Perry Design Review: Hunter Vision 32

Hunter's innovative design for the first-time cruiser

By Bob Perry

September 13, 2000

The Hunter Vision 32 may be aimed at the person buying their first cruising boat. Perhaps this sailor has been intimidated by standard rigs with their implied complexity. Hunter has put this innovative design together with comfort and simplicity receiving equal attention.

The Hunter 32 Vision.

Let's start with the sailplan. If you put conventional standards aside, the short ended, high freeboard, large house Vision is a good-looking boat. It shows careful attention to styling. The house contours are very pleasing and add a very rakish look to this somewhat chunkily-proportioned hull.

There's nothing new in the rig. With fully battened main and small, non-overlapping jib, sail handling has been reduced to the minimum complexity. It's a lazy man's boat. SA/D ratio is 17.9.

With a D/L ratio of 259, the Vision 32 is a moderate-displacement design. The midsection shows moderate BWL and an arc-like shape with moderately firm bilges. The stern is very broad with a big swim step carved into the transom. The keel is a fin-bulb-wing combination that gives 4-foot, 3-inch draft. Obviously this hull has been optimized to provide interior volume, but the designers haven't ignored performance. The interior borrows from the European competition, with a transverse double berth and a small galley counter with icebox.

Boat Specifications

LOA	32'
LWL	27'
Beam	11'4"
Draft	4'3"
Displacement	11,400 lbs.
Ballast	4,500 lbs.
Sail Area	567 sq. ft.
SA/D ratio	17.9
D/L ratio	259
Auxiliary	Yanmar 3GM 27 hp
Fuel	22 gals.
Water	45 gals.