Marlow-Hunter 37 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 37 presents an aggressive modern profile with a dramatic port window accent, a fine concave bow, a hard-chined hull and generous beam aft. On paper the lines look ungainly, but afloat the result is attractive and striking. 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 all solid laminate, with the topsides cored in end-grain balsa. The exterior laminate layers are 3-ounce fiberglass cloth in vinylester resin finished with an NPG gelcoat to resist osmotic blistering, while the interior layers use a blended polyester/epoxy resin. Kevlar is added in likely forward impact areas anchor. The deck is likewise balsa-cored, but with aluminum backing plates set in solid laminate beneath through-bolted hardware. The standard ballast keel is iron, though lead can be specified, and a twin-keel variant is offered in the UK market.

Rig and Handling

The 37 carries a fractional B&R sloop rig with no backstay and Seldén spars, a configuration that leaves the mainsheet traveler on an overhead arch so the sheet stays clear of the cockpit and within reach from the helm. Jib sheets are likewise led aft to the helm, and on the test boat they ran to a pair of electric Lewmar Revo reversible winches that theoretically allow tacking the overlapping jib without touching the sheets. There is no baby stay for the jib to foul on, and the dual-ended mainsheet lets the helmsman trim without leaving the wheel.

In light air the boat proved easy for a small crew to sail efficiently. With just 3 to 5 knots of true wind she made 3 knots closehauled at a 40-degree apparent angle, and cracked off she reached 3.5 knots on a beam reach. A 10-knot gust sent her flying at 6 knots with a neutral, true helm and no lee helm. In 12 to 14 knots she handled nicely closehauled at 7.5 to 8 knots, heeled 10 to 15 degrees with about 10 degrees of weather helm, and on a beam reach the helm balanced at 6 to 6.5 knots. Tacking was quick and simple, and she is very easy to single-hand. Only with a full-roach, full-batten standard main is the full advantage of the missing backstay realized; most boats leave the factory with a furling main.

Accommodations

The 37 is offered with a single interior layout: large staterooms at each end, with the saloon, galley and one head amidships, and the space is efficiently arranged. The aft owner's stateroom sits under the cockpit with a large athwartships double berth and immediate head access, though vertical clearance over the middle of the berth is limited. The forward stateroom trades berth size for more privacy, 6 feet 6 inches of headroom, better storage, and superior light and ventilation, with the V-berth adequate at the foot.

The starboard galley is generous, with abundant Corian counter space, room for refrigerators and a microwave, and a two-burner gimbaled stove with oven. The twin sinks are a touch shallow and set well to starboard, which can be awkward when heeled hard on port tack. The head is a model of efficiency, packing toilet, vanity and a segregated shower into one compact compartment. Below decks, American cherry and teak woodwork and noteworthy craftsmanship round out a spacious interior.

Cockpit and Deck Gear

The cockpit favors the shorthanded sailor. High, comfortable coamings frame a single wheel — not the twin wheels of the 40 — and the test boat's folding Lewmar wheel on a pedestal integrating Yanmar controls eased movement around the helm when boarding via the large fold-down transom platform, whose top doubles as a scalloped teak-trimmed helm seat. Sidedecks are clean with collapsible fold-down cleats, good coachroof handrails aid security, and a huge port cockpit locker is easily reached. One layout quibble from the test boat: there is nowhere in the cockpit to mount secondary winches.

Known Issues

The anchor well forward can be problematic in accessibility, as the hatch may be fouled by the jib's furling line lead. Anchor chain is stowed under the forward V-berth, good for weight distribution but hard to reach if snagged. The shallow, starboard-offset galley sinks may trouble a port-tack heel. These are manageable design trade-offs rather than structural faults.

The Verdict

The Marlow-Hunter 37 is a thoroughly modern coastal cruiser that trades pretension to race-circuit performance for volume, ease of handling and a well-executed interior. Henderson's B&R rig and arch traveler make her a genuine short-handed boat, and the solid-below/cores-above construction with Kevlar forward is sensible for the class. She is fast under sail and power, though downwind the small jib struggles behind the main-driven rig.

Pros