Review: Maritimo S70

REVIEW: MARITIMO S70

What do you get when you cross the refined silhouette of a sedan sportscruiser with the long-range capabilities of an Aussie-built passagemaker?

Here is a top-end motoryacht that blends the slippery profile of a sportsboat with Maritimo’s world-beating performance and reliability – this is a dayboat you can cross oceans in.
Followers of boating trends will have noticed a rise in the popularity of sedan cruisers in recent years as buyers sought options that did away with the traditional flybridge helm position.

This was taken to its natural conclusion when a pair of New Zealand-based Maritimo customers enquired with the Coomera yard about obtaining their dream boat which would blend single-level living with bluewater capability.
That result was the debut of Maritimo’s S70 a couple of years back and those Kiwi owners weren’t the only ones smitten with the final product.
So taken was Bill Barry-Cotter with this new S70, that when the time came to punch out hull number two, the Maritimo boss snatched it for himself.
Now let’s just think about that for a minute. Here is a bloke who could have any vessel he desires from the Maritimo range and has done just that over the years, enjoying a heavily customised M70 flybridge cruiser in recent years. But when the S70 hit the water in time for the 2016 Sydney International Boat Show, the lure of this new single-level beauty simply proved irresistible for Bill. Two years later, his own variant of this new design is ready to roll and what a motoryacht it is.

OPEN AIR LIVING

Given its roots on the Gold Coast, it would be almost criminal for the S70’s designers to not create a vessel that allows boat owners to fully embrace that enviable Queensland climate.

Hardly surprising then that a wide electric sunroof comes standard on this big sedan, allowing light and air to flood the helm station and saloon for a relaxed alfresco touch.
Below this sunroof you’ll find a huge L-shaped lounge arranged around a fold-out dining table for meals with friends under the stars and it’s from this spot you can view the pop-up TV as well. Decisions, decisions…

That table and much of the galley is finished in high-gloss teak which gleams throughout this boat in a knowing nod to tradition. But there’s nothing traditional about the entertaining space itself, or indeed this sedan. This is a genuinely social boat, with the skipper very much a part of the single-level action, not separated from the party through being stuck up on the flybridge.

We could probably read into this some sort of behavioural theory mumbo-jumbo about how modern boaties are subverting the traditional captain-crew roles. Or we could just see it as boat owners choosing to spend more time in close proximity to their loved ones.
Either way, it’s just one big single-level get-together on this boat. With the stainless framed bi-fold doors pushed back, there’s an enviable flow from the helm right through to the swimplatform. En route, you’ll find couches, the galley and all manner of handy items like wine fridges and ice makers, not to mention commercial-grade Miele kitchen appliances in the impressive galley. Everything you could need in fact, for (extremely comfortable) long-range offshore passagemaking, or entertaining a group of friends closer to home.

LOW PROFILE

Which brings us to another reason why Bill Barry-Cotter opted for this upsized sedan instead of another flybridge model. The S70’s air-draft of 5.23m means Bill can keep his latest boat docked right outside his waterfront Gold Coast home – no more worries about navigating under the numerous bridges between his canal dock and the open waters of Queensland and beyond. His decision may also have had something to do with that sexy profile of the sedan versus the more upright stature of Maritimo’s flybridge cruisers.
The S70 features all the low-slung curves and trim rooflines of Maritimo’s popular S-series yachts such as the S59, but just on a bigger scale this time. The proportions remain the same and Maritimo’s designers have done a cracking job upscaling the sedan to present a muscular and commanding profile that still draws admiring looks from knowing observers.

FRESH DASH

Among a raft of changes implemented into hull number two for the boss is a fresh helm design inspired by the functionality of Maritimo’s raceboats. Head designer Tom Barry-Cotter explained the thinking behind the new look is to centralise all the critical information and combine this with improved ergonomics so controls fall easily to hand.
‘Elegant simplicity’ is perhaps the best term to describe the result, with twin Garmin touchscreens set above Scania engine monitors, while contrast-stitching completes the look. Tom added that this new helm design has been further refined on the recently launched X-60, so we can expect to see these sophisticated control hubs standardised in all new Maritimo yachts going forward.

The captain and navigator enjoy lush Pompanette helm chairs with electric adjustment while they pilot the S70 to its next destination and controlling this big girl is a breeze with Twin Disc Quick-Shift throttles set aft of the handy Twin Disc EJS joystick system that makes for stress-free berthing. A sliding door to access the side decks is another smart addition that makes life easier for the skipper too. Whether it’s poking your head out for a better view, or tossing lines ashore as you pull into your berth, easy access means improved peace of mind, because – make no mistake – this is still a very big boat at 20-plus-metres, despite her sleek looks.

BELOW DECKS

The style and comfort of the single-level entertaining deck continues downstairs too, in the four-cabin three-bathroom accommodation. Seventy-feet of boat provides plenty of room for overnight guests and the cabins are as large as I’ve seen in this class of yacht.
The forward VIP cabin makes the most of limited space at the bow, but it’s still a relaxed fit for two adults on a centreline double bed, each with its own hanging locker.
There are twin hatches overhead for light and ventilation and this cabin shares the dayhead with the starboard-side single cabin. Bill’s choice was to avoid the traditional double-bunk setup here, opting for one good-sized single, set low next to the large vertical portlights.
This means a single adult can enjoy this space comfortably, not to mention the terrific views from the bedside.

Across the walkway is the portside VIP which is significantly larger than the bow cabin and boasts its own ensuite, complete with stone flooring. And, surprise – the spacious double bed also lifts on gas rams to reveal a cavernous storage space beneath. Easily large enough to swallow all your spare linen and a couple of disobedient teenagers to boot. All the guest cabins offer light and airy spaces, with hatches overhead and off-white carpets and walls that contrast in a modern fashion with the glossy woodwork and stylish bedheads.

Moving aft though, the real show stopper is saved for the captain’s quarters. This full-beam master cabin really is something special, the designers having almost 6m to play with. Three portlights either side allow natural light to flood in, along with fresh sea breezes when they’re opened up and there’s a desk on port, complemented by a comfy-looking reading chair on the starboard side.

The huge king size bed is flanked by cedar-lined hanging lockers either side and on the forward-facing bulkhead, a mammoth flatscreen TV provides after-hours entertainment.
But hold on? Where’s the head? Step further aft behind the bedhead and all is revealed.
Spanning the full width of the S70, the master ensuite makes the most of its inspired position by offering vast amounts of space mixed with sophisticated contemporary fittings.
His ‘n’ hers bowl sinks with mixer taps sit atop the stone benchtop and there’s more of that stonework underfoot, as you pad to the outrageously large shower cubicle on starboard.
In fact, calling this a cubicle is a disservice. It’s really a shower room, complete with teak bench and more of those opening portlights. This is true luxury and a genuine highlight onboard this boat.

WATER LEVEL

While this boat is at anchor, there’s really only one place to be and that’s the aft deck. You’re just steps away from that well-appointed galley, but perhaps, more importantly, just steps away from a dip in the ocean, too. A high-low hydraulic swimplatform makes tender launching a simple affair on the S70 and the lowered platform also makes a terrific spot for kids to enjoy the water.  It’s also not a bad location for the adults to dangle their toes while enjoying something cold and fizzy in a glass.

An electric barbecue and a chest freezer adorn either side of the lazarette and there are teak stairs either side to ascend to the aft deck itself. Here you find yet another sumptuous lounge beside a raw teak table, along with a hatch for engine room access. Rope lockers ensure all the gear you need for docking is easily to hand and there are also AnchorMax capstans on either rail for hauling on docklines – a clever idea on a vessel of this size.

The captain also gains peace of mind during docking manoeuvres via the aft controls on the port side – in this case another TwinDisc joystick system set just below the Garmin repeater screen and Fusion audio controls.

OFFSHORE OPTIONS

Entered via a hatch off the swimplatform, the lazarette is one of those areas where S70 owners can really let their imagination run wild in terms of customisation – this is a versatile space that lends itself to a range of applications. In this case, the void has been left largely empty, with a washer and dryer on port, opposite a single bunk for crew or extra guests. It could easily be optioned into another plush cabin, dive locker, workshop, or some combination of all of the above. For those owners serious about extended voyaging, this will be a seriously useful space. The engine room is as expansive as you might imagine on a 70-footer, with ample head height even for six-foot-plus reviewers and a surgically-clean expanse of white paint and clearly labelled components. I’d expect nothing less from Maritimo.

SCANIA PERFORMANCE

Even without the final choice of propeller fitted, it was clear during some speed runs inside the Broadwater that the twin Scanias beneath our feet were awesome beasts indeed.
Power delivery from the 1200hp V8s was effortless and surprisingly quiet, given they pack a greater punch than the 900hp Volvos fitted as standard. Economical cruising speeds of 10kts at a leisurely 1100rpm produce terrific fuel consumption rates, even with the S70’s 42-ton dry weight. So those big tanks fuel tanks (6300L) ensure lucky owners will be able to put some serious miles on the charts between fuel stops. Even with a 10 per cent safety margin, a 10kt cruise will give a range of around 1000nm; drop back to 9kts and you’re looking at more like 1600nm – and don’t forget this is all with a test propeller fitted.
Tom told me he also expects to see the top speed improve too – expect around 32kts when the final propeller choice is complete.

THE WRAP

The experienced delivery skipper who piloted the first S70 to its new home in Auckland reported back to Maritimo that the sedan cruiser produced the best performance he had seen in 50 crossings. The company founder – an experienced sailor and long-time builder of high-quality boats – chose the S70 for his personal vessel. What does this tell us? Simply that Maritimo have created something unique with this 70ft sedan sportscruiser. The S70 is equally at home pushing across ocean swells in the far reaches of the Pacific as it is entertaining friends in a secluded Sydney Harbour cove. This is a yacht that can do it all, with honest bluewater abilities and understated style and best of all, from one of our own celebrated builders – another top Aussie offering for the world stage.

MARITIMO S70 SEA TRIALS

Twin Scania DI16 076M 1200hp diesels with test propeller fitted

*Sea-trial data supplied by Maritimo. Fuel burn is for both engines combined.

MARITIMO S70 SPECIFICATIONS

PRICED FROM: A$3,289,000

PRICE AS TESTED: A$4,011,035

GENERAL

MATERIAL GRP

TYPE Monohull luxury sedan

LENGTH 21.51m

BEAM 5.72m

DRAFT 1.5m

WEIGHT 42,000kg (dry)

CAPACITIES

PEOPLE 8 (Night)

FUEL 6300L

WATER 1400L

HOLDING TANK 400L

 

ENGINE

MAKE/MODEL Twin Scania DI16076M

TYPE Common-rail injected, turbocharged four-stroke diesel V8

DISPLACEMENT 16.4L

WEIGHT 1660kg (dry)

 

SUPPLIED BY

Maritimo 

15 Waterway Drive,

Coomera, QLD, 4209

Phone (07) 5588 6000

Web maritimo.com.au.

More about Maritimo Motor Yachts

Find Maritimo Motor Yachts for sale.