OFFSHORE CAPABLE CRUISER
The S600 Offshore Motor Yacht is the first sedan model within the new generation of Offshore Motor Yachts from Maritimo and follows the M600, which was released earlier this year.Â
When you put a designation on a motor yacht that says it is offshore capable, you must be sure it is designed for purpose. While there are better boats to run across to Fiji or from Auckland to the Whitsundays, it has to be capable of handling the extreme seas we see along the New Zealand and Australian coasts.
As Managing Director Tom Barry-Cotter says, “The Offshore Series exemplifies everything that the Maritimo brand stands for – long-range cruising capability, industry-defining performance and economy, offshore seaworthiness and high levels of construction integrity.Â
He adds that the variable deadrise hull with deep keel, sharp bow entry and flattened progression aft has been focused on offshore cruising performance, comfort and stability.”
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to review the M600 Offshore Flybridge Motor Yacht, the first in the new Offshore Series, it shares the same hull and accommodation as the S600 but with a flybridge. In addition to its race-bred performance, engineering and robust design, the S600, like the M600, provide high levels of luxury.Â
Maritimo has raised the bar regarding finish and presentation, which is becoming evident with all the new model releases I see. They seem to get better, with a tweak here and there, and today they are at the next level of finish.
Quality also needs to be more than skin deep. Walking through the S600, opening cupboards, looking into storage areas and ferreting around the engine room, the places I usually only spend a little time looking at are as meticulously finished as what you see outside.Â
This was a significant change from several years ago when the Maritimo brand didn’t have that extra panache they have now. Under the tutelage of Tom Barry-Cotter and his team, Maritimo has undoubtedly stepped up on the world stage to be a highly respected brand.Â
COCKPIT
The cockpit of the S600 Offshore Motor Yacht is designed primarily for fishing and is offered with or without a full boarding platform. You can choose a fixed platform, a high-low platform or a fixed teak slatted style for those into game fishing but still want a platform. It’s your choice.
There is a central live bait tank/or storage locker, plus a starboard transom door access.
The lower cockpit has been kept clean and sans any furniture, so the entire 10.2sqm floor space is dedicated to fishing. The cockpit with the fully enclosed transom makes the S600 Offshore ideal for those with varying fishing interests or any that embrace the encapsulated deck space with solid separation from the sea.
If you are into entertaining and who wouldn’t be on a boat like this, there is a handily placed fridge/freezer, sink unit and bbq mid-cockpit. Integrated into the cockpit space are large wing lockers, transom wells, in-deck fish boxes, enclosed transom gate, rod holders, and flush gunwale capping. There is a place for everything.Â
Beneath the cockpit floor is a cavernous lazarette storage area, accessible by a day hatch or a large electrically actuated opening for gaining access to store large items such as paddle boards, kayaks, a tender or diving gear. If you want to increase the range of your S600, then long-range tanks can be installed in this space, and there is still an extra large area left for all your toys.
The aft deck space offers two distinct cockpit areas; the upper mezzanine lounge and entertaining cockpit, sheltered from the elements by the extensive moulded hardtop headliner, and the offshore cockpit, with a heavy consideration of fishing functionality.
The upper lounging cockpit space offers 9.2㎡ open deck and lounging space, all protected from the overhanging upper utility deck. Seating layouts in the upper lounge are optional. However, a rear settee with two smaller loungers forward and a folding table is popular. Just the right place to have a few coldies or relax and keep an eye out on the kids in the water or the fishing action.
If you need to go forward, the bulwarks are broad and deep, a signature aspect of every Maritimo. They lead to a forward entertainment deck, complete with a day bed.
UTILITY DECK
Maritimo is renowned for breaking the status quo, and the S600 is a perfect example. They have utilised the sedan hardtop by way of transforming it into a functional utility deck space.
Access is from the upper cockpit deck via an overhead hatch and ladder. The hardtop has been designed and engineered to be capable of carrying the weight of 350kg davit and tender, freeing up the rear of the boat greater versatility from the offshore cockpit. The hardtop utility deck can also store large items, such as kayaks, paddle boards or life rafts, for adventuring enthusiasts. It extends well back over the mezzanine deck, adding extra protection, especially when the clears are added. Forward is a sliding sunroof.
SALOON
There is seamless access via either siding or bi-fold doors between the mezzanine cockpit and the saloon, which has the traditional Maritimo aft galley with an optional island counter. Maritimo has ensured that the galley storage areas are of household proportions. After all, if you are going on a cruise for a month or more, you need plenty of storage for your food and drinks. There’s an integrated fridge/freezer, washing machine, trash bin, wine cooler, hob, icemaker, and pantry, plus loads of storage under the composite bench surface.
The transition from the galley to the saloon is just one step, and the first thing you are struck by is the natural light radiating from huge vista windows and a sunroof. The two-stage Vista windows are another trademark of the Maritimo S range of motor yachts and, when open, give you a great sense of being connected with the environment.
Maritimo has divided the upper saloon space with a starboard helm and a lounger on either side. The helm is impressive, with a pair of Garmin 22 screens flanked by all the associated controls and electronics. This is the owner’s choice, so you can make this area as straightforward or as busy as you want it to be.
ACCOMMODATION
Access to the accommodation area is via an atrium-style staircase, which radiates a lot of natural light down the stairs. Below decks, the luxury accents are continued.
There are three spacious staterooms and two ensuites, with a full beam king master bed in the aft stateroom, an offset queen in the forward VIP and a pair of single berths than can slide together in the starboard guest’s cabin. The offset berth means you utilise the space around the bed better, and it is more accessible from a flat floor, both when used and when making it up.
The cabins have large side windows with portholes, plus individual zoned air conditioning. Maritimo offers a variety of layouts in the master stateroom, where the starboard side storage unit can be replaced with a chaise lounge, a make-up vanity or even a small office. Maritimo has done a great job creating free-flowing spaces that best utilise the hull’s enormous volume, maximising the 1.95m height and minimising the number of steps in the floors and the ceilings.
Plus, if you don’t want the third cabin, you can option this as a utility room or a gym. Again the choice is yours.
PERFORMANCE
The new S600, like all Maritimo models, is shaft drive, a system that Maritimo has focused on since the brand’s inception. Their dedication to the development of shaft-driven technology has positioned the brand as one of the world leaders in shaft drive performance and long-range cruising.
The S600 offers several engine options, with Volvo Penta D13 as the standard package. You can expect around 30 knots with a pair of 800s, but you can choose other engines from Volvo Penta or Scania, up to 1200hp. In our case, we had a pair of Di13 900 Scania’s, which topped out at 32 knots. Drop in a couple of 1200s, and you will see better than 35 knots on the speedo. Cruising efficiency and capacity combine to give the S600 exceptional long-range capability with a 4550 litre fuel capacity. Â
CONCLUSION
Maritimo’s Offshore Series attracted a lot of attention when it was first announced in 2021, and the S600 Offshore Motor Yacht, like its predecessor, the M600, has been an instant success. Sales have been strong locally and overseas, with the US and Australia particularly active. The S600 combines Maritimo’s latest design and engineering ideas and encapsulates them into a superbly built and beautifully presented sport sedan motor yacht. And let’s remember that the offshore designation is an extremely important aspect of the S600 Offshore.
I have always been a big fan of sports sedans, and the Maritimo S600 ticks all the boxes for me. With its offshore cockpit and hardtop utility space, the S600 has a broad appeal both as a highly functional fishing vessel, with its speciality open water fishing attributes, and as a long-range, low height, high volume, luxury motor yacht.
Performance Data | ||||
| rpm | knots | L/h | L/NM | range (NM) |
| 650 | 7.2 | 11 | 1.5 | 2680 |
| 900 | 9.3 | 32 | 3.4 | 1190 |
| 1100 | 10.6 | 60 | 5.7 | 723 |
| 1300 | 12.1 | 103 | 8.5 | 481 |
| 1500 | 15.7 | 140 | 8.9 | 459 |
| 1700 | 20.4 | 176 | 8.6 | 475 |
| 1900 | 24.3 | 226 | 9.3 | 440 |
| 2100 | 28.1 | 290 | 10.3 | 397 |
| 2300 | 32.1 | 336 | 10.5 | 391 |
