Marex 310 Sun Cruiser: design, versions and prices

The Marex 310 Sun Cruiser puts two separate cabins and a genuinely social cockpit into a hull under ten metres. It makes sense for a couple or family moving between day trips and short coastal cruises, provided the buyer identifies the exact build: propulsion, platform, roof and solar installation can differ materially between model years and individual boats.

This guide keeps three evidence layers apart: current Marex specifications, observations from Batoo’s eligible listings on 14 September 2026, and Batoo editorial analysis. It is neither a sea trial nor a survey. Performance, equipment and condition must therefore be confirmed on the boat under consideration.

Design, dimensions and accommodation

Marex currently states a length of 9.46 m, a 3.22 m beam and a 0.97 m draft, with an approximate light weight of 4.5 tonnes. The builder describes a planing hull in CE design category B. The relatively broad beam supports the boat’s emphasis on usable living space, although published principal dimensions do not predict ride quality or marina charges on their own.

The cockpit is the organising idea rather than an afterthought. A wide opening connects it with the lower galley, while the integrated canopy is drawn from side lockers to enclose the outdoor seating when conditions deteriorate. That arrangement suits crews who want an open boat without surrendering all-weather shelter, but every moving panel, drain and fabric section becomes part of the maintenance schedule.

Below deck, two cabins provide four fixed berths and the official total rises to 4+2 through a convertible space. The distinction matters: six people can be accommodated on paper, yet a family of four will have more practical privacy and stowage for a multi-night trip. The single head is proportionate to the footprint rather than equivalent to the facilities of a larger cruiser.

For 2026 Marex describes a facelift with a larger roof, revised cockpit components, new side vents, updated stitching and finishes, and an extended bathing platform. Those features should never be assumed from the model name alone. Hull number, model-year declaration and signed build specification establish whether an individual 310 SC has the revised package.

Specifications, engines and version boundaries

The live factory page lists single Volvo Penta sterndrive choices comprising D4-320, D6-380 and D6-440 diesels, plus a 430 hp V8 petrol option. It also lists twin 270 hp Mercury Bravo3 diesels with Axius Premium joystick, for 540 hp installed. Both selected Batoo offers report that twin-Mercury arrangement, but serial numbers, drive identification and invoices remain the evidence for the physical boat.

Marex publishes an indicative maximum of 35 knots and cruise of 26 knots, alongside a warning that figures are approximate. Loading, fouling, propeller condition, sea state and engine choice can shift both speed and fuel use. A purchase trial should log GPS speed, rpm, temperatures, pressures, vibration and drive behaviour instead of treating a brief top-speed run as a verdict.

One current documentation conflict remains unresolved. The 2026 facelift introduction says the new roof permits up to 450 W of solar capacity, while the optional-equipment list on that same official page says 230 W. These figures should be treated as version or page-maintenance differences; the boat’s build sheet, panel labels and controller rating must decide the matter.

Pros and cons in real ownership

The strongest argument for the 310 is how efficiently it connects cooking, dining and outdoor circulation. The person at the galley remains part of the cockpit, and the canopy can extend the useful season without turning the design into a permanently enclosed coupé. Tankage of 440 L fuel and 280 L fresh water is substantial for the nominal length, although only measured consumption and crew habits determine range.

The trade-off is concentrated technical complexity. Twin diesels, two sterndrives, joystick controls, a bow thruster and trim equipment can make close-quarters work approachable and provide propulsion redundancy, yet they also add submerged parts, seals, electronics and service items. A lower purchase price on a poorly documented boat would not offset neglected drives or obsolete control components.

Two cabins are a genuine advantage over a large open day boat. Nevertheless, the mid cabin, convertible berths and one bathroom impose the compromises expected below 10 m; prolonged living aboard with six adults is different from sleeping a family for a weekend. CE category B defines a design envelope, not immunity from bad weather, overloading or poor seamanship.

Ideal use and the owner it best suits

The Marex 310 Sun Cruiser best suits a couple or family of four that values a large sheltered cockpit, wants separate sleeping spaces and intends to operate without crew. It is credible for coastal weekends, shoulder-season Mediterranean use and northern waters where fast weather protection is valuable. Draft remains modest on the official figure, but local depth, drive position and an appropriate under-keel allowance still govern access.

Propulsion should be selected from the cruising pattern rather than the headline horsepower. A single-engine installation reduces the number of engines and drives requiring scheduled work; the twin Mercury package shown in the dossier supplies more installed power and joystick integration but doubles several maintenance lines. Buyers covering high annual hours should price routine service, haul-outs, anodes, bellows and insurance before choosing.

This is not the natural fit for an owner demanding six permanent berths, long unsupported range or a fully separated indoor saloon. A larger boat or a closed-cabin alternative may work better, at the cost of higher berthing, handling and upkeep commitments.

Used-boat checks and new-stock verification

Start by fixing the boat’s identity: HIN, model year, CE documentation, manuals, engine and drive serial numbers, invoices and options schedule. For the dossier’s 2026 and 2027 entries, verify whether the factory’s facelift items are actually present, especially the longer platform, roof changes, solar hardware and finish package. A delivery promise or marketing label is not proof of build specification.

Hull and deck inspection should include moisture readings interpreted by a surveyor, percussion where indicated, and close attention to rails, cleats, windows, hatches and sealant. Operate the complete canopy several times and inspect cloth, stitching, runners, locker drainage and attachment points. The large galley opening and its closures should move cleanly and remain watertight under a controlled hose test.

On a twin 270 hp installation, engage a technician familiar with Mercury Diesel, Bravo3 drives and Axius. Review service records and diagnostic hours; examine fluids, cooling, corrosion, anodes, bellows, joints, seals, contra-rotating propellers and steering response. Begin the sea trial from cold and reinspect at operating temperature for leaks, smells or abnormal deposits.

Domestic systems deserve a separate load test. Shore power, charger, battery banks, refrigerator, water heater, pumps, toilet, black-water system, alarms and gas appliances should all work simultaneously where safe; qualified specialists should assess AC and gas installations. If solar is fitted, record panel wattage, controller model, protection and live output rather than inferring capacity from photographs.

Alternatives, observed price and methodology

Useful alternatives answer the same cruising problem in different ways. A Marex 330 Scandinavia places more emphasis on enclosed, extended-season living; the Nimbus 305 Coupé centres a protected wheelhouse; the Beneteau Antares 11 offers another family-cruiser layout. They are comparison points, not identical substitutes, and each must be matched by year, engine and equipment.

On 14 September 2026, the selected Batoo dossier recorded two active, editorially eligible Italian offers. The 2026 entry displayed an asking price of €388,000; the 2027 entry had no public amount. The observed range is therefore €388,000–€388,000 with a sample size of one, not a market valuation or a reliable distribution.

Tax treatment, fitted options, delivery, model year, condition and negotiation may all alter the final transaction. The unpriced offer cannot legitimately widen the range, and no inference about achieved prices is possible from asking data. This is Batoo analysis of a dated, narrow sample, not buying advice.

Images come from current Batoo listings and may depict different individual boats, years and configurations; brokers and sellers have not reviewed, validated or approved this dossier. Broker Pro denotes an active Batoo subscription only, not identity verification, and it never guarantees editorial coverage, ranking or a positive assessment.