The Hunter 30T Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

Published Specification for the Hunter 30T

Underwater Profile: Wing keel

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 30'1" (9.2m)

Waterline Length: 26'4" (8.0m)

Beam: 11'0" (3.4m)

Draft: 4'3" (1.3m)

Rig Type: Fractional rig

Displacement: 10,500lb (4,763kg)

Ballast: 3,800lb (1,724kg)

Designer: Hunter Marine

Builder: Hunter Marine (USA)

Year First Built: 1991

Year Last Built: 1994

Published Design Ratios for the Hunter 30T

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 14.5

• Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
• 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
• Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 36.2

• Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
• Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 257

• Under 100: Ultralight
• 100 to 200: Light
• 200 to 275: Moderate
• 275 to 350: Heavy
• Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 24.2

• Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
• 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
• 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
• 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
• Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.01

• Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
• Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Hunter 30T

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 14.5 suggests that the Hunter 30T will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 36.2 would usually mean that the Hunter 30T would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in her wing keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 257, tells us the Hunter 30T is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 24.2 suggests that crew comfort of a Hunter 30T in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not the best of news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula of 2.01 tells us that a Hunter 30T would not be as good a choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making, owing to the increased risk of capsize in strong winds and heavy seas when compared to a sailboat with a CSF of less than 2.0.