July 2006

New boat: Hunter 49

Boatbuilders have been trending toward larger boats and Hunter is no exception with the addition of its new flagship 49. The boat replaces the Hunter 46, of which 250 were built since its 1997 debut. The 49 offers a lot of the same trademark styling of Hunter but in a much larger package that allows for a lot more room to spread out.

At just an inch shy of 50 feet, the new Hunter is a big boat. Couple that with a 14-foot, 5-inch beam and this is a lot of boat to handle. However the company says it has maintained its trademark singlehanded capability even on this large boat. The mainsheet traveler arch is the same as that found on other Hunters. The rest of the sailplan is rounded out by a full-batten mainsail with a large roach, a double-ended mainsheet that can be trimmed from the cockpit or companionway, and a choice of a self-tacking jib or self-tacking staysail with an overlapping jib.

Of course in a boat this big, it’s the interior where most of the design effort has been placed. A forward master cabin with a queen-size bed is standard, with two aft cabins. The configuration can be changed to allow for four cabins if desired. The galley comes with a front-loading refrigerator and freezer. Wine chillers, ice makers and additional refrigerator/freezer space is optional. A microwave, coffee pot, dish drying rack, three-burner stove and oven and Corian countertops are all standard.

The nav station is in the saloon and the guest head is aft. Truly a sign of luxury, the boat comes standard with a 23-inch flat panel television and Bose surround sound system. The dining table converts to a double bunk, all in a saloon that has 6 feet, 9 inches of headroom.

Of course all that luxury gets heavy, so the Hunter 49 has a 75-horsepower Yanmar and three-blade prop to push it along. Those looking for more power can upgrade to the 100-horsepower engine.