ShowBoats International
Testing the Metal
Justin Ratcliffe
03/01/2008
I’m going to stick my neck out here to say that in my opinion, the Sanlorenzo 40 Alloy was the most exciting yacht to make its debut in Monaco last autumn. It was not the biggest by a long chalk, but what distinguishes this all-aluminum production yacht (which, incidentally, is a tad under 40 meters at a less fulsome-sounding 38.5 meters, or 126 feet, overall) is the concept behind its audacious, yet functional design. Named after the initial letter of the owner’s surname and the four members of his family, 4H is the first of the new metal series to come out of Sanlorenzo’s Viareggio facility. I spotted its eye-catching profile in Cannes when the yacht was
anchored between the Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto, but I had to wait until the following week to go aboard in Monaco. I was not disappointed. Click on the Specs tab at top to see complete list of resources. Two motives dictated Sanlorenzo’s move to aluminum as a
construction material: to offer clients more choice by extending its range, and to maintain performance in a planing hull over 108 feet when weight becomes an issue with GRP. Once the Italian company decided to enter the metal-boat sector, Sanlorenzo also committed to
maintaining the high-quality standards that characterize the rest of its fleet. Accordingly, it sought the guidance of John Winterbotham & Partners, an English consultancy firm
specializing in the superyacht field. The process was supervised by Mike Worthington-Leese, formerly a surveyor with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, resulting in a quality book that certified and signed off each stage of production. Worthington-Leese calls it a "living document," insofar as the document is constantly being updated so as to improve production procedure and coordination. "It’s been a steep learning curve for Sanlorenzo," admits Worthington-Leese, who
travels to Viareggio about once a month. "But the engineers are extremely proud of their product and mindful of the fact they are new to the metal-boat market, so they’re happy to listen and take advice." With general concept, exterior styling, interior layout and décor by Francesco Paszkowski with Margherita Casprini acting as interior design liaison for Sanlorenzo,
the two designers worked in close association with the European client who, as a former owner of the Wally Tiketitoo, was looking to marry the plein air lifestyle of a sailboat with the luxury and performance of a motorboat. Top: The VIP cabin. Middle: The stairwell with colored Perspex
panels. Bottom: The owner’s study. (Click images to enlarge) "In my heart of hearts I’m a sailor," says the owner, "and always will be." Paszkowski achieved the union in a single masterly stroke by designing into the main-deck bulwarks no fewer than four hydraulically operated terraces. While one or two such balconies are not new features on larger vessels, four on a
yacht of less than 40 meters is unheard of. "As Sanlorenzo’s first metal boat, they wanted something that was different from what the market already offered," explains Paszkowski. "But the tricky part was adapting the exterior ShowBoats International lines to create a family resemblance with the Sanlorenzo 100 and 108 fiberglass models." Positioned on either side of the main salon and in the forward gym and master cabin, the stunning effect is to open up the
interior to natural light and sea breezes and extend its boundaries over the water. The fold-down terraces in the main salon are accessed via sliding glass doors and together add more than six feet to the yacht’s maximum beam when lowered. In the gym and master suite, the teak-decked platforms are divided into upper and lower sections, so for added privacy just the upper panel can be raised at eye level. The owner’s bed is athwartships, so when the vessel is anchored in a secluded bay he can gaze out at the horizon from a perfectly prone position. Stanchions slot into the perimeter of the terraces, and stainless locking steel pins ensure the mechanism is secure and watertight in line with the yacht’s ABS certification. Although requiring some
precision engineering, the technology behind these solutions is not especially new or complex, and I only wonder why we have had to wait for the 40 Alloy to realize the full potential of the terrace feature.To keep the profile low and streamlined, the raised pilothouse-style bridge is on an intermediate level, which means guests can enjoy all-round views while seated in the sun-deck lounge. The result is a yacht that gives the impression of being two boats in one. "If you stand on the sun deck," says Paszkowski, "it feels like an open model; whereas in the main salon, it is more like a widebody yacht." The problem with a raised pilothouse is that access is usually only from the inside. But here again, the 40 Alloy is innovative. Paszkowski added two automobileinspired gull-wing doors that besides looking very stylish also provide the necessary
headroom for getting in and out quickly and comfortably—a useful option when maneuvering in a tight berth. As a safety feature, the doors open automatically at the touch of a button, but when closing them you have to keep the button pressed, and electronic gears slow the movement down to avoid nipped fingers or worse before shutting and locking for a watertight seal. The only drawback is that the first step up to the doors is rather high, but this likely will be resolved by adding an intermediary step. The main salon. The owner requested that the systems monitors on the bridge be standardized to give the console a clean and harmonized appearance. Engine room and navigation data thus are fed into what Captain Frank Hesse calls a "little black box" and then relayed to five identical screens. To the best of our knowledge, 4H is also the first non-displacement hull to be fitted with Naiad at-anchor stabilizers. But it is not just at anchor that the stabilizers come in handy. Hesse is especially pleased with their performance when under way. "At twenty-five knots, you can turn fifteen degrees to port or starboard and the boat barely lists," he claims enthusiastically. "That means guests can be enjoying drinks on the flydeck and glasses don’t shoot off the table." On the inside, what is immediately striking about 4H is the lack of any formal dining area. The only full-size table is on the open sun deck.
"I think the idea of having twelve dining chairs on the main deck would have ruined the sense of space," says the owner. "And you just don’t need it, as when you’re cruising in the Mediterranean, you dine outside." The upper-deck lounge, trimmed in green and black leather,
is set up for casual dining. Instead, the main salon is furnished as a casual ShowBoats international conversation area with a series of black lacquered games and coffee tables by Cantù Contract, and Nieri freestanding leather sofas and armchairs. Two shades of walnut are used throughout the yacht for walls and flooring, while the bathroom countertops and shower stalls are of oatmeal-hued limestone. So as to bounce light around the interior volumes, the ceilings have a white, high-gloss finish. The flat-screen TV in the main salon is disguised behind a rose red panel that adds a modernist touch of color to the neutral tones of the décor. The owner dislikes incandescent spotlights, so he opted for more-subtle LEDs for ceiling illumination and ambient lighting. In contrast to the main deck, the skylounge on the sun deck is lined in black and sage green leather. Instead of appearing dark or gloomy, the space is even more light-filled than the main salon due to side windows that open by sliding down into the superstructure and open-style glass doors to the aft deck. An adjustable granitetopped table and C-shape sofa provide for casual dining under cover in case of bad weather, while a dumbwaiter to the galley makes life easier for the crew, who also enjoy particularly comfortable quarters with the same walnut finish as the guest areas. A suave touch is the dedicated sink in the bar area for storing ice or keeping fresh seafood alive.The master suite is situated forward of the galley on the main
deck and has its own private gym and study area with room for two workstations. A sliding mirrored panel in the gym communicates with the bathroom and means the view out over the terrace can also be enjoyed (somewhat bizarrely) by anyone who happens to be in the bathtub. The owner of the second hull under construction has chosen to do away with the gym and opted for a full-beam cabin. The lower-deck guest accommodations consist of a forward VIP cabin, two twin singles and a double cabin that feels strangely larger than the VIP cabin despite the fact that one side of the bed abuts the sidewall. TV screens are hidden behind wall mirrors and the choice of materials, fixtures and fittings are identical to the master cabin. My only criticism is that the VIP cabin, though provided with adequate storage space, lacks a proper wardrobe.
Coming hot on the heels of the SD92 reviewed in ShowBoats International’s February issue, 4H represents another chapter in the challenge laid down by Massimo Perotti two years ago in April 2005 when he took over what he likes to call the Sanlorenzo atelier, or literally, "artist’s studio." As the first alloy hull in a bold new series, the execution is not always faultless, but the basic concept is sound, and the finished product will only improve as the company fine-tunes its production process. Sanlorenzo certainly is not lacking in confidence, and the word is,
construction has already started on a 44-meter steel hull.
Yacht Specs
Yacht Name: 4H
Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
Builder: Sanlorenzo
Interior Design: Francesco Paszkowski
Draft: 9' 4" (2.84m)
LOA (Actual length): 126' 4" (38.51m)
Displacement: 170 tons
Max Speed: 28 kts
Cruise Speed: 25 kts
Range: 800 nm @ 23 kts
Beam: 24' 11" (7.59m)
Architecture: Sanlorenzo
Hull Material: Aluminum
Superstructure Material: Aluminum
Exterior Design: Francesco Paszkowski
ShowBoats International
Fuel Capacity: 8,000g (30,283.29L)
Water Capacity: 1,600g (6,056.66L)
Engines: 2x MTU 12V4000 M90
Generators: 2x 55 kW/50 Hz
Air conditioning: Condaria, 344,000 Btu
Watermarker: 1x 1,849 U.S. gal (7,000 L) per day
Bow thruster: Tunnel thrusters, 80 hp
Stabilizers: 2x 1.7 m2
Paint: Boero, DuPont
Deck Windlass: Maxwell VWC 6000, 1.4 tn
Tenders: 1x 16' (5 m) Novurania EQ 500 LP
Radar: 1x Furuno M1964C-BB, 1x Furuno M1934C-BB
Autopilot: C.Plath NaviPilot 4000
GPS: 2x Furuno GP-320B
SatCom: OmniAccess VSAT w/Sea Tel 4006 antenna
Depth Sounder: Furuno FCV-600L
Sanlorenzo of the Americas - VLADIMIR NEDIC 954-607-1378 (VLAD@YACHTBLUE.NET)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Yachting Magazine
DESTINATIONS
Field Guide to Flexibility: Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet
Plans change, but a Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet, the Florida Keys, and a good crew of friends always add up to three special days. By Capt. Ken Kreisler, Photography by Scott Pearson
Published: March 22, 2009
Australian boatbuilder Maritimo has been introducing new models at a rapid-fire pace during the last four years. The 60 Sport Cabriolet is the latest to arrive on these shores and I was eager to shake her down and go cruising. My first plan was to head over to the Bahamas, maybe Bimini or Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama. When Steve Martin of Maritimo dealer Yacht Blue informed me that Dean and Brenda Ducray—the owners of a 60-foot Maritimo enclosed flying bridge cruiser—also had the cruising itch, I began to plan in earnest. The weather, always a concern when making a Gulf Stream crossing, became a factor. If need be, our alternative route was to scrap the Bahamas altogether and head down to the Florida Keys. The first front came barreling in two days before we were to leave. By the time I showed up in Ft. Lauderdale, it was all but a foregone conclusion that we were headed southwest instead of east. With 20 to 25 knots
of wind and the 36-hour forecast calling for yet another pesky front to pass through the area, I would have plenty of help evaluating the boat's seakeeping prowess on our southern cruise.
The Ducrays, their skipper Rob Welling, Yacht Blue's mobile service technician Tony Schulstad, photographer Scott Pearson, Martin, and I assembled in the wide-open spaces of the 60 Cabriolet's salon. We had lots of room to sit and plan while lounging on the leather settee to starboard and seating area to port. "We'll most likely have the seas on our port bow until we make the channel just past Elliot Key," I offered. "Once we jog to the west a bit there, it'll be smoother on down to the middle keys," Martin added. Since he had already called ahead to Duck Key, all we had left to do was let go of our lines. The wind was puffing up some and getting out of the tight spot meant playing a bit of bump and go with the engines and the bow and optional stern thruster. But with her low profile and minimal windage, she responded well to all
commands. We cleared the pilings, headed down the canal to the ICW, and out to sea.
Except for the busy Port Everglades tractor tug Broward and several local sportfishing boats, there were few pleasure craft transiting the roller-coaster inlet with us. By the time we cleared the sea buoy and headed south, it began to rain. Not that it mattered, since the four windshield wipers worked full time combating the steady, winddriven four-footers. Once I found the right rpm, I was impressed that I was able to keep the boat running comfortably at 20 knots and noticed that Pearson was relaxed enough to have fallen asleep on the settee just abaft
Yachting Magazine the starboard helm. The Maritimo's steering was butter-smooth and highly responsive, thanks to the proprietary power-steering system, a design that has trickled down from the company's high-powered racing division. "The bottom is 1½-inch solid fiberglass and the ride we're getting here is a matter of balance," said Martin, who sat next to me at the helm as we discussed the 60's variable-deadrise hull. This design features a 34-degree entry that
"warps," or varies, down to 9 degrees at the transom, resulting in a hull form that is extremely seakindly in rough conditions, and reduces any slamming or pounding at the right speeds. "We also mount the engines more forward with a single, composite athwartships fuel tank amidships for better weight distribution," said Martin. Once we turned the corner and things calmed down a bit, and with the rain abating, Martin suggested we eat lunch. He had stocked the full-size refrigerator in the port galley. The galley is just inside the glass sliding doors separating
the cockpit from the salon, making it convenient for cockpit entertaining as well. The doors slide and lock to either side, or even in the middle. Martin secured all the doors to starboard and the galley and teak-soled cockpit, with its beautifully finished round teak table and four chairs, became one. A transom console houses an electric grill and makes alfresco dining very onvenient. I was now able to ease the throttles up and, with a bit of down trim, had her settle in at 25 knots. At this rate of speed her twin 1,015-horsepower Cat C18s burned just about 70 gallons per hour.
Based on her 1,480-gallon fuel capacity, a 470-nautical-mile range could be expected at cruising speed, with a 10-percent reserve. I scanned the pair of 15-inch Garmin touchscreens and Cat electronic engine displays, all easy to read thanks to a sensible helm layout. The big forward and side windows and the expansive cockpit doors provided excellent views all around, including one of the nowupright Pearson chowing down on a serious sub at the salon table. Arriving at Duck Key, the sky had cleared but the wind was still blowing. The 60 Cabriolet was given the outside of a long finger dock with the other boat on the inside. After shutting down, we broke out the hoses, soft brushes, and chamois cloths and got busy getting all the salt off from top to bottom. The Ducrays hosted everyone aboard that night for dinner and all had a splendid time. The 60 has a four-stateroom, two-head layout. The forepeak offers a door to the day-head followed by a single-berth cabin. Directly opposite the head is the over-under port quarters. The amidships master, which I occupied, has a large en suite head and takes full advantage of the 17-foot, 4-inch beam. I found all the quarters to be well appointed with great headroom. Morning saw some sunshine but no relief from the wind and I could see a lot of white on the ocean side. Over
breakfast at the teak cockpit table we pulled out the charts and took a look at the protected waters in back of Long Key, a bit to the north of Duck. "We can pick up Channel Five and do our performance runs on the other side of the viaduct," I said. Afterwards, we would raft up with the Ducrays for lunch. With plenty of room to run from Fiesta Key up to Lower Matecumbe and back, I took my time putting the 60 Cabriolet through her paces. From speed runs where she held her course straight and true to noticing how well she backed down; from getting her up and out of the hole and up on plane in 12 to 15 seconds, to just sitting back, optional remote control in hand, the cockpit doors and the sunroof open, this boat is a dream to drive. I hit a top speed of 32.2 knots, noted 30 knots at 2100 rpm, and settled her into a nice laidback cruise speed of 22.5 knots at 1700 rpm, which would give us a 525-nautical-mile range. Yachting Magazine
By the time I had finished my diagnostics, Welling had already anchored and I brought the 60 Cabriolet up alongside. While there's nothing better than getting from here to there and back in a boat, grilling up lunch for the seven of us on a cockpit barbecue comes pretty close. We spent the rest of the now-sunny afternoon gently at anchor. The Ducrays insisted on hosting everyone again for dinner back at the dock. And as the evening went from salad to dessert and the empty wine bottles began to line up on the galley counter, we noticed a full moon occasionally
peeking through the north-racing clouds. We toasted our new friendships, but knew we had to be up early and off the dock in hopes of outrunning the next weather system. The trip back to Ft. Lauderdale was a mirror image of the one coming down. Running ahead of the fast-moving
front, we had quartering seas and intermittent rain all the way from Duck to Key Biscayne and then some really sloppy stuff from Government Cut to Port Everglades. But I was able to maintain an average speed of 24 knots for most of the trip. By the time we pulled into the dock and shut her down, it was really raining. Good thing we got an early start and even better to be on a seaworthy boat, just in case. Being on the Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet for several days offered me a great opportunity to really get to know this boat. I enjoyed my extended time aboard and found her to be a well-balanced blend of comfortable accommodations, practical amenities, and outstanding seakeeping abilities. Like my shipmates, she was an easygoing
new friend that I liked from the word go.
Maritimo FLORIDA (954) 607-1378 www.yachtblue.net
DESTINATIONS
Field Guide to Flexibility: Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet
Plans change, but a Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet, the Florida Keys, and a good crew of friends always add up to three special days. By Capt. Ken Kreisler, Photography by Scott Pearson
Published: March 22, 2009
Australian boatbuilder Maritimo has been introducing new models at a rapid-fire pace during the last four years. The 60 Sport Cabriolet is the latest to arrive on these shores and I was eager to shake her down and go cruising. My first plan was to head over to the Bahamas, maybe Bimini or Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama. When Steve Martin of Maritimo dealer Yacht Blue informed me that Dean and Brenda Ducray—the owners of a 60-foot Maritimo enclosed flying bridge cruiser—also had the cruising itch, I began to plan in earnest. The weather, always a concern when making a Gulf Stream crossing, became a factor. If need be, our alternative route was to scrap the Bahamas altogether and head down to the Florida Keys. The first front came barreling in two days before we were to leave. By the time I showed up in Ft. Lauderdale, it was all but a foregone conclusion that we were headed southwest instead of east. With 20 to 25 knots
of wind and the 36-hour forecast calling for yet another pesky front to pass through the area, I would have plenty of help evaluating the boat's seakeeping prowess on our southern cruise.
The Ducrays, their skipper Rob Welling, Yacht Blue's mobile service technician Tony Schulstad, photographer Scott Pearson, Martin, and I assembled in the wide-open spaces of the 60 Cabriolet's salon. We had lots of room to sit and plan while lounging on the leather settee to starboard and seating area to port. "We'll most likely have the seas on our port bow until we make the channel just past Elliot Key," I offered. "Once we jog to the west a bit there, it'll be smoother on down to the middle keys," Martin added. Since he had already called ahead to Duck Key, all we had left to do was let go of our lines. The wind was puffing up some and getting out of the tight spot meant playing a bit of bump and go with the engines and the bow and optional stern thruster. But with her low profile and minimal windage, she responded well to all
commands. We cleared the pilings, headed down the canal to the ICW, and out to sea.
Except for the busy Port Everglades tractor tug Broward and several local sportfishing boats, there were few pleasure craft transiting the roller-coaster inlet with us. By the time we cleared the sea buoy and headed south, it began to rain. Not that it mattered, since the four windshield wipers worked full time combating the steady, winddriven four-footers. Once I found the right rpm, I was impressed that I was able to keep the boat running comfortably at 20 knots and noticed that Pearson was relaxed enough to have fallen asleep on the settee just abaft
Yachting Magazine the starboard helm. The Maritimo's steering was butter-smooth and highly responsive, thanks to the proprietary power-steering system, a design that has trickled down from the company's high-powered racing division. "The bottom is 1½-inch solid fiberglass and the ride we're getting here is a matter of balance," said Martin, who sat next to me at the helm as we discussed the 60's variable-deadrise hull. This design features a 34-degree entry that
"warps," or varies, down to 9 degrees at the transom, resulting in a hull form that is extremely seakindly in rough conditions, and reduces any slamming or pounding at the right speeds. "We also mount the engines more forward with a single, composite athwartships fuel tank amidships for better weight distribution," said Martin. Once we turned the corner and things calmed down a bit, and with the rain abating, Martin suggested we eat lunch. He had stocked the full-size refrigerator in the port galley. The galley is just inside the glass sliding doors separating
the cockpit from the salon, making it convenient for cockpit entertaining as well. The doors slide and lock to either side, or even in the middle. Martin secured all the doors to starboard and the galley and teak-soled cockpit, with its beautifully finished round teak table and four chairs, became one. A transom console houses an electric grill and makes alfresco dining very onvenient. I was now able to ease the throttles up and, with a bit of down trim, had her settle in at 25 knots. At this rate of speed her twin 1,015-horsepower Cat C18s burned just about 70 gallons per hour.
Based on her 1,480-gallon fuel capacity, a 470-nautical-mile range could be expected at cruising speed, with a 10-percent reserve. I scanned the pair of 15-inch Garmin touchscreens and Cat electronic engine displays, all easy to read thanks to a sensible helm layout. The big forward and side windows and the expansive cockpit doors provided excellent views all around, including one of the nowupright Pearson chowing down on a serious sub at the salon table. Arriving at Duck Key, the sky had cleared but the wind was still blowing. The 60 Cabriolet was given the outside of a long finger dock with the other boat on the inside. After shutting down, we broke out the hoses, soft brushes, and chamois cloths and got busy getting all the salt off from top to bottom. The Ducrays hosted everyone aboard that night for dinner and all had a splendid time. The 60 has a four-stateroom, two-head layout. The forepeak offers a door to the day-head followed by a single-berth cabin. Directly opposite the head is the over-under port quarters. The amidships master, which I occupied, has a large en suite head and takes full advantage of the 17-foot, 4-inch beam. I found all the quarters to be well appointed with great headroom. Morning saw some sunshine but no relief from the wind and I could see a lot of white on the ocean side. Over
breakfast at the teak cockpit table we pulled out the charts and took a look at the protected waters in back of Long Key, a bit to the north of Duck. "We can pick up Channel Five and do our performance runs on the other side of the viaduct," I said. Afterwards, we would raft up with the Ducrays for lunch. With plenty of room to run from Fiesta Key up to Lower Matecumbe and back, I took my time putting the 60 Cabriolet through her paces. From speed runs where she held her course straight and true to noticing how well she backed down; from getting her up and out of the hole and up on plane in 12 to 15 seconds, to just sitting back, optional remote control in hand, the cockpit doors and the sunroof open, this boat is a dream to drive. I hit a top speed of 32.2 knots, noted 30 knots at 2100 rpm, and settled her into a nice laidback cruise speed of 22.5 knots at 1700 rpm, which would give us a 525-nautical-mile range. Yachting Magazine
By the time I had finished my diagnostics, Welling had already anchored and I brought the 60 Cabriolet up alongside. While there's nothing better than getting from here to there and back in a boat, grilling up lunch for the seven of us on a cockpit barbecue comes pretty close. We spent the rest of the now-sunny afternoon gently at anchor. The Ducrays insisted on hosting everyone again for dinner back at the dock. And as the evening went from salad to dessert and the empty wine bottles began to line up on the galley counter, we noticed a full moon occasionally
peeking through the north-racing clouds. We toasted our new friendships, but knew we had to be up early and off the dock in hopes of outrunning the next weather system. The trip back to Ft. Lauderdale was a mirror image of the one coming down. Running ahead of the fast-moving
front, we had quartering seas and intermittent rain all the way from Duck to Key Biscayne and then some really sloppy stuff from Government Cut to Port Everglades. But I was able to maintain an average speed of 24 knots for most of the trip. By the time we pulled into the dock and shut her down, it was really raining. Good thing we got an early start and even better to be on a seaworthy boat, just in case. Being on the Maritimo 60 Sport Cabriolet for several days offered me a great opportunity to really get to know this boat. I enjoyed my extended time aboard and found her to be a well-balanced blend of comfortable accommodations, practical amenities, and outstanding seakeeping abilities. Like my shipmates, she was an easygoing
new friend that I liked from the word go.
Maritimo FLORIDA (954) 607-1378 www.yachtblue.net
Yachting Magazine
DESTINATIONS
Out of the Rough
A Marquis 720 Tri-Deck offers style, comfort, and a most excellent way to get this editor to a championship golf
course.
By Capt. Ken Kreisler
Published: August 4, 2008
If you have cruised long enough, you've most likely entered into the age-old debate: Does the pleasure of yachting lie in the voyage or the destination? Recently I had the opportunity to sidestep this argument while on a South Florida golf adventure. Believe me, you'll be able to find full satisfaction during a cruise and upon arrival if the new Marquis 70 Tri-Deck is your chosen ride. She'll wrap you in five-star luxury while slicing through seas offshore and then transform into a premier base camp after you pull into the dock. In our case, she was far better than any golf course villa we could imagine. You see, like many yachtsmen, I'm addicted to two expensive and time consuming hobbies—boating and golf. I've cruised the world's oceans, found isolated gunkholes in faraway coves, and even managed to get myself caught in some really foul weather—loving every minute of the experience! But playing eighteen on a good course is just as
satisfying. Whatever your other passions—auto racing, baseball, diving—you can combine it with a love of boating. Your yacht can become your mothership to fun. And this is how I come to embark on my civilized adventure."This was a great idea," Dick Nocenti, Marquis's director of marketing communications, said to me as we headed up the coast from Ft. Lauderdale to Palm Beach and The Champion course at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. Along with us were his wife Joan, Randy Peterson, Marquis's manager of propulsion and systems engineering, and photographer Jim Raycroft. I smiled and nodded in agreement. The Marquis 70's 1,360-horsepower MTU diesels gave us a 24-knot cruising speed. One glance at the gauges and I could sit back and enjoy a ride made even more pleasurable by the comfortable leather
helm seat and the air-conditioned bridge. Besides the panoramic windows, the enclosed bridge offers a pair of settees, and a bar complete with refrigerator, ice maker, sink, and a pair of stools. On the bridge deck is a Gaggenau grill, the perfect complement to this versatile area. I also noted plenty of room up here for stowing a golf bag or two. The cruise up to Lake Worth Inlet saw us in three- to four-foot quartering seas almost all the way courtesy of a 20-
knot breeze. But I found the Marquis 70 was comfortable and stable. The relaxed environment also provided a perfect atmosphere for conversation. "Marquis was formed in 2003 and resulted in a great meeting place between European style and American Yachting Magazine boatbuilding ability," Nocenti said as we discussed the flagship of the line (Marquis is currently working on larger models up to 100 feet). Our talk ranged from the vision of Venice, Italy-based naval architects Nuvolari-Lenard to the Pulaski, Wisconsin-based craftsmen who build the yachts, to construction techniques, to power options, and to layout and accommodations. One of the best attributes of the Marquis 70 is spaciousness. The salon has plenty of seating and large entertainment areas. The fully equipped portside galley has an accompanying wet bar complete with wine cooler and two additional Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers to starboard. And large windows surround the forward dining table. In other words, the main deck offers wide open spaces. This is also true in the living accommodations where several layouts are possible. This 70 was outfitted with four staterooms—forepeak VIP with en suite head, portside day-head with twin berth just aft, over/under quarters to starboard, amidships master—and a stern cabin for a captain or crew member. Other choices to consider are the three-stateroom and stern-cabin layout or the option of his-and-her heads in the master with double crew quarters aft. No matter the configuration, all have generous stowage. And accommodating semi-custom requests is part of the Marquis philosophy. Yachting Magazine It was easy for me to safely roam the boat's main deck, thanks to wide side decks, robust railings, and high bulwarks forward and I could see we were a bit north of Lantana and therefore, nearing Lake Worth Inlet. The plan was to dock at the Soverel Harbor Marina, have a relaxing dinner at the River House Restaurant and some conversation on our afterdeck, and then enjoy a good night's rest in our respective staterooms.
Late the next morning we offloaded our gear and headed to the golf course. Now this was cruising! Located a few minutes away from the marina, PGA National is one of the premier golf resorts in South Florida. Originally designed by Tom Fazio for tournament play, it was econfigured by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 and is home to the prestigious Honda Classic. So there I was, walking in the footsteps of Nicklaus, Couples, O'Meara, Harrington, and Els, up to the first tee while the Marquis 720 waited close by. A hush fell over the crowd. I glanced down the fairway, taking it all in and noticing the bit of breeze on my back. I looked at the Titleist 1 ball I gently held in my gloved palm. "Go my friend," I silently intoned. "Let's show them where we live." I teed the ball up. I approached, I addressed, I swung. Ping! went my Cobra driver as I finished high and and looked up to follow my ball. Up and out. Still flying, continuing to resist
gravity until, at its zenith, it started its return to terra firma. A bounce, another, and a roll, and it came to rest, 210 yards from where I stood. Right down the middle of the fairway! Okay, so there was no hushed crowd, but it was a great tee shot and a wonderful way to start the round on this special golf course. Newcomers to the game, Joan and Jim hit the ball well and kept it in play most of the time. On The Champion course, 16 of 18 holes have water hazards and there are a total of 107 sand bunkers, so it was all too easy for us to find the beach or end up in the deep. We persevered however, and with smiles on our faces, took on the challenges of the round. But Mother Nature had other plans for us and with cloud-to-ground lightning in the area we
retired to the 19th Hole Restaurant for lunch. Once cleared for play, we managed two more holes before the warning signal once again called us in, this time for the day. I slept as well my second night aboard as I did my first, but this time I dreamed of straight fairway shots, the effortless swing of a five-iron, and the reassuring sound of my ball hitting the bottom of the cup. On the way back to Ft. Lauderdale the next morning, my daydreams drifted to cruising Bahamian waters on the Marquis 720 Tri-Deck, or crossing the Gulf of Maine to Nova Scotia, or completing the final leg of a Great Loop trip. There's not much this boat can't do and it shows that it is definitely possible to enjoy both the voyage and the destination.
DESTINATIONS
Out of the Rough
A Marquis 720 Tri-Deck offers style, comfort, and a most excellent way to get this editor to a championship golf
course.
By Capt. Ken Kreisler
Published: August 4, 2008
If you have cruised long enough, you've most likely entered into the age-old debate: Does the pleasure of yachting lie in the voyage or the destination? Recently I had the opportunity to sidestep this argument while on a South Florida golf adventure. Believe me, you'll be able to find full satisfaction during a cruise and upon arrival if the new Marquis 70 Tri-Deck is your chosen ride. She'll wrap you in five-star luxury while slicing through seas offshore and then transform into a premier base camp after you pull into the dock. In our case, she was far better than any golf course villa we could imagine. You see, like many yachtsmen, I'm addicted to two expensive and time consuming hobbies—boating and golf. I've cruised the world's oceans, found isolated gunkholes in faraway coves, and even managed to get myself caught in some really foul weather—loving every minute of the experience! But playing eighteen on a good course is just as
satisfying. Whatever your other passions—auto racing, baseball, diving—you can combine it with a love of boating. Your yacht can become your mothership to fun. And this is how I come to embark on my civilized adventure."This was a great idea," Dick Nocenti, Marquis's director of marketing communications, said to me as we headed up the coast from Ft. Lauderdale to Palm Beach and The Champion course at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens. Along with us were his wife Joan, Randy Peterson, Marquis's manager of propulsion and systems engineering, and photographer Jim Raycroft. I smiled and nodded in agreement. The Marquis 70's 1,360-horsepower MTU diesels gave us a 24-knot cruising speed. One glance at the gauges and I could sit back and enjoy a ride made even more pleasurable by the comfortable leather
helm seat and the air-conditioned bridge. Besides the panoramic windows, the enclosed bridge offers a pair of settees, and a bar complete with refrigerator, ice maker, sink, and a pair of stools. On the bridge deck is a Gaggenau grill, the perfect complement to this versatile area. I also noted plenty of room up here for stowing a golf bag or two. The cruise up to Lake Worth Inlet saw us in three- to four-foot quartering seas almost all the way courtesy of a 20-
knot breeze. But I found the Marquis 70 was comfortable and stable. The relaxed environment also provided a perfect atmosphere for conversation. "Marquis was formed in 2003 and resulted in a great meeting place between European style and American Yachting Magazine boatbuilding ability," Nocenti said as we discussed the flagship of the line (Marquis is currently working on larger models up to 100 feet). Our talk ranged from the vision of Venice, Italy-based naval architects Nuvolari-Lenard to the Pulaski, Wisconsin-based craftsmen who build the yachts, to construction techniques, to power options, and to layout and accommodations. One of the best attributes of the Marquis 70 is spaciousness. The salon has plenty of seating and large entertainment areas. The fully equipped portside galley has an accompanying wet bar complete with wine cooler and two additional Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers to starboard. And large windows surround the forward dining table. In other words, the main deck offers wide open spaces. This is also true in the living accommodations where several layouts are possible. This 70 was outfitted with four staterooms—forepeak VIP with en suite head, portside day-head with twin berth just aft, over/under quarters to starboard, amidships master—and a stern cabin for a captain or crew member. Other choices to consider are the three-stateroom and stern-cabin layout or the option of his-and-her heads in the master with double crew quarters aft. No matter the configuration, all have generous stowage. And accommodating semi-custom requests is part of the Marquis philosophy. Yachting Magazine It was easy for me to safely roam the boat's main deck, thanks to wide side decks, robust railings, and high bulwarks forward and I could see we were a bit north of Lantana and therefore, nearing Lake Worth Inlet. The plan was to dock at the Soverel Harbor Marina, have a relaxing dinner at the River House Restaurant and some conversation on our afterdeck, and then enjoy a good night's rest in our respective staterooms.
Late the next morning we offloaded our gear and headed to the golf course. Now this was cruising! Located a few minutes away from the marina, PGA National is one of the premier golf resorts in South Florida. Originally designed by Tom Fazio for tournament play, it was econfigured by Jack Nicklaus in 1990 and is home to the prestigious Honda Classic. So there I was, walking in the footsteps of Nicklaus, Couples, O'Meara, Harrington, and Els, up to the first tee while the Marquis 720 waited close by. A hush fell over the crowd. I glanced down the fairway, taking it all in and noticing the bit of breeze on my back. I looked at the Titleist 1 ball I gently held in my gloved palm. "Go my friend," I silently intoned. "Let's show them where we live." I teed the ball up. I approached, I addressed, I swung. Ping! went my Cobra driver as I finished high and and looked up to follow my ball. Up and out. Still flying, continuing to resist
gravity until, at its zenith, it started its return to terra firma. A bounce, another, and a roll, and it came to rest, 210 yards from where I stood. Right down the middle of the fairway! Okay, so there was no hushed crowd, but it was a great tee shot and a wonderful way to start the round on this special golf course. Newcomers to the game, Joan and Jim hit the ball well and kept it in play most of the time. On The Champion course, 16 of 18 holes have water hazards and there are a total of 107 sand bunkers, so it was all too easy for us to find the beach or end up in the deep. We persevered however, and with smiles on our faces, took on the challenges of the round. But Mother Nature had other plans for us and with cloud-to-ground lightning in the area we
retired to the 19th Hole Restaurant for lunch. Once cleared for play, we managed two more holes before the warning signal once again called us in, this time for the day. I slept as well my second night aboard as I did my first, but this time I dreamed of straight fairway shots, the effortless swing of a five-iron, and the reassuring sound of my ball hitting the bottom of the cup. On the way back to Ft. Lauderdale the next morning, my daydreams drifted to cruising Bahamian waters on the Marquis 720 Tri-Deck, or crossing the Gulf of Maine to Nova Scotia, or completing the final leg of a Great Loop trip. There's not much this boat can't do and it shows that it is definitely possible to enjoy both the voyage and the destination.
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