Design and Construction
The 707 is a light, stiff structure built from a hybrid of high-quality polyester resin, glass and aramid (Kevlar) reinforcements, with solid construction that testers found durable even in a hard-used five-month demonstrator. David Thomas put a chine in the aft sections so the hull could carry a flat planing surface without adding unwanted volume higher up, and the result is a pretty wide boat whose basic stability is high — each additional crew stepping aboard heels her less than you would expect. Below the hull hangs a fixed cast iron keel with a relatively slender foil suspending a modest bulb; she lacks the advantages of a lifting fin, but she gains the improved structural integrity of a fixed keel and avoids the maintenance headaches that lifting mechanisms bring. Down below, the interior is built from Hunter's proven bonded-in floors with substantial plywood bulkheads and bunk fronts, a combination that keeps the price down and looked well up to the job to surveyors.
Rig and Handling
The fractional-sloop rig is built to stay put: long, highly-swept spreaders hold the mast firm, and the whole boat was described by the test team as bulletproof in that regard. The Mylar structure of the Sobstad sails locks in shape so well that the outhaul, cunningham and kicker matter less than they would on a soft Dacron rig. On the water, the helm is well balanced with just enough positive feedback, though the rudder can load up on a tight reach. The small keel area drew no noticeable upwind penalty, but care is needed easing out of a tack to hold top speed. Downwind in a breeze the flat stern sections shine, giving an almost seamless shift from displacement to planing, and running square is straightforward on a symmetrical spinnaker and conventional pole; in restricted waters that symmetric rig can leave asymmetrically rigged rivals behind. One real limit is the missing backstay — when beating hard it stopped the mast from being bent to flatten the main, and testers felt it hurt forestay tension and pointing, an issue in handicap fleets even if the one-design Solent crowds never noticed. Early rigs had a couple of fitting problems, since modified.
Accommodations
Almost all the deck aft of the mast is cockpit, and the layout proved almost faultless with every control falling easily to hand. Stepping aboard, the boat feels much larger than her length, and four, five or even more crew can sail her without it becoming an unbearable crush; the forward hand need not scramble onto the coach roof. The interior itself is functional rather than beautiful — stark, open and purpose-built, which is exactly what keeps cost and weight in check for a racing-focused weekender.
Known Issues
The absent backstay is the headline caveat: it limits mainsail flattening upwind and, in the view of the test sailors, degraded forestay tension and the ability to point, a genuine concern outside the big one-design fleets. Early boats had a few rig fittings that gave trouble, but those have been modified. A small practical gap noted by testers was the lack of cleats to keep spinnaker sheets from trailing in the water upwind — a minor add that would nudge the boat toward perfection.
Refits and Ownership
Before the first hull was delivered, an owners' association formed and successfully asked Hunter for 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 a neat piece of the brief: the engine and its bracket stow below the cockpit floor while racing, the transition to motoring is easy and safe, and sculpted forecockpit foot-chocks let the locker cover seat snugly over them. Low price underwrote her reputation from the start, and the active association and national fleets make ownership a supported proposition.
The Verdict
The Hunter 707 is a brilliantly targeted design that delivers performance once reserved for boats several feet longer, in a bulletproof, simple package the whole fleet can own cheaply. She is no Grand Prix boat, but as a solid, fun, easy-to-sail club racer she has few peers in her size band.
Pros
- High basic stability and roomy cockpit for her length
- Bulletproof rig and durable hybrid Kevlar-reinforced construction
- Fixed keel avoids lifting-gear maintenance; quality Harken/Spinlock deck gear as standard
- Symmetrical spinnaker rig competitive in restricted waters
Cons
- No backstay limits upwind main flattening, forestay tension and pointing
- Stark interior and early rig fitting fixes required
- Small keel and flat stern demand careful light-air trim to avoid drag
