Purpose Perfected: Aboard a Marlow 70E Built Around Family
Built around family, refined through experience, and finished in a color with special meaning, this Marlow 70E has a story to tell.
By Tom Serio
When I conduct sea trials, I spend time with owners of yachts of every type and size. Those conversations reveal what drives their decisions: their needs, their desires, and ultimately why a particular yacht feels like the right choice.
This brand-new Marlow 70E came with a very specific set of requirements, plus a deeply personal reason behind the color. The owner wanted to pay tribute to a dear friend, and he built that tribute right into the boat.
A Marlow 70E Built Around Family
The owners had a checklist, and family sat at the top of it. With several children and grandchildren in the mix, the 70E would serve as a gathering place for the entire brood, a yacht designed as much for family time as for cruising.
Choosing the 70E was hardly a difficult decision. An avid boater for most of his life, the owner had previously owned several Marlows and knew firsthand what set the brand apart. Fit, craftsmanship, and operational ease topped his list. Marlow had set the benchmark against which he measured other yachts, and none quite measured up.
The salon immediately conveys warmth. Rich, satin-finished teak cabinetry and wall panels contrast with gloss teak-and-holly flooring, while recessed ceiling and trim lighting, complemented by soft sconces, adds to the inviting atmosphere.
Two custom swivel chairs sit to port, separated by a center table. To starboard, an oversize, plush sofa provides ample seating, and a 50-inch television disappears into the forward credenza when not in use.
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The central coffee table earns its place. Its satin-teak top features an inlaid compass rose, built-in side drawers add storage, and ottomans tuck beneath each end, ready when extra seating is needed.
Cabinets in the aft corners hold glassware and barware. An undercounter refrigerator, ice maker, and sink complete a wet bar that serves both the salon and the aft deck. Marlow also routes the engine-room ventilation behind these cabinets, which keeps ventilation runs from eating into valuable salon space.
How Does the Marlow 70E Galley Work for a Crowd?
Having owned several yachts, this owner knew exactly what he wanted in a galley. The galley often becomes the social hub during meal prep, so the design emphasizes space, visibility, seating, and easy access to the exterior decks. The result is an unusually open, functional space with room for a crowd.
The owner supplied Thermador appliances, the same brand he uses at home: microwave, convection oven, four-burner cooktop, and dishwasher. Six drawer-style Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer units provide generous cold storage for extended cruising and feeding a full crew, or a hungry family.
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Caesarstone Aterra Blanca tops the center island and surrounding counters, adding a clean, contemporary contrast to the teak. Three large forward windshields, expansive side windows, and port and starboard deck doors flood the galley with natural light and connect it to the outdoors.
That open feeling continues into the aft dinette. Set on a raised platform, U-shaped Ultraleather seating surrounds a teak table, and a barstool tucks into a dedicated cutout. Its proximity to the galley makes serving and clearing easy, an important detail when the boat fills with family and friends.
Staterooms That Use Every Inch
A curved staircase with Chilewich basket-weave step inserts leads below. One of the first details to catch the eye is a cubby berth built into the outside wall of the staircase. It works as storage for suitcases or gear, but for this family it serves as an extra berth for a grandchild. With a hullside window and privacy curtain, it doubles as a cozy daytime hideaway for the younger set.
From the lower landing, the full-beam master stateroom lies aft. It features a centerline king berth, a wall-mounted 55-inch TV, 16 drawers, and nightstands. A vanity doubles as a workspace, a plush settee opposite the bed offers a place to relax, and a generous walk-in closet handles the wardrobe. The master head includes two sinks, a large shower stall, and a private toilet compartment.
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Forward, guests enjoy a VIP stateroom with a raised centerline berth, lapstrake teak wall finish, hanging lockers, and six drawers beneath the berth. The VIP has private access to the day head, which includes a large shower. A midship stateroom adds a queen berth, private head, and plenty of storage.
Even the passageway works hard. A washer and dryer hide behind the hall wall, while a machinery space below the deck provides access to plumbing, pumps, and the forward bow thruster.
Because the owner runs the boat himself, the aft crew quarters became a private, beach-club-style space. The area retains berths, a shower, air conditioning, a head, and a 19-inch TV, with room for additional Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer capacity. It shows how the 70E adapts to the way its owners actually use it.
Command Bridge and Marlow 70E Performance
Up top, the enclosed Command Bridge provides a comfortable helm and a protected vantage point for all-weather cruising. Twin Stidd helm seats face three Garmin multifunction displays, giving the captain navigation, engine, and systems data at a glance. Throttles, radios, autopilot, and thruster controls sit within easy reach, while an overhead console houses warning lights, battery information, and a bank of rocker switches.
Those throttles control a pair of Caterpillar C18 diesels rated at 1,150 hp each. During our speed runs, they pushed this 81,000-pound yacht to 24 knots at 2,200 rpm.
Cruising proved equally impressive. On our run down the Florida coast to Fort Lauderdale, the 70E settled in at 17 knots and 1,800 rpm, burning 33 gallons per hour per engine. At 80 percent load, fuel burn rose to 49 gph per engine at 22.2 knots. In other words, there is economy when you want it and speed when you need it.
The Command Bridge also works as a living space. A corner table with an L-shaped settee creates a gathering spot, while a captain’s stateroom and a day head with a shower add practicality on longer passages or when the yacht runs with crew.
Aft on the Command Bridge deck, a wet bar with a wood countertop and two barstools makes an ideal perch underway or at anchor. Owners can use the space for dinghy storage or leave it open for lounge chairs, and an Airtex 1,600-pound davit handles the tender.
Forward on the main deck, a Portuguese bridge leads to the foredeck through access doors on each side. A U-shaped settee invites conversation, a high-low table drops flush for lounging, and high gunwales and sturdy railings provide security when moving around the decks.
The Story Behind Seakers Green
The 70E’s color scheme sets this yacht apart. A blackout treatment on the windshield, side windows, and rectangular hull ports gives the exterior a modern, sophisticated look. Look closer, and the real story emerges.
Rather than the more familiar blue, the owners chose a soft, light green for the hull, bridge trim, and even the dinghy. The shade pays tribute to a dear friend of the owners. It appeared in one of the friend’s marketing products and became a favorite of the owner. After the friend passed away, the owner wanted that color on his yacht as a lasting tribute to their friendship.
At the time, Awlgrip did not offer that variation. After discussions, testing, and approvals, the company developed the color, now known as Seakers Green. A deeper Denegal Green on the cap rails, radar arch, and domes adds another layer of distinction.
After putting the yacht through its paces, the owner offered a telling assessment. He called the yacht “pretty complete,” noted that “all is functioning as expected,” and added that “it’s a very quiet boat.” Those are reassuring words from an owner who knows exactly what he wants, and has owned enough yachts to know when he has found it.
“I’ll stick with Marlow.”
Marlow 70E Specifications
- LOA: 77’9″
- Beam: 18’6″
- Draft: 4’10”
- Displacement (approx.): 81,000 lb.
- Fuel/Water: 3,000/500 U.S. gal.
- Power: 2x Caterpillar C18 @ 1,150 hp
- Contact: marlowyachts.com
