Back to the Future

It’s a winning combination: retro looks, cutting-edge technology, and the open-air feel of a summer porch.

Sitting at the dock, the new MJM 36z looks like a classic Downeast-style yacht. But inside its traditional lines, drawn by Marblehead, Massachusetts designer Doug Zurn, lies the technological prowess that is the pride and joy of its builder, Robert “Bob” L. Johnstone, III founder and CEO of MJM Yachts—and a founder of J Boats, Inc., one of the most successful racing sailboat companies of all time.
“This boat is the leading edge on three different counts: propulsion, construction and navigation,” Bob said of the new 36z. “It’s the future.”

This is one boat you really need to take for a sea trial in order to appreciate its capabilities. So we accepted Bob’s invitation this spring to ride along with him in the first MJM 36z on a delivery trip from Fort Lauderdale to Riviera Beach, Florida.
The boat’s first technological revelation came right away, when Bob pulled away from the dock using a Volvo IPS joystick to control its diesel sterndrives in sync. MJM is one of the first builders to have this new Volvo Penta propulsion package, with twin 220-horsepower, aluminum-block Aquamatic D3 diesels mated to Volvo’s corrosion-resistant titanium-ceramic-coated OceanX drives.
“We designed the boat around the drives system because we knew these blocks would be more efficient and lighter, and the joystick handling fit into what we were trying to achieve,” Bob said. “We’ve got the three latest Volvo innovations—the joystick, the OceanX drives, and the D3 engines.”
The 36z also boasts ultra-high-tech construction. In fact, the whole MJM line, which ranges from 29 to 40 feet, is built with Kevlar, E-glass’ and Corecell closed-cell foam. This structural laminate incorporates wet pre-preg Pro-Set epoxy, 38 percent by weight, and is compressed under a vacuum of over 2,000 pounds per square foot, then post-oven-cured at 145 degrees for 48 hours. The result is a lighter, stronger and more durable hull than one built using conventional fiberglass. Bob said he chose offshore racing sailboat builder Boston BoatWorks to construct his MJMs when he launched the line in 2002 because no powerboat builders had the requisite level of experience with this technology.
Running out Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades Inlet into two- to three-foot Atlantic swells, the 36z’s ride was smooth and its decks stayed dry as we headed north in a beam sea. “You couldn’t do this in a lot of Downeast boats this size,” Bob said.
Doug Zurn gave the MJM hull a touch of Carolina flare forward to deflect spray and keep the boat from burying its bow in rough seas. Its sharp deep-V entry, which measures about 55 degrees, is designed to slice cleanly through the waves, aided by a relatively narrow beam. About two-thirds of the way aft, the bottom starts to flatten out into a modified-V for greater stability, steering response and efficient planing. Deadrise at the transom measures 18 degrees.
Bob’s design goal for the 36z was to create a good-looking boat that would be comfortable enough for a couple to cruise in, yet maneuverable enough so that either spouse could drive it single-handed. He wanted it to be sporty, so the driver wouldn’t get bored, and it had to cruise at 25 knots. “One reason for that is if you are out in a seaway and you can’t do 25 knots, you are probably going to do 14 knots—you don’t have the power to get up the backs of the waves going downsea.
“Fuel economy was not a primary goal,” he continued. “Then all of a sudden, we launched the boat and it burned half the fuel of anything else.” The company’s performance figures show that at 25 knots, the 36z gets 1.9 nautical miles to the gallon (burning approximately 13 gallons of fuel per hour), which should be a real selling point as the price at the pump continues to rise.
The boat is also very quiet. Offshore at cruising speed, I recorded 72 dBA in the cabin; the loudest sound I heard was the water rushing past the hull. On the bridge deck, that hush allows the driver and a passenger sitting in the two Stidd helm seats to converse at normal levels. The pilothouse also provides shelter from the wind and rain without taking away from the boat’s open-air feel. The windshield panes, manufactured by American Marine, actually open up if you want to let in the breeze.
The MJM 36z has a traditional wooden destroyer wheel, but on our boat, that’s where the retro look ended. Its dash was bristling with high-tech electronics, including a monster 14-inch color chartplotter, which fit neatly into the raised console. “This is the first boat to have the Raymarine E140W HybridTouch color display integrated with the T-304 FLIR thermal imaging night vision camera,” Bob said with a grin. “It does a great job of picking up unlit boats, crab pots, and channel markers at night.”
The 36z has a single-level deck all the way from the rear seat to the helm, which is great for entertaining. An optional bimini can be extended from the pilothouse roof to shade the spacious cockpit. “With the bimini, it makes this all one area where we can gather,” Bob said. “One lady said it was like a summer porch.”
Boarding doors on either side of the cockpit are a further convenience. “That was from watching older owners get on and off our MJM 34z,” he said. “Jumping down onto a floating dock from the rail was fine in our younger days.” The 36z also has high bow rails and grab rails right where you need them throughout.
The cabin, unsurprisingly for powerboat built by a sailing icon, is elegant, clean and highly traditional, right down to the cherry batten hull ceilings above the convertible V-berth/dining area forward. An optional island berth is available, however, and a pull-out refrigerator drawer is another modern touch. The enclosed head is “wet”, with the sink faucet doubling as a showerhead, but there’s plenty of room to towel off inside. Every possible available space, from the forward cabinet to the companionway stairs, is utilized for storage, storage, storage.
After a very pleasant run up the coast, we turned into Loggerhead Club and Marina in Riviera Beach. I took the helm, and using the joystick, docked the MJM 36z against the bulkhead perfectly on my first try.
If this is the future of boating, then bring it on!