Drive options for Maritimo 440 Offshore

Boaters tend to be a rather conservative bunch, so when luxury boat builder Maritimo launched its Maritimo 440 Offshore Convertible last year fitted with Volvo Penta IPS pod drives, one of the first questions would-be customers asked was: "Does it come with traditional shaft drives?"

The answer to that question is now "yes" -- and the popular vessel is now available with either pod or shaft drive propulsion. Volvo Penta 435hp turbo-diesel engines driving the pods and 480hp Cummins QSB 5.9 turbo diesels driving the shafts.

When it was launched, the 440 Offshore Convertible broke a lot of new ground for a 44-foot flybridge cruising boat. It included a three-sided enclosed flybridge and an internal staircase as well as an aft galley next to the bi-fold doors that opened to the cockpit. It was also the first flybridge boat from Maritimo to use the Volvo Penta IPS pod drive system.

According the Maritimo founder and CEO Bill Barry-Cotter there is no compromise in offering the two drive systems as there is no loss of accommodation or storage space with the shaft drives and no loss of performance.

Barry-Cotter says the variable-deadrise deep-V hull performs equally well with either the pod or the shaft propulsion: "When we designed the hull shape in consultation with Volvo Penta engineers, we had in mind the shaft option," Barry-Cotter says.

The Maritimo 440 Offshore Convertible is adaptable for sportfishing, family weekends away or long-distance cruising as it will comfortably sleep five in three separate cabins and has both speed and range.

Carrying 1800 litres of fuel, the 440 Offshore Convertible can cover more than 350 nautical miles at around 22 knots and extend its range to over 1000 nautical miles at trolling speeds.

The vessel also carries 400 litres of fresh water and has a holding tank with a capacity of 300 litres. The boat is fitted with an 11kW generator to power electronics and air conditioning.