The Maritimo 550, a classic battlewagon designed specifically to claim top honours at Australia’s premiere game fishing tournaments, is the latest release from Bill Barry-Cotter’s award-winning Gold Coast yard. Every aspect of the vessel has been created to hunt the giant ‘granders’, black marlin tipping the scales in excess of 1000lbs, roaming the Coral Sea.
It’s not only the overall design of the boat that leaves nothing to chance; campaigning the vessel will be none other than Captain Bill Bilson, widely acknowledged as one of the country’s top game boat skippers and a four-time winner of the prestigious Lizard Island Black Marlin Classic.
Bilson played a major role in the design and set up of the Maritimo 550, a sleek 57-footer with a 17ft beam. Naturally, Bilson concentrated on the vessel’s cockpit and flying bridge, ensuring the Maritimo 550 proved a classic battlewagon in every respect. The first Maritimo 550 will be powered by dual 1000hp Caterpillar marine diesels giving it an astonishing 38-knots plus. Subsequent buyers of a Maritimo 550 will be offered a choice of engines from Caterpillar, Cummins and Yanmar in the 700hp to 1100hp range.
Bilson estimated the Maritimo 550’s speed would place it in the top three percent of the country’s top sportfishing boats. “It’s going to take one of the custom-built American convertibles with 1500hp engines to beat us out to the fishing grounds,” he declared. Basically, the fishing layout of the boat utilises identical measurements proven over many years aboard Bilson’s own boat.
With a full tuna tower from Black Marlin Towers, a $25,000 fighting chair by US manufacturer Release, complemented by Release rod holders and Lees outriggers, the Maritimo 550 is destined to be a spectacular sight. The imposing craft will be ready for sea trials in late July and will have its first public appearance at the Sydney International Boat Show (August 2-7). Bilson, accompanied by Bill Barry-Cotter, attended the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last year on a buying mission for the 550. “That’s where we selected the Release chair and the same company’s rod holders, which I’d rate as the best I’ve seen,” Bilson said. “We also selected a chair from Release for the flybridge helm. “I did quite a bit of work around the helm, positioning it aft and on the centreline with a 360-degree view over the cockpit, the fish in view at all times.“The helm console is fairly traditional, along the lines of the helms seen aboard custom-built US convertibles,” he added.
For the Maritimo 550 skipper, handling the boat will be simplified thanks to a five-station control set-up via a hand-held remote. Buyers will be offered a choice of three comprehensive marine electronics packages, each providing a selection of software, computer links and a variety of upgrades. Bilson has described the Maritimo 550 hull shape as “simply outstanding.” “But what else would one expect from Bill Barry-Cotter”, he added.
The hull boasts a fine entry, flattening aft to a minimum deadrise. “Beam to length ratio might be described as on the lean side, but it will definitely enhance performance,” Bilson explained. Internally, the Maritimo 550 will share the same luxurious accommodations that have impressed all who have inspected the Maritimo range.
Luxurious saloon, highly-efficient galley, internal staircase to the ‘bridge and three staterooms ensure that when not in game fishing mode those aboard are well catered for. The Maritimo 550 is only the spearhead of Bill Barry-Cotter’s plans to “take on” the sportfishing market. It will be followed by a 50-footer (15.24-metres), the Maritimo 500 and later by a 63¬footer (19.20-metres), the Maritimo 630. Like the Maritimo 550, the following craft will be similarly set up and designed specifically for wide-ranging sportfishing expeditions.
Specifications:
- LOA 57’10”
- Beam 17’01”
- Speed 38 Knots (Max) 33 Knots (Cruise)
- Fuel 1505 US Gal
- Water 211 US Gal
- Weight 27 Ton Light Load
- Engines 1000 HP C18 Caterpillar X 2