Despite the model name, the boat measures 39 feet 1 inch overall, with a 35-foot 8-inch waterline and a beam of 13 feet 1 inch. It is a very big 37-foot boat, fitting accommodation usually associated with a 40-footer into a relatively modest overall length. It shouldn’t be confused with the 1978 Hunter 37 cutter or the 1986 Hunter 37 Legend, two earlier generations that reused the designation.
Design and Construction
The 37 has an assertive modern profile, marked by a dramatic port-side window, a fine concave bow, a hard-chined hull, and generous beam aft. The lines can look ungainly on paper, but the boat is attractive and striking afloat. The concave bow section is intended to reduce pitching by helping the hull cut through waves, while the hard chine running from the beam aft contributes to stability.
Below the waterline, the hull is solid laminate; the topsides are cored with end-grain balsa. The exterior laminate uses 3-ounce fiberglass cloth in vinylester resin, finished with an NPG gelcoat to resist osmotic blistering. The interior layers use a blended polyester/epoxy resin, and Kevlar reinforces likely forward impact areas.
The deck is also balsa-cored. Through-bolted hardware sits over aluminum backing plates set into solid laminate. The standard ballast keel is iron, although lead can be specified, and a twin-keel version is offered in the UK market.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The Marlow-Hunter 37 carries a fractional B&R sloop rig with Seldén spars and no backstay. The mainsheet traveler sits on an overhead arch, keeping the sheet clear of the cockpit while leaving it within reach of the helm. Jib sheets also lead aft to the helm.
On the test boat, the jib sheets ran to a pair of electric Lewmar Revo reversible winches. In theory, these allow the overlapping jib to be tacked without touching the sheets. There’s no baby stay for the jib to foul on, and the dual-ended mainsheet allows the helmsman to trim without leaving the wheel.
In light air, the boat proved easy for a small crew to sail efficiently. In just 3 to 5 knots of true wind, it made 3 knots closehauled at a 40-degree apparent angle. Cracked off onto a beam reach, speed rose to 3.5 knots. A 10-knot gust sent it along at 6 knots with a neutral, true helm and no lee helm.
In 12 to 14 knots, the 37 handled nicely closehauled at 7.5 to 8 knots. It heeled 10 to 15 degrees and carried about 10 degrees of weather helm. On a beam reach, the helm balanced at 6 to 6.5 knots. Tacking was quick and simple, and the boat is very easy to single-hand.
The absence of a backstay offers its full advantage only with the standard full-roach, full-batten mainsail. Most boats, however, leave the factory with a furling main.
Cockpit and Deck Gear
The cockpit is arranged with the shorthanded sailor in mind. High, comfortable coamings surround a single wheel rather than the Hunter 40’s twin wheels. On the test boat, a folding Lewmar wheel was mounted on a pedestal incorporating the Yanmar controls. Folding the wheel made it easier to move around the helm and board through the large fold-down transom platform.
The top of that platform doubles as a scalloped, teak-trimmed helm seat. Clean sidedecks feature collapsible fold-down cleats, while substantial coachroof handrails provide useful security. A huge port cockpit locker is easy to reach.
There is one layout drawback on the test boat: the cockpit provides nowhere to mount secondary winches.
Accommodations
The Marlow-Hunter 37 comes with a single interior layout. Large staterooms occupy each end of the boat, with the saloon, galley, and one head amidships. The available space is used efficiently.
The aft owner’s stateroom lies beneath the cockpit and has a large athwartships double berth with immediate access to the head. Vertical clearance over the middle of the berth is limited, however.
The forward stateroom gives up some berth size in exchange for greater privacy, better storage, superior light and ventilation, and 6 feet 6 inches of headroom. Its V-berth is adequate at the foot.
The starboard galley is generous, with abundant Corian counter space and room for refrigerators and a microwave. Cooking facilities include a two-burner gimbaled stove with an oven. The twin sinks are slightly shallow and positioned well to starboard, which can make them awkward to use when the boat is heeled hard on port tack.
The compact head makes efficient use of its space, fitting a toilet, vanity, and separate shower into one compartment. American cherry and teak woodwork, along with noteworthy craftsmanship, complete the spacious interior.
Practical Drawbacks
Access to the forward anchor well can be troublesome because the jib’s furling-line lead may foul the hatch. The anchor chain is stored beneath the forward V-berth. That position is good for weight distribution but makes the chain difficult to reach if it snags.
The shallow, starboard-offset galley sinks can also be inconvenient when heeled on port tack. These concerns are manageable design trade-offs rather than structural faults.
The Verdict
The Marlow-Hunter 37 is a thoroughly modern coastal cruiser that favors interior volume and easy handling over pretensions to race-circuit performance. Henderson’s B&R rig and arch-mounted traveler make it a genuine shorthanded boat, while the solid-laminate hull below the waterline, cored construction above, and Kevlar reinforcement forward are sensible choices for the class.
It is fast under sail and power, although downwind the small jib struggles behind the main-driven rig. For sailors looking for 40-footer-style accommodation in a boat of more modest overall length, the 37 offers considerable space and straightforward sail handling, with a handful of practical compromises.
Pros
- Very spacious accommodation for its length, comparable to that of a 40-footer
- Easy to sail and single-hand, with sheet controls within reach of the helm
- Solid-laminate hull below the waterline with blister-resistant gelcoat
- Folding transom platform doubles as a helm seat and eases boarding
Cons
- Forward anchor well and chain stowage can be awkward to access
- No cockpit space for secondary winches
- Furling mainsail limits the potential of the B&R rig’s backstay-free configuration
- Limited headroom over the center of the aft berth
