Canadian Yachting May 2016 - (Page 46)

SAIL REVIEW | MARLOW-HUNTER 31 Impressive Space and Solid Quality By Simon Hill Over the past two decades the number of small cruising sailboats available on the market dwindled significantly as buyers and manufacturers turned to bigger, more expensive vessels. Where 28 feet was once considered the minimum for a cruising boat, these days it's typically 36-feet and up. Hunter boats (now Marlow-Hunter), however, never gave up on the smaller end of the market and with the new MarlowHunter 31 it's clear the company doesn't expect buyers of smaller boats to give up their desires for space, performance and quality construction. Design-wise, the Marlow-Hunter 31 hull expands on themes expressed by naval architect Glenn Henderson in previous Hunters and Marlow-Hunters while the deck and interior design display the thinking of David Marlow and his design team in Alachua, Florida. At nearly 12 feet wide it's beamy for a 31-footer, although that's partly because in terms of hull length it's really more of a 32-footer. Maximum beam is carried well aft, and combined with a chined hull form this allows for tremendous interior volume while contributing to good form stability and sail-carrying power. Below the waterline the boat has slightly hollow bows to help pierce waves and reduce pitching, and pronounced stern reflex to minimize drag and reduce the size 46 The Marlow-Hunter 31 has clean lines, with a hull form that minimizes drag and allows it to display a good turn of speed even in light conditions. Photo: Marlow-Hunter Yachts of the stern wave. Distinctive details like the arc-shaped side widows and mainsail traveller arch give the vessel an unmistakable - and overall quite pleasing - Marlow-Hunter family resemblance. Since David Marlow took ownership of Hunter Marine in 2012 he has upgraded the build quality to match that used in the renowned lineup of Marlow luxury power yachts, creating a stout and well-finished product. Instead of balsa wood coring, the hull and decks use Nida-Core, a polypropylene honeycomb that's lighter than balsa, much stronger, and immune to moisture and rot. Woven fibreglass cloth has been replaced with multidirectional knitted cloth, allowing more consistent glass-toresin ratios and reducing weave print-through. Kevlar augments the fibreglass in the bow sections and well into the hull bottom towards the back of the keel for collision resistance. The Kevlar also wraps the hull completely at the chain plates building in a bullet-proof roll bar into the hull and deck. Plus, vinylester resins are now used throughout the boat (not just the hull bottom) for superior strength, osmosis resistance and better cosmetics throughout. The high-end IP gelcoat - an easy-on-the-eyes Oyster White rather than bright white - is 100 percent NPG-Isophthalic resin, which pro- C a n a d i a n Y a c h t i n g MAY 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting May 2016

Vantage Point: Wood you ever go back?
Waterfront: Marine News
Club Profile: Midland Bay Sailing Club
Boat Handling: Embarrassment-free Docking Tips - Docking your boat is not rocket science but it also can be intimidating. Follow these clearly outlined techniques to improve your docking performance. By Brenda and Doug Dawson
Shafts and Propellers: Props Part 2 - Part 2 focusses on the other parts of your drive system that can be critical to either maximizing your propellor’s effectives, or robbing it of the ability to perfom its best. By Rob MacLeod
Destination: Azores - The Shards take sabbatical in the Portuguese islands of the Azores in the middle of their transatlantic crossing. Offering stunning landscapes steeped in history, this traditional provisioning waypoint for pilots and sailors is now a blossoming charter destination. By Sheryl Shard, Photos by Paul and Sheryl Shard
Behind the Scenes: MJM Yachts - Made exclusively by Boston BoatWorks, learn how MJM combines old principles of boat design with modern techniques to produce, light, stable and extremely fuel-efficient yachts. By Kate Fincham
Sail Review: Marlow-Hunter 31
Power Review: Jeanneau Leader 46
Power Review: Everglades 230 CC
Crossing the Line: The 180-second Workout

Canadian Yachting May 2016