Anybody know why this is for sale?

Before ASS-uming it s quality related there could be dozens of reasons like owners plans changing, wanting a bigger boat, illness, etc.

The only way to know is a very thorough detailed survey, including sea trial in rough conditions. No two Marlows the same and the lucky owners have been thrilled with their boats while the unlucky ones have wanted rid of them desperately.

If you are interested in the boat, I would expect the broker to be able to satisfy your curiosity.

But I agree with OB, the reasons are irrelevant, sort of.
Before forking out 4M$ for a Marlow, I'd look for the best surveyor available and ask him to leave no stone unturned - anywhere in the boat, and regardless of costs.

PS: she does look impressive anyway, as far as can be told by the ad.
I'd have wanted zero speed fins rather than a SK 26, but that's me.
And anyway, other than that, she seems pretty well specced.

I would think the broker would have an answer, but that answer may or may not be the real reason. I'd listen, but consider the source. Regardless I'd be a skeptic.

One thing I'd be wary of is that there have been Marlow's with ride and performance issues that couldn't be fixed. Inherent build problems maybe of just one boat. That's why as much as anything I'd want to really put this boat through it's paces. If you give it a good test, you'll know and within a couple of hours of sea trial you'll either love it or know there's an issue. I've known owners of identical models with totally opposite experiences but with a good survey and a stringent sea trial, you'll know.

Yup, all agreed.
Btw, on top of all behaviors in a seaway, I would be extremely curious to see also if that thing can really reach the declared top speed of 29kts.
Not that such boat would ever be used anywhere near that speed obviously, but if that would be true, I'd expect Dockmaster's Donzi 54 which he's repowering with the same engines to take off!

Talking of which, I can't remember if the only two Marlows I've ever seen had a similar layout, but looking at the ad photos I couldn't help noticing the placement of both genset right along the same side of the boat - I believe on port side, astern of the e/r.
A weird placement for such heavy equipment, which strikes me of an attempt to fix ex-post some weight distribution issues.
But I'm just speculating, obviously.

I would also check top end speed. They've had boats that failed to meet speed and failed to meet quoted fuel consumption.

The generator placement could be a distribution fix or could just create a problem. Only way to know is to run the boat. However, listing to one side has been an issue on some of their boats. Cavitation is another they've encountered.

While I'd never gamble and buy a Marlow new, this could be a great opportunity since it can be fully tested. Just don't be gentle in the trials and look for some rough seas.

We do 450 to 500 hours a year with the 84 I run. A good chunk of that is at hull speed between the Exumas and miami. If anything it shows the engines are not being run hard.

Anything less than 350 hrs makes it a dock queen

just a guess, notice the listing brokerage firm name, perhaps Bluewater Lady was traded in on a new Viking 82cmy and became a dealer used demo thus the hours, a coincidence perhaps, only time will tell as she floats on the brokerage market awaiting a permanent slip.

Scott

actually about 60 to 70% of our hours are owners use.

this is why how a boat is used is as important as the hours. Yes we can make Staniel in 10 hours but with a lot more wear and tear than doing most of the trip at hull speed.

I question that speed too.

Definitely, we encountered cavitation on an attempted sea trial a couple of years ago.

Agreed, and that's one nice thing of modern engines: you can get a decent idea of how the boat was used, based on the total fuel burn throughout the engine life, which is a number easily accessible on Cat displays.
For instance, in 350 hours, a C18 could have used anywhere from 3k gallons of fuel up to 10k or even more.
And that does make a difference.

I went thru this when a 70 footer I was running sold with 5300 hours on the 3450Es. Buyers where afraid until their surveyor pointed out the number of gallons burned showed the boat had never been pushed.