List Your Boat — Free
Home/ Boats/ Hunter Marine (Usa)/ Hunter 28/ Known Issues
Known Issues & Common Problems

Hunter 28 Known Issues

Common problems, survey red flags, and what to inspect before buying a Hunter 28.

+ Add to Compare

These are the most commonly reported problems on the Hunter 28, compiled from surveys, owner reports, and marine forums. Use this list as a pre-purchase inspection checklist — especially the high-severity items.

7
Known Issues
2 High 4 Medium 1 Low
Accommodations
Low
Hunter's modular liner system used on this generation snaps or glues into place and is not fully bonded to the hull. This can result in the liner pulling away from the hull in areas, trapping moisture and making bilge inspection difficult.
Engine
Medium
Boats of this era were typically fitted with a Yanmar 1GM10 or similar small single-cylinder diesel in a tight stern compartment with limited access. Raw water impeller and heat exchanger access is poor, and routine maintenance is often deferred, leading to overheating problems.
Hull/Deck
Medium
Hunter during this era used a deck-to-hull joint bonded and screwed through an outward-turned flange covered by a rub rail. The rub rail fasteners and underlying joint frequently allow water intrusion, leading to saturated balsa core in the deck near the hull join.
Medium
Hunter used balsa core extensively in the deck of this model. Areas around stanchion bases, cleats, and chainplates are particularly prone to core saturation because original through-deck hardware was often not properly bedded at the factory.
High
The chainplate knees on this model are glassed to the inner hull liner rather than to a structural bulkhead. This tabbing can delaminate over time, causing chainplate movement under load. Inspect the interior liner around chainplate attachment points for cracking or separation.
Keel
High
The wing keel attachment on Hunter 28 models uses a relatively shallow keel stub with bolts that are prone to weeping and corrosion. The wide wing keel creates significant leverage in a grounding event, and the keel-to-hull joint should be carefully inspected for stress cracks, soft spots, or gelcoat fractures radiating from the stub.
Rigging
Medium
The mast step on the Hunter 28 is deck-stepped on a relatively lightly built support structure. The compression post below the mast step should be inspected for checking, rot (if wood), or movement, as inadequate support is a known issue on this generation of Hunter boats.
Know of an issue we're missing?
Help fellow sailors — share survey findings, recurring problems, or things you wish you'd known before buying.
✉️ Submit an Issue