Marlow-Hunter 37

By Robin Ball

Photos by Marlow-Hunter LLC and True North Yachts

It is early September, a gray day with the impending threat of rain. It’s a great day. The wind is blowing 12 knots offshore with some gusts and shifts. The near shore chop is only a couple of feet. I also have the good fortune to be test sailing a brand new Marlow-Hunter 37. This boat has just been commissioned and put in the water. What a beautiful boat it is.

A spacious inviting cockpit with teak seats and sole welcome you on onboard. The 4 foot folding transom / swim platform, and two stern pulpit teak seats enlarge the area even more. The transom up provides helm seating. An integrated telescopic boarding ladder can be deployed with the platform up or down. There is also convenient space in the transom to store shore power cords. High coamings make the side seating comfortable. A large lazarette provides plenty of storage. The fold down table that can be lowered and out of the way as opposed to a permanent table and folding wheel make moving around the cockpit easy. The Lewmar pedestal hosts the engine controls, compass, an i70 Raymarine display and autopilot but could also host the optional bow thruster if chosen. The overhead arch includes cockpit lighting and stereo speakers. Its primary purpose is to take the boom-end main sheeting and traveller up and out of the cockpit while keeping both within easy reach of the helm however it also serves to protect against an accidental jibe keeping the boom well over the heads of the crew. The high tapering coamings result in the primary winches being set well aft, again within easy reach of the helm making for easy tacking.

Wide uncluttered side decks, flush hatches, coach top covered runs for running rigging and long hand rails make moving around on deck easy and safe. The upper shrouds are fixed to chain plates outboard. The lower shrouds are fixed through the deck at the outer edge of the coachroof, forward of the jib track. This inboard position of the lower shrouds allows a clear walkway to the foredeck, eliminating the need to swing around the shrouds. Molded diamond non-skid provides good traction on deck. All the way forward, there are twin anchor rollers, an electric windlass, and a Danforth anchor with 150 of rode and chain. This boat has 6 heavy duty folding mooring cleats.

Below deck is even more impressive. The interior space on this 37 footer is huge. Extensive use of cherry paneling and furniture and hardwood flooring makes the interior warm and inviting. The upholstery on our test boat is a mid-blue fabric of superior quality. The salon pedestal table is a wonderfully rich cherry veneer laid with the grain from four quadrants meeting in the centre. This table can be lowered to create a double berth. The large elliptical side lites, large opening hatches with screens, small side ports and led lighting provide an abundance of light. The nav desk is on the port side, with a contoured wooden bench, an ICOM VHF with DSC and a remote MIC at the helm, and a JVC stereo. The electrical panel includes tank level indicators.

The l shaped galley to starboard, at the foot of the companionway, is well equipped. This is a very practical and well laid out work space. The galley has twin stainless steel sinks, a single lever faucet, a fridge and a separate freezer, a microwave and a propane two burner, force 10 oven / range, along with ample cupboards, shelves, and drawers. The forward most cupboard serves as a drying rack complete with a ventilating fan. There are Corian countertops with a top access garbage bin making clean up a breeze. Stainless rails at the counter edge provide hand holds as well as helping to keep items on the counter while underway.

Pass through the starboard side galley to enter the aft cabin. The queen-sized berth is positioned across the boat allowing for full height at the head of the bed allowing the occupants to sit up and read in bed if desired. Two hanging lockers are cedar lined, and along with a cupboard provide the storage in this cabin. An innerspring mattress is an option for this berth. A door on the port side provides ensuite access to the shower and head.

The boat’s single head is to port of the companionway. A Corian countertop and stainless steel washbasin comprise the vanity in the forward ½ of the head. Storage is found behind the fold down mirror and below the basin. A bi-fold plexiglass door separates the vanity from the shower / toilet area. A teak bench folds down over the toilet for use while showering. Overall the head is reasonably roomy for a 37 foot sailboat.

The v-berth could in fact be the preferred accommodation on this boat. Two cedar lined hanging lockers, another locker under the aft edge of the berth, shelves, a cubby hole, large under berth lockers and shelves provide tons of storage space. Head room is better here than the aft cabin, even if the bed is slightly smaller.

Sailing this boat is easy. The furling jib and furling main make deploying sails a pleasure. There is no lifting of sails, no sail bags to unzip and no need to leave the cockpit. Out test boat carried a vertically battened main. In 12-14 knots of true wind and a small chop the boat handled very nicely. Close-hauled with 18 – 20 apparent we were moving along nicely at 7.5 to 8 knots. The concave shape of the bow section of the hull is intended to reduce pitching by helping to cut through the waves. The chine carried from the beam all the way aft helps to provide stability. In those conditions we were heeled 10-15 º with about 10 º of weather helm rudder carrying full sail area. The b&r designed rig has no backstay eliminating interference with the roach on the main. There is also no baby stay for the jib to foul on. Tacking was quick and simple and visibility was great with the 110% jib. I am a fan of boom end sheeting. I like the control it provides of the boom and the shape of the sail. As designed, the arch with its mainsheet traveller provides excellent control, within reach of the helm, and with everything overhead out of the way and with the dual ended mainsheet the helmsman didn’t have to leave the helm making this boat very easy to single hand. When we cracked off a little on a close reach, the helm was more neutral. On a beam reach with the wind down slightly, we maintained 6 – 6.5 knots of speed and the helm was balanced. Downwind, the small jib has trouble behind this main driven rig. The swept spreaders discourage playing the main all the way out to flop on the rig however the sail did have heavy spreader patches in this area to protect it. The boat is set up for an optional genneker or a-sail. I would recommend that option if any distance cruising is contemplated. Under power the optional 40hp Yanmar sail-drive with a two blade fixed prop moved us along at +7 knots without having to bury the throttle.

In this new 2015 – 37 Marlow-Hunter has produced a comfortable, stylish, well designed cruiser which is quick and easily sailed. This boat will very comfortably take 4 – 6 people overnight and would be exceptional for a couple on an extended vacation.