Hunter 426

Hunter 426 DS

Development
Designer	Glenn Henderson
Location	United States
Year	2003
Builder(s)	Hunter Marine
Name	Hunter 426 DS
Boat
Boat weight	23,600 lb (10,705 kg)
Draft	6.5 ft (2.0 m)
Hull
Type	Monohull
Construction	Fiberglass
LOA	41.83 ft (12.75 m)
LWL	39.17 ft (11.94 m)
Beam	14.17 ft (4.32 m)
Engine type	Yanmar 56 hp (42 kW) diesel engine
Hull appendages
Keel/board type	fin keel
Ballast	7,237 lb (3,283 kg)
Rudder(s)	internally-mounted spade-type rudder
Rig
Rig type	Bermuda rig
I foretriangle height	47.83 ft (14.58 m)
J foretriangle base	14.67 ft (4.47 m)
P mainsail luff	46.75 ft (14.25 m)
E mainsail foot	20.50 ft (6.25 m)
Sails
Sailplan	Fractional B&R rigged sloop
Total sail area	962 sq ft (89.4 m2) actual
Racing
PHRF	117 (average)
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). ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

The Hunter 426 DS was developed into the 2003 Hunter 44, with a redesigned aft cabin. ^[6]

Production

The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States starting in 2003, but it is now out of production. ^{[1] [2]}

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 23,600 lb (10,705 kg) and carries 7,237 lb (3,283 kg) of lead ballast with the fin keel and 7,389 lb (3,352 kg) of lead ballast with the wing keel. ^[1]

The boat has a draft of 6.50 ft (1.98 m) with the standard keel and 5.00 ft (1.52 m) with the optional shoal draft keel. ^[1]

The boat is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar diesel engine of 56 hp (42 kW). The fuel tank holds 51 U.S. gallons (190 L; 42 imp gal) and the fresh water tank has a capacity of 140 U.S. gallons (530 L; 120 imp gal). ^[1]

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. ^[4]

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 117. It has a hull speed of 8.39 kn (15.54 km/h). ^[7]

Variants

Hunter 426 AC

This model has a conventional aft cockpit. ^[5]

Hunter 426 DS

This model has a raised coach house roof and larger ports, giving more headroom and light below decks. ^{[1] [7] [4]}

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." ^[8]

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." ^[9]

See also

• List of sailing boat types

Related design

• Hunter 44

Similar sailboats

• C&C 43-1
• C&C 43-2
• Hunter 43 Legend
• Hunter 420
• Hunter 430

References

1. Browning, Randy (2018). "Hunter 426 DS sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
2. McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Hunter Marine". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
3. McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Glenn Henderson". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
4. Hunter Marine. "Hunter 426 DS" (PDF). www.marlow-hunter.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
5. Hunter Marine. "Hunter 426 AC" (PDF). www.marlow-hunter.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
6. Emily & Mark Fagan (2017). "Hunter 44DS Sailboat: s/v Groovy". Road Less Travelled. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
7. InterVisionSoft LLC (2018). "Sailboat Specifications for Hunter 426 DS". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
8. Perry, Robert (5 May 2003). "Hunter 426". Sailing magazine. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
9. Nicholson, Darrell (28 May 2003). "Hunter 426 DS". Cruising World. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2018.

External links

• Official brochure