The Perfect Family Sailboat! Hunter 27-2 - Boat Review

Are you interested in a small family sailboat? Want to take your kids sailing on a fun and comfortable sailboat you can tow home? This trailerable sailboat is the perfect trailer sailor to sail around the lake, take sailboat racing, and is a very cheap sailboat to own. The sailboat ownership cost of this boat will be minimized by its size and features. If you’re trying to decide between a camper or a sailboat, have a look at this excellent 27 foot sailboat – the Hunter 27-2.

Practical Sailor is your trusted resource for reviews of sailboats and sailing gear.

[Peter-jowt]

I haven't sailed in about 30 years and am looking for a trailer sailor to re-familiarize myself.
This Hunter is in the running.

[afencers]

We got our ’91 Hunter 272 two seasons ago, and it has exceeded my expectations in terms of sailing performance. Compared to the Hunter 25.5 I used to own, which felt and sailed more like a dingy, this – just a foot longer - feels like a family cruiser. I can single-hand it just as easily, and it is overall novice friendly… hard to explain, but for example I simply don’t feel obliged to optimize sail trim nearly as much. Everyone in the cockpit is dry and in the shade, and the boom is high enough that no one needs to duck to avoid being brained, which relieves a lot of anxiety when I have guests or kids around. Storage: not much that is easy to use. On mine, the whole stern ‘cabin’ is currently storage with the cushions kept safely elsewhere, although if we really needed the sleeping space we could easily arrange it otherwise (we don’t really need the grill, electric trolling motor and battery that takes up most of the space.) It is comfortable for sleeping and the prior owner had success renting it as a (docked) AirB&B. Five adults fit the cockpit in comfort, and the practical max for a short day sail seems to be 7 adults. Thanks for posting the review – there was none available when I was making my buying decision.

[williammclean]

Thank you for reviewing smaller boats. I remember a time when a 30' boat was BIG.

[gmonnig]

Thanks for the review. We have a 27-2 and it’s the cleanest boat on the lake! And appreciating since this video

[chrisburton]

We have a 1979 Hunter 27, sail her in St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia she can handle anything. We love the rolling furler for when the winds get above 20 knots. Sailing in the swell off shore is no problem either and I like sailing her into the wind. Great space in the cabin for my 6’3” frame. We find the cockpit very comfortable, but prefer 4 people at most. People are always surprised at the space inside. We love er!

[andrewbailey]

Great to see some smaller boats featured! Not everyone has the money for a 40' yacht, and I think it's great to encourage younger people to take up yacht sailing for themselves!
I bought a Cobra 850 last year, and although it's needed a lot of work, and is not as neatly packaged as this Hunter, seeing walkthroughs like this show what's possible on a smaller boat, and show the potential of what I've already got!
My boat has a big void behind the engine that's just crying out to have the quarter berth converted into a small cabin! Excited for the day when I can eventually get the time to make it happen!

[sabincolton]

I have had a Pearson 26 (1972) for 52 years, taken it down to the Florida Keys, and eventually settled it in Maine after commuting from there to Woods Hole, MA, during graduate school.. I had a Johnson 9.9 hp for decades and now a Yamaha 9.9 4-cycle. It was never in the way and performed fine. I have been 150 miles off the coast, sailed through the nigh, t and loved every moment.. It is now in the hands of my son in New Jersey and he is exploring and enjoying it with his fiancé. These boats were built to last and I have only had to rehang the keel twice over the years (one was from the owner of a mooring lying about the low tide depth and the keel grounded and worked twice a day.). It does not have hot water and a shower, but it is a very user-friendly craft.

[sailingvesperonthechesapea]

The boat we first purchased after taking our “Sailing 101” course, many years ago, was a Hunter 285 which is older then the 27-2 but very similar. I called it our “mistakes boat” not because it was a mistake to buy it but because we learned a lot about sailing with it and and had loads of fun visiting ports on the Chesapeake Bay. It was easy to sail and the boat systems (head, engine, water) etc were simple and easy to understand for a beginner. Only drawback was the alcohol fueled stove which had two large Sterno type canisters that had to be refueled now and then but I always did that on the dock and never on board cause spills sometimes happened. After our Hunter we “graduated” to an Ericson 32-3 because we wanted a bit more room and had acquired a lot of sailing experience on the Hunter. I hope you can do a video on the Ericson brand which I think are excellent boats. Or you can just see one on my YouTube channel, “Sail Vesper: On the Chesapeake Bay”. 😁

[marktuniewicz]

Thanks for the review, Tim. We bought our Hunter 26.5 about 3 years ago, put a bunch of $$$ into her includingnew sails, and have been racing and cruising locally. A lot of fun!

[johnhall]

Just sailed a 27-2 for the first time this past weekend. It's easily my favorite in the class already. It's as easy as it gets sailing a wheel boat solo. They are particularly responsive as well, and it has a little speed to it on a reach! That was surprising how fast it could scoot. Additionally, and to your point, it was the best I've used in a swimming hole. The shallow draft came in handy for getting in closer. Even in standing deep water, it was floating, and I was able to push it around some as needed with it being a smaller boat. Def recommend this boat.

[libraryjeans]

We love our little H28 for all the reasons you name here. Fun to sail, comfy to sleep. Does everything we need it to do for a weekend.

[shainester]

I love Hunters! I'll always watch when you review or talk about any year or model of these boats.

[travelradiocoza]

I have a Hunter 280, and despite the many negative comments to be found by the pro sailors I have enjoyed every second. It is a wonderfully easy boat to sail and big enough for a long weekend. My only complaint, if i am being critical, is that she does not sail well downwind due to the lack of a back stay and the swept back spreaders. It is a small compromise though for the pros that come with this boat. I think one needs to keep an eye on gusts and be ready to reef earlier than later. For liveability, comfort and amenities she competes with 30" boats easily.

[petervanderwaart]

I own a Hunter 28; I have a few comments. 1. The Hunter 28 has a very different keel from the 27-2. It is not faster to windward than boats with better fins. 2. The boat is tender. 3.The tall mast of the fractional rig is an advantage in evening racing when winds aloft may be stronger than winds lower down. 4. It would be easy to re-rig the main sheet in a double-ended (or 2 sheet) configuration which would give more control in some situations. 5. Check the forward "escape hatch." On my boat it takes 50 wrist turns on each knob to open the hatch more than an inch or two. It's the worst piece of gear on the boat, and inexcusably bad.

[albertpayne]

I have a 1996 H280. Big boat amenities on a small vessel. In my opinion, Hunter really uses the space well in the 28 to 33 foot range.

[Scheeringa]

I bought my 27-2 last year and she has been an amazing boat! I take my 10 year old daughter out with all my nieces and it's perfect. Thanks for covering it!
Now that I know it's considered fast in some categories, I'm going to have to look into racing her.

[Mariner]

I am a US Sailing instructor. I taught for a large sailing / charter School. As you know it blows hard in SFO. With often very heavy off shore conditions out the Golden Gate. In the 80s and 90s we had a large fleet of Hunters. From this boat up to 50’ . We sailed them in the Bay Area and offshore. They held up to very hard use. And the Yanmars were great. They performed as advertised. They don’t deserve the rep they have. Many of the larger ones have crossed oceans and circumnavigated. This little boat is amazing. My only observation here is where do you put the dodger?

[stevengarner]

I have a 1985 Hunter 28.5. It does have some deck side fiberglass issues but the hull is built like a tank. Solid core. Everything else you note is true for the older 28.5. We sail inside coastal waters off BC and it's a great boat. We keep thinking of upgrading but the 28.5 ticks off so many boxes we just can't justify the increase in cost to own something newer and bigger. I always say my boat is not a jewel...it's a tool and a very good one at that.

[bruceconron]

Tim, thanks for showing us the H27-2. I own a H27 of the next generation, I suppose (built in 2007). I enjoy sailing the shoal draft model to the top of Georgian Bay, west of Killarney and several times exploring extensively in the North Channel as far as Turnbull Island. So, with one or occasionally two crew, cruising on my H27 for two or even three weeks at a stretch is no problem at all. I would never consider it just a "weekender." I do a lot of single handing and the fractional rig with that small jib you mention is made-to-order, esp. when the winds pipe up over 15 knots. The specious aft cabin and the saloon's open concept throughout, the enclosed head, the efficient 14hp Yanmar, the generous and easily accessible sugar-scoop stern, the Lewmar folding wheel (not on your H27-2) - all are plusses for sure. The cockpit on my H27 is more roomy that the H27-2 and I have about a foot more beam, both positives as well. I'm not happy with the weakly mounted stanchions. I experienced serious problems at the base of the deck-stepped mast (undoubtedly due to its install by the dealer). As you say, compromise is inevitable regardless of what boat you call your own, but overall I'm pleased with my H27, how into its 18th season.

[TheBeerme]

Hunter always gave a big bang for the buck. Nice video!