See full version: Hunter 29. 5, offshore capacity
On a blue water boat you will find a design that accommodates the open ocean conditions by design. A place to start is to understand the boats that are typically founded in open ocean cruising. Bluewaterboats.org - Sailboat reviews for offshore sailing
The design of the Hunter 29.5 was not as an off shore boat. Sail boat data provides some numbers that help to examine the boat design.
Consideration for an off shore boat has many aspects. You mention "Well prepared". Yes you can do things internally like make sure you have enough water and food storage. What is inherent in the boat is the design. [links]
The Hunter 29.5 has the following numbers.
Comfort Ratio: 18.23
Capsize Screening Formula: 2.15
You, the sailor, are the determining factor. If you can handle the quick motion of the Hunter and are willing to take on the adventure, you may be able to sail her across an open passage. But you will need to be up day and night to manage the helm and modify the rig to handle the conditions presented in open ocean. At least more than is required on a blue water designed boat.
I image that the beaching legs from another boat could be added to the hull with some work. I know fir instance that they are available for my First 260 as a spare part.
This well-maintained cruiser/racer handles easily on the water while providing lots of creature comforts for entertaining and overnight stays. She has seen major renovations inside and out since 2010, including a new Doyle Stackpack mainsail and roller furling jib, new white leatherette upholstery in the main salon, new bunks in the aft berth and V-berth, a new 12V fridge, a new 15,000 BTU AC/heat pump, plus a TV, marine antenna and DVD player. We also have an optional twin-axle trailer available for an additional $2,495.
[links]
This could have been a nice, well-made boat. Parts of it are, but the builder didn't have his priorities straight. If all you're going to do is sail around the pond on balmy days, its probably fine for that. A serious deep water sailor she's not. This is a price boat, and there's altogether too much that you don't get for what you don't pay, for any serious sailor to take the Hunter 28 seriously. There's a good reason why first impressions should be taken seriously, too. What you don't pay for up front will surely be heavily loaded on the back end. Count on it.
A winged, bulbous keel? Ought to be fun trying to get unstuck when you run aground in this one. Especially in mud. The bottom of the thing is shaped like a giant suction cup. A winged keel made of cast lead? Wow, what a great idea! Oh, well, maybe you'll have fun hammering it back in shape every time you run aground. Does that oddly shaped hunk of lead reduce resistance and makes it go faster, too? Not likely. But it certainly had the effect of making her unusually tender. You notice that the moment you step aboard. Heading around a sharp bend in the river under power, the boat heeled over at least 20 degrees, which I thought was ridiculous. It may stiffen up under sail, but with a complete lack of wind, we didn't get to find out. Fads are cool, until you find out that's all it is. [links]
With the sole angled at 45 degrees and the standup space only 20" wide by 5' long, this is not exactly good design.
The hull-recessed swim platform is a nice feature on larger boats, but this boat is too small for it. Basically it just allows a swimmer to get aboard, but at the considerable expense of interior and cockpit space. Sacrificing two feet of space for a steeply reversing transom on a 28 footer is an unreasonable price to pay for style in our view. One really nice feature was the bow anchor locker which is one of the few that we've seen that is well designed.
Some people don't think that a weak hull on a boat is much to be concerned about. The attitude is that as long as it doesn't fail under normal conditions, then its okay. My view on that is that people who hold that attitude have never been out to sea in a storm. I've sail raced all over North American, and I've seen my share of hull failures, including some that have cost lives. In one case, a knock down with the spinnaker up resulted in the deck pulling right off the hull. In another, the hull side caved in when hit by a wave broadside. And these boats were built far better than the Hunter 28. Of course, many people rationalize by saying that they only go sailing on nice days. Okay, its you're life. But add to this the fact that this very thin bottom was badly blistered and you have plenty of reasons to take a pass on the Hunter 28. [links]
After much haggling we finally got that straightened out, but when you see stuff like that, you don't soon forget. Your opinion of a builder is ever afterward tainted. So we weren't too surprised to see that Hunter had finally got the grid liner right in this 1991 model. While this is unquestionably a low price boat, overall it seemed to be fairly well built and there were no problems with the framing system at all.
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
1996 Wellcraft 29 Scarab This is CLEAN boat. She has new Dart Heads, New Drive, 415hp Merc 502, what else could you want. Her owner takes pride in keeping her in great condition and it shows. Lowered $5000 on 10/09. more
Category High Performance Boats more
2001 Wellcraft Scarab 29' CCF 2001 Wellcraft 29 CCF Take a look at this beauty! This Wellcraft 29 center console fish Scarab is clean and is powered by Suzuki 250 four strokes with only 57 hours. The CCF is based on a go-fast hull bottom so it will run fast and smooth in the seas. The boat has a T-top with electronics box, Bolster styler helm seating with drop out seat bottoms, and console seat. There is a big transom live well, five floor fish boxes and a marine head in the console. The electronics are a Garmin 4210 color 10" GPS, Kenwood stereo with 4 speakers and dash remote, compass, West Marine VHF, Lenco trim tabs. If you run and gun fish or just like to cruise fast this is the one, plus 57 hours on 4 strokes! Trailer is included. The Wellcraft 29 CCF features rugged CCF performance design, a helm and center console designed with fishing needs in mind including full instrumentation, and room for electronics. Owners will also find four insulated fish boxes, a 37-gallon livewell, rod holders, bait preparation area and more [links]