Hunter 23.5

Description

The Hunter 23.5 is an American trailerable family cruiser designed by the Hunter Design Team and built by Hunter Marine from 1992 to 1998, with roughly 1,500 hulls produced as a direct evolution of the hugely successful Hunter 23. At 23 feet 7 inches LOA with an 8-foot 4-inch beam and a light all-up trailering weight of around 3,500 lbs, it introduced Hunter’s innovative water-ballast system: 1,100 lbs of water fill twin under-seat tanks in about 5 minutes for stability, then dump in 30 seconds for easy ramp retrieval (draft 1 ft 6 in empty / 5 ft 6 in full). The fractional rig carries a fully battened mainsail of 136 sq ft plus a roller-furling 110–150% genoa (total upwind ~250 sq ft), with an optional asymmetrical spinnaker on a retractable bowsprit. Stand-out features include a walk-through open transom with swim ladder, a pop-top that gives over 6 feet of headroom, a surprisingly roomy interior with V-berth, two long settees that make a double, an aft “honeymoon” double berth under the cockpit, enclosed head, and a proper galley with sink and icebox. Quick to rig, forgiving, and genuinely comfortable for a family of four or five on weekends, the Hunter 23.5 remains one of the most popular and recognizable small trailer-sailers in North America, with active owner groups and strong resale values today.