[1][2][3][4] The design was built by Hunter Marine in the United States, starting in 1999 but is now out of production.

[1][3][4][5] The design was replaced in production by the slightly larger Marlow-Hunter 18, which was introduced in 2011.

[6] The Hunter 170 is a small, unsinkable, recreational dinghy, built predominantly of ACP.

It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, an open reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable centerboard.

Other factory options included a 202 sq ft (18.8 m2) asymmetrical spinnaker, a road trailer and a launching dolly.