Maritimo’s Genesis
The new M60 takes the original flybridge motoryacht to a higher level.
To say this yacht has wings isn’t far from the truth. The Maritimo M60 can fly along the water with ease at speeds over ground up to 30 knots. But unless you want to use up your fuel just to go fast, come down to cruise at around 20 knots and not only go the distance, but enjoy the ride on a well-thought-out, newly designed yacht that is built upon the tradition of Maritimo’s very first 60-foot yacht back in 2004, the Maritimo 60.
“Maritimo has stayed focused on shaft-drive propulsion, which provides a combination of improved efficiency, economy, and long-range performance,” says Tom Barry-Cotter, managing director of Maritimo, who spearheaded the design efforts. “The new M60 continues that tradition and has its roots in the very first motoryacht Maritimo produced almost twenty years ago. The M60 epitomizes our commitment to producing long-range cruising motoryachts with superior seakeeping capabilities. The engine position and low shaft angles in our design provide balance and a low center of gravity that help the boat perform in virtually any sea condition.”
Built for the Sea
Barry-Cotter has told us before about Australia’s waters, where Maritimo calls home. “There’s no Intracoastal Waterway. Any sort of boating you do is out in the open ocean. You have to go quite a long way to get to the next port.”
That’s why Maritimo designs its hulls to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. Barry-Cotter pointed out that the variable deadrise hull form has a fine entry that progresses to a flatter dead rise aft, which provides a soft entry and a soft ride, perfect for those the Maritimo was designed for—owners who love to spend a lot of time on the boat. It’s comfortable at all speeds and conditions.
“Maritimo Yachts are built for the way cruisers use them in Australia, which is long-range cruising under the most challenging sea conditions in the world,” says Dave Northrop, president of the Americas for Maritimo. “The Maritimo pedigree translates very well to anywhere boaters want to take them in North American waters. The M60 has our proprietary Monocoque hull that withstands any conditions and is fitted out with the kind of interior and exterior gathering areas that welcome family and friends for extended time aboard.”
Relax and Enjoy
Knowing that the yacht is safe and secure at sea allows the owner and guests to really enjoy the amenities on board, and the design team has gone above and beyond to reimagine the deck spaces, the spacious skylounge, and the interior comfort of the salon and accommodations.
Let’s start with the interior. The ability to move around the yacht freely without having to duck because of low headroom or to navigate too many steps is designed into the M60’s layout. An open, atrium-style companionway allows for natural light to lead you down to a full-beam king ensuite master stateroom midship, a spacious, offset, walkaround queen ensuite stateroom forward, and a twin single guestroom starboard with an option for the inner berth to slide out to create a double berth. There’s even room in the companionway for the optional washer and dryer. Panoramic hull windows also add to the natural lighting.
Speaking of which, the salon and galley are fully surrounded by windows that connect you to the panoramic view, yet there’s the security of being indoors during inclement weather.
The M60’s wide beam makes you feel like you’re in a much bigger vessel. It’s open and comfortable. The forward lounging area has large L-shaped settees on each side, and the galley centers between the salon and the aft cockpit deck, so when the panoramic sliding doors are open, the entire main deck quickly becomes one enormous entertainment suite.
Entertainment is a key element to the M60, and one of the favorite spots is up on the flybridge deck. Here, a perched, 360-degree view takes you to a higher level, especially the captain, as this is home to the helm where captain comforts include two plush, leather seats and a hydraulic helm and joystick system along with the full complement of electronics. The elevated view is advantageous when navigating reefs or coming into dock.
A big couch sits to port for company and a cozy salon area is aft—all enclosed. Open the accordion-style doors to expand the area even more by connecting with the protected outdoor deck space covered by the flybridge hardtop and awning. The enclosed, climate-controlled flybridge is accessible by the internal staircase, another protection from the elements.
Let the Adventure Begin
You’d think all that was enough, but when families or adventurous spirits are involved, there’s nothing like the immense aft deck. At the global launch, Barry-Cotter pointed out that it was owner feedback that prompted Maritimo to create such an area. Owners really enjoy the protection from and the connection to the environment, and when at anchor, the huge cockpit and aft adventure deck have the capability to host a range of entertaining or relaxing activities as well as a platform for snorkeling, diving, paddling, you name it.
Forward-facing seating is molded with an entertainment center that is the focal point between the cockpit and the adventure deck and houses a centerline barbecue, sink, and a refrigeration unit accessible when standing on the aft deck. The walkaround centerpiece has another surprise. It’s the cover for Maritimo’s fully lined garage that can store a 10-foot tender or some personal watercraft models as well as toys, boards, and diving gear. You can have all the toys necessary to explore and play, and if you need more room, there are options to store the tender elsewhere on board, including up on the forward deck with an optional davit or mounted on the adventure deck with the optional hydraulic platform.
Remember the reference to wings? The Maritimo M60 has wings. The signature design was there at the beginning, disappeared in various design phases over the years, and is back. The signature molded “wings” off the superstructure complete a sense of balance and style for the exterior design as well as provide cover when walking the side decks. Incidentally, the wing design allows the superstructure to keep the same beam as that of the main deck, which makes for more room than a conventional, tapered flybridge design. That equates to larger social areas and a more relaxed atmosphere. The use of advanced material technology keeps it lightweight, yet strong, and helps keep the center of gravity down low where it belongs.
Power to Cruise
The hull and engineering are designed to use straight-shaft drive technology with twin Volvo Penta D13 800-mhp engines. Owners can choose the 1,000-mhp option or Scanis Di16 1,150-mhp engines as an upgrade. The shaft angle is a low eight degrees to give more anchorage options, and the 1,200-gallon fuel capacity gives additional destination options. The fuel tanks are set as low as possible in the hull for maximum stability. Hull No. 1 was designed for shoal water, so molded tunnels were incorporated to reduce draft by nearly a foot and give more protection to the six-bladed Nibral propellers and rudders.
On the M60 sea trial, it was noted how there was a light touch to the hydraulic helm and that the hull came to plane easily without using any trim tabs. Although the yacht can reach 30 knots, which will usually get you away from a storm, the hull’s characteristics keep the boat stable and can handle waves without a shudder. But at 30 knots, your range will only be around 371 nautical miles. At cruise (approx. 17 knots), you’ll gain an extra 47 nautical miles.
Barry-Cotter wanted the M60 to be just as special as the Maritimo 60. Pictures speak a thousand words, but nothing quite gives you the full magnitude of M60’s enchanting power as when you step aboard.
-by Steve Davis
