The Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 vs Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 measures 34,7 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 17,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 at 17,0 feet (1999). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 tips the scales at 15 419 lbs — 14 938 lbs less than the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 at 481 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 displaces 15 419 lbs — a 14 938-lb difference over the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 at 481 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 draws 6,5 ft, compared to 4,6 ft for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999. That 1,9-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 uses a 1 tiller versus a 1 wheel on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones.
The Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 is trailerable, giving it a significant lifestyle advantage for sailors who want to move between lakes, rivers, and coastal waters without committing to a marina slip.
Bottom line: The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 15 419 lbs displacement and 35 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 170 1999 at 481 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option and is trailerable — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.