SeaTrial:
Maritimo 550
Offshore Convertible
Reprinted from March 2010 Sea Magazine
We left the dock in a 10- to 15-knot side wind, but our captain, of Compass Point Yachts, used the remote thruster control and the aft controls to move the boat effortlessly into the channel. Later, when I turned the boat stern-to at 8 knots into a choppy sea with a good groundswell (I noticed no chattering, shimmering or cavitation), we took on 6 inches of green water in the cockpit. I stopped the boat and the water was gone in about three seconds — I timed it. I wasn’t surprised by either of those events, however, because the Maritimo 550 Offshore Convertible has Bill Barry-Cotter’s 40 years of shipbuilding experience behind it.
That experience has earned Maritimo’s Australia-based factory an ISO 9000 certification, the only such recognized shipbuilding yard Down Under. The design and building process is closely watched by the professionals at Maritimo. They stay within and go beyond the rigid specs of ISO 9000. This exacting certification process mandates that Maritimo keep track of and register all materials, parts and the building process in making every boat. Every step in building the yacht must be logged and registered to keep this coveted certification.
The Maritimo 550 doesn’t have quite as many nicknames — Battle Wagon, Yacht Fisher, Luxury Yacht — as it does features, but no matter what you call it, the yacht is versatile.
Timeless design and stylish lines, along with superior building techniques, make the Maritimo 550 a powerful, safe, fast and sleek offshore yacht. It is constructed of vinylester resin, and the bottom is hand-laid fiberglass 8 inches above the waterline. The bottom has a 22-inch keel with no prop tunnels. This unique design gives the boat stability and speed. The 27-degree deadrise on the bow and 8-degree deadrise on the stern, paired with the propeller shafts’ 7-degree angle, will put the boat on plane almost instantly.
Improved weight distribution is such that the yacht will accelerate from idle to 30 knots in just 8.9 seconds. The efficiency and speed are borne from Barry-Cotter’s experience in designing and racing his own racing catamarans.
The spacious cockpit has teak decks and upholstered seating along the forward bulkhead. There is a 4-foot 4inch by 19.5-inch fishbox covered by a teak hatch with gas lifts for easy opening and closing. The fishbox is easily removed with two stainless steel handles.
Two other hatches are just forward for storage and are well lit on timers in case you forget to turn off the light when you exit. All the latches are lockable and flush with the deck. All of the hardware on this yacht is solid and beautiful. A grating strip in the aft end of the cockpit hides three giant scuppers.
The uni-body engine room — large, solid and quiet — is lined with molded fiberglass not unlike the quality and appearance of the yacht’s exterior. The only exposed insulation is over the engines where, if needed, it can be removed to lift an engine without tearing up the deck. This space is well lit and roomy, and all components are within easy reach. All through-hulls, hoses, electrical, plumbing and fuel/water lines are labeled or color coded. Just forward is the main fuel tank, fitted with sight gauges to double-check your electronic fuel gauges.
A hydraulic steering pump is powered by the PTO off the starboard engine. These tried and proven Caterpillar C-18 1,000 hp engines are quiet and offer start-up controls attached to the engines, which gives the captain the ability to start them and instantly see that everything is OK
— no leaks or other problems. The engines are bolted to a foam-cored fiberglass Transverse Stringer System.
The propeller shaft angle, bottom configuration and all other design factors give this sturdy yacht a range of 1,652 miles at 8.5 knots, turning 700 rpm and using 6.6 gph. At 10 knots, the range is an incredible 740 miles. It holds 1,425 gallons of diesel in two tanks.
All the boat’s pumps are located to starboard/aft on a shelf where they can be easily serviced or replaced. A 23 kw Caterpillar generator with a sound shield is off to port and easily accessible for maintenance and inspection.
The main salon is open, airy and light. The teak sole (not the usual teak/holly) is beautiful. To port, just aft of the flybridge stairs, is the control panel, laid out with separate 12v, 120v and 240v sections, along with battery selector switches. All the walls are teak lined with matching-grain wood. The seams are tight, and I was unable to find any flaws in the wood or joints.
To starboard is an L-shaped Ultraleather settee with storage underneath. There is a teak table with a reversible top with storage inside, and the table can be flipped to become an ottoman.
Extra-large windows give the interior a light and open feeling. The rear windows slide open to bring in fresh air. A large counter houses a Vitrifrigo stainless steel refrigerator and drawers underneath.
Just forward and open to the salon is the well laid-out, L-shaped galley, which allows for comfortable entertaining. A large stainless steel sink is sunk into the spacious Starron countertop, and a Thermador microwave-convection oven is over it. Just under is a Fisher/Paykel dishwasher with a stainless steel face. Next to the large Liebherr Premium refrigerator with matching teak front is a Fisher/Paykel vent over the four-burner electric stove top.
Adjacent to the galley is an L-shaped settee for dining. The teak, high-gloss table slides out to allow easy access to the back seats, and it opens up to a full table to seat four comfortably. A 46inch Sony flat-screen TV is mounted over the seating area and can be seen from just about anywhere in the salon, cockpit or galley. The entertainment system offers satellite TV, satellite antenna controls and an AM/FM/CD/DVD Bose system with speakers throughout the boat.
When going down to the staterooms and heads, a clear, lighted handrail offers security and makes for an excellent night-light. To port is the master stateroom with a queen-size bed and a dedicated head. Gas-powered lifts elevate the bed to reveal a huge storage area and two drawers. This is a perfect spot for the boat’s safe. Night tables with built-in storage are to port and starboard. (All staterooms have overhead hatches with blackout and bug screens.) The doorknobs and handles are solid and add a beautiful touch to the character of the yacht. There is also a huge cedar-lined hanging locker.
The restroom is well lit with a big shower, a glass sink and plenty of storage with mirrored cabinets. The Tecma toilets are quiet and trouble free. Another nice touch: The area has heat and air conditioning.
Maritimo offers several configurations in the large VIP stateroom. The boat tested has two bunks, one over and offset to the other (though it will accommodate a queen-size bed), and features two cedar-lined hanging lockers. A flat-screen TV is on the aft bulkhead.
The enclosed flybridge is spacious and offers a 360-degree view. The captain’s controls are to starboard and seating is to port and aft of the two Stidd captain’s chairs. Two overhead hatches, a Hopper front window and rear windows open to let air flow into the bridge. Just forward and above the teak deck is another Vitrifrigo refrigerator. The overhead and walls are lined with a durable, yet beautiful material, which gives the bridge a finished look.
The boat tested has a Furuno Navnet 3D system with two monitors, a Simrad autopilot, Side Power thruster control and two 12v outlets. The future owner can order any brand and model. All electrical equipment and components are bought in the U.S., then
shipped to Australia and installed at the factory by trained technicians. That way, if there is a problem, the item can be serviced by the manufacturer’s local representative.
The rear door to the bridge opens to the Sport Deck. This area has tournament-type engine controls, which are mounted on a beautifully varnished teak platform. The controls have long handles so you can face aft while fighting a fish or docking the boat and still shift with ease. A Release fighting chair is mounted just aft of the controls.
Barry-Cotter and his team thought of everything when they designed and built this yacht. His “pleasure and efficiency” motto carries well into his final product. This truly is a top-end, well-built yacht. The power, acceleration, beauty, elegance and performance add to the “fun factor” of the Maritimo 550.