A Few Observations

Watching the world go by in Nanny Cay

Length.  I’m uncertain why the owner’s manual states the LOA as 44’3’’.  If it’s called a ‘460’, I assume that means 46’ long.  Sales advertisements describe the 460 as being 46’, some 46’1”.  May be Hunter could throw some light on that or perhaps the bow fitting extends the hull length.  One day I’ll get out the tape measure…. 

Seaworthiness. Information we’ve since read (eg. sales brochures or magazine reviews) describes the Hunter 460 as having been certified in Europe as a Category A vessel for offshore voyaging.  

Dinghy is sturdy enough to use as a diving platform

Ex-Charter Yachts. Don’t be afraid to buy an ex-charter yacht.  Advantages for us were that the boat came equipped with a full complement of crockery/cutlery, pots/pans and some bedding.  The interior was clean and came up well with a little TLC.  The island settee had been removed; we assumed because it offered more open space below.  Even though we could have used more easy-to-access storage space, we didn’t replace it.  WJ3 came with a sizeable dinghy and outboard, and a few cruising charts/guides.  The sails were in good condition and the engine had benefited from regular (not over) use.  We felt we saved a few dollars with all these extras and it gave us time to replace items at our leisure eg. decent bed linen was hard to find in the Caribbean.  Overall, concerns can be raised at the time of a survey.  A survey is always money well spent as they reveal hidden defects anyway. 

WJ3's roomy layout

Living Easily.  We were impressed with Jeanneau’s (DS 42) accommodation plan.  It had an easy living layout of 2 cabins, a centreline queen bed (no climbing over each other to get out in the middle of the night) and a separate storeroom for all those tools, sails and other “garage” items you accumulate.  The Hunter 460 also offered us this opportunity.  It didn’t take long to turf out the mattress and set up a workshop in the third cabin aft of the galley.  But in the interests of compromise, finding something that satisfies all your (& the crew’s) needs is highly unlikely.  Life is a compromise, but you can get close.