sailboatdata hunter 340

This affordable coastal cruiser has plenty of room for entertaining

T he Hunter design team was listening carefully to what potential buyers had in mind in the late 1990s when it came to building the ideal racer-cruiser, with an emphasis on the latter. The result was the Hunter 340, a sloop that would be fun to sail, comfortable and roomy enough for several friends or family, equipped with a gourmet galley, an enormous head and shower and suitable as a dockside summer gathering spot after a day on the water. 

First impressions

It’s almost impossible not to notice the integrated arch looming large just forward of the spacious cockpit. The arch, which supports the traveler, is among several key innovations that created a buzz in the yachting community. The in-mast furling (a popular option) and absence of a backstay also get attention, as do the portals that are oddly configured in different shapes and sizes like a museum of windows. 

And then there’s the massive cockpit, where a stainless 28-inch destroyer-style steering wheel is mounted to an instrument console with folding table, small cooler and storage compartment. There are two seats mounted on the stern rail, perfect perches from which to feel the wind and get the best view. The helmsman seat is hinged, making it possible to walk through the reverse transom to the integrated swim platform with its freshwater shower. Oh, and there’s no wood trim on deck, which translates to less seasonal maintenance.

Construction

The Hunter 340 is a fiberglass masthead sloop with a tall, fractional rig. It features a spade rudder and a bolted-on lead keel. Constructed by Hunter Marine from 1998 to 2001, the 340 was engineered to carry less weight aloft with smaller mast sections. This was accomplished by using swept spreaders and reverse diagonals as well as mast support struts, a system descending from the B&R design invented by the late Lars Bergstrom and Sven Ridder. The design eliminates the need for a backstay and allows for a large roach main to power the boat, while the 110-percent working jib provides stability. The drawback of swept spreaders is that they keep the main from being fully eased when sailing downwind. 

The hull-to-deck joint is through-bolted and fitted with a continuous rubrail. The mast and boom are aluminum. Most deck fittings are stainless steel. 

What to look for

Like any boat with a deck-stepped mast, excess compression over time and deck delamination from water infusion are problematic. The electrical system is, as one skipper put it, “bare bones” with few breakers and only one 30-amp shore power inlet. The swim platform opens to the bilge with only rubber latches to keep it secure, which could be a problem in rough seas. Some owners report thin line cracks on the hull bottom near the bolted-on keel. This most likely is fairing compound that overtime has become brittle and cracked as gravity and friction work against the keel. The keel was installed in bedding compound and then bolted. If weeping is evident, have the boatyard tighten the bolts. The boat’s gray nonskid deck paint tends to wear and peel.

The integrated arch accommodates the traveler, so there’s no need for the cockpit crew to move when tacking. Since the arch extends across much of the boat, the traveler can be longer and more efficient than those restricted by the width of the cockpit seats. It also protects the large cockpit from s flailing mainsheet and reduces overall line clutter. A bimini can be attached to the arch. 

The arch was made with fiberglass on the 1998 and 1999 models, and changed to stainless steel in 2000 and 2001. Owners differ in opinion on whether the change was made to cut costs or improve aesthetics. Skippers also use the arch to mount speakers, line bags and other accessories. 

The boat has plenty of cleats for docking, a bow pulpit, stern rail with two seats, double lifelines with gates, two dorade vents, hatches, an inboard jib track with cars, boom vang, roller furling jib, in-mast furling main, and stainless handrails. Mast shrouds connect to both the cabin exterior and the toerail, making it somewhat difficult for crew to make their way forward to handle foredeck tasks. The walk-through transom provides easy access to the integrated swim platform with its stainless, telescoping ladder.

The saloon affords 6 feet 4 inches of headroom. There’s a sprawling dining table for eight, and a gourmet galley with two-burner stove, oven, microwave, two-basin sink, refrigerator and freezer and Corian countertop. The boat carries 75 gallons of freshwater. 

It sleeps seven: two in the V-berth, two in the aft cabin and three on the convertible dinette and settee. The head is designed with a large shower. Light and ventilation are plentiful via ports that open and are screened. The boat has multiple hatches. The enormous head has a full shower. There are two private staterooms and three hanging lockers. 

The boat relies on a Japanese-built Yanmar 3GM diesel engine for auxiliary power. The engine is rated at 27-horsepower and is powerful enough to push the boat in a chop. The engine housing provides easy access to check fluids or change filters. The fuel tank holds 30 gallons.

Hunter Marine attempted to ease the effort of sail handling by using a large roach main. Although the sloop has a responsive helm, skippers have reported the combination of small genoa and big mainsail creates weather helm when sailing upwind, making it imperative to reef in 15 knots or more in order to balance the boat. Weather helm can also overpower the optional, battery-operated autopilot when the wind pipes up. 

The jib sheet winches are on the cabintop rather than the coaming and can’t be reached from the helm, which makes the boat difficult to singlehand. Some 340s were made with only one winch on the starboard side, so it must be shared. 

Owners note the typical upwind top speed is just over 7 knots. Although the Hunter 340 can be used for around-the-buoys racing, which it is in many locations, it’s more suitable as a coastal cruiser. 

The Hunter 340 is a spacious, comfortable, innovatively designed sloop ideal for day sailing with several friends aboard or a weekend of coastal cruising. 

SAILING’s Value Guide

(5-sailboat rating system)

PRICE:  The price of a used Hunter 340 ranges from $40,000 to approximately $65,000 for a hull in good condition.  

DESIGN QUALITY:  The Hunter 340 was designed by the Hunter design team. 

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY: The solid fiberglass boat is finished with a thick gelcoat. The hull-to-deck joint is through-bolted and trimmed with a continuous rubrail. Mast and boom are aluminum, the deck-stepped mast steadied by a series of support struts in addition to the shrouds. Hardware is stainless steel. 

USER-FRIENDLINESS:  The cockpit seats eight and is set up for socializing. The boat’s integrated arch supports the traveler. The boat isn’t easy to singlehand because the self-tailing winches aren’t mounted on the cockpit coamings and the traveler is bolted atop the arch. 

SAFETY: The boat is equipped with double lifelines and gates, stainless handrails, swim platform to aid offloading by dinghy. The Edson steering wheel is a rod-and-arm system bolted directly to the rudder, which avoids use of quadrants and chain connections that are often a source of breakage.

TYPICAL CONDITION:  The earliest models are just over 20 years old and owners say the hulls are holding up with no major defects or breakdowns. The gray nonskid deck tends to wear. 

REFITTING:   The boat could benefit from refitting, including adding a bowsprit, winches, sturdier latches on the swim platform lockers and installing an internal barrier inside the lockers. Some owners have added thick felt to the edges around inside of engine access panels to reduce noise and prevent rattles, and a sump pump so that the shower drains overboard and not into bilge.  

SUPPORT: There are about 60 members throughout the United States, Canada and Australia in the Hunter 340 Facebook group. Many owners use the website https://hunter.sailboatowners.com when searching for parts or advice.  

AVAILABILITY: At least ten Hunter 340s were for sale in the United States in early spring and other hulls were available in Canada and Turkey.

INVESTMENT AND RESALE:  The Hunter 340 holds its value, with boats that sold as used 10 years ago for $50,000 still priced at approximately $45,000, depending on overall condition.

LOA 33’9”; LWL 28’6”; Beam 11’8”; Draft shoal 4’6”, deep 6’;  Displ. 11,030 lb.; Ballast deep-draft 3,500 lb., shoal draft 4,100 lb.; Sail area  682 sq. ft.

General Market Price Data

$66,900 2001 Wisconsin

$52,500 1998 New York

$41,500 2000 Maryland

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• Sailboat Guide

Hunter 340 is a 33 ′ 9 ″ / 10.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Hunter Design Team and built by Hunter Marine starting in 1997.

• 2 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 3 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 4 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 5 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 6 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 7 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 8 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 9 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 10 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 11 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 12 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 13 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 14 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 15 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 16 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 17 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 18 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 19 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 20 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 21 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 22 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 23 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 24 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 25 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 26 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 27 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View
• 28 / 29 Clearwater, FL, US 2001 Hunter 340 $22,000 USD View
• 29 / 29 Hamilton, ON, CA 1997 Hunter 340 $51,129 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Deep Keel: 6.0’.

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Review of Hunter 340

Basic specs..

The boat is typically equipped with an inboard Yanmar diesel engine at 27.0 hp (20 kW), which gives a max speed about 6.2 knots.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 110 liters (29 US gallons, 24 imperial gallons).

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Hunter 340 is 2.09, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Hunter 340 is about 206 kg/cm, alternatively 1155 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 206 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 1155 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Hunter 340 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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• Sailboat Reviews

Like other Hunters, the 34 bears the stamp of a mass-produced boat--but she's better than older Hunters.

When the Hunter 34 was introduced in late 1982, it was the second of the “modern” generation of Hunters, the first being the rather remarkable Hunter 54. The Hunter company has been strongly identified with the long-distance singlehanded racing of its president, Warren Luhrs. Although Luhrs has not been particularly successful in his racing, his own boats have been innovative, and the concepts of innovation and high-tech have to some degree rubbed off on Hunter’s production boats.

Hunter has always gone after the entry-level cruising boat owner, and has traditionally pushed its “Cruise Pac” concept—a boat delivered equipped down to the life jackets, and ready to go. This certainly reduces the amount of decision making required by inexperienced boat owners, and has been a successful marketing strategy. For more experienced sailors who would rather choose their own gear, the Cruise Pac idea is not necessarily a plus.

In just over three years, over 800 Hunter 34s were built. For the 1986 model year, the 34 was phased out in favor of the even more Eurostyled Legend 35.

A number of Hunter 34 owners responding to our survey moved up from smaller boats in the Hunter line—exactly what every builder would like to see happen. All reported that the Hunter 34 was lightyears ahead in both design and workmanship compared to earlier models.

Because the Hunter 34 was only in production for a few years, few changes were made between model years. You are therefore less likely to find major upgrades on older boats than you would find on a boat that has been in production for a long time.

Sailing Performance

The Hunter 34 is a fast boat, particularly in light air. This is due almost entirely to her huge rig, which towers over 51′ above the waterline. Owners report that in winds of from seven to 12 knots, the boat is practically unbeatable in club racing. The typical PHRF rating of 135 for the deep keel boat is faster than most other cruiser/racers of her size.

There is a price to be paid for that speed, however. A number of owners responding to our survey report that the original Hunter 34 is a very tippy boat, in either the deep keel or shoal draft version. In winds of 15 knots true or more, it’s time to reef the main when going upwind. In fact, the boat’s lack of stability is the single most commonly criticized aspect of the Hunter 34’s performance in our survey. One owner was considering cutting several feet off his mast. Others have stepped down from 150% headsails to 135% or smaller overlaps.

Normally, you would expect a boat with a 42% ballast/displacement ratio to be stiff. The keel of the deep-draft Hunter 34, however, has most of its weight and volume up high, while the shoal draft keel, even with its extra 220 pounds of ballast, still has a fairly high vertical center of gravity. This just goes to show that you can’t judge a boat’s stability by its ballast/ displacement ratio—you’ve got to know how far down that weight is, too.

Models late in the production run had more ballast. The 1985 Hunter 34 brochure shows about 450 pounds more ballast than in the 1983 model. For cruising, the additional ballast would be a real plus. For club racing with a full crew, the lighter boats could be sailed faster.

Using headsails smaller than 150% on the Hunter 34 would be a good idea, particularly if you couple them with a modern roller furling system. A 135% jib can more effectively be reduced to 110% than a 150% genoa can be reefed to 120%. Since the boat is sensitive to sail area, a good headsail roller furling system is a must, in our opinion.

According to several owners, the Hunter 34 carries substantial weather helm in anything more than very light air. This may in part be due to the boat’s tenderness. As boats with wide sterns and narrow bows heel, the waterplane becomes substantially asymmetrical, which can give the boat a pronounced tendency to head up.

This weather helm may be exacerbated by an original rudder design that some owners report was both too small and too weak for the boat. Several owners reported cracking of the original rudders, which Hunter replaced with a larger, stronger, “high performance” rudder. Unfortunately, in some cases Hunter only paid part of the replacement costs; owners were stuck with the rest. We wouldn’t want a Hunter 34 without the high performance rudder. The better rudder was standard equipment on 1984 and 1985 models.

The complex B&R rig, with its swept-back spreaders and diamond shrouds, is also a headache for some owners. There’s a lot of rigging for a novice to adjust, and according to our survey, the dealers who commissioned the boats were not necessarily more capable of adjusting the rig than the owners.

One problem with the B&R rig is that, on any point of sail freer than a broad reach, the mainsail will fetch up on the spreaders and shrouds. You can apply patches to keep the spreaders from poking holes in the mainsail, but we think the shrouds are likely to chafe on the sail almost from head to foot when running, no matter what you do.

In addition, the lack of either forward lower shrouds, baby stay, or inner forestay means that if the headstay goes, the rig may follow before you can do anything to prevent it. One owner in our survey reported losing his rig when the roller furling headstay failed. Most new sailors have enough trouble tuning a simple, single spreader rig with double lower shrouds. The multi-spreader, multi-shroud B&R rig may seem incomprehensible to them, and they may never be able to tune the rig for good performance.

The boat is very fast upwind, but only average in speed off the wind. With a spinnaker, downwind performance would be greatly improved. The high aspect ratio mainsail simply doesn’t project enough area for efficient downwind sailing, particularly since you can’t square the boom to the mast due to the swept-back spreaders.

Most Hunter 34s are equipped with the Yanmar 3GMF, a three-cylinder, fresh water cooled diesel that puts out about 22.5 hp. This is an excellent engine, although early versions, according to some owners in our survey, were plagued by vibration.

Some of the first Hunter 34s were equipped with the Westerbeke 21 diesel. In our opinion, the Yanmar is a much more desirable engine. For boats to be used in salt water, check to make sure that the engine is fresh water cooled, rather than raw water cooled.

Some early versions of this engine lacked fresh water cooling, and they will not last as long when used in salt water.

Access to the engine for service is good. The Yanmar is more than adequate power for the boat, and she should cruise under power at 5 1/2 knots or more without any trouble. The fuel capacity of 25 gallons should give a range of about 275 miles.

Construction

Hunters are mass-produced boats at the low end of the price scale. The Hunter 34 was the first “small” Hunter to be built with a molded hull liner. A molded liner can add considerable strength to a single-skin boat, and the use of integral molded furniture components can greatly speed assembly. Assembly is the right word, too: these boats are assembled, rather than built.

The original tooling for a hull liner is quite expensive. It is therefore only practical on a boat that is expected to have a fairly large production run.

Not everything about the Hunter 34’s hull liner is a plus, however. According to several owners, any leakage from the stuffing box can be trapped between the liner and the hull, never draining to the bilge. This could not only smell bad after a while, but could possibly cause problems in a cold climate if trapped water freezes without room to expand. The preassembly technique common with liners also means that many systems are installed in ways that can make them difficult to service after the hull, deck, and liner are put together.

Hunter quality control is criticized by some owners in our survey. Complaints include chafed hoses, raw edges, systems hooked up improperly, and leaking ports and hatches. In our opinion, that’s a quality control problem, pure and simple, and it can be a maintenance headache for owners. One owner reported a leaking hull-to-deck joint. When he checked it, he found that many of the bolts had apparently never been torqued down when the hull and deck were joined. We don’t think the boat should have left the factory in that condition.

On the positive side, owners of Hunter 34s who had owned older Hunters report that in general the construction details of the 34 are superior to those of older boats.

Do not expect to find a lot of fancy teak joinerwork on the Hunter 34. Some owners complain that both the interior and exterior teak trim is poorly fitted and poorly finished. Obviously, you could do a lot to improve this if you wanted to—as some owners have—but don’t expect a dramatic increase in the value of the boat for your efforts.

The iron keels of the Hunter 34s can also be a maintenance headache. Some owners say the keels did not come from the factory with adequate protection to avoid rusting—which is almost impossible to prevent with an iron keel. Other owners report that the keel-to-hull seam cracks open, allowing salt water into the joint—which results in more rust. This is a cosmetic problem now, but we think it could over time become a structural problem.

The deck molding has been a source of trouble on some boats. The molded non skid isn’t very nonskid when it gets wet. There are also a number of reports of gelcoat flaws in the deck, including voids and blistering. At least one owner reports that the outer deck laminate in his cockpit has separated from the wood core.

Several owners complain that some molded deck components—cockpit locker covers, anchor well covers—are simply too light, and tend to crack.

The Hunter 34 was one of the first boats under 35′ to offer a tri-cabin layout, and this interior design is frequently cited as a primary reason for buying the boat. Now, of course, it is common for boats this size to have three cabins.

The only real complaint voiced about the interior of the Hunter 34 is the narrowness of the foot of the forward V-berth. Despite being pushed far forward in the hull, the forward cabin feels big due to the long cabin trunk, which extends clear to the anchor well, giving extra headroom over the berth. Standing headroom in the forward cabin drops off to less than 6′ due to the sloping cabin trunk.

Just aft of the forward cabin is a full-width head. This makes a lot of sense in a boat this size, since the combination of head and passageway would make for both a cramped head and a narrow passageway. According to some owner surveys, the plumbing for the toilet leaves a lot to be desired. They report that the holding tank system smells, apparently due to porous hoses and a poor vent design.

Instead of the more common U-shaped dinette, the Hunter 34 has a rather old fashioned dinette with athwartships seating. This certainly makes it easier to convert the dinette to a double berth, but it means that you can seat a maximum of four at the table for dinner. On the port side, the head of the settee berth is used as the seat for the chart table—a design compromise, since that settee is one of only two potential sea berths on the boat.

Original specifications call for a two-burner kerosene stove. Kerosene never caught on as a cooking fuel in this country, partly because it is so difficult to  get high-grade kerosene here. Propane or CNG would be far better choices for cooking fuel, since low-grade kerosene is a dirty fuel, and alcohol is expensive, inefficient, and in our opinion, dangerous.

As you would expect on a boat this size, the aft cabin is pretty small, with limited standing area. Despite the fact that the double berth is mostly under the cockpit, there is adequate headroom over it due to the fact that the cockpit is quite shallow.

The privacy of the tri-cabin layout is very important for a family with children, or owners that like to cruise with another couple. The single fixed berth in the main cabin means that the boat will sleep only five without making up the dinette. “Only” five is a pretty good number in a boat this size, and the most important thing is that it sleeps five in a reasonable level of comfort. All in all, the interior of the Hunter 34 is well thought out and livable.

Conclusions

The general design and finish of the Hunter 34 are far ahead of older boats by the company. The Eurostyling of the deck and interior were pretty unusual when the boat first came out, but fairly typical of boats built five years after the Hunter 34 was introduced.

Nevertheless, this is still a mass-produced boat with what some owners consider mediocre quality control and finishing details. It is a fast sailer, but may be so tippy that it discourages some novices. You should definitely sail the boat before you buy it. The B&R rig may also scare off some new sailors. Because of the problems with the deck molding, a used Hunter 34 should be carefully and professionally surveyed before purchase.

If you want a fast, modern small coastal cruiser with maximum room at minimum cost, a Hunter 34 would be a good choice. But remember that you’re buying a mass-produced boat, and it’s not realisitic to expect custom quality at this price.

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Thank you for the comprehensive report. It is very practical and enlightening allowing a potential buyer to make an educated decisiion

I have a deep keel version of the 1999 Hunter 340 – Trinity. She has excellent pointing characteristics allowing her to sail up to 15 degrees off the apparent, and we win races as a result. However, it takes a bit of wind to move her with our 110% headsail. She’s best around 15 knots apparent; above that reefing is advised going to windward. I don’t consider her tippy, but certainly if you push her, you’ll get lots of helm and the rail in the water. I’ve raced her single handed in Georgian Bay in 35-42 knots apparent, winning the Meaburywood Trophy in 2021, an inter-club race of 15 boats. I like her a lot but being on the cusp of retiring, I am looking for a bigger boat to allow longer range cruising.

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The Hunter 340 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop B&R rig, a slightly raked stem, a walk-through reverse transom with an integral swim platform and ladder, an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 11,030 lb (5,003 kg) and carries 4,100 lb (1,860 kg) of ballast.

The boat has a draft of 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the standard keel and 6.00 ft (1.83 m) with the optional deep-draft fin keel. The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar diesel engine of 27 hp (20 kW). The fuel tank holds 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 75 U.S. gallons (280 L; 62 imp gal). There is also a 30 U.S. gallons (110 L; 25 imp gal) holding tank.

Standard factory equipment on the 340 included a 110% genoa, dual two-speed self-tailing winches, a stainless steel mainsheet arch, dorade vents, a marine VHF radio, knotmeter, depth sounder, stereo system, a hardwood cabin sole, private forward and aft cabins, a dinette table that converts to a double bunk, a fully enclosed head with a shower, a microwave oven, double stainless steel sink, two burner liquefied petroleum gas stove, icebox, kitchen dishes, anchor, four life jackets and an emergency tiller. Optional equipment included a bimini, mast furling mainsail, autopilot, mainsheet traveller, refrigerator, air conditioning and a spinnaker and related hardware. The design includes below decks headroom of 76 in (193 cm).

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 141 with a high of 150 and low of 135. It has a hull speed of 7.16 kn (13.26 km/h).

Source: Wikipedia

LOA: 33.75 ft LWL: 28.58 ft Beam: 11.67 ft Draft: 4.50 ft Displacement: 11030.00 lbs Ballast: 4100.00 lbs Hull type: Fin w/spade rudder Hull construction: FG Rigging type: B&R

Hunter 340 for sale in the last 12 months

Below you'll find the latest Hunter 340 listings for the last 12 months. We compare the listing price with boats listed in the past and the color coding indicates if the price is good (green = below the average listing price) or more on the expensive side (red = seller is asking more than the average listing price).

Hunter 340 listing prices over time

Listing details.

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Hunter - Sailboat Data, Parts & Rigging

Sailboat data directory for sailboats manufacturer or named Hunter. Follow the provided links for additional sailboat data, parts and rigging specs.

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Hunter 340 Mast Dimensions for shipping boat mast down (1999 Hunter 340)

• Thread starter esteege
• Start date Nov 10, 2021
• Hunter Owner Forums
• Ask A Hunter Owner

Hello, all Hunter 340 owners! I am looking for the dimensions, specifically the length, of the mast on the 1999 Hunter 340. I am aware of the mast height of 56 feet from the waterline. I need the length of the mast when it is unstepped. I see from some of the sail plan diagrams that "I" might be 43 feet, but that seems short as there is about 6.5 feet of headroom in the salon... not 13 feet if the floor of the salon was at the waterline. Really, the floor is below the waterline so if I had to guess, I would say that 43 feet is shorter than the unstepped length. Regardless, I need to arrange to ship the boat and they need the true dimension. I don't want to travel to the marina where the boat is on the hard and measure. If anyone knows the actual dimension of the length of the mast, please post it. Much appreciated! Eric Steege S/V Endeavor  

Welcome to the forum!! Your estimate is close. If it was my sailboat I would measure the mast or provide the transporter with an estimated mast length for planning and estimating purposes. Alternatively, suggest the boatyard or a hired boat contractor measure it and post pics of the tape measurement. You are correct I is 43 ft SailboatData.com - HUNTER 340 Sailboat .  

Steve_Catalina

Not sure sailboat data is correct. It shows the "I" measurement as 43', but shows the "P" as 44'. ???????? Somehow I find it hard to believe the mast base is 13' above your water line. Good luck , Steve  

Crazy Dave Condon

Steve The manual in one place says mast height is 55’ 9” while in the manual line drawing is water line to top of mast is 55’ 9”. As a former dealer I believe mast length is 55’ 9”. You could go to the help desk on this site talking with former Hunter employees. However if you can identify the mast any information, I can ask for you. For what is worth shipping by ship is cheaper to lay on deck vs on top of boat as the boat is more expensive to ship as they take the total overall length which would be the mast length on top of any sailboat  

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The Hunter 34 is a 34.42ft b&r designed by Cortland Steck and built in fiberglass by Hunter Marine (USA) between 1983 and 1987.

The Hunter 34 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a short water supply range.

Hunter 34 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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FEIG ELECTRONIC: Moscow-City Skyscrapers Streamline Parking Access and Control with Secure RFID

Feig electronic partners with isbc group to deploy ucode dna rfid security and parking access control solution in moscow business district.

Weilburg, Germany  — December 3,  2019  —  FEIG ELECTRONIC , a leading global supplier of radio frequency identification (RFID) readers and antennas with fifty years of industry experience, announces deployment of the UCODE DNA RFID security and parking contactless identification solution in the Moscow International Business Center, known as Moscow-City, one of the world’s largest business district projects.

The management of Moscow-City not only selected long-range, passive UHF RFID to implement in its controlled parking areas, it also chose to implement UCODE DNA , the highest form of secure RAIN RFID technology, developed by NXP Semiconductors.

Panoramic view of Moscow city and Moskva River at sunset. New modern futuristic skyscrapers of Moscow-City – International Business Center, toned

“Underscoring NXP’s innovation and leadership in developing advanced RAIN RFID technologies, our UCODE DNA was chosen to be incorporated with the FEIG and ISBC implementation of the contactless identification system in the prestigious Moscow-City,” said Mahdi Mekic, marketing director for RAIN RFID with NXP Semiconductors. “This exciting project represents yet another successful deployment of NXP’s contactless portfolio, and showcases our continued ability to meet the high-security requirements of highly demanding applications without compromising user convenience.”

“UCODE DNA is considered the only identification technology to match the physical protection of a barrier with the cybersecurity necessary to truly protect entrances from unauthorized access,” said Manuel Haertlé, senior product manager for FEIG Electronic. “As a respected contactless payment technology company, FEIG applies security know-how from its payment terminals, which are fully certified according to the latest high-class security standards, into our RFID systems. FEIG vehicle access control RFID readers incorporate advanced secure key storage elements, supporting various methods for secure key injection.”

FEIG’s partner ISBC Group provided the knowledge and support for this successful implementation using  FEIG’s long-range UHF RFID . The resulting system enables authorized vehicle entry into areas reserved for private residential use or corporate tenants, while also allowing availability of temporary, fee-based visitor parking. Thanks to the cryptographic authentication of UCODE DNA, both the tag and reader must go through an authentication procedure before the reader will validate the data from the tag, which is transmitted wirelessly. This level of authentication is typically used in the most secure data communication networks.

“The system’s two-step authentication means that only authorized equipment can handle the secure protocol and the data exchange with the UCODE DNA based tag. Without the required cryptographic secrets, other readers would query the tag in vain, because the tag’s response cannot be interpreted or understood,” said Andrey Krasovskiy, director of the RFID department at ISBC Group. “On top of this, each data exchange in the authentication process is unique, so even if a malicious actor were to intercept the communication, the transmission is only good for a single exchange and the tag’s unique identity is protected from cloning.”

Established in 1992 and still growing, Moscow-City is the revitalization and transformation of an industrial riverfront into a new, modern, vibrant and upscale business and residential district. A mix of residential, hotel, office, retail and entertainment facilities, it is located about four kilometers west of Red Square along the Moscow River. Twelve of the twenty-three planned facilities have already been completed, with seven currently under construction. Six skyscrapers in Moscow-City reach a height of at least 300 meters, including Europe’s tallest building, Federation Tower, which rises more than 100 stories.

Partnering with ISBC and deploying FEIG Electronic RFID solutions, the Moscow International Business Center is delivering security and access control to its city center today, as it grows into the city of tomorrow.

About FEIG ELECTRONIC

FEIG ELECTRONIC GmbH, a leading global supplier of RFID readers and antennas is one of the few suppliers worldwide offering RFID readers and antennas for all standard operating frequencies: LF (125 kHz), HF (13.56 MHz), UHF (860-960 MHz). A trusted pioneer in RFID with more than 50 years of industry experience, FEIG ELECTRONIC delivers unrivaled data collection, authentication, and identification solutions, as well as secure contactless payment systems. Readers from FEIG ELECTRONIC, which are available for plug-in, desktop, and handheld applications, support next-generation contactless credit cards, debit cards, smart cards, NFC and access control credentials to enable fast, accurate, reliable and secure transactions. For more information, visit:  www.feig.de/en

Founded in Moscow in 2002, ISBC Group provides knowledge and support to integrators for their successful implementation of RFID and smart card-based solutions. The company specializes in the distribution of smart card equipment, contact and contactless card manufacturing, smart card and RFID personalization services, and information security.  Its Research and Design Center is focused specifically on RFID, primarily HF and UHF solutions with NXP tags, and software development for the smart card industry. For more information visit:  https://isbc-cards.com/

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Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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