The Maritimo A60 Aegean takes its name from the Aegean Sea lapping the coasts of Greece and Turkey, and is essentially, the C60 Cabriolet with an open flying bridge added to its superstructure.
A well known Kiwi businessman had the privilege of taking delivery of hull #1, although interestingly that was not in fact his first choice model from Maritimo. Deciding what next after many years with a Riviera Diavalo 47 turned out to be an easy enough decision.
He had been speaking to Australian designer Bill Barry-Cotter for a number of years about a similar but larger version of the Diavalo. However, it wasn’t until Barry-Cotter sold Riviera and started Maritimo that the seed of thought started to germinate and in time the Maritimo C60 Sport Cabriolet was born. Immediately he placed an order for the C60 and was due to take delivery of boat #3 in late 2008.
However when the family got involved they were not so sure, wanting more external seating and useable areas, something that they felt at the time the C60 cabriolet styling didn’t provide.
Further discussions with Barry-Cotter soon resulted in a flybridge version of the C60 being announced. It was the perfect combination of both realms, the open external spaces of a flybridge cruiser and the sporty modern layout of a sport cabriolet. The order was placed late in 2008 for delivery of hull#1 to a very happy owner and his family in Auckland.
Apart from the open flybridge and the internal staircase, nothing much else has changed in the layout, apart from a few custom options instigated by the owner.
In designing the stainless and teak tread staircase, Maritimo kept it as open as possible so as to not break the open and fresh look of the interior. No matter where you sit in the raised saloon you have great visibility all around. The owner didn’t like the idea of a closed-in front screen, fancy split side windows and solid rear bulkhead. One of the reasons for wanting the C60 in the first place was the openness and apart from the inclusion of the internal staircase this has not changed. Interestingly the open flybridge is something of a departure from the norm for local builders who have a] penchant for enclosed hardtops, something that this owner wasn’t interested in. “What we really liked about the boat was the massive flybridge area with the bimini for shade and the redesigned cockpit which has room enough for alfresco dining and entertaining”, he said.
Four-Cabin Layout
If you overlay the internal general arrangement drawing of the A60 over that of the C60 there is virtually no difference. Forward is the accommodation area with an impressive four cabin layout with attention to detail that enhances the comfort. The full beam owner’s stateroom is aft, with its queen size athwartships island berth. Storage is provided in drawers and lockers throughout, in bedside cabinets and a walk-in full-height wardrobe. There is also a small vanity and makeup area and like every cabin in the A60 you have your own air conditioning. Timber panelling on the forward bulkhead and a circular panel in the cabin head helps break the starkness of the off white wall coverings. Already a well lit area with recessed Cantalupi lighting, there are also three large vertical ports either side, which add a new dimension to the layout and styling of the A60.
Access to the cabin is via an extra wide companionway with the en-suite to port. The en-suite alongside is large, with a split flush toilet, glass bowl on a Corian vanity and moulded soles for ease of cleaning and hygiene. The three guest cabins all share a common bathroom, which is equipped much the same as the master en-suite, with a large shower, raised vanity bowl and overhead opaque round hatch.
The forward VIP cabin has a large island berth that also gives access to the bow thruster beneath. There are full height lockers either side and wide side trays with natural light and ventilation from both opening side and overhead ports. The addition of a flat screen TV was the owner’s choice.
The two further guest cabins are both equipped with twin upper and lower single berths, with the upper and lower single berths, with the starboard one also incorporating the combo washer and dryer.
Great Views
Panoramic is probably the best way to describe the views from the raised saloon. The layout in the A60 is identical to the C60. The well equipped aft galley is complete with a two door fridge/freezer, ice maker, four burner hob, microwave, F&P dishdrawer and rubbish receptacle The owner chose Corian for the vanity surfaces, but you have a number of choices, including timber. With the rear sliding doors open you have direct access to the cockpit.
When the weather is uncomfortably hot, you can retreat to a fully temperature controlled interior and conversely when temperatures outside are ideal you can open the sliding doors and the exterior and interior spaces form a seamless blend.
Due to the staircase now encroaching on the space, there have been a few alterations to the positioning of the drinks and glasses locker and large switch panel locker on the starboard side. Extra long drawers built into the timber unit provide a great area for storage.
Being a boat that is certainly going to be used by many people, there is no shortage of seating areas in the saloon. To port is a full-length leather covered L-shaped settee that forms the seating for the polished occasional dining table. Loose chairs can be brought up to extend the number of diners. A flat screen TV is concealed in a locker forward and wide side opening windows allow the necessary fresh air in. A second lounger to starboard provides even more space to relax.
As in the C60, there is a serious internal helm station complete with twin Navigator helm chairs, stainless steel foot bar and burr elm panelling recessed into soft cream leather.
The richly textured timber panelling strikes a balance between style and practicality. The Raymarine G Series package is viewed via twin screens providing all the necessary navigation and safety information.
There is also an opening in the side windows so the skipper has an easy access to the side deck or forward should the occasion arise.
The Aegean A60, like the C60, has a very interesting cockpit/ garage arrangement that works well. It’s not only very social but it’s also very practical. Central to the whole design is the dinghy storage. When it’s time to go ashore, the cockpit sole elevates and the transom drops at the push of a button to reveal a garage big enough to store a 3.5 metre tender. The tender conveniently slides in and out – no more cranes or tenders on the foredeck.
With the cockpit sole the back in place you have a U-shaped lounger with a polished timber table in the centre and access both sides to the full width-boarding platform. The aft module houses a sink unit and eutectic freezer/bottle storage above and a BBQ below that is accessed from the boarding platform. Being a boat designed for a lot of entertaining it wouldn’t be complete without an icemaker in the cockpit, one of three on the boat. The teak sole has twin lazarettes either side of the centre unit and engine room access forward.
Engine room access is easy and once in there you cannot help but be impressed with the clean, tidy, almost clinical finish and layout. It is a tribute to the attention to detail that the
engineering department of Maritimo has placed on this often forgotten and little seen area. It’s sensibly laid out, functional and has plenty of room for when maintenance is needed.
Follow The Sun
There’s no doubt that an open flybridge is great if you are a sunworshipper or you like the cool breeze rustling through your hair while cruising across azure blue seas. If that sounds
like you then the A60 is going to suit. Closed off from the saloon by an acrylic hatch on air stays, the flybridge is one huge moulded unit that has been literally placed on top of the C60 cabin. The transformation is complete with the addition of the internal ladder and radar arch plus a second helm and lounge area. The rear cockpit overhang is also extended to provide more open space above.
A central helm is equipped with a single display screen and the necessary duplication of controls. To port is a full-length lounger with dinette table, and a wet bar, fridge and icemaker are opposite. The Sunbrella canvas canopy is fitted to solid stainless stays and provides excellent shade should you need it.
Fast Performer
Like all Maritimos, construction is solid GRP on the bottom, with cored topsides. The hull shape is warped plane, with moulded spray rails and of moderate V at the transom. The fuel tank is built in as an integral GRP unit between the engine room and the master stateroom.
The 27-tonne A60 comes standard with a pair of C12 Caterpillar engines delivering 715hp each, providing a top speed close to 30 knots. A sweet cruise speed is around 20 knots @1950 rpm.
Several engine options and powers are available. A ZF gearbox delivers the power through conventional shaft drives to the five-bladed Teignbridge propellers.
The hull is nicely balanced and the transition from idle to plane doesn’t reveal any noticeable ‘hump’. It holds a low riding attitude and handles as well at speed as it does when cruising. Manoeuvring in the confines of a marina is certainly made easy with the help of both bow and stern thrusters.
Growing Numbers
The Aegean A60 is just part of a rapidly expanding Maritimo range that now encompasses an impressive 11 models from the Maritimo 48 (15.7m) to the soon to be released Maritimo 73 (22.35m).
At the time of writing there were already nine C60 cabriolets sold and a few more A60s were soon to join our review boat on the water. The A60 is the first of the new Aegean range, which will soon be available in a 17.3m version, the Aegean A55, based on the C55 Cabriolet hull and superstructure.
The Aegean A60 has proven to be the perfect boat for the Kiwi owner. Its traditional exterior styling is handsome and timeless. The internal aspects are both innovative and intelligently planned to make great use of the space. The four-cabin layout is a bonus and certainly makes the A60 well suited to the new owner’s family style of boating.
- Design Name: Maritimo A60 Aegean
- Builder: Maritimo
- Designer: Bill Barry-Cotter
- Year Launched: 2009
- LOA: 18.80m
- LWL: 16.63m
- Beam: 5.30m
- Draft: 1.40m
- Displacement: 27 tonnes
- Max Speed: 30 knots
- Cruise Speed: 25 knots
- Fuel Cap: 5600 litres
- Water Cap: 800 litres
- Construction: GRP
- Engine: 2 x Caterpillar C12 @ 715hp
- Drive Train: Conventional Shaft
- Base Price: $A1.7m
