Hunter 15 Buyer's Guide
The Hunter 15, known earlier as the Hunter 146 and now also sold as the Marlow-Hunter 15, is a 14-foot 6-inch trailerable dinghy built by Hunter Marine from 2003 onward and renamed in 2008. For a shopper scanning the used market, it presents as a light, unballasted daysailer with a fractional sloop rig and a retractable centerboard — a boat whose simplicity is its main selling point and its main limitation.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every example follows the same open-dinghy layout: a self-bailing cockpit with high freeboard, a transom-hung rudder on tiller, and a retractable centerboard giving 3 feet of draft board down or 6 inches retracted for beaching and trailering. There is no cabin, no ballast, and no enclosed accommodation — the boat carries a maximum of four people in the open cockpit. Hunter 146 badges and later Hunter 15 or Marlow-Hunter 15 markings are the only variation you will encounter, all sharing the 340-pound displacement and 6-foot 6-inch beam.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Because the design is a bare daysailer, most used boats carry only the original fractional sloop rig — mainsail, jib, tiller, and centerboard. Buyers should focus on the condition of the ACP hull and the rudder rather than expecting extensive equipment. Any trailer is a practical necessity given the boat's garage-storage and ground-transport role, and a fitted cover matters more than onboard gadgets. There is little scope for power, navigation, or comfort upgrades beyond what a day sailor needs; the boat was designed as a novice sailboat and stays that way.
What to Inspect
The construction is predominantly ACP with fiberglass and high freeboard, and the self-bailing cockpit is a core feature to confirm is clear and functional so shipped water exits fast. Check the retractable centerboard trunk and pivot for wear, since the board is the only anti-drift device and draws full depth when down. The open reverse transom and transom-hung rudder should be examined for stress at the mounting, and the absence of exterior wood means little varnish work but also no hidden rot paths.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Regional availability is not specified for this model. For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Verify the centerboard retracts smoothly and the trunk is sound
- Confirm the self-bailing cockpit drains freely
- Inspect the transom rudder mount and ACP hull for impact damage
- Budget for a trailer and cover rather than onboard systems
- Expect an open, unballasted trainer suited to day sailing, not cruising
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Hunter 15. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 1 | $999,999 | — |