Hunter Marine was an American boat builder, now known as Marlow-Hunter, LLC, owned by David E. Marlow. The company did produce the Mainship

powerboat A motorboat or powerboat is a boat that is exclusively powered by an engine; faster examples may be called "speedboats". Some motorboats are fitted with inboard engines, others have an outboard motor installed on the rear, containing the inter ...

brand. Marlow also owns and manufactures the Marlow Yachts brand consisting of long range power cruisers in the 37 to 110 foot range. The company was based in

Alachua, Florida Alachua ( ) is the second-most populous city in Alachua County, Florida, and the third-largest in North Central Florida. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 10,574, up from 9,059 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gaine ...

, and is now closed. The first boat design was a 25-foot (7.6 meter) long sloop, and another noted design was the Ocean racing sailboat the HC 50.

History

Hunter 33 2004 sailboat at sunset in Toronto Ontario

In the 1800s Henry Luhrs, a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

immigrant, outfitted trading ships and owned a chandlery. His grandson, Henry, continued the family heritage on the

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

coast, building and repairing recreational and fishing boats. By the early 1960s Henry and his sons, John and Warren, were building over a thousand powerboats a year. Hunter was started in 1973 in

, as a sailboat manufacturer. The early Hunter boats were designed by

John E. Cherubini John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

. In 1988 the company ran into trouble, as the founder, Luhrs, engaged in protected ocean racing and left the company in the hands of management. The result was production of low-quality boats backed by a short warranty and poor customer service, leading to trouble with dealers and unhappy owners. Luhrs was forced to suspend his racing career and return to directly run the company, carrying out a restructuring, creating new work teams, extending the warranty from one year to five years and hiring Canadian designer Rob Mazza in 1991 to take over design and coordinate the production process. Mazza designed the Hunter 29.5 and its larger follow-up, the

336 Year 336 ( CCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nepotianus and Facundus (or, less frequently, year 1089 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 336 for ...

. Hunter then utilized the design service of Glenn Henderson and its in-house team until 2010. Hunter is responsible for several market innovations, including their trademark stainless steel cockpit arch and their use of the

B&R rig The B&R rig is a variant of the Bermuda sailboat rig, designed and patented by Swedish aeronautical engineers Lars Bergström and Sven Ridder. It employs swept spreaders that are usually angled aft, together with "stays" running diagonally down ...

. Hunter also began the construction of sailboats whose hulls make use of bow hollow and stern reflex, marine architecture design elements that maximize thrust under sail. In 2012 Hunter Marine entered

Chapter 11 bankruptcy Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code ( Title 11 of the United States Code) permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Such reorganization, known as Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is available to every business, w ...

. The company was sold in August 2012 to David E. Marlow, owner of Marlow Yachts and the name changed to Marlow-Hunter, LLC. Examples of models made by Marlow-Hunter in the 2010s include the

Marlow-Hunter 31 The Marlow-Hunter 31 is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a cruiser and first built in 2015. The design is sometimes confused with the 1983 Hunter 31 and the 2006 Hunter 31-2, which was also marketed as the Hunter ...

, 33, 37 and 40 models. The new 31-foot was developed under Marlow-Hunter under guidance from longtime Hunter marine consultant and

naval architect This is the top category for all articles related to architecture and its practitioners. {{Commons category, Architecture by occupation Design occupations Occupations Occupation commonly refers to: *Occupation (human activity), or job, one's rol ...

Glenn Henderson. The 31 has increased interior space compared to older models, and is actually wider (increased beam) than the 33 foot long boat in the range.

Boats

Hunter 45 DS sailboat with spinnaker 1137

Hunter boats and year first produced: *

Hunter 140 The Hunter 140 is an American dinghy that was designed by the Hunter Design Team as a sailing trainer and first built in 2003. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States starting in 2003, but it is now out of produc ...

2003 *

Hunter 146 The Hunter 146 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Chuck Burns and the Hunter Design Team as a novice sailboat and first built in 2003. The design was renamed the Hunter 15 in 2008 and is now referred to as the Marlow-Hunter 15. ...

2003 *

Hunter 15 The Hunter 146 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Chuck Burns and the Hunter Design Team as a novice sailboat and first built in 2003. The design was renamed the Hunter 15 in 2008 and is now referred to as the Marlow-Hunter 1 ...

2008 *

Hunter 170 The Hunter 170 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed the Hunter Design Team and first built in 1999. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States, starting in 1999 but is now out of production. The design wa ...

1999 * Hunter 18 2011 * Hunter 18.5 1987 * Hunter 19-1 1981 * Hunter 19-2 1993 * Hunter 20 1983 * Hunter 212 1996 * Hunter 216 2003 * Hunter 22 1981 * Hunter 23 1985 * Hunter 23.5 1992 * Hunter 240 1998 *

Hunter 25 The Hunter 25 is an American Trailer sailer, trailerable sailboat, designed by John Cherubini and Bob Seidelmann and first built in 1972.Henkel, Steve: ''The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats'', page 344-345. International Marine/McGraw ...

1972 * Hunter 25 Box Top 1972 * Hunter 25-2 2005 *

Hunter 25.5 The Hunter 25.5 is an American sailboat that was designed by Cortland Steck and first built in 1984. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States between 1984 and 1987, but it is now out of production. Design The Hun ...

1984 *

Hunter 26 The Hunter 26 is an American trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Rob Mazza and first built in 1994. Production The boat was built by Hunter Marine in the United States from 1994 to 1997, but it is now out of production. The Hunter 26 ...

1994 * Hunter 26.5 1985 *

Hunter 260 The Hunter 260 is an American trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Rob Mazza and the Hunter Design Team and first built in 1997. The Hunter 260 is a development of the Hunter 26. Production The boat was built by Hunter Marine in the U ...

1997 * Hunter 27 1974 * Hunter 27 Edge 2006 * Hunter 27-2 1989 * Hunter 27-3 2006 *

Hunter 270 The Hunter 270 is an American sailboat that was designed for cruising and first built in 2000. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States, but it is now out of production. Design The Hunter 270 is a recreational ke ...

2000 * Hunter 27X 2006 *

Hunter 28 The Hunter 28 is an American sailboat that was designed as a racer-cruiser and first built in 1989. The Hunter 28 is a development of the 1985 Hunter 28.5. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States between 1989 ...

1989 *

Hunter 28.5 The Hunter 28.5 is an American sailboat that was designed by the Hunter Design Team and first built in 1985. The Hunter 28.5 was developed into the Hunter 28 in 1989. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States betwe ...

1985 *

Hunter 280 The Hunter 280 is an American sailboat that was designed by the Hunter Design Team in conjunction with Rob Mazza, as a cruising boat and first built in 1995. The design replaced the Hunter 28 in the company line, which had been produced from ...

1995 * Hunter 29.5 1994 * Hunter 290 1999 *

Hunter 30 The Hunter 30 is an American sailboat that was designed by John Cherubini as a cruising boat and first built in 1973. The boat was also supplied as an unfinished kit for amateur completion as the Quest 30. The Hunter 30 was the first design m ...

1973 *

Hunter 30-2 The Hunter 30-2 is an American sailboat, that was built by Hunter Marine in the United States between 1988 and 1992. The boat was sold under the name ''Hunter 30'', but because the company has sold four designs under that name, this design has ...

1988 *

Hunter 306 The Hunter 306 is an American sailboat design, that was introduced in 2001. The design forms a scaled series with the Hunter 326 and the Hunter 356, 356. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States, starting in 2001, ...

2001 *

Hunter 30T The Hunter 30T is an American sailboat that was first built in 1991. The Hunter 30T is a development of the 1988 Hunter 30-2 design. The design was originally marketed by the manufacturer as the Hunter 30, but is now usually referred to as t ...

1991 * Hunter 31 1983 * Hunter 31-2 2006 * Hunter 310 1997 * Hunter 32 Vision 1988 * Hunter 320 2000 * Hunter 326 2001 *

Hunter 33 The Hunter 33 is an American sailboat that was designed by John Cherubini and first built in 1977. The design was originally marketed by the manufacturer as the ''Hunter 33'', but is often confused with the 2004 Hunter 33-2004, which was also ...

1977 * Hunter 33-2004 2004 * Hunter 33.5 1987 * Hunter 333 1988 * Hunter 336 1995 * Hunter 34 1983 * Hunter 340 1997 *

Hunter 35 Legend The Hunter 35.5 Legend is an American sailboat, that was designed as a Cruising (maritime), cruiser and introduced in 1986. The Hunter 35 Legend was developed into the Hunter 35.5 Legend in 1989, which replaced it in production. Production Th ...

1986 *

Hunter 35.5 Legend The Hunter 35.5 Legend is an American sailboat, designed as a cruiser and introduced in 1989. The Hunter 35.5 Legend is a development of the Hunter 35 Legend, which it replaced in production in 1989. Production The design was built by Hunter ...

1989 *

Hunter 356 The Hunter 356 is an American sailboat, that was designed by Glenn Henderson and introduced in 2000. The design forms a scaled series with the Hunter 306 and the 326. The Hunter 356 design was developed into the 2008 Hunter 36-2. Producti ...

2000 * Hunter 36 1980 * Hunter 36 Legend 2001 * Hunter 36 Vision 1990 * Hunter 36-2 2008 * Hunter 37 1978 * Hunter 37 Legend 1986 * Hunter 37.5 Legend 1990 * Hunter 376 1996 * Hunter 38 2004 * Hunter 380 1999 * Hunter 386 1999 * Hunter 39 2009 * Hunter 40 1984 * Hunter 40-2 2012 * Hunter 40.5 1991 * Hunter 41 AC 2004 *

Hunter 41 DS The Hunter 41 is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a cruiser and first built in 2004. Production The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States between 2004 and 2012, but it is now out of production. Th ...

2006 * Hunter 410 1998 * Hunter Passage 42 1989 * Hunter 420 1998 * Hunter 426 2003 * Hunter 43 Legend 1989 * Hunter 430 1995 * Hunter 45 1985 * Hunter 45 CC 2005 * Hunter 45 DS 2006 *

Hunter 45 Legend The Hunter 45 and Hunter 45 Legend are a family of American sailboats, that was first built in 1985. The series is often confused with the much later Glen Henderson-designed 2005/2006 Hunter 45 DS and Hunter 45 CC. Production The boat series ...

1985 * Hunter Passage 450 1996 * Hunter 456 2003 * Hunter 460 1999 * Hunter 466 2002 * Hunter 49 2007 * Hunter 50 AC 2010 * Hunter 50 CC 2009 * Hunter 54 1980 * Hunter E33 2011 * Hunter HC 50 2000 * Hunter Xcite 2002 * JY 15 1989 * Marlow-Hunter 15 2003 *

Marlow-Hunter 18 The Marlow-Hunter 18 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Glenn Henderson as a day sailer and first built in 2011. The Marlow-Hunter 18 replaced the similar Hunter 170 in production. The design was originally marketed by the m ...

2011 *

Marlow-Hunter 22 The Marlow-Hunter 22 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson as daysailer and racer, first built in 2010. It is a development of the 2003 Hunter 216, but with the hull built of fiberglass, instead of thermo ...

2010 *

2015 *

Marlow-Hunter 33 The Marlow-Hunter 33 (at the time of introduction called the Hunter E33) is an American sailboat that was designed by Glenn Henderson and the Hunter Design Team and first built in 2012. The Marlow-Hunter 33 is a development of the Hunter 33- ...

2011 * Marlow-Hunter 37 2014 * Marlow-Hunter 39 2009 * Marlow-Hunter 40 2012 * Marlow-Hunter 42SS 2016 * Marlow-Hunter 47 2016 * Marlow-Hunter 50 2010 * Marlow-Hunter 50 Center Cockpit 2009 * Moorings 295 1994 * Moorings 335 1988

References

Esserman Yacht Sales - Online History of Hunter Marine

External links

Official website
{{Hunter Marine Hunter Marine

History

Boats

See also

References

External links