Hunter 426 Explained

Hunter 426 DS
Designer:Glenn Henderson
Location:United States
Year:2003
Builder:Hunter Marine
Draft:6.5feet
Displacement:236000NaN0
Hull Type:Monohull
Construction:Fiberglass
Loa:41.83feet
Lwl:39.17feet
Beam:14.17feet
Engine:Yanmar 560NaN0 diesel engine
Keel Type:fin keel
Ballast:72370NaN0
Rudder Type:internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig Type:Bermuda rig
I:47.83feet
J:14.67feet
P:46.75feet
E:20.5feet
Sailplan:Fractional B&R rigged sloop
Sailarea Total:962square feet actual
Phrf:117 (average)
Successor:Hunter 44

The Hunter 426 is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a cruiser and first built as a 2003 model. It was produced in two versions, the 426 AC (Aft Cockpit) and the 426 DS (Deck Salon).[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The Hunter 426 DS was developed into the 2003 Hunter 44, with a redesigned aft cabin.[6]

Production

The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States starting in 2003, but it is now out of production.[1] [2]

Design

The Hunter 426 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop B&R rig, a nearly plumb stem, a walk-through reverse transom with a swimming platform and fold-down ladder, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel or option shoal draft wing keel. It displaces 236000NaN0 and carries 72370NaN0 of lead ballast with the fin keel and 73890NaN0 of lead ballast with the wing keel.[1]

The boat has a draft of 6.5feet with the standard keel and 5feet with the optional shoal draft keel.[1]

The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar diesel engine of 560NaN0. The fuel tank holds and the fresh water tank has a capacity of .[1]

Factory standard equipment included a 110% roller furling genoa, steel mainsheet arch, four two-speed self tailing winches, marine VHF radio, knotmeter, depth sounder, AM/FM radio DVD and CD player, anchor roller, two fully enclosed heads with showers, private forward and aft cabins, a dinette table that converts to a berth, complete set of kitchen dishes and bedding, microwave oven, dual stainless steel sinks and a two-burner gimbaled liquid petroleum gas stove and oven. Factory options included a liferaft and EPIRB, a double aft cabin, Bimini top, air conditioning, clothing washer and drier, ice maker, in-mast mainsail furling and an electric anchor winch.[4]

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 117. It has a hull speed of 8.392NaN2.[7]

Variants

Hunter 426 AC
  • This model has a conventional aft cockpit.[5]
    Hunter 426 DS
  • This model has a raised coach house roof and larger ports, giving more headroom and light below decks.[1] [7] [4]

    Operational history

    In a 2003 review, written by famed naval architect, Robert Perry for Sailing magazine, he wrote, "The styling of this Hunter is strong. The variety of windows and port shapes has a big effect on the overall look of the boat, as does the prominent hull-to-deck joint feature. It's a unique look that obviously continues to find favors with Hunter's clientele."[8]

    In another 2003 review in Cruising World, reviewer Darrell Nicholson praised the accommodations and sailing qualities, finding little to fault apart from a "a persistent squeak caused by the exhaust hose". He concluded, "For the kind of cruising that most people do, either version of the Hunter 426 would be a great platform for fun. Whether coastal cruising, island-hopping through the Bahamas, or skating across the bay for a weekend getaway, the Hunter 426 AC and 426 DS offer value that’s rare today in a comparable boat of this size with such standard amenities."[9]

    See also

    Related design

    Similar sailboats

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Hunter 426 DS sailboat specifications and details. 14 December 2018. Browning. Randy. sailboatdata.com. 2018. https://archive.today/20220319133542/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-426-ds. 19 March 2022. live.
    2. Web site: Hunter Marine. 7 April 2022. McArthur. Bruce. sailboatdata.com. 2022. https://archive.today/20200730183858/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/hunter-marine-usa. 30 July 2020. live.
    3. Web site: Glenn Henderson. 7 April 2022. McArthur. Bruce. sailboatdata.com. 2022. https://archive.today/20220306003314/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/henderson-glenn. 6 March 2022. live.
    4. Web site: Hunter 426 DS. 14 December 2018. . www.marlow-hunter.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930092435/https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426-DS.pdf. 30 September 2020. live.
    5. Web site: Hunter 426 AC. 14 December 2018. . www.marlow-hunter.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930093021/https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426AC.pdf. 30 September 2020. live.
    6. Web site: Hunter 44DS Sailboat: s/v Groovy. 11 October 2017. Road Less Travelled. Emily & Mark Fagan. 2017. https://archive.today/20220319133517/https://roadslesstraveled.us/hunter44ds/. 19 March 2022. live.
    7. Web site: Sailboat Specifications for Hunter 426 DS . 14 December 2018. Sailing Joy. InterVisionSoft LLC. 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215065803/http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/4686/hunter-426-ds. 15 December 2018. dead.
    8. Web site: Hunter 426. 14 December 2018. Perry. Robert. Sailing magazine. 5 May 2003. https://archive.today/20220407173557/https://sailingmagazine.net/article-223-hunter-426.html. 7 April 2022. live.
    9. Web site: Hunter 426 DS. 14 December 2018. Nicholson. Darrell. Cruising World. 28 May 2003. https://archive.today/20220407173559/https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/hunter-426-ds-finding-sweet-spot/. 7 April 2022. live.