Good Old Boat Issue 142: Jan/Feb 2022

so a 1997 model could be either a 26 or 260. Most Hunter 26s had tiller steering, while the Hunter 260 was available with Edson wheel steering as a popular option. With the 260, Hunter began using

backstay, as Hunter came to believe in full-batten, large-roach mainsails and smaller jibs. The 260 went a step further with the three-stay B&R rig that incorporates reverse diagonal bracing stays and solid struts at deck level. The rig was devel- oped by Lars Bergstrom

an innovative interchange- able molded section in the cockpit and transom so they could build the tiller and wheel versions with different transoms without needing different hull molds. The tiller-steered boats have a wide-open transom down to the small swim platform. On both versions, the outboard is offset to starboard. Key features of the 26/260 are the retractable, lightly weighted centerboard and rudder that allow for skinny-water anchoring and beaching with only 1 foot 9 inches of draft. On both boats, the centerboard protrudes below the bottom

of the hull while retracted, so one needs to be mindful in thin,

compression tube. The centerboard pivot is below the step. The 26/260 has foam flota- tion in many cavities, and while this is a reassuring feature, it can be a hassle if running new wires or plumbing. There was an optional fixed-bulb wing keel with 3 feet 6 inches of draft and a 9-horsepower Yanmar inboard diesel available on the 260; these models are called the Hunter 270. Rig The 26 has a fractional rig with swept-back spreaders and no

and Sven Ridder as a lighter alternative to conventional rigs.

rocky waters. Construction

Layup is with end-grain balsa core in the fiberglass hull and plywood in the deck, while the interior incorporates fiberglass pans. There are no bulkheads. The hull-to-deck joint is a modified shoebox bonded with glass and fastened with screws through the rubrail extrusion. Stanchions are held in place with glassed-in aluminum backing plates. The mast is supported with a chromed

A good look at the transom of a wheel- steered model, above. On tiller-steered boats there is no helm seat and the transom is completely open. The mainsheet tackle is fastened to the cockpit floor, handy to the helm of a tiller-steered boat, but not so much with a wheel. Not an issue with crew aboard, below left. The wheel-steered version of the Hunter 260 has a helm seat behind the wheel that also serves as a fuel tank storage locker, below.

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January/February 2022

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