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HUNTER 30

HUNTER 30

Hunter Marine🇺🇸· Design: John Cherubini
$15,652 avg$3,500 – $35,000 (29 listings)1973–19831,000 built
$1.5K – $3.9K est. annual maintenance
Offshore CruisermonoMasthead SloopFin

Specifications

Hull

LOA30.4 ft
LWL25.75 ft
Beam10.17 ft
Draft5.25 ft
Shoal Draft4.3 ft
Displacement9,700 lb
Ballast4,100.2 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL6.8 kn

Rig & Sails

Iforetriangle height42 ft
Jforetriangle base12.83 ft
Pmainsail luff37 ft
Emainsail foot10.7 ft
FLforestay12.8 ft
Mainsail469 sq ft
Jib (100%)256.6 sq ft
Spinnaker436.2 sq ft

About the HUNTER 30

A keel/cb version was also available. Total (100% main +fore.): 467.38 ft2/43.42 m2 an unfinished (kit) version was called the QUEST 30.

Sailpages Buyer's Take

Designed by John Cherubini and built by Hunter Marine (USA) from 1973–1983, the Hunter 30 is a popular masthead sloop with 1000 hulls produced. It offers a comfortable cruising platform with a displacement of 9700.0 lb and a beam of 10.17 ft, though owners frequently report significant structural maintenance needs.

Best for:
This boat suits coastal cruisers and weekend sailors who prioritize interior volume and ease of handling over high-performance racing or extreme bluewater durability. It is well-suited for owners willing to invest in proactive maintenance to address known structural vulnerabilities.
Bluewater capability:
With a capsize ratio of 1.91 and a comfort ratio of 25.14, the Hunter 30 is generally considered suitable for protected coastal waters rather than extended offshore passages due to its moderate displacement and fin keel design.
Comparables:
Comparable boats from the same era include the Tartan 30 and O'Day 30, which share similar beam and displacement characteristics for coastal cruising. The Hunter 30 distinguishes itself with a wider beam and more modern interior layouts compared to these contemporaries.

Performance

Comfort25.1
Capsize1.91
SA/Disp16.0
Disp/Len254
Bal/Disp42.3

Estimated Value

Medium Confidence
Based on 29 listings
Low
$6,664
Estimated Value
$12,078
High
$18,326
Boats sell for ~0% below asking price (based on 5 actual sales) · Inflation-adjusted to 2026 USD

Asking price by model year

28 listings · boat years 19761994 · median $14,500

$0$10k$20k$30k$40kmedian $14,500197519801985199019951979 Hunter 30 · $5,900 · Georgia, US1981 Hunter 30 · $8,000 · Ohio, US1994 Hunter 30 · $29,500 · Texas, US1978 Hunter 30 · $14,000 · Illinois, US1982 Hunter H30 · $7,500 · Missouri, US1991 Hunter 30 · $35,000 · New Jersey, US1983 Hunter 30 · $8,000 · Wisconsin, US1990 Hunter 30 · $32,000 · Arkansas, US1977 Hunter 30 · $3,500 · Georgia, US1979 Hunter 30 · $12,500 · Florida, US1978 Hunter 30 · $11,000 · New York, US1978 Hunter 30 · $15,500 · Illinois, US1978 Hunter 30 · $8,000 · New York, US1980 Hunter 30 · $8,000 · Maryland, US1977 Hunter 30 · $14,500 · New Jersey, US1989 Hunter 30 · $15,000 · Florida, US1981 Hunter 30 · $14,500 · Florida, US1981 Hunter 30 · $15,900 · South Carolina, US1981 Hunter 30 · $19,900 · South Carolina, US1981 hunter 30 · $17,500 · Florida, US1979 30 · $5,900 · GA, US1994 30 · $22,500 · FL, US1992 30 · $24,900 · OH, US1989 30 · $22,500 · CA, US1989 30 · $22,000 · WI, US1991 30 · $29,900 · FL, US1976 30 · $3,500 · NY, US1978 30 · $13,000 · IL, USAsking price (USD)Boat model year

Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.

Estimated Cost of Ownership

Based on 30.4ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.

$/ft/mo
Annual Maintenance
$1.5K – $3.9K
Hull, rigging, sails, engine service
Annual Docking
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Articles & Reviews

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

34 reported issues across 9 systems for the HUNTER 30, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.

7 critical20 major7 minor
Engine7Structural6Deck5Hull4Rudder3Rigging3Keel2Plumbing2Electrical2

Unlock the full inspection report

Thinking of buying a HUNTER 30? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.

  • All 34 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
  • Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
  • Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep

One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep

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Engine Parts & Maintenance

The engines most commonly fitted to this model. “All parts” opens the engine's full catalogue; each part links to a matching listing on Amazon or eBay matched to its part number.

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Used sails that fit the HUNTER 30

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