Hurley Marine, Ltd. was one of the UK's larger boat builders.
This site is devoted to Hurley's range of sailing yachts, and
especially to the Hurley 22, of which over 1200 were built and
which - amazingly - has been in more or less constant production
for the last 35 years. With so many
around, the 22 especially is a popular second hand boat and an
excellent entry into the world of sailing & cruising!
The Hurley 22
Introduced in the sixties, the Hurley 22 became an instant
hit. Quite aside from her pretty lines -she looked like a 'proper
yacht' - she was solidly built and was a good performer. From the
outset the Hurley 22 was intended to be raced as well as cruised.
A 22 even won the Round The Island Race in 1967, and they
acquitted themselves well on the JOG circuit. But it has been the
22's cruising performance that has won the respect of many
yachtsmen over the years. The unlikely combination of a long keel
and a small spade rudder proved surprisingly effective, and
former Hurley owners speak fondly of the little boat's
performance and seakindliness. The boats have proved themselves
on long cruises; several 22s have crossed the Atlantic, and at
least one has cruised the Pacific.
The Hurley 20
Like the other members of the family, the H20 is a good
sailing boat above all. It follows the design philosophy of the
22, putting a good hull shape and seaworthyness above interior
comforts. Given its smaller size, the compromise makes itself
felt more clearly than in the 22. One reviewer called the 20 a
wolf in sheep's clothing, after sailing her in a Force 8 and
noting how she takes the waves and having perfect helm balance.
Those are precisely the reasons why the 20 is popular to this day
- outliving many more recent designs
The Hurley 18
The 18 shares the same long keel design as its bigger sisters,
the H20 and 22. This, together with a good ballast/weight ratio,
explains why it has a reputation as a stiff and comfortable boat
at sea, with excellent ability to work to windward. 18 ft pocket
cruisers will not be expected to have a spacious interior, but
the interior layout of the 18 is very realistic in its ambitions,
making it a very pleasurable boat. Designed in the mid-60s, many
are still cuising UK waters - in fact, judging from user
responses, 18s have found their way all over the world. Just like
the 22, the 18 can best be described as a 'proper little ship'.
The Hurley 30/90
The 30/90 is the largest boat in the Hurley family, and only a
limited number were built. Like most Hurley's, the 30 is a stiff
dry boat that is good in moderate to heavy air and a bit of a
sea. She is a well-built, heavy boat for her size and shares many
of the traits of the Hurley range.
Grandfather to the Hurley range. One of the most popular small
cruisers of all time, Bob Tucker's diminutive mini cruiser
arrived in 1959 and by 1967 had tempted over two thousand
customers. Early (Mk 1) boats were plywood (hence the chines);
most Mk IIs were GRP while the Mk III was moulded by Hurley
Marine to a radically revamped design. Her low cost, good looks
and predictable handling have won her many friends.
The Felicity
The Felicity deserves a special place in the range: it was the first Ian Anderson design for Hurley Marine. After the success the company had had with the Silhouette, there was clearly a place for a larger boat with more comfortable accommodation. The 20' Felicity fitted the requirements well, and some of the traits of the later Hurley 20 and 22 are already visible in her lines.
Visit
the Hurley
Owners Association
This site is maintained by Oscar
Vermeulen. Last update 15/08/2005