Monte Fino 70

The seventh Monte Fino shipped here, this 70 was originally intended to be the importer Victor Bates' own boat. Summer was to arrive with a splash for his family, and Bates had charted an adventurous course in anticipation of his dreamboat coming in.

Too bad, then, that a big-boat buyer with a pocket full of brass bought the new boat before the Bates family could set sail.

But things aren't so bad for the Monte Fino importer. This year's boatshow circuit generated record interest in these Taiwanese-built boats. In fact, another Sydney big-boatie has ordered a 120-footer, which is already under construction. All this business has seen Bates order another 70-footer. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Ranging from 60-120ft, Monte Fino motoryachts certainly offer a lot of boat for your buck. For example, this boat with all the bells and whistles costs $2.45 million, considerably less than a 70-footer from other imported stables. In fact, it's available from as little as $1.70m.

Monte Fino buyers tend to be successful business people who remain brand loyal because, among other things, their preloved boats can fetch more than their original value when it comes time to sell. Other attractions include the marque's spacious interior and high-quality finishes, Euro styling that isn't too glitzy, serious engineering and ship-like performance.

Discerning Americans and more and more Australians are among Monte Fino's clients. The factory in Taiwan makes about 30 boats a year - mostly above 80ft - and no two are exactly the same.

While hulls and basic superstructure are built to a standard, the layouts, finishes and engineering are entirely up to owners. Which brings us back to this, the 19th 70-footer from the yard. Monte Fino said they have never built a 70 with so much in it.

Big on equipment, this Monte Fino 70 is not so big that a husband-and-wife team cannot take it places. The next step up from the popular 60 and 65-footers that many couples have jumped aboard, the 70-footer is a mini-ship with a boatload of conveniences. Think of it as a baby grand.

A special order, the boat has had Bureau Veritas survey and certification of its hull lamination and is structurally compliant with NSW Waterways 2C and 1E surveys for full ocean-going vessels. Construction is solid glass below the waterline with foam-cored decks.

On the engineering front, Bates had a full firefighting system fitted that includes an engine-driven bilge system and things like serious liferafts on deck. Fuel capacity has been boosted to 7000lt and water capacity is 1500lt. This way the Bates clan could be self-sufficient while on one to two week boating trips.

Elsewhere I found a 3000W inverter, five air-conditioning units, a 17kVa Kohler generator, a big stainless steel dinghy crane with a 450kg lift capacity, electronic controls and a walk-in engineroom with twin MAN 1050hp motors. See what I mean about this being a serious little ship?

With the tanks full I could have worked my way up the coast to the Great Barrier Reef. Such is the seaworthiness of this boat that one owner of a Monte Fino 70 apparently took his boat from London to Fort Lauderdale in Florida, a transatlantic crossing.

CUSTOM BUILD
Bates says he went shopping for a custom boat that was overflowing with amenities, full of space, packed with liveaboard comforts and built to survey standards for reassurance on long trips. Among the boat's liveaboard comforts is a trick forward dinette behind the windscreen where a lower helmstation would normally be. It is a unique feature borrowed from the company's 96-footer.

Bates also specified a single helmstation on the bridge under a hardtop, four instead of three cabins to maximise accommodation, bow and stern thrusters upped to 20hp models, and a remote docking device. Underway, MMC electronic controls provide fingertip control and synchro mode keeps the MANs humming in harmony.

Among the other trick details were a Bose sound system with individual controls in all four cabins as well as the galley, saloon and aft deck; a full-sized separate Miele washing machine and dryer; a big domestic-sized fridge; and the latest Raymarine interfaced electronics.

The interior finish includes a mid-range high-gloss American cherrywood, with 6mm burl camphor inlays on all cabinet tops or horizontals. The interior design could be described as timeless rather than daring.

The saloon has trick camel-coloured carpets with designer edging, buff-coloured leather lounges, 24V gold-rimmed downlighting, and white headliners with timber inlays. There was a ceiling feature in the saloon, lots of designer lamps and statues, and gold curtains around the boat's stainless-framed elliptical windows.

Galley counters are fashioned from red granite and the dining table had marquetry inlays. The stainless steel work on items like the concertina-style ship's side door is tremendous. The words 'truly excellent finish' are inscribed on my notepad. I'll say no more.

OUTDOOR LIVING
So much to see, so little time. Where to start? How about the great outdoors? The Monte Fino 70 has a nice big cockpit for outdoor dining and cruising for views with guests. A big boarding platform with a slot-in swim ladder, lift-out safety rails, hot and cold shower and storage beckons in summer.

Moulded stairwells either side of the boarding platform lead to the teak-topped cockpit. A rear lounge can seat six people before a giant timber lunch table. A moulded amenities centre near the saloon door contains a sink, icemaker, fridge and storage space for things like the remote docking device.

Ship-like bulwarks, backed by high, survey-standard rails with two intermediate wires, make this boat safe for tots to trot about.

The foredeck has a storage recess running the full width of the raised cabin top, and a big sunlounge.

Anchoring hardware is serious stuff. The Monte 70 has a 110kg stainless steel anchor, heavy-duty Muir windlass, and a high-tensile 13mm chain, with enough depth in the chain locker to stop the chain piling up and popping the deck.

An internal staircase fashioned from large-diameter stainless steel tubing and a moulded staircase in the cockpit lead to the flybridge. With a hardtop and clears, the bridge is suitable for all-weather cruising.

The extension overhanging the cockpit is home to a 450kg hydraulic-lift davit and room for a dinghy and jetski.

Undercover is an L-shaped lounge set around a small moulded lunch table. It faces another amenities centre with fridge, hot and cold water and sink, storage locker and BBQ. The helm, behind a centre console, has all the goodies. But more on this when we take a drive.

INDOOR COMFORTS
I found the saloon to be a private space. It reminded me of a five-star hotel lobby, but more upmarket and personal.

The wide saloon door offers a big and inviting entrance, while the windows back to the cockpit offer the best views.

The port side is given over to a camel-coloured leather lounge that can seat eight people before an oval coffee table. A mirror-backed bulkhead separating the saloon from the forward galley, adds to the sense of space.

To starboard is a big cherrywood entertainment cabinet containing a Panasonic television and Bose sound system. Ahead of this, up two steps before the galley, is an impressive timber drinks cabinet and wetbar.

You could host at least a dozen people for champagne and canape cruises and everyone would have a comfortable seat in all weathers.

Head and shoulder room is generous and typifies a boat made for big-bodied, well-heeled Westerners.

COOKING CAPERS
Entertaining has been kept in mind in the forward galley. While the boat is ostensibly made for a cruising couple, with things like swing-out bar stools for breakfast at the granite food-prep island, the bench and cupboard space is massive.

The boat has two big sinks, a spray nozzle on the faucet for rinsing dishes, and a Miele dishwasher. For catering there is a Siemen oven, four-burner ceramic cooktop with pot rails, range hood, and domestic-sized Fisher & Paykel fridge. Fresh-air streams inside if you leave the ship's door open.

Borrowed from the Monte Fino 96, the dining area behind the windscreen has views. The aft-facing circular lounge under the windscreen fronts a timber table that can seat six. Those aforementioned leather-upholstered breakfast stools swing back to the dining table for two more dinner settings.

TIME TO RETIRE
One thing's for sure, the Monte 70 isn't short on beds. What's more, the beds aren't short. Head down eight steps forward of the galley, past a foyer with a mirror and deer sculpture, through a stylish door with gold designer handles from Italy, to the VIP cabin.

This guest cabin has lovely white vinyl-lined walls with strip-timber inlays, cabinets with burl tops, and a mirrored bedhead with twin lamps.

There are air-conditioning controls, strip lighting around the bed and pelmets, plus other lighting combos courtesy of a wall-mounted switchboard.

An island double bed featuring a bone-coloured bedspread with leaf motifs points to the boat's luxury.

Mollycoddling a couple, there are twin power outlets, lots of cupboard space, a make-up area with a stool, and a two-person loveseat/chaise longue.

Hey, there is even a walk-in wardrobe with oodles of hanging space for a few weeks of nautical wear. Camphor timber lining in the clothes lockers emits a pleasant smell, while lighting lets you see what you're slipping on for dinner.

The ensuite is no less luxurious, with caramel-coloured marble counters, teak and holly flooring and Italian Grohe fittings.

The ceiling is mirrored for an added sense of space.

Not that things are tight. There is a full shower stall, towel storage lockers and an electric loo.

As a direct result of the boat's great depth, the second guest cabin is a further two steps below the VIP cabin. Accommodation comprises a transverse double bed flanked by a camphor-lined hanging locker, bedside tables and two drawers. Another lovely ensuite is nearby.

The third cabin for guests, kids or crew contains a lower bunk with a pullman above and a separate single bed off to one side. All the bunks were topped with nautical blue-and-yellow bedspreads and flanked by hanging lockers. I counted four drawers and yet another beautiful ensuite with a full shower stall and an electric loo.

OWNERS' RETREAT
The master cabin, meanwhile, is accessible down a separate spiral staircase at the aft end of the saloon. Full marks to Monte Fino for the privacy this cabin enjoys due to being disconnected from the guests' accommodation way up in the bow.

The master cabin runs the full width of the boat and is akin to what you might find on a superyacht half as big again. All it needs is repeater depth sounders and anchor alarms to guarantee the owner/driver a good night's sleep while anchored at the Reef.

Owners are treated to a giant island double bed, a separate dressing area, hanging lockers, bedside tables, a bedside lounge, oodles of cupboards for stowing clothes and personals, and even views out the escape windows in the transom.

The bed faces a separate entertainment unit with an LG television at exactly the right height for viewing while recumbent. The bed was topped with a stylish canary yellow and verdigris spread. The ensuite was a great big bathroom with all the comforts of home.

Outside the cabin in the foyer is a hanging locker for swinging wet-weather jackets. The boat's master AC/DC control boards were alongside. All the wiring and plumbing is colour-coded and numbered.

FOR THE LONG HAUL
I love a good, well-insulated walk-in engineroom, and the one behind the watertight ship's door on the Monte Fino 70 is a beauty. Headroom is about 1.80m and there seems to be plenty of fresh air fanning the motors. The boat has four AC/DC blowers to help it breathe.

The beautiful stainless steel plumbing, which meets survey standards, was impossible to miss. The shafts were big 33/4in numbers, running through dripless seals. The wet exhaust system has an idle relief function for quiet coffee cruises.

I found four Racor fuel filters, two standing by as spares, and terrific access around the MANs and the water strainers. The engineroom contains a firefighting system and a superyacht-like battery monitoring system with trips.

Back on the bridge, I found a full Raymarine navigation kit including autopilot, VHF, radar and chartplotter, with separate wind, speed, and depth gauges, and a rudder indicator. The owner was fitting a camera system to monitor all parts of the boat, while the MANs had audio and visual alarms.

ISLAND BOUND
Thanks to powerful bow and stern thrusters, I exited the marina like a sandcrab at a seafood buffet — read: hastily.

Even in the calms of Pittwater, the boat felt like a mini-ship. Bates had a big keel added to the hull so he could kiss the bottom and not the props. The keel also adds to the stability of the hard-chine semi-displacement boat.

At 600rpm - idle speed - we were moseying down the narrows at 6kt. Low-speed and long-range cruising came in at 1800rpm and 15kt. We could sit on 2200rpm and 17.6kt for a faster way of getting places.

Throttles down, 2400rpm returned 21.5kt. Bates is shooting for 23-24kt top speed and he says the answer lies in new props. As it was, at 16-17kt the motors consumed about 240lt/h for a theoretical range of 263 hours running across more than 4300nm. At 8kt they sip less than 40lt/h for a truly transoceanic cruising range.

In the bridge, behind the wheel of this baby grand, I was whistling Dixie, happy that warm weather had finally arrived. Bates regrets the fact he and his family will miss this summer, but rest assured they won't be away from boating for long.

Our short-haul passage was far from an ocean cruise, but enough of a journey, nonetheless, to get a taste for doing the full Monte.

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