Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

I

t is hard to imagine

where Australian

luxury motoryacht

builder Maritimo can

go, having arrived

at the gates of perfection

with its stunning new

M65. This hugely capable

performance cruiser has

the pedigree and build to

cross oceans safely, and the

contemporary styling of a

city apartment.

The M65 is a masterstroke,

representing a Herculean

leap over the M60 that it

replaces and reinforces

the Queensland builder’s

reputation as an innovator in

luxury motoryachts.

For the Auckland On Water

Boat Show this M65 crossed

the Tasman on her own keel

in a shade over four days,

averaging 12kts. Maritimo

test skipper Russell Fleming

declared she not only

performed faultlessly but

proved extremely sea-kindly,

comfortable and dry, and

singled out the 900hp Scania

diesels as adding to onboard

comfort.

The M65’s engineering

is robust and the attention

to detail is evident at

every turn, reflecting the

builder’s experience and

uncompromising approach,

with critical system

redundancy featuring highly.

Longevity and reliability

come at a price but in this

regard buyers need not

worry about being short-

changed.

The cruiser's exterior

styling has moved away from

the curvaceous European-

influence seen on earlier

Maritimos. This new offering

is more purposeful and

powerful looking, with

flush cabin sides, massive

foredeck and acres of

beautiful quartersawn teak

laid in the cockpit and aft

boarding platform.

From the massive

flybridge skylounge with

its magnificent internal

staircase, to the understated

luxury and practicality of

the saloon and aft galley,

the M65 serves up options

for any occasion. Whether

formal or informal there is a

space for everything, and it

comes with a seamless easy

flow that belies the M65’s

split-level architecture. Like

a pushed out bay villa, the

interior goes on and on.

With the volume of a

modern 40-footer, the

skylounge can be configured

to provide a completely

independent living space

with self-contained galley

and bar. The helm is

front and to starboard,

behind a bank of three big

multifunction displays in the

dash.

Descending the internal

staircase – an artwork in its

own right – you arrive just

inside the rear saloon doors

that open onto the expansive

cockpit. True to tradition, the

galley is the heart of the M65

and is sure to draw guests

to the bar stools lined up

behind its counter. The mid-

ship saloon is centred on

a magnificent dining table

set alongside an L-shaped

lounger, and opposite to port

is a second lounge which

doubles as a sofa bed.

The lodging on the

new M65 is a giant leap

on previous models and

presents a level of finish and

refinement becoming of

asuperyacht. A full-beam

master isn’t a new concept,

but the extra volume has

propelled this suite to

superstar status. What is

new is the full-beam en suite

behind the king-size bed.

Up and forward are two VIP

guest cabins, each with en

suite. The first VIP cabin is to

port and the second in the

bow.

The M65 is as inspirational

as it is aspirational and

Maritimo owners looking

for a step-up in comfort,

practicality, style and

sophistication will find it in

the new M65 – a dreamboat

by any measure.

Maritimo 65 Cruising MY

MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION

quick specs

Maritimo 65

PRICE AS TESTED $3.5m

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Planing monohull

LENGTH 20.85m

BEAM 5.71m

ENGINE 2 x 900hp Scania

DI16 072M twin-turbo diesel

FUEL 6300lt

WATER 1400lt

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit maritimo.com.au

STORY STEVE RAEA

PHOTO SUBZERO

88 tradeaboat.com.au