Used Hunter 33 and 36 buying guide: the B&R rig and what to check

Hunters offered big, bright interiors, practical cockpits and modern features at prices that undercut many rivals, and they're common on the used market. The brand later became Marlow-Hunter, so you'll see both names. Hunters get teased at the yacht club bar, but a lot of happy owners cruise them. Judge each one on its rig, deck and engine, not its reputation.

Hunter 33 and 36 at a glance

Is a Hunter right for you?

A good fit if you want a lot of interior space and modern features for the money, you'll cruise coastal waters with a short-handed crew, and you'll take the time to learn how the rig works.

Think twice if you plan offshore passages, you don't want an unfamiliar rig to tune, or you value resale above space.

Understand the B&R rig

Many Hunters use a B&R rig: spreaders swept back about 30 degrees and no backstay, which allows a large-roach mainsail. Reviewers have called it strong and good for short-handed sailing, but trickier for novices to tune, and the swept spreaders can press into the mainsail when sailing downwind.¹² It's not good or bad, just different, and it's worth having a rigger who knows the system.

What to check

The rig

• Standing rigging age and condition; if nobody knows when it was replaced, price a re-rig into your offer
• Spreader roots and tips
• Chainplates, and stains or water marks where they pass through the deck
• A rigger who knows the B&R system going aloft

Mainsail chafe

Look at the mainsail where it touches the swept spreaders downwind. Chafe patches, wear or repairs there are normal to some degree; holes and thin cloth are a cost.

Deck core

Walk the deck and tap around fittings and, if fitted, the arch mounts. See fiberglass boat problems.

The diesel

Ask for the service history: oil and filters, impeller, heat exchanger, exhaust elbow. A diesel run mostly at light load deserves extra questions.³ See our Yanmar diesel guide and boat engine hours.

The saildrive

On models fitted with a saildrive, the rubber diaphragm seal around the leg has a service life set by the maker. Ask when it was last replaced and compare with the maker's interval. Check the leg for corrosion.

Interior leaks

Big windows and hatches mean many seals. Look for water stains and swollen wood below every window and hatch.

Questions to ask the seller

• When was the standing rigging replaced, and by whom?
• Has the mainsail been repaired where it touches the spreaders?
• When was the saildrive diaphragm last replaced? (if fitted)
• How many hours on the diesel, and how has it usually been run?
• Which windows or hatches have leaked?

The full list of sailboat checks, including the keel joint, rudder and sea trial under sail, is in our used sailboat checklist.

Common questions

Are Hunter sailboats good boats?

Many owners cruise them happily. They offer a lot of space and features for the money. As with any used boat, judge the individual boat's rig, deck and engine rather than the brand's reputation.

What is a B&R rig?

A rig with spreaders swept sharply aft and no backstay, used on many Hunters. It allows a large-roach mainsail and is considered good for short-handed sailing, but it needs correct tuning and can chafe the mainsail downwind.¹

Is a Hunter good for offshore sailing?

Most are designed and used as coastal cruisers. If you're planning ocean passages, look at stability ratings and the boat's design category before you buy.