The Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 vs Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 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 Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 measures 50,6 feet overall (2016), giving it roughly 17,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 at 33,6 feet (2004). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 tips the scales at 35 999 lbs — 25 589 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 caps at 10. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 displaces 35 999 lbs — a 25 589-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.
Both boats draw a similar depth — 4,6 ft and 5,6 ft respectively. Marina access and anchorage options should be broadly equivalent between the two.
The Marlow Hunter Hunter 33 - 2004 Furling mainsail Furling mainsail 2004 is rigged as a Sloop while the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 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 9,0 knots for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 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 Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 carries 194 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 Marlow Hunter 47 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 35 999 lbs displacement and 51 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.