter are almost universal. Bow thrusters appear frequently, a sensible addition given the boat's displacement and center-cockpit handling characteristics at the dock. Inverters are a standard find, and satellite internet installations are common on boats marketed for bluewater use.

Furling mainsails are often seen in place of the factory slab-reefing arrangement, reflecting owner preference for short-handed convenience. Hardtop bimini conversions are a common owner upgrade, replacing or supplementing the soft bimini with a fixed GRP structure that better integrates solar panels and provides all-weather cockpit protection. Hot water systems are standard. Radar and autopilot are often present, as is a life raft.

Among owner upgrades that reflect more committed cruising preparation, watermakers appear with meaningful frequency. Solar panels — often paired with the hardtop upgrade — and lithium battery banks represent a more recent wave of upgrades on boats that have been actively voyaged. Washing machines, dinghy davits, and heating systems appear on boats whose owners have committed to extended liveaboard passages. Spinnaker and asymmetric spinnaker setups are a sometimes-seen addition on boats owned by performance-minded cruisers or those who have completed longer offshore runs. AIS transponders are often fitted.

What to Inspect

The Hunter 50 CC's construction quality is generally solid, but any used example deserves careful scrutiny in areas specific to the design. The B&R rig, built by Seldén, eliminates the need for a backstay, which simplifies sailing but places different loads on the mast partners and spreader chainplates than a conventional fractional or masthead setup; inspect the mast base and partner area carefully for any signs of flexing, cracking gelcoat, or water tracking. Rigging service history on a backstay-free B&R rig is worth documenting.

The hull-to-deck joint should be examined for any signs of weeping or staining, particularly at the rubrail, which can conceal early-stage separation or sealant failure along the bonded flange. Deck hardware bedding — especially on a boat that has lived aboard or completed offshore passages — deserves close attention; the multiple hatches and opening ports that make the interior so airy can become water-entry points if their sealant and hardware have not been maintained. Check all hatches and ports for smooth operation and dry surrounds.

The companionway area and wet locker under the steps should be inspected for water intrusion; these are high-traffic zones that accumulate damage over time. The curved stair design was revised early in production to straight wide steps with handholds — confirm which version your boat has and check tread condition and the integrity of the adjacent structural cabinetry.

The Yanmar diesel, typically the 75-horsepower unit, is a known-reliable platform, but service records matter especially on a boat of this displacement in liveaboard use. Check impeller history, heat exchanger condition, and transmission fluid. The electrical systems on heavily upgraded boats — particularly those with lithium conversions, inverter-charger installations, or solar arrays added by previous owners — should be reviewed by a qualified marine electrician to confirm that the battery management systems and charging architectures are properly integrated.

The hot tub installation is a functional plumbing system embedded beneath the aft berth; confirm that it is operational, that the plumbing has no slow weeps, and that the pump is in working order. It is a desirable feature but also a potential maintenance item that some brokers may understate.

Finally, assess the bottom and keel-to-hull connection carefully. The wing keel configuration distributes ballast well, but the joint should be probed for any signs of voiding, rust bleeding, or separation, particularly on boats that have grounded or dried out.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Hunter 50 CC finds a ready used market primarily in the United States — particularly Florida and the Mid-Atlantic coast — as well as across the Mediterranean, with examples appearing in Spain and other European brokerage centers. The boat also circulates in Caribbean cruising grounds and occasionally surfaces in Southeast Asian markets, a reflection of its voyaging pedigree. Availability is reasonably good given the model's production run, and the combination of American construction, Yanmar power, and Seldén rig means that parts and service knowledge are accessible in most major sailing regions.

For buyers, the 50 CC represents a serious liveaboard cruiser that rewards careful systems inspection over cosmetic evaluation. The platform is sound; what differentiates good examples from problematic ones is maintenance discipline on the electrical, plumbing, and rig fronts.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Confirm keel variant (shoal or deep) and inspect the keel-to-hull joint for separation or rust weeping
• Survey the hull-to-deck joint and rubrail for sealant integrity
• Inspect mast partners, spreader bases, and standing rigging for B&R rig fatigue
• Examine all hatches, ports, and deck hardware bedding for water intrusion
• Review engine service records: impeller, heat exchanger, transmission fluid, hours
• Audit electrical systems, especially on boats with retrofitted lithium banks or inverter upgrades
• Test the hot tub installation and inspect its plumbing for weeps
• Confirm autopilot, bow thruster, and watermaker (if present) are operational
• Obtain any offshore passage documentation to understand how hard the boat has been sailed
• Budget for professional rigging inspection before extended bluewater use