The Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 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.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 at 33,6 ft versus Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 at 34,7 ft. 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 — 5 009 lbs less than the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 at 10 410 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 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 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 displaces 15 419 lbs — a 5 009-lb difference over the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 at 10 410 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 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004. 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 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 is rigged as a Sloop while the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 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 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 and 7,3 knots for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Deep draft Deep draft 2011 carries 75 gallons versus 50 gallons on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
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 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 at 10 410 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.