Lee also designed a cabin version of the Squib in 1972, the Hunter 19, later called the Europa.

At that time it was renamed Hunter Boats Limited and by 1975 David Thomas became the main designer.

The Hunter Horizon 26 was the first of this new range of cruising sailboats and it won the Best Production Boat of the Year award when it was introduced in 1984.

The Hunter Horizon 32 also won Best Production Cruiser of the Year in 1987 as the company continued to specialize in cruising sailboats.

[1][2] Hunter Boats was bought out in 2003 by the Select Yachts Group and added to its portfolio of marine companies that included Cornish Crabbers, Red Fox Yachts, the Landau Launch Company and Cornish Diva.