M for Momentum

I was fortunate to have Tom as my host for our outing on the M55, a project he is rightly pleased with and an impressive credit to Maritimo’s Design and New Product Division.

“The thing we’re most proud of is that we’ve created a boat that ticks all the boxes,” he tells me as we nose carefully up a swollen Coomera River, the twin Volvo D13 800 hp engines pushing us along at 10 knots.

“It doesn’t have any weak points. It has something for everyone and feels much bigger than a boat its size. We’re really happy with how the boat’s performing,” he reveals.

The feeling of extra and real space is the result of carrying the M55’s maximum beam of 5.22 metres further aft, enabling a full-beam master stateroom, a new inclusion for this series that has traditionally favoured offset suites for accommodations.

It also effectively configures the exterior hero space, the so-called Adventure Deck – an expanse of teak that combines an already generous lower rear cockpit with an optional fixed or hydraulic 1.4-metre extended swim platform to create over 20-square-metres of deck with a host of practical applications.

Hydraulic arms lift the rear section of the cockpit for access to the cavernous area, which can house a 3-metre tender or store a selection of stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or other water toys.

Chilled refreshments are within easy reach in the fridge/cooler section of the entertainment unit, which also caters to other gastronomic needs with a double grill and sink. Plus, there’s handy storage underneath.

A single step takes you to the alfresco upper cockpit through recessed gates that fulfil their safety function in a stylish manner. You can rinse off on the way with the freshwater shower that sits snugly in the bulkhead.

Tom agrees this inviting entertaining and dining terrace is key to the M55’s chameleon appeal, and you can see why. There’s a standard rear Euro lounge and optional forward lounges as well as an L-shaped lounge with a dinette and portside chaise longue. It’s a superbly comfortable area connected to the sea and one that can effortlessly accommodate its many moods.

The hardtop moulding fully extends over the rear lounge, providing shade and protection. In the headliner, there are recesses for roll-down clears, which also provide for an air-conditioned outside room.

Tom explains the upper cockpit is slightly lower than what it would typically be on a sport yacht or one of Maritimo’s category-busting X-Series yachts. Still, he says, preferences differ, and the M-Series caters for them. For instance, buyers can opt for a bigger cockpit and more open space by reducing the seating.

Sliding doors to the galley are pinned at the top to stay securely in place. There’s an option for bifold doors – a Maritimo staple that many clients prefer – instead of the L-shaped lounge. The galley is as large as it can be given the parameters of a 55-footer.

There’s a big focus on maximising space and storage in the galley. It all starts with the exterior design and a flybridge that integrates a wing moulding and styling detail, which allows more beam in the flybridge. The key to that for the galley is the orientation of the flybridge stairs so they don’t encroach on galley real estate.

Tom estimates the result is a 300-millimetre space saving, and the galley certainly feels more expansive. The upright pull-out pantry is to port and under the stairs, allowing more room on the starboard side for extra appliances, which can all be specced to client requirements.

This boat had a convection oven, microwave oven, Miele fridge/freezer and dish drawer. A polished walnut feature panel stretching the length of the saloon ceiling, like a beam on a sailing ship, is a lovely touch – it also contains the concealed mood lighting package.

The joinery is first class. The detail and precision are pleasing to the eye and the touch; matching grains, wood and stainless trim with smooth, rounded edges.

Under the internal staircase to the flybridge is an additional fridge–freezer and icemaker, close to the carpeted forward saloon and lounging area where there’s a high-gloss dinette table with fold-out wings that are angled to complement the chaise.

Again, a subtle touch that is noticeable and saves space. There’s an option for a coffee setting as well, along with ottomans that can be easily stowed away and handily used for storage. Behind the dinette on the port side is a pop-up 50-inch television that can be viewed anywhere from the saloon lounge to the galley.

Usually, this would emerge from a side panel, but this siting allows the screen to be watched anywhere on the deck, even outside. I don’t watch television aboard – the sea is an everchanging tableau – but if you do, this would be the most desirable set-up.

The U-shaped lounge area to starboard is extremely comfortable, while large, two-stage sliding windows frame the panoramic views, which when fully open give the feeling of being aligned with the blue world around you. Any motor yacht designer will tell you a flybridge presents the biggest challenge. The balance between keeping weight aloft to a minimum, limited spatial dimensions and pleasing exterior lines is crucial. In the M55, Tom and his talented design team have hit the sweet spot.

“It’s got the beam of a flybridge on a boat 10 to 15 feet bigger,” says Tom. “That’s allowed us to get a lot more up here.”

That generous floor space encompasses two dedicated internal lounges (a U-shaped one forward to port and an L-shaped one aft of the custom Pompanette double helm chairs), a comprehensive helm and an entertainment unit with bar fridge. All of which are sealed off from the elements by bifold doors that stack on the starboard side.

Completely opened up, the rear deck with its bench seat is protected by the moulded hardtop overhang and, again, can be enclosed by clears. A solid configuration with strata glass has been mocked up by the yard. All the exterior seating has storage underneath.

There’s the option for an infill on the cruising lounge for yet another double berth, taking the sleeping capacity to eight.

Two boats being built for the US market have included a head up here, so it could double as a crew cabin.

All Maritimos are constructed with long-range cruising in mind, and the M55s accommodations reflect that ethos.

A well-lit atrium leads to three staterooms. The master at the end of the passageway offers a warm, open plan that features a king bed with a flat, walkaround floor and headroom of two-metres. There’s a full hanging locker and day bed on starboard and multiple drawers.

A stainless accent detail in the headboard matches the styling of the bulkhead housing the 43- inch television, while the roomy ensuite to port enjoys high-quality appointments that provide welcome comforts during extended periods at sea.

The VIP in the bow also enjoys side walkaround access to a queen bed due to the trademark Maritimo offset layout. There’s the option for extra storage in a panel, adding to the large storage under the bed itself.

The VIP shares a bathroom with the third cabin, but it’s more than adequate with a large shower stall and seat, and double vanity.

The twin singles in the starboard guest cabin can be converted to a double via an electric slide, and there’s a full-height hanging locker with a full-height mirror – also standard in each cabin. Goodsize bunks mean you don’t feel crammed beneath walkaround side decks.

The M55’s standard of fit-out alone would make it highly desirable, but there’s also Maritimo’s deserved reputation for being among the toughest and best sea-handling boats on the market. As soon as we punched into a swell heftier than the 1.5-metre sea running outside the Gold Coast seaway, I was reminded why buyers of this boat hail from as far afield as the Pacific North-West and New Zealand.

The M55’s sharp bow and deep-V entry sliced through the waves, its monocoque construction yielding not a single rattle. The new M55 hull is an evolution of Maritimo’s experience in long-range cruising design. The variable deadrise hull with flattened progression aft has been focused on offshore cruising performance, comfort and stability.

It’s a well-defined Maritimo trait, of course, along with shaft drives and an obsession with stability and trim, but it instils a deep confidence in anyone who goes to sea in one of their hulls. You may never know when you’ll need it most, but that ocean-tested dependability will be there when you do.

maritimo.com.au