Groovy (named for the song Feelin' Groovy)** is a Glenn Henderson
designed 2008 Hunter 44DS (Deck Salon). A fractional sloop, it is 44
feet long and 14' 6" feet wide with two staterooms and two heads.
Hunter 44DS Model History
First introduced by Hunter Marine in 2002 as the Hunter 426, the aft
cabin was changed a little and the model name changed to "44DS" in
2003. Production ran from 2003 to 2008. In 2008 the the deck and
cabin were modified to accommodate twin helms instead of a single
helm, the forward berth was changed from a v-berth to a pullman style,
and the window pattern was changed to a wraparound band to match
the popular Hunter 45CC. These changes saw the model name
change to "45DS," and as of 2011 it is still in production.
Along with the Hunter 426 and 45DS, the 44DS shares its hull with the
Hunter 44AC (Aft Cockpit) and Hunter 45CC (Center Cockpit). Each of
those boats has the same hull but a different deck and cabin layout.
Groovy is hull #252 for the 44DS model line, where the numbering
started at #101. Built in May, 2007, it was the last Hunter 44DS ever
built. Click here for more information on the Hunter 44DS.
Groovy is a stock boat with Hunter's "Mariner Package," a collection of upgrades sold as a unit. Because the boat was built
after the replacement model (45DS) was in production, it features a few of the components that are standard on that model,
including a laminate cherry interior, which we love, and a larger fuel tank, which has come in very handy.
Specifications
Length Overall (LOA)
43' 4"
Waterline Length (LWL)
39' 2"
Beam
14' 6"
Draft
6' 6"
Displacement
22,936 lbs
Ballast
7,237 lbs
Mast Height
60' 8"
Sail Area
975 sq. ft.
Fuel Capacity
66 gallons
Water Capacity
140 gallons
Holding Tank Capacity
45 gallons
Water Heater Capacity
11 gallons
Yanmar Diesel Engine
54 hp
CE Classification
A/10
We installed many upgrades to enable comfortable cruising
where we can stay at anchor for months at a time without
having to rely on marinas for water or electrical connections.
House Batteries
640 Amp Hours (Four AGM 4D 12 volt)
Charging
555 Watts Solar / 100 Amp Alternator on engine / 130 Amp 110v Charger (via shore power)
Inverters
600 Watts Pure Sine Wave / 2500 Watts Modified Sine Wave / 2 portable Modified Sine Wave
Watermaker
38 Gallons per hour, engine driven Echotech watermaker
Downwind Sailing
Twin jib "Twizzle Rig" set on two fixed length whisker poles.
Anchors
66 lb Ultra primary with 300' 5/16" G4 chain
32 lb Fortress FX-55 secondary with 20' 5/16" BBB chain and 300' 7/8" Nylon Rode
15 lb Manson Supreme stern anchor w/ 5' 3/8" G4 chain and 230' 1" Nylon Rode
Dinghies
10' Porta-bote with a Suzuki 6 hp outboard
Hobie i14t tandem inflatable kayak
A GAZILLION BOATS FOR SALE... WHICH ONE WOULD MAKE US HAPPIEST?
When we set about buying a boat, the major trade-offs we found
were age, size, price and manufacturer's prestige. In an earlier life I
owned two boats back to back that were the exact same model, the
Nonsuch 36. This is a wonderful boat for cruising and living aboard,
and I lived aboard for four years in Boston, Massachusetts in the
early 1990's (brrrr...those winters were cold). The first year I was on
a 1984 model that had been ridden hard and put away wet. After
watching in great distress as my then-husband repeatedly chased
down a spider web of unmarked cables and miles of smelly plumbing
hoses in a putrid bilge, we upgraded to a 1991 model of the same
boat that had been lavishly commissioned and meticulously
maintained.
What a world of difference. You would never know they were the
same model boat. Instead of him spending hours kinked up in
impossible positions in noxious nooks and crannies while I embarked
on massive shopping sprees at West Marine, we enjoyed three
terrific summers of boating together. We watched sunsets and
sunrises in pretty anchorages and experienced countless utterly
brilliant days of sailing. There is nothing like a boat made up of
sparkling clean parts that work. Therefore, when Mark and I started
thinking about buying a boat, our first two criteria were that it be in
superior condition and as new as possible.
After living in trailers full-time for so long, we also knew that size
mattered to us. For full-time liveability, we found bigger is better.
With age and size the top priorities, and a maximum budgeted
price, there were only three manufacturers whose boats we could
afford: Hunter, Beneteau and Catalina. These are the Ford-
Chevy-Dodge of the sailboat industry (not in any particular order).
All three are American made. Beneteaus are French designed but
built in South Carolina. Hunters and Catalinas are designed and
built in Florida.
Our top priorities for livability included a huge cockpit where
we could stretch out to sleep, a long settee in the main salon
where we could nap, and two good sized staterooms (rather
than three as in many models). Brokers thought we were
crazy when the first thing we did as we stepped aboard a
prospective boat was to lie down in the cockpit to see if the
benches were long and wide enough to sleep on. But hey,
this boat would become our home, and we like to be
comfortable and relax!
Next in importance was a large swim platform and cockpit
shower, as we envisioned frequent swims off the back of the
boat and we knew we would need easy access to the dinghy
when we lived at anchor, especially hauling groceries,
daypacks, trash and laundry bags in and out. Lastly, we wanted
an airy, spacious interior. Other than that, we weren't fussy, but
after attending dozens of boat shows, visiting fifty or more boats
with brokers, and many Caribbean charters, we found that the
Hunter models spoke to us more than the others, and of those
only the Hunter 41DS and 44DS made the cut. The faltering
economy worked in our favor, suddenly making the larger of the
two boats a viable option.
A visit to the Hunter factory assured us that not only are their boats
cleverly designed and chock full of innovative features, but they are
well built to boot. We came away from every contact we had with
Hunter impressed that it is a quality company that employs a loyal
group of happy employees. Their phenomenal customer service
since we purchased Groovy (15 minute turnaround time on almost
every emailed question we've ever sent) has driven that point home
to us time and again.
Best of all, Groovy is a dream to sail. With an easily driven
hull, the boat is light on its feet, easy to reef, responsive
and forgiving. A delight to live in and fun to sail, it is an
excellent platform for extended cruising.
** When we named our boat, it was the only boat with the name Groovy in the US Coast Guard Documentation database. So
we were quite surprised when we discovered over a year later that she has a sistership of the same name bearing a non-US
flag: Jimmy Buffet of Margaritaville fame races his Groovy in the Caribbean. Far out!!