Motor Boat & Yachting - July 2018

We couldn’t run a feature on the new

generation of British sportsboats

without mentioning the most

exclusive of them all. The Aston Martin

AM37 isn’t just reassuringly expensive

but thanks to input from some of the

world’s most talented car designers,

it’s also drop-dead gorgeous. And

unlike most of its rivals (Bladerunner

45 excepted), this one’s already in

build. We published a drive story of

the prototype back in February 2017

and although production versions

haven’t exactly been flying out of the

factory gates since then, the fourth

boat is now in build with a fifth due

to start construction next year.

At the time of our sea trial, the

factory was still fine-tuning some

of the complex systems such as the

sliding carbon-fibre cockpit covers.

They have used the intervening

months to good effect, refining these

niggly elements, as well as modifying

the aft section of the hull to promote

faster planning and a flatter ride

angle. We’re told it’s now six seconds

quicker on to the plane and thanks

to that lower trim angle, it should

cut through the chop better too.

Let’s be honest though, you’re

not going to buy an AM37 for the

dynamics alone – you can buy

a production RIB that will go faster

and handle just as well for a tenth

of the cost. The reason for spending

£1 million on an AM37 (or £1.6m if

you opt for the fully loaded AM37S

with twin 520hp Mercury Racing

V8s) is the pleasure of owning

a truly bespoke, handcrafted work

of art bearing one of the world’s

most evocative brand names.

Each boat is built by a small team

of craftsman over an eight-month

period at Quintessence’s workshop

in Whitely, Hampshire. The cockpit

alone is a visual and tactile delight

of hand-stitched saddle leather,

glossy woven carbon fibre and

sparkling stainless-steel detailing

that outshines even Riva’s best efforts.

The glass bridge helm is as slick

as the styling and features its own

built-in concierge service that allows

the factory to monitor all the systems

by remote wherever it is in the world,

ensuring a backup service to match

its lofty ambitions. The AM37 is never

going to be on everyone’s shopping

list but that’s precisely the point.

At this level, the last thing you want

is to pull into port and find another

one sat in the berth next to you.

With a maximum output of just seven

boats a year, the chances of that

happening are infinitesimally small.

Contact http://www.quintessenceyachts.com

AT A GLANCE

Length 36ft 5in (11.1m)

Beam 12ft 1in (3.68m)

Engines 370hp-520hp

Mercury petrol or diesel

Top speed 50 knots

Price from £995,000 inc VAT

Aston Martin AM37

Tweaks to the

hull shape help

it plane faster

The fi t and

fi nish matches

the lofty price

The AM37’s styling alone is

enough to loosen the purse

strings of wealthy buyers