Maritimo strong in Motor Yacht market
Bigger boats, more customisations and new models announcedAgainst a backdrop of competing luxury cruisers and upmarket conveyances wooing the well-heeled at the 2016 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, Maritimo staged its press conference to the caffeinated hacks.
The big news, as reported on previously, was the sales success of the dashing new Maritimo M61 (launch story), with five boats bought by existing Maritimo owners in SE Queensland.
The customer-driven new M61 offers most of what the M65 sister ship (up to 10 builds) achieves but with a little paring back and a keener sticker. As with most new boats in the 50+ class these days, there’s a lot of scope for customisation and owners are running amuck...
All the new M61s in build or on the order books are different: Number 2 has a recessed running machine in the floor of the VIP cabin; Number 4 has more berths with twin bunks for a boatload of crazy kids; and, hey, get this, Maritimo even sold a M65 in Miami boat show that’s getting a Steinway piano fitted to its flybridge. I did it my way alright!
Meantime, recent sea trials bring more good news to M61 owners. The standard engines are 900hp D13 Volvos, but with the upgraded 1150hp Scanias on the first boat there’s a top speed of more than 31 knots and a slippery long range cruiser at low-20 knots for 209lt/hr, which is akin to the M58 figures. We also hear Volvo Penta will have bigger engines on the way.
The other big news is a new M54 (four sold already), which Maritimo founder Bill Barry-Cotter says will be a “really good little boat." See the interview with Bill below.
This M54 model will be released by Christmas 2016. There will be a new S54 (one sold) thereafter, but Maritimo is working on a slick new look for its Sedan family.
We saw the drawings (yet to be finalised) for an S70 with more European aesthetic and an almost modern-retro look to it. Getting some fresh ‘house’ styling in the Sedan line-up is a great move to take Maritimo forward. We hear an M73 is on the drawing board. Bigger seems to be the direction now.
Maritimo says it’s looking to grow exports mainly to the USA and anticipates that market will account for 50-60 per cent of production. Asian and Europe has some green shoots, but the international thrust is to America. The world is in slow recovery mode, but it's going forward not backwards.
See what Bill Barry-Cotter has to say about Maritimo’s fortunes in the 2016 big-boat market in this quick interview from the 2016 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. More at http://www.maritimo.com.au
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