Marlow-Hunter 31 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

A hard chine just below the waterline and a marked chine in the hull's after sections help to improve stability and add volume aft, while the wide 11'10" beam carried well aft gives the hull its distinctive plan-view shape. Writing in Cruising World, testers found the layup shop now uses biaxial cloth engineered so stress is carried in the right direction, with Kevlar forward to increase impact resistance and no chopper guns in use anchor. Below the waterline the boat is solid fiberglass, but in the topsides and deck the builder eliminated balsa core and replaced it with Nida-Core, a lighter and stiffer honeycomb panel, and vinylester resin was adopted to work against osmosis anchor. The result is a relatively shallow-draft boat of this size offered with a shoal keel of 4'5" or a deep fin of 5'5", the latter still a modest draft for the 12,000-pound displacement.

Rig and Handling

The 31 sports the company's familiar B&R rig, with swept-back spreaders that eliminate the backstay and the traveler atop a prominent stainless-steel arch over the cockpit anchor. The rig is dominated by the mainsail, with a relatively small and easily handled headsail, and the standard rig carries a large-roached main while an optional all-furling rig adds a mast more than five feet longer and keeps sail-area loss to seven percent. The arch necessitates a high gooseneck for the boom to clear it, elevating the sail plan. On the water, the long waterline and 581 square feet of sail will develop enough power for a good turn of speed in a decent breeze on a reach, though the boat won't be as quick as a more performance-oriented alternative and speed will inevitably suffer in lighter air and when sailing to windward. The cockpit side seats are moved right out to the edge of the hull, folding foot-rests let you brace when heeled, and a pair of corner seats in the pushpit extends leisure space.

Accommodations

Below, three wide and secure steps lead down to a saloon with headroom of 6'1". To starboard runs a linear galley with a gimballed two-burner gas stove-top and oven, a sink, a microwave, and a pair of top-opening integrated coolers that can be fitted with refrigerator and freezer. Forward of the galley is a short settee, opposite a larger L-shaped settee that converts to a double berth. The two cabins are both of decent size: a forward cabin with great headroom but a slightly smaller V-berth, and an athwartships aft bed below the cockpit that is huge though more enclosed. The head aft on the port side incorporates a separate stall shower. The centerpiece above is an expansive beam-to-beam cockpit that eschews traditional coamings, with an optional pivoting Lewmar wheel pedestal operated by foot pedal to swing side to side, wheel spokes that fold inward for transom access, and a folding table fitted as standard.

Equipment and Cockpit Detail

Deep rope bins integrated in the aft end of the cabin roof keep the cockpit tidy, and a transom hatch opens into a dedicated storage locker for surfboards or kayaks. The traveler arch also houses speakers, LED lights, and a bimini, while a double-ended main sheet runs one end to the cabin top. A step in the coachroof leads forward, and the standard 21 HP Yanmar diesel can be replaced by an optional 29 HP unit; fuel capacity is 21 gallons against 50 gallons of water.

The Verdict

The Marlow-Hunter 31 is a thoughtfully modern coastal cruiser that trades outright pace for livability and easy handling. Its B&R rig and voluminous hull make it a sensible choice for couples who value space and straightforward sail control over racing pedigree.

Pros