The Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 vs Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 at 33,6 ft versus Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 at 34,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 tips the scales at 15 329 lbs — 5 060 lbs less than the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 at 10 269 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.
Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 29 hp for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 and 29 hp for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 carries 37 gallons versus 25 gallons in the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
Both boats are rated for 10 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 displaces 15 329 lbs — a 5 060-lb difference over the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 at 10 269 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 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 draws 5,6 ft, compared to 4,1 ft for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011. That 1,5-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 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 is rigged as a Sloop while the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 carries fractional_rig_sloop rigging — a meaningful difference in sail handling complexity, upwind performance, and the size of crew you'll need to work the boat comfortably.
Hull speed is rated at 7,5 knots for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 and 7,3 knots for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 carries 75 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2011 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 15 329 lbs displacement and 35 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Deep draft Deep draft 2004 at 10 269 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.