Hunter Marine is a Florida cruise sailing yacht builder with over 40 years of history. Thanks to one of the founders of the brand, famous yachtsman Warren Lours, her models are traditionally known for their combination of excellent quality and relatively affordable price.

Company history

In the 1830s, sailors in New York knew Henry Luhrs, an honorable gentleman who sold everything needed to repair ships. Henry’s grandson continued his grandfather’s business, and by the early 1960s his sons John and Warren, who had inherited the business, were launching more than a thousand boats a year.

The Hunter brand was registered by brothers in 1973 in Florida as a sailboat manufacturer. The first yachts instantly won the sympathy of the public.

In 1988, however, the shipyard barely managed to stay afloat: Warren, the heart of the company, was seriously into regattas.

«For me yachts are not just a hobby or business. This is life»,” said Warren Lurs.

He set many world records on Thursday‘s Child and Hunter’s Child sailboats. Meanwhile, sales plummeted and Lurs had to get back at the helm of the company. He extended the staff, extended the warranty from one year to five years and invited Canadian designer Rob Mazza.

In August 2012, Hunter was acquired by David E. Marlow, founder of Marlow Yachts.

Production .

At the peak of capacity in the mid-2000s, more than 2,000 sailboats were built every year at Hunter shipyards in Connecticut, Florida and the UK. Hunter Marine now launches fewer than 20 boats a year: they are assembled at a modern shipyard located in Alachua, near the University of Florida research center.

Model range

Marlow-Hunter offers cruising yachts with a Mediterranean cockpit ranging in size from 31 to 50 feet, as well as yachts with a central cockpit designed for long distance cruising with comfort.

For beginners and for small club or match racing, the compact sports dinghies and dealers are perfect, ranging in size from 15 to 22 pounds.

The Marlow-Hunter is appreciated for its ease of operation and maneuverability, while the wood-clad saloons are particularly cosy.

Features

Sailboats of the brand are recognizable: stainless steel arches above the cockpit, winged keel, many skylights on deck. The shipyard has been working with architect Glenn Henderson for the last few years. The new models allow not only to comfortably travel long distances, but also to take part in regattas.