1987 Hunter 28.5 — “Visual Dream”
Your Gateway to the Finest Sailing Waters in Canada
Kenora, Ontario | Lake of the Woods
Asking Price: $19,500
For the Prairie sailor dreaming of open water, or the Northwestern Ontario boater ready to step up to a serious bluewater-capable cruiser, Visual Dream is a ready-made opportunity. Berthed at Northern Harbour in Kenora, Ontario — just a scenic two and half hour drive from Winnipeg — this meticulously equipped 1987 Hunter 28.5 puts you at the doorstep of Lake of the Woods, one of the most celebrated sailing destinations in Canada. With over 14,000 islands, 65,000 miles of coastline, and legendary sunsets, there is no better place to own a boat like this.
Visual Dream is not a project — she is a proven, comfortable, turn-key cruiser ready for weekends, week-longs, and everything in between.
Specifications
| LOA | 28.42′ |
| LWL | 23.75′ |
| Beam | 10.50′ |
| Displacement | 7,000 lbs. |
| Ballast | 3,000 lbs. |
| Draft | 5.18′ |
| Fuel | 11 gal / 42 L |
| Water | 27 gal / 102 L |
| Year | 1987 |
The Boat
The Hunter 28.5 earned its reputation as one of the most capable and comfortable coastal cruisers of its generation. With a beam of 10.5 feet, she offers an interior that surprises everyone who steps below — spacious by any 28-foot standard, with genuine cruising range thanks to her 7,000 lb. displacement and deep, confident 3,000 lb. ballast keel. She is a stable, confidence-inspiring platform perfectly suited to the sometimes brisk and open conditions that Lake of the Woods is known for.
Power & Sailing
At the heart of Visual Dream is a Yanmar 2GM diesel engine — the gold standard in marine auxiliary power. Reliable, fuel-efficient, and easily serviced, it will get you in and out of harbour on the calmest or the windiest of days without complaint.
Under sail, she is equally well-sorted. A mainsail and 100% genoa with Harken roller furling make sail handling manageable for a couple or even a solo sailor. Two sets of Maxwell two-speed winches — a pair of #23 primaries and #20 coach roof winches — give you the mechanical advantage to handle the rig comfortably in a blow.
A Bruce 7.5 kg anchor with 200 feet of rode and a custom anchor mount and roller means you’re always ready to find a quiet anchorage among the islands — and there are thousands to choose from.
Comfort & Cockpit
Visual Dream has been outfitted with the kind of thoughtful gear that separates a true cruising boat from a bare-bones day sailor:
- Full enclosure with bimini, dodger, and connector panel — Pacific Blue Sunbrella canvas by Genco with Lexan windows and screens, extending your season well into the cool shoulder months of May and September
- 2 Pacific Blue Sunbrella folding cockpit seats — matching and stylish
- Magma stern-rail mounted propane BBQ with cover — because no Lake of the Woods sunset is complete without something on the grill
- Teak cockpit tables and a teak folding ladder — classic touches that elevate the whole experience
- 3 inflatable fenders
- Panasonic AM/FM/CD stereo with two interior speakers and two Pioneer cockpit speakers
Below Decks
Step below and you’ll find a genuinely liveable cruising interior:
- New head installed 2021 — a significant and appreciated upgrade
- Pressurized hot and cold water in both galley and head
- 5-gallon hot water tank with engine intercooler — hot showers after a day on the water
- 11-gallon holding tank
- 2-burner non-pressurized alcohol stove
- Icebox
- Lee Valley airtight garbage can — a practical Prairie-sailor touch
- Solar vent for below-deck air circulation on warm summer nights
- 2 × 12-volt batteries with Guest battery charger
- Shore power connection
- Horizon Maxi Standard marine VHF radio
- 2 hatches for light and ventilation
Location & Opportunity
Visual Dream is currently on her berth at Northern Harbour, Kenora, Ontario — one of the finest marina facilities on Lake of the Woods, and a hub for the region’s active sailing community. For buyers from Winnipeg or the surrounding area, Kenora represents an easy and accessible home port. For Northwestern Ontario sailors, she is already right in your backyard.
Lake of the Woods is a sailor’s paradise — big enough to challenge and reward, island-studded enough to explore for a lifetime, and close enough to make every weekend count.
May be seen at Northern Harbour. Shown by appointment.