Maritimo M59 Review
The Maritimo M59 takes the enclosed flybridge design to the next level. Literally.
Maritimo is well known for its enclosed flybridge boats, and through the years they’ve built enclosed bridges of all sizes, even as small as the M440. They do, of course, focus on larger models, like the M64 we saw at last year’s Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. If 44 is too small and 64 is a bit large, the new M59 might just be the boat you’re looking for. Join us for a quick peek inside the M59, which we filmed at the Palm Beach show this spring.
Unlike most boats built in the convertible mold, whether they have the bridge enclosed or not, the M59 is clearly not designed for offshore fishing. Sure, you can put in rod holders and drag a few lines off the transom. But the cockpit, with its dinette table and aft settee, is meant to serve as an entertainment area more than as a fishing arena. Sportfishing boats also eschew the large swim platform found on the M59, while cruisers will enjoy it not only for the easy water access, but also for potentially hauling a dinghy. This being the case, why not go with a design that places more emphasis on cabin space and less on the cockpit, as we usually see on more cruising-oriented boats? Well, some of us boaters simply enjoy being outdoors. We like to feel the breeze and hear the cries of the seagulls. And on the Maritimo you have a big, giant cockpit to enjoy those things from.
The capper is, of course, the upper flybridge aft deck. It’s really more of a porch, really, and it virtually doubles your outdoors area. Yes, many flybridge boats utilize the entire flybridge for outdoor entertaining, and for some boaters this is best. Trouble arises, however, when you want to make a cruise through difficult conditions, or use your boat in poor weather. On some flybridge cruisers this may mean dealing with being wet, chilly, or overheated, which are all situations you can mitigate—but not solve—by raising a Bimini or snapping in canvass curtains. On the Maritimo, these issues are solved by simply walking back into the heated/air conditioned/fully-protected enclosed helm.
No matter what the weather has in store you’ll always have a comfortable place to run the boat, on the M59.
Inside the cabin you’ll find the things you expect in a modern boat—maybe we should say yacht—of this size and nature. As is the trend these days, the saloon is essentially wrapped in glass and offers 360-degree views. Glossy woodwork juxtapositions nicely with light colored fabrics and the natural light, to create a bright, airy feeling inside. The galley is aft, and the port-side stairway to the bridgedeck makes going up and down a whole lot easier than climbing the ladders you’ll find on those convertible sportfishing boats.
The real surprise, however, comes when you enter the master stateroom. It’s a full-beam mid-cabin with an ensuite head, which is no big shock, but it’s much larger than expected and has its own private entrance leading aft from the companionway, through a door, past a small sitting area with a desk, then down a short set of stairs. This is every bit as private as it gets on a boat of this size, and overall the owner’s retreat is significantly larger than virtually any you’ll see on vessels under 60 feet in length. In fact, it’s an arrangement that reminds us of those more common to 70- or 80-footers which cost far more than the M59’s (approximate) $2.5 million price tag.
The down-side to blowing up the master stateroom is carving into the space usually allotted to the heads and guest staterooms. As a result this is a two-head boat, with the VIP and guest staterooms sharing the day-head as opposed to having ensuite heads. And although these other staterooms aren’t nearly as grand as the master, they should make guests and kids thoroughly happy. The VIP has a queen pedestal berth and the guest stateroom has a pair of single berths that can slide together to create a double.
The owner’s stateroom is really more of a suite, and is significantly up-sized compared to those found on other yachts in this class.
What about performance? Powered with a pair of optional Volvo D13 800 HP diesels (725 HP D11’s are standard), the M59 cruises in the low- to mid 20-knot range and tops out at just over 28 knots. That’s not exactly eye-watering speed, but it is common to the class of boater Maritimo caters to, which is often more concerned with range and efficiency than a muscular top-end. And while range at cruise is around 500 miles, throttling back to seven knots allows the M59 to plod along more or less like a trawler. Getting 2.5 miles to the gallon at this speed, range jumps to just over 2,600 miles with a 10-percent fuel reserve. For a 59 foot cruising yacht, that’s a tough mark to top. In fact, it seems the M59 has set a number of benchmarks that competitors will have trouble matching.
Other Choices: Enclosed bridge boats in this size range are relatively rare, but Viking offers the 62 and 66 Convertibles with fully-enclosed bridges. Either way, these are true fishing boats. Comparison shoppers looking for cruisers that have bridges with some level of protection, even if they aren’t fully enclosed, may want to see the Princess S60, or the Prestige 630.
For more information, visit Maritimo.
See Maritimo M59 listings.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length | 59'0" |
| Beam | 17'11" |
| Draft | 4'0" |
| Displacement | 59,500 lbs |
| Fuel capacity | 1,162 gal. |
| Water capacity | 185 gal. |
