Hunter 356

Hunter Marine has a new boat for the fall boat shows: the 356, a 35 foot cruiser that combines a powerful, modern rig with a classic, classy interior. As with their smaller offerings, the 290 and 320, the 356 comes with the unique B&R rig, a backstayless configuration that allows for a large roach, fully battened mainsail. Other features include a walk-through transom and a new rubrail that covers the through bolted deck joint with a vinyl extrusion and a stainless insert.

Hunter has taken a more conservative approach with its design, with an eye towards the European as well as American markets. The first boats will be built at Hunter's Florida production facility, production at their newly acquired yard in Dorset, UK, will begin later this year.

Attention was given to upscale the interior treatment, this includes rounded mouldings throughout the cabin, more conservative window lines, and aluminum frame windows, rather than just bonded on from the outside. Corian countertops, upgraded galley hardware and designer fabrics complete the treatment. The boat will be marketed as the Legend 326 in the UK, to avoid confusion with the British Hunter boat company.

The large roach in the main allows for a relatively small headsail, a 110 percent jib sheeted in on the coachroof. The shrouds are taken all the way out to the gunnels, with the coachroof jib sheeting the foresail can be tightly trimmed in to maximize upwind performance. For those sailors wanting a smaller mainsail, there is an option for in-mast furling, the mast section by Selden.

The hull has a Kevlar reinforcement from the stem to the keel to protect against penetration in the event of a collision.

At present there is just one cabin configuration: two private staterooms fore and aft with a single, spacious head with shower. There have been discussions in the company about splitting the aft cabin into two, but that is not at this time an option.

In North America the boat will debut at the Newport Boat Show in September and Annapolis in October. It's European debut will be at the Southampton Boat Show in September, one of the first production boats will make its way from the US to the UK in early September for the show.

The introductory price with standard rig is $103,900 plus freight, options and commissioning.

There's nothing radical or outlandish about the new 356, it's dimensions and specifications parallel their other offerings. Here's how it stacks up with other Hunter models: