Hunt Yachts: 32 Center Console

It’s hard not to feel self-conscious when you find yourself surrounded by young professional sailors, fishermen, and other twenty-somethings. They’re at the top of their game: no family, no 9-to-5, and a body that still bounces back from a pummeling day after day. Even worse, too many small boats these days seem to be designed exclusively for such die-hard boaters, leaving the rest of us feeling like we’ve gone 12 rounds with Floyd Mayweather instead of just out to the canyons for a few hours of fishing.

The Hunt 32cc combines the attributes of a center-console fishing boat with the amenities of a dayboat. Photo by Billy Black

Which is precisely why it was such a relief to step aboard the brand-new 32' center console from Hunt Yachts, the 32cc, and instantly recognize that at last someone had built a boat for the rest of us—the weekend warriors. 

From the moment I boarded, the boat seemed to be celebrating my mid-life status. My creaky joints thanked me for using the built-in, port-side extended center-console step to retrieve the spring lines—no deep knee-bends needed. And while I’d like to think that the throttles on the twin Yamaha outboards could’ve gotten me out of our tight slip without a scratch, the Yamaha Helm Master joystick control kept my departure stress-free. Lastly, the ample storage made the fenders and docklines disappear quickly, helping my parental need for a clutter-free deck.

Once we’d cleared Hunt’s protected dock in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, though, the 32cc showed me that my days of enjoying a thrill ride weren’t entirely over. Though the 32cc comes standard with Yamaha 250s (an inboard is also an option), the boat we tested, Hull No. 1, was equipped with twin 300s, an upgrade that helped the signature Hunt deep-V hull jump out of the hole in an instant, even while pushing a sizeable 9,000-pound displacement. An automatic trim system brought the bow down so naturally that my passengers might’ve thought I did it myself! Throwing the throttles down summoned up an impressive 5200 RPM and sent us down Narragansett Bay at highway speeds. But the glass console surround let me enjoy the speed without the windblown, teardrop-inducing rush that is too often experienced at such velocities.

The pitfall of a center-console boat is that sometimes the helmsman is the only comfortable person aboard. On the 32cc, though, the wide console keeps the wind off the transom bench (which folds up for fishing), and even the J-shaped forward seating area is comfortable at all but top speed. By extending the console across the port side, while still allowing a standard walk-through to starboard, Hunt has created a boat that serves many masters.

Below decks, the extended console has also opened up options barely imaginable on a dayboat like this. The galley includes a microwave, mini-fridge, and plenty of counter space. A bifold door keeps the cabin spacious while also allowing for a full head and shower (there’s another shower outside, should you want to hose off on the swim platform). The portside bunk seems a bit cozy for a grownup, but for small children who need a nap it’d be just the ticket. And with an aft-facing doorway, those kids can safely come up on deck when they awake—a design feature that shows how in tune Hunt’s design crew is to the needs and daily lives of their target customers.

The 32cc will not be a fit for every boating family’s desire or resources. But if you’re proud to claim your status on Friday night as a weekend warrior, I’d say there are few boats on the market that will let you do it in as much style.     

LOA  32'1"
Beam  10'6"
Draft  1'6" (hull)/2'1" (prop)
Displ.  9,000 lbs. (fully loaded)
Fuel  225 gals.
Water  25 gals.

Builder:
Hunt Yachts
Portsmouth, RI
401-683-3627
www.huntyachts.com

Joshua F. Moore is a writer and editor based in midcoast Maine. He serves as vice president of USHarbors.com, an online resource for boaters and other coastal travelers.