Design and Construction
Hunter were early adopters of unidirectional and woven rovings in a production hull, a choice that helped make the Sonata light yet tough anchor. Thomas worked a pronounced tuck into the hull beneath the cockpit; the geometry keeps her from breaking free of her quarter wave and assists her upwind behavior. The hull itself proved versatile: after serving the Sonata, it was reused for the Duette, Hunter's first twin-fin design, and later for the Horizon 23 in 1990. With an 18-foot waterline and a fractional sloop rig, the Sonata's proportions favored windward performance over outright planing speed.
Rig and Handling
The original rig carried minimal sweep-back on the shrouds, a detail that period observers linked to the occasional mast coming down in heavy weather anchor. Racing owners responded by shifting their masts aft to the maximum class tolerance, effectively producing in-line cap shrouds for more stability. The class rules now permit runners for additional support on breezy downwind legs, a concession that acknowledges the rig's vulnerability without rewriting the boat. Her windward speed impressed testers for a hull with only an 18-foot waterline, and the non-planing form keeps motion predictable for less experienced crews.
Accommodations
Below, the Sonata offers sitting headroom of a comfortable 40 inches over the saloon bunks, with two further 6-foot berths in the forepeak anchor. On most racing versions that forepeak is given over to sail stowage rather than sleeping, a pragmatic trade that reflects the boat's dual nature. The accommodations are compact by any cruising standard, but the berth layout shows a clear intent to give four bodies a place to lie down when the racing is done.
Known Issues
Structurally the Sonata has shown few problems of note beyond the mast-tumble risk already tied to the lightly swept shrouds anchor. The class's own rule changes around runners suggest the rig, not the structure, is the weak point owners watch.
The Verdict
The Hunter Sonata is a small, thoughtful David Thomas design that traded planing excitement for predictable handling and a tough early-composite hull. Its 479-boat run and hull reuse across two sister models speak to a sound platform, while the rig's mast-stability story is the one area a buyer or racer must respect. For a 23-footer of its era, it remains a capable club racer with just enough cabin to qualify as a weekender.
Pros
- Light, tough hull using early unidirectional and woven rovings
- Non-planing form keeps family crews comfortable
- Strong windward performance for an 18-foot waterline
- Versatile hull later used for Duette and Horizon 23
Cons
- Minimal shroud sweep-back linked to occasional mast loss in heavy weather
- Limited sitting headroom and forepeak often sacrificed to sail stowage
