The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 vs Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 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 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 measures 41,2 feet overall (2017), giving it roughly 6,5 additional feet of deck space compared to the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 at 34,7 feet (2011). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 tips the scales at 19 698 lbs — 4 369 lbs less than the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 at 15 329 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 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 and 45 hp for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017. 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 Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 carries 50 gallons versus 37 gallons in the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 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 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 displaces 19 698 lbs — a 4 369-lb difference over the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 at 15 329 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 Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 draws 5,2 ft, compared to 4,1 ft for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011. That 1,1-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 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 uses fractional_rig_sloop rigging. For auxiliary power the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 carries a 45-hp engine against 29 hp on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.
Hull speed is rated at 8,0 knots for the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 and 7,5 knots for the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 carries 90 gallons versus 75 gallons on the Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Marlow Hunter Marlow Hunter 42 SS Shoal draft Shoal draft 2017 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 19 698 lbs displacement and 41 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Marlow Hunter Hunter 36 - 2011 Shoal draft Shoal draft 2011 at 15 329 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.