Description
The Hunter 140 (built 1998–2010, with thousands produced) is a hugely popular American rotomolded daysailer designed by the Hunter Design Team as a modern, nearly indestructible alternative to the Sunfish 14 and Laser 2. At 14 feet LOA with a 5-foot 10-inch beam and an all-up weight of just 185 lbs (hull only ~140 lbs), it is one of the lightest, easiest-to-car-top or dolly-launch 14-footers ever made.
Built from tough, UV-resistant polyethylene using a twin-sheet thermoforming process, the boat is virtually unsinkable thanks to closed-cell foam sandwiched between the inner and outer hull shells. It features a roller-furling 100 sq ft fully battened mainsail (Dacron or optional Mylar) on an unstayed aluminum mast that steps in seconds, an optional 35 sq ft roller-furling jib (total upwind ~135 sq ft), and a clever kick-up rudder and centerboard that draw only 6 inches up and 3 feet down. The cockpit comfortably seats four adults or an instructor plus three kids, with high coamings, built-in flotation, and a self-bailing well.
Quick to rig (under 10 minutes), forgiving, and capable of planning in 12–15 knots, the Hunter 140 became the default choice for sailing schools, resorts, community programs, and families across North America. It is still actively raced in one-design fleets in the Midwest and Southeast, and because the plastic hull shrugs off docks, rocks, and decades of abuse, good used examples remain plentiful and very affordable today.
