The Hunter 30T Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Hunter 30T, a fractionally rigged sloop, was designed and built in the USA by Hunter Marine. The 'T' refers to the shape of the cockpit.

Hunter 30TThe Hunter 30T

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

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.

Other sailboats in the Hunter range include:

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