Hunter 34

About the Hunter 34

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Built

1983–1987

Builder

Hunter Marine

Designer

Cortland Steck

Length

34.42 ft

Waterline

28.25 ft

Beam

11.58 ft

Draft

5.5 ft

Displacement

11,820 lb

Ballast

5,000 lb

Hull

fiberglass

Hull / keel

fin keel

Rig

sloop

Propulsion

inboard

Fuel

25 gal

Water

65 gal

Holding

20 gal

Water heater

AC + engine · standard

Stern thruster

not fitted

Steering

pedestal cable · Yacht Specialties

B&R rig (swept spreaders, no backstay). Fin keel with spade rudder, 5.5 ft; shoal keel 4.25 ft with about 220 lb more ballast. PS says 1985 boats carry about 450 lb more ballast than 1983 boats, and it calls the boat tender and prone to weather helm. Over 800 were built in just over three years (PS); replaced by the Legend 35. Tri-cabin layout. Galley was specified with a kerosene stove, later alcohol. PS says over 800 were built and calls it a single-skin (uncored) hull with a molded liner.

Engines fitted

• Yanmar 3GMF (3GM, freshwater cooled) — 22.5 hp, diesel, single standard
  Practical Sailor: most Hunter 34s have the Yanmar 3GMF, about 22.5 hp; check for freshwater vs raw-water cooling. Wikipedia also lists a Yanmar 3GM.
  Sources: practical-sailor.com · en.wikipedia.org
• Westerbeke 21 — diesel, single standard
  Practical Sailor: some of the very first Hunter 34s had the Westerbeke 21; the reviewer prefers the Yanmar.
  Sources: practical-sailor.com

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

No generator in the 1983 standard-equipment sheet, owner's manual or wiring/plumbing diagrams.

Manuals and brochures online

• Owner's manual Hunter 34 owner's manual with 1983 introduction brochure, standard equipment and B&R rig tuning notes (1983-1987) — sbo.sailboatowners.com
• Document HunterOwners.com downloads for the Hunter 34 (several owner's manual copies, plumbing and wiring diagrams) (1983-1987) — hunter.sailboatowners.com

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

• Undersized original rudder cracking steering
  Several early boats had the original rudder crack; Hunter replaced it with a larger high-performance rudder, which was standard on 1984-85 boats. Check which rudder is fitted.
  practical-sailor.com
• B&R rig with no backstay or inner stay rigging
  The swept-spreader B&R rig is hard to tune. With no forward lowers, baby stay or inner forestay, a headstay failure can bring the mast down, and one owner lost the rig this way.
  practical-sailor.com
• Rusting iron keel and keel seam hull
  The iron keel rusts, and the keel-to-hull seam can open up and let in salt water, which PS thinks may become structural over time.
  practical-sailor.com
• Deck molding flaws and weak lids deck
  Owners reported gelcoat voids and blisters, one case of cockpit skin separating from the core, slippery molded nonskid, and locker and anchor-well lids that crack.
  practical-sailor.com
• Deck-stepped mast step leak and damage deck
  One owner described mast step leaks and damage, which is a known issue on the H34. The previous owner had repaired it with an aluminum beam and epoxy.
  cruisersforum.com

Engines & parts

Other Hunter models

• Hunter 27 1975–1984
• Hunter 30 1973–1983
• Hunter 33 1977–?
• Hunter 336 1995–?
• Hunter 356 2000–?