Marlow-Hunter 31

Description

The Marlow-Hunter 31 (2015–2021, sometimes just called the Hunter 31-2 to distinguish it from every earlier Hunter 31) is a modern American coastal cruiser designed by Glenn Henderson and built by Marlow-Hunter after the company’s ownership change in 2012. At 32 feet 4 inches LOA (almost 34 feet with the open reverse transom and bowsprit) and a very generous 11-foot 8-inch beam, it has a moderate displacement of 11,900 lbs (4,800 lbs ballast) and is offered with either a shoal-draft wing keel (3 ft 11 in) or a deeper fin (5 ft 4 in). It retains the trademark backstay-less B&R rig with swept spreaders, a large roachy fully battened mainsail (approx 275 sq ft), roller-furling 105–110% jib (total upwind ~520 sq ft), and an asymmetrical spinnaker on a retractable carbon sprit—delivering excellent all-round performance (PHRF typically 150–165) while remaining exceptionally easy to single- or short-hand. Key features include a huge T-shaped cockpit with twin wheels, full walk-through reverse transom with drop-down swim platform and helmsman seats, an arch-mounted mainsheet traveler that keeps the cockpit completely clear, and a bright, contemporary interior finished in gloss cherry or optional teak: enormous aft owner’s stateroom with true queen island berth, forward V-berth cabin, full galley with Corian counters and front-loading fridge, enclosed head with separate shower stall, nav station, and a convertible dinette—genuinely sleeping six with 6 ft 5 in headroom and superb ventilation. Built to a higher standard than late-2000s Hunters (heavier lay-up, better joinery, upgraded systems), the Marlow-Hunter 31 is widely praised for its blend of speed, space, and modern styling, and it remains a strong seller on the used market on both coasts and the Great Lakes today.