More than 120 have been built. The 707 has since established herself as a popular club-racing sportsboat, with large fleets in the Solent, Hamble, Burnham and Scotland. Area championships across the UK help sustain ownership around the country.
Design and Construction
The 707 is a light, stiff structure built from high-quality polyester resin and glass, with aramid (Kevlar) reinforcement. Testers found the solid construction durable even on a demonstrator that had been used hard for five months.
David Thomas added a chine to the aft sections, allowing the hull to carry a flat planing surface without unwanted volume higher up. The result is a notably wide boat with high basic stability: each additional crew member stepping aboard heels her less than you might expect.
Below the hull is a fixed cast iron keel with a relatively slender foil suspending a modest bulb. It lacks the advantages of a lifting fin, but gains the structural integrity of a fixed keel and avoids the maintenance problems associated with lifting mechanisms.
Inside, Hunter used its proven bonded-in floors, along with substantial plywood bulkheads and bunk fronts. The combination keeps the price down and, to surveyors, looked well up to the job.
Rig and Handling
The fractional-sloop rig is designed to stay put. Long, highly swept spreaders hold the mast firm, and the test team described the whole arrangement as bulletproof. The Mylar structure of the Sobstad sails holds its shape so well that the outhaul, Cunningham and kicker matter less than they would with a soft Dacron rig.
On the water, the helm is well balanced and gives just enough positive feedback, although the rudder can load up on a tight reach. Testers noticed no upwind penalty from the small keel area, but easing out of a tack requires care to maintain top speed.
In a downwind breeze, the flat stern sections come into their own. The boat moves almost seamlessly from displacement sailing to planing. Running square is straightforward with the symmetrical spinnaker and conventional pole, and in restricted waters this rig can leave asymmetrically rigged rivals behind.
The lack of a backstay is a genuine limitation. When beating hard, it stopped the mast from being bent to flatten the main. Testers also felt that it hurt forestay tension and pointing ability. That matters in handicap fleets, even if the issue went unnoticed in the large one-design Solent fleets. Early rigs also had a couple of fitting problems, since modified.
Cockpit and Accommodation
Almost all the deck area aft of the mast is cockpit. The layout proved nearly faultless, with every control falling easily to hand. When stepping aboard, the boat feels much larger than her length suggests. Four, five or even more crew can sail her without the cockpit becoming unbearably crowded, and the forward hand doesn’t need to scramble onto the coachroof.
The interior is functional rather than beautiful: stark, open and purpose-built. That approach keeps both cost and weight in check on a racing-focused weekender.
Equipment and Practical Details
Before the first hull was delivered, an owners’ association had already formed. It successfully asked Hunter to provide a high-quality deck-gear package using Harken and Spinlock fittings, which the builder supplied. Testers saw no need for expensive deck upgrades.
The outboard well is another neat part of the design. While racing, the engine and its bracket stow below the cockpit floor. Changing over to motoring is easy and safe, while sculpted forecockpit foot-chocks let the locker cover fit snugly over them.
One small omission noted by testers was the lack of cleats to prevent the spinnaker sheets from trailing in the water upwind. They regarded this as a minor addition that would bring the boat closer to perfection.
Ownership
A low price supported the 707’s reputation from the beginning. The active owners’ association, large national fleets and area championships continue to make ownership a supported proposition.
The Verdict
The Hunter 707 is a brilliantly targeted design. She delivers performance once reserved for boats several feet longer in a simple, bulletproof package that an entire fleet can own cheaply. She’s no Grand Prix boat, but as a solid, fun and easy-to-sail club racer, she has few peers in her size range.
Pros
- High basic stability and a roomy cockpit for her length
- Bulletproof rig and durable hybrid construction with Kevlar reinforcement
- Fixed keel avoids lifting-gear maintenance
- Quality Harken and Spinlock deck gear supplied as standard
- Symmetrical spinnaker rig is competitive in restricted waters
Cons
- No backstay, limiting upwind mainsail flattening, forestay tension and pointing
- Stark interior
- Early rig fittings required modification
- Small keel and flat stern demand careful light-air trim to avoid drag
