2005 Hunter 260

The owner bought this boat in 2017

General condition and any additional information

Sailing Vessel Orion is on its trailer ready for your total inspection and is due for its bi-annual bottom job.

The Hunter 260 is one of a new breed of trailerable cruisers that mixes sparkling performance with a comfortable interior. Its a perfect boat for a small family with many activities vying for limited vacation time. This growing trend that manufacturers like Hunter have responded to with boats that are easy to trailer, quick to rig and easy to sail. A boat that can cruise at 65 down the highway, arrive at pristine cruising grounds miles from home and then get you home after a long weekend is a valuable commodity. The Hunter 260 is such a boat. This 260 standard version has a swing centerboard that draws 6 feet when lowered and has a water ballast system that makes it ideal for towing by allowing you to add 2,000 pounds of water ballast displacement after launching. The displacement without the water ballast is 3,000 pounds, which is well within the towing capacity of most full-size cars and SUVs. An 9.9 -horsepower Honda outboard on a stern bracket provides the 260’s propulsion, and the wheel steering provides excellent fingertip control. Underway the 260 has a full-batten main and standard, 110-percent jib using halyards that led neatly back to the cockpit. The boat accelerates and tracks well to windward in a light chop. The 260 comes with a jiffy reefing system that can be handled from the large companionway. To go forward while sailing, you have to clamber over the high cabinhouse inevitable in a trailerable 26-footer that has a spacious interior. The deck layout is well thought out, with a spacious cockpit, contoured benches and optional built-in seats in the stern pulpit for taking in the view. The boat is equipped with a wheel steering which provides a big boat feel on a 26 foot boat. The walkthrough stern boasts a short, hinged swimming ladder and a convenient platform for securing the kickup rudder. The fractional rig with its support struts is mounted in an easy-to-use tabernacle on deck and includes an ingenious hinge system to ease rigging of the boat. A deep well in the foredeck keeps both anchor and rode out of the way until needed, and a convenient bow roller is close to hand, which are touches in a trailer boat of this size. The boat includes an enclosed head and a full galley. Hunter is famous for its interior design and has gussied up the 260 with all the comforts of home. With the exception of the head compartment with sink, vanity and enclosed head, the interior is open. The starboard side galley comes with a small sink, water system and butane stove. An insulated cooler located in a built-in locker serves as an icebox. The overall effect is attractive and airy, with a nice finish and well-chosen colors creating a welcoming space below. A huge U-shaped dinette surrounds the cabin table. There are three opening ports and large windows that provide light and ventilation. A V-berth in the bow has curtains for some privacy. The main double berth is aft. There is plenty of space for a couple or a family with two young children, although more than four adults would probably feel like a crowd after a few days. The list of standard features goes on and on: full electrical system, hanging wet locker, recessed fuel tank locker in the cockpit, wellthought-out dish storage in the galley and positive flotation. The inventory even includes PFDs, a fire extinguisher. The 260 is designed with a specific market in mind: younger sailing families, many of them owning a larger cruising boat for the first time. Hunter has taken great care to make the 260s appeal as wide as possible with a balance of reasonable sailing performance and a comprehensive range of live-aboard features usually found on much larger boats. This well-designed trailer boat represents state-of-the-art thinking in this segment of the marketplace.

Standard features

https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/uploads/260_1997-2005.pdf

Hunter 260 Sailing Vessel “Orion”

STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Acrylic Cabin Windows (6) Acrylic Windshield Opening Ports (3) Water Ballast COCKPIT: Coaming Storage Compartments Contoured Seats Foot Brace and Cockpit Table Support Recessed Tank Locker Walk-Thru Transom Electrical: Battery Boxes (2) Cabin Lights Masthead Anchor Lights Running LIghts Steaming Light 12V System w/Panel and Fuses Lowrance Chart Plotter Raymarine Speed and Depth Instrument Marine Radio 2 X 12 Volt Deep Cycle Batteries (Both new in 9/20220 Head: Enclosed Head Compartment Convertible Double V-Berth with Privacy Curtain Double Aft Berth Tinted/Wood Hatch Boards 5 Gallon Grey Water Holding Tank Galley: Butane Stove Counter with Sink 5 Gallon Water Supply Tank Dish Storage with Dishes Marine Cooler Electrical Pump Water System Rigging: Boom Topping Lift Boom Vang Easy Mast Raising/Lowing System Fractional Rig with Support Struts Full Batten Mainsail Halyard with Sheet Winches Internal Halyards Leading to Cockpit Line Organizers 4:1 Mainsheet System Mast Crutch for Trailering Outhaul Winch Handles (2) Deck/Hull: 100% Hand-Laid Fiberglass Hull Kick Up Rudder Molded Non-Skid Deck Surfaces Mooring Cleats Outboard Motor Bracket Positive Flotation Recessed Anchor Well Swing Centerboard with Line to Cockpit Stainless Steel Bow Pulpit, Stanchions and Lifelines Stainless Steel Folding Swim Ladder General Safety Group: Anchor with 100’ of Line Electric Auto Bilge Pump Fire Extinguisher Personal Flotation Devices Manual Tiller in case of Wheel Steering Failure

Extra gear included

Many Extra items included

Improvements to the hull, deck, rigging, engine, or interior

Boat is kept at home and in excellent shape

Included Options/Upgrades: Anchor Roller Bimini (6 ft) Navy Blue Aluminum Frame (New) Bimini (4 ft) Navy Blue Stainless Frame (Included) Companionway Canvas Navy Blue (New) Compass Fabric Cushions – Interior Rebuilt Galvanized Trailer specifically for the Hunter 260 Mainsail Cover Navy Blue (New) 2005 9.9 HP Honda High Output Motor (extra prop included) Roller Furling Jib Stern Rail Seats Wheel Steering 5000 BTU Window Portable A/C (Included) Holly and Teak Cabin Floor (extra included) 30’ 30 Amp Shore Power Cord with 110 V Adapter Portable Fan Breeze Booster Self Supporting Fwd Hatch Ventilator Teak Cockpit Drink Holder and Table 3 x 5 Gallon Gasoline Tanks Many Extra items included