Hunter 426

{{Short description|Sailboat class}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2018}}

{{Infobox sailboat specifications

|name = Hunter 426 DS

|class_image =

|line drawing =

|line size =

|line alt =

|line caption =

|image boat =

|image size =

|image alt =

|image caption =

|designer = Glenn Henderson

|location = United States

|year = 2003

|no built =

|design =

|class =

|brand =

|builder = Hunter Marine

|role =

|boats =

|crew =

|trapeze =

|draft = {{convert|6.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|air draft =

|displacement = {{convert|23600|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|hulls =

|hull type = Monohull

|construction = Fiberglass

|loa = {{convert|41.83|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|loh =

|lwl = {{convert|39.17|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|beam = {{convert|14.17|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|hull draft =

|hull weight =

|engine = Yanmar {{convert|56|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} diesel engine

|appendages =

|keel type = fin keel

|ballast = {{convert|7237|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}

|rudder type = internally-mounted spade-type rudder

|rigs =

|rig type = Bermuda rig

|I = {{convert|47.83|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|J = {{convert|14.67|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|P = {{convert|46.75|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|E = {{convert|20.50|ft|m|abbr=on}}

|mast length =

|rig other =

|sails =

|sailplan = Fractional B&R rigged sloop

|sailarea main =

|sailarea headsail =

|lp =

|sailarea spin =

|sailarea gen =

|sails other =

|sailarea upwind =

|sailarea downwind =

|sailarea total = {{convert|962|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} actual

|rating =

|d-pn =

|rya-pn =

|phrf = 117 (average)

|status =

|previous =

|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).{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-426-ds|title = Hunter 426 DS sailboat specifications and details|access-date = 14 December 2018|last = Browning|first = Randy|work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2018|archive-url = https://archive.today/20220319133542/https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/hunter-426-ds|archive-date = 19 March 2022|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/builder/hunter-marine-usa|title = Hunter Marine|accessdate = 7 April 2022|last = McArthur|first = Bruce|work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2022|archive-url = https://archive.today/20200730183858/https://sailboatdata.com/builder/hunter-marine-usa|archive-date = 30 July 2020|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = https://sailboatdata.com/designer/henderson-glenn|title = Glenn Henderson|accessdate = 7 April 2022|last = McArthur|first = Bruce|work = sailboatdata.com|year = 2022|archive-url = https://archive.today/20220306003314/https://sailboatdata.com/designer/henderson-glenn|archive-date = 6 March 2022|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426-DS.pdf|title = Hunter 426 DS|access-date = 14 December 2018|author=Hunter Marine |work = www.marlow-hunter.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200930092435/https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426-DS.pdf|archive-date= 30 September 2020|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url = https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426AC.pdf|title = Hunter 426 AC|access-date = 14 December 2018|author=Hunter Marine |work = www.marlow-hunter.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200930093021/https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/426AC.pdf|archive-date= 30 September 2020|url-status= live}}

The Hunter 426 DS was developed into the 2003 Hunter 44, with a redesigned aft cabin.{{cite web|url = https://roadslesstraveled.us/hunter44ds/|title = Hunter 44DS Sailboat: s/v Groovy|access-date = 11 October 2017|work = Road Less Travelled|author = Emily & Mark Fagan|year = 2017|archive-url = https://archive.today/20220319133517/https://roadslesstraveled.us/hunter44ds/|archive-date = 19 March 2022|url-status = live}}

Production

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

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 {{convert|23600|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and carries {{convert|7237|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast with the fin keel and {{convert|7389|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} of lead ballast with the wing keel.

The boat has a draft of {{convert|6.50|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the standard keel and {{convert|5.00|ft|m|abbr=on}} with the optional shoal draft keel.

The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar diesel engine of {{convert|56|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The fuel tank holds {{convert|51|u.s.gal}} and the fresh water tank has a capacity of {{convert|140|u.s.gal}}.

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.

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 117. It has a hull speed of {{convert|8.39|kn|km/h|2|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/4686/hunter-426-ds|title = Sailboat Specifications for Hunter 426 DS |access-date = 14 December 2018|work = Sailing Joy|author= InterVisionSoft LLC|year = 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181215065803/http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/sailboat_specs/view/4686/hunter-426-ds|archive-date= 15 December 2018|url-status= dead}}

Variants

;Hunter 426 AC

:This model has a conventional aft cockpit.

;Hunter 426 DS

:This model has a raised coach house roof and larger ports, giving more headroom and light below decks.

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."{{cite web|url = https://sailingmagazine.net/article-223-hunter-426.html|title = Hunter 426|access-date = 14 December 2018|last = Perry|first = Robert|work = Sailing magazine|date = 5 May 2003|archive-url = https://archive.today/20220407173557/https://sailingmagazine.net/article-223-hunter-426.html|archive-date = 7 April 2022|url-status = live}}

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."{{cite web|url = https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/hunter-426-ds-finding-sweet-spot/|title = Hunter 426 DS|access-date = 14 December 2018|last = Nicholson|first = Darrell|work = Cruising World|date = 28 May 2003|archive-url = https://archive.today/20220407173559/https://www.cruisingworld.com/sailboats/hunter-426-ds-finding-sweet-spot/|archive-date = 7 April 2022|url-status = live}}

See also

References

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