Marco 530

The layout is basic with a large cuddy cabin and cockpit that is specifically aimed at fishers and divers. The standard seating arrangement is a V berth forward made up of twin squabs, and twin swivelling bucket seats on pedestals in the cockpit. The test boat interior layout featured a special one-off full width double berth, although without the infill there is plenty of sitting headroom, as well as storage under the berths and in wide side trays. Being a painted boat, the cabin interior is also given special attention with full fabric lining throughout.

I found without any support at the aft end of the squabs, everything rolled into the cockpit – including my camera bag – so the optional upstands with footrests would be a wise addition.

Anchoring is done via the overhead alloy hatch in the cabin top, with another hatch forward over the anchor locker. The test boat was also fitted with an anchor capstan and conveniently placed kneepad on the forepeak bulkhead.

Paying special attention to his need for comfortable and secure seating, Robin, installed swivelling Softrider pedestal seats. There is the optional back to backs for an extra $200, but for many Marco owners they take up too much cockpit space.

The helm position allows you to stand or sit to drive, with all instruments at eye level and the controls intelligently placed for easy use. A handy rail across the cabin top gives you and your passengers extra security when pushing hard through the rougher water.

You have the choice of a couple of tote tanks under the aft deck area or a 60 litre stainless steel fuel tank. The test boat was fitted with the built-in tank and the remainder of the central under-floor space was taken up with a deep storage locker which is a great place for the dive gear, wetsuits or as a kill tank. For the serious fisho there is also space in the aft platform for a live-bait tank.

On the port side of the cockpit a wide side shelf handles a myriad of gear, with a rod rack to starboard. There is also another locker under the aft deck for the battery, spare lines and other items that you may want to get at in a hurry.

The Marco 530 features a walk-through transom with slide-in alloy door, and although not a common feature on Marco boats, is being requested more and more often, especially on the bigger models. This was a necessity for Robin who literally drags himself from wheelchair, to portofino stern, along the cockpit floor and up onto the helm seat.

Overall, the Marco 530 does everything the 500 does but with the added extra of the portofino stern. If you plan to haul aboard large marlin then the stern arrangement certainly will not suit, but if you are diving, fishing or towing water toys you will enjoy the benefits of the extra space.

From June last year Marco increased the coaming height of the hulls by 100mm, as well as making them a little fuller in the bow. It’s not until you set one alongside a model over 12 months old that you can see the obvious differences. Today Marco produces around 200 boats a year, from the 4.6m runabout to the 600 hardtop. Interestingly it is the 550 hardtop that is currently the most popular, accounting for over 50% of the 35 boats on order. Such is the change in the market, that while ten years ago 100% of all Marco boats sold were runabouts, today they account for less than 5%.

Marco’s new 530 will likely be their only ‘new’ release for 1999, but knowing the custom work that is carried out by designer Graeme Ransom, anything is possible.