Hunter 306

Description

The Hunter 306 (built 2002–2006) is an American fractional-rig coastal cruiser designed by Glenn Henderson and built by Hunter Marine, with roughly 350 hulls produced as a direct replacement for the popular Hunter 29.5/290 series. At 29 feet 11 inches LOA (about 32 feet with the reverse transom and bowsprit) and a very generous 10-foot 6-inch beam, it has a moderate displacement of 8,900 lbs (3,350 lbs ballast) and was offered with either a shoal-draft wing keel (4 ft 4 in) or deeper bulb fin (5 ft 6 in). It features Hunter’s signature backstay-less B&R rig with swept spreaders, a large roachy fully battened mainsail (~260 sq ft), roller-furling 110% jib (~480 sq ft total upwind), and an optional asymmetrical spinnaker on a retractable carbon sprit—delivering surprisingly good performance (PHRF typically 165–180) and very easy short-handed sailing. Stand-out features include wheel steering with a Lewmar folding wheel, a huge T-shaped cockpit with full walk-through reverse transom and swim platform, and one of the brightest, most open interiors ever seen under 30 feet: enormous aft cabin with an athwartships queen-size berth, private forward V-berth, full galley with Corian counters and two-burner stove, enclosed head with separate shower stall, nav station, and a convertible dinette—genuinely sleeping six adults with over 6 ft 4 in headroom and superb ventilation. Fast, stiff, comfortable, and genuinely capable of week-long cruising for a family, the Hunter 306 remains extremely popular on the Chesapeake, Florida, and Great Lakes, with active owner groups and strong resale values today.