Sailing News

Hunter's Brand New 38 Sails Boldly Into the Competition

Alachua, FL - Hunter Marine's new 38 cruiser enters the competitive 37'-40' market in style, featuring a completely new hull and interior, along with an all-new manufacturing process.

The new Hunter 38 replaces the popular 386, the last of which rolled out of the Florida plant May 27, 2004 following a highly successful seven year run. Hunter's famed designer and racer Glenn Henderson returned to the drawing board with one focus in mind. "Our goal was to design a boat that was an exceptionally comfortable cruiser, yet offered outstanding performance and easy handling," said Henderson. "Our new 38 has met -- and exceeds -- expectations."
The 38 is Hunter's largest mid-size cruiser in its fleet. While Hunter is quick to acknowledge that the market is competitive in this class, the company believes it is a powerful niche and is confident its new boat will make waves due to its many innovations. In addition, the appearance of the boat itself offers an optional departure featuring red stripes, a red Hunter logo and linen bimini top.

"The look alone will immediately set this boat apart from others in the marketplace," said John Peterson, Hunter Marine's director of sales and marketing. "Not only is this a change from our traditional design and appearance, but the look itself is a standout."

The sail plan for the 38 features a large roach mainsail with flaking system and an anodized B & R double spreader fractional rig with Selden® support struts on a conventional mast. Most of the power comes from the mainsail, which Henderson prefers versus relying on a large jib.

"The whole sail plan is aerodynamically efficient," explained Henderson. "I will not design a mast head rig sail plan. The fractional rig with large mainsail delivers better performance, and the smaller head sail means easier sail handling for both passengers and crew."

HKT Kevlar® is used to reinforce the low drag and robust hull. Attention was given to the volumetric distribution of the hull to even out pressures of water movement, utilizing the rudder as a major lift component along with the keel. Hunter uses state-of-the-art computer 3D simulation software - the same type used by the aviation industry -- for modeling and design testing in sailing conditions without actually having to produce a working model.

In the past designers relied primarily on keels for lift and resisting leeway," said Henderson. "We discovered using a large rudder and smaller keel was better. The result is a more responsive boat."

Stability is another key factor for Henderson because he wants his Hunter designs to be comfortable at sea. A lower center of gravity was achieved by using a new soft, durable vinyl material for the headliner instead of heavy fiberglass. The 38, he says, doesn't have a lot of pitch, doesn't pound and is easily driven. "Balancing the sail plan, center of gravity and underbody is important to get all the forces concentric," said Henderson. "We did that in the 38 - it makes it have a nice groove."
In a boat this size, interior comfort and styling is another key component to customer satisfaction. Plenty of attention was given to the interior by a dedicated team of industrial and style designers. A large salon with generous 6'6" headroom is framed in solid teak, with an Everwear® laminate teak and holly sole. The master aft stateroom features a large berth, built-in lounging seats and shelves, abundant compartment storage, and twin cedar-lined hanging lockers, while the V-berth guest suite includes two cedar-lined hanging lockers with shelves. There is also a floorplan option that splits the aft stateroom into two separate staterooms.

The head includes both a private entry door from master and a hall entry, standing shower and built-in vanity. Galley standards include genuine Corian® counter tops, deep stainless dual sink, two burner stove, convection and microwave oven. A high-gloss dining table and upholstered designer-style seating converts to a twin berth for more overnight accommodations. The built-in navigation station is also provided with plenty of room for electronics. The end result is an exceptionally comfortable interior layout that maximizes living space and storage.

The new 38 will also feature Hunter's first inclusion of Flexiteek, a sturdy composite PVC material with the rich look and feel of teak, but without the time, hassle and expense of maintenance. Flexiteek is used in the cockpit, cabin floor, seats and transom, and not only has aesthetic value, but Peterson reports it also makes the boat a lot quieter.

Since the 386 was originally designed and constructed, Hunter has advanced its manufacturing process, primarily through the uses of computer-controlled jigging and modular construction. These refinements mean the 38 will have a more consistent and precise fit, while allowing Hunter to maintain its legendary superior value.
The Hunter 38 will make official worldwide debut at the 2004 Annapolis Sailboat Show, with dealer delivery slated immediately thereafter. "Dealers believe this new boat is a real winner -- they are very eager to get them," said Peterson. "There is no doubt that this new model will build upon the success we've enjoyed with the original 386, along with the 33 and 36 midsize models."

Hunter 38 Specifications

LOA 38'2"
LWL 34'8"
Beam 12'11"
Draft (shoal) 3'8"
Draft (deep) 6'6"
Displacement (shoal) 17,674 lbs.
Displacement (deep) 17,250 lbs
Mast Height (STD) 59'1"
Mast Height (FURLl) 60'7"
Sail/Triangle Area (STD) 991/699
Sail/Triangle Area (FURL) 843/757
Headroom 6'6"
Fuel Capacity 35 gal
Water Capacity 74 gal
Auxillary Power 27 -40 HP
Sleeping Capacity 6

Kim Bradford, Northern Maritime Institute Passes

Kim Bradford, 72, long time sailing instructor and USCG Captain’s prep course, died July 4, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer. Kim is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Shigeko: son, Jon Bradford of Midland, TX; daughter, Karyl of Richfield, MN; son, William Bradford of Jacksonville, FL; son, Charles Bradford of Dhahran, KSA and several grandchildren.

Kim founded Northern Maritime Institute in 1988 to share his love for navigation and sailing with others. He specialized in USCG Licensing courses, navigation, and sailing from beginning to offshore. He was personally responsible for a large group of current Captains obtaining their licenses. He was also very creative in his use of several local lakes to obtain Celestial Navigation fixes. His generous spirit and patient teaching will be remembered.

He spent the first part of his professional life in the Air Force as a fighter/bomber pilot during the Korean Conflict and then the Strategic Missile Command in Florida and Germany. He received his BSME from the University of New Hampshire before continuing in the USAF with the Gemini- Agena space program in California and finally with the Inspector General in Washington D.C. He retired after 20 years with the rank of Major. After completing the course work for a MSIE at the University of Arizona, he worked as a systems engineer in Minnesota with Control Data Corp and Northern Telecom. He was an active member and served on the Board of Directors of the Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation.