As featured in the 2008 edition of trade-a-boat's 'Big Boat Collection'

The penthouse

Who would have thought a mere extension to a flybridge could lead to an entirely new version of the Maritimo 52, whose floor space up top has now doubled in size and, in so doing, redefined this long-range family cruiser. But best of all, you get the extra aft deck on the bridge for $15,000 over the standard Sports Bridge and, with a forward helm station instead of the aft-mounted one, there's more room indoors and outdoors to cruise and muse with family and friends.

The 30th hull to pop out of the Maritimo 52 mould, the boat shown hereabouts was 52 Sky Lounge #1. After its launch at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, Maritimo says the boat's been a huge success to the point where it outsold the previous best-selling, best-value boat, the 48. Thus, with the addition of the Sky Lounge the 52 has been given a new lease on life and buyers seemingly perceive it as better value than before.

But like the original 52, the Sky Lounge is a three-cabin/two head boat. In fact, the interior hasn't changed at all. But do note that the interior pics accompanying this article are from another 52 Sports Bridge with myrtle interior (such are the options), as the demo boat's accommodation was incomplete and not dressed for our impending photo shoot.

Yet for all the interior gloss, most eyes are trained back up top on the extended flybridge that you could turn into an additional seating area (for about eight people in NSW waters, says Maritimo), an entertaining deck while cruising at champagne speeds and a flight deck where the views are best. The only downside is that you're stationed where the pitching motion of a boat is greatest, so you'll want calm anchorages sans boat wake if you plan to add a table and chairs.

Despite the extra real estate in the penthouse, space that was evident when this boat was moored alongside the standard 52 at Sanctuary Cove, the highlight of the Maritimo 52 is surely its user-friendliness by way of walkaround decks, a big cockpit designed for the Australian way of life (now with greater shade on the Sky Lounge) and, to my mind at least, the engineering below decks.

HEART AND SOUL
As with the 52 Sports Bridge this writer tested in September, 2005, the Sky Lounge has a solid-GRP hull below the waterline with balsa-cored hull sides, deck and house. Weight savings and stiffness are gained through the use of a one-piece liner extending to the engine room, foam-cored doors and interior assembly.

Interestingly, there are no skin fittings, thereby reducing drag and potential leaks. All overboard water from the air-con units, shower, sinks, sump pumps and so on, leads to a common plumbing line that exits at the transom. The generator also has its water/exhaust outlet back aft. Being removed from the cabins means less noise at night and less chance of a diesel-stained hull (though the new generators are clean-running beasts).

Engine access is great on the 52, with a big hatch on gas struts leading to a moulded stairwell running forward from the cockpit. Such is its rake that even ex-footballers with dodgy joints will be able to negotiate the stairs. The engine room is huge due to the motors being well forward, to assist with keeping shaft angles low, and with most of the boat's weight down low and amidships, and a flat run on the aft sections of the Maritimo hulls, these are easily driven boats.

A pair of Cummins QSM11s, each producing 715hp, is standard power, but our demo boat had optional Caterpillar C12s that also produce 715hp per side, plus a matching Caterpillar genset to port for one-stop servicing. I noted an optional Sea Recovery Aqua Matic desalinator (you wouldn't buy a boat like this without a watermaker) and, combating water restrictions, a Kacher gurney with fore and aft outlets for washing your boat.

The 52 Sky Lounge comes with a 2000W 24V inverter so you can run the boat's AV systems at night without the generator. Every serious cruising boat needs an inverter. I won't list them all but, take it from this sleuth, all the primary servicing items are easily accessible and, with a separate pump or utility room back aft, there's abundant servicing space.

I noted labelled intakes and seacocks so that one could perform at-a-glance checks, good access to the water pumps, easy checking of the coolant levels and strainers for the genset and engines. I found the hydraulic steering system and, outboard of the motors, the battery banks. The engine vents include washable membranes and, with the intakes inside the walkaround decks, you reduce the likelihood of saltwater in your engine room.

The lazarette, meanwhile, is accessed through a big deck hatch that includes fender storage under its lid. Besides being home to the mighty 300lt holding tank and 800lt of potable water in polypropylene tanks, the lazarette offers good access to the Marcon power-steering and plenty of room for stowing victuals, watersports gear, fish and dive equipment. Needless to say, this is important on a boat like this destined to cruise the reef.

AUSSIE-SIZED COCKPIT
The Maritimo's outdoor decks have always been a big hit and the 52 continues the appeal. There is a broad cockpit with mid-transom entertaining centre incorporating built-in fridge/freezer (good enough for storing long-term provisions), barbecue hotplate, sink and food-prep space, plus dry storage in the moulded console, along with a 240V outlet and shorepower connection.

Port and starboard gates lead back to the big boarding platform, and requisite deck shower and swim ladder. There's a cockpit spotlight, fender and rope lockers, and nice big cleats in the cockpit corners, too. Crew, kiddies and the pet pooch will welcome the walkaround decks traced by stainless steel rails leading to the bow.

Maritimo has designed the 'house' or superstructure with 'wings' so rain and streaking doesn't occur on the saloon windows, and you can stand and wash the bridge windows. If you are charged with looking after a boat like this you will appreciate such details. There is also a starboard side door leading to what might be an optional lower helm to assist with access back indoors.

The deep, ship-like bow affords plenty of protection and good footing, though the moulded non-skid will be hard to clean. I noted a heavy-duty Tassie-made Muir winch taking care of anchoring duties, whether using rope or chain, plus fresh and saltwater deck washes, gurney outlet, and an integrated anchor.

The davit was one of the latest telescopic 350kg Aussie-made ADC numbers located on the bow along with the future tender. Originally, Maritimo fitted a lower helm station and bridge-mounted davit and tender, but owners soon found it difficult launching and retrieving a tender up that high. Many European motoryachts still insist on bridge-mounted tenders.

PENTHOUSE LIVING
The Sky Lounge offers you more lifestyle and luxury on your Maritimo 52 for not more cost. And while the forward helm station doesn't offer a view of the transom when docking there are several ways around this: optional cockpit controls, aft bridge controls and/or a remote docking device with controls for your thrusters.

Bow and stern thrusters, and a remote sure made docking the demo boat a snap and, in fact, it was a one-person affair. Access to the bridge is also easy, via the internal teak stairs to port. Once up top, I found big picture windows around an L-shaped lounge for four that converts to a berth when passage-making or parked at a dodgy anchorage for the night.

There's a portside settee for two opposite a wetbar with bottle storage, champagne-glass holders and fridge in the bridge, a sink, plus opening windows for natural ventilation should you prefer it to the air-con, and a Grundig television to complete the impressive fitout. Talk about penthouse living.

The new matt-grey dash is a low-glare number designed to take two 10in screens, in this instance Simrad nav. gear including autopilot, plus marine radios, wind and data gauge, and the twin Caterpillar engine panels and analogue gauges. As touched on, the demo boat had bow and stern thrusters. The ZF electronic boxes offered fingertip gear shifts, slow idle and synchro modes. There is also closed circuit television with three onboard cameras.

Elsewhere, I noted controls for the spotlight, wipers, trim tabs, windlass, a red night light and more. Also, good access to the dash wiring, air-con unit and storage space in the bridge. The Pompanette helm seats appeared reasonably supportive for long-range cruising.

But it's the teak-topped sky lounge deck that's the buzz, with room for a table and chairs. Providing you're anchored in a calm spot this may well be the best seat in the house for doing sundowners, and bacon and eggs for breakfast. Yep, you could fit a small barbecue up here.

INDOOR LIVING
Essentially, there are no changes indoors. Double sliding doors, which can be fixed in a number of positions, allow you to serve straight from the recessed (down a step) aft galley back into the cockpit. It's a relatively small one-person U-shaped galley with moulded counters, high-gloss teak serveries, sink with separate drinking water, four-burner Fisher and Paykel cooktop, an impressive pullout pantry, compact Vitrifrigo vertical fridge/freezer with stainless steel facia, dishwasher and plenty of pantry space.

Hard-wearing Amtico (mock timber) flooring assists with maintenance in the high-traffic entrance to the saloon and galley. The AC/DC (mainly 24V) panel and simple battery-management system are to port, before the steps to the bridge and alongside the boat's wetbar with icemaker and bootleg locker. A decent flat-screen TV was provided, along with a Bose Lifestyle system.

Timeless high-gloss teak trim and earthy hues highlighted the saloon's forward seating area, which included an L-shaped lounge for four forward opposite a small dinette for four. As touched on, with the enclosed flybridge being so well appointed, you really don't need a lower helm.

Accommodation ranges through three cabins, each with sliding doors to maximise space, and two heads including a dedicated en suite for the stateroom. The heads have headroom of around 185cm, a moulded tile-look floor, trick glass bowls with pushdown plugs, big drains for the shower stalls, extractor fans and opening portlights.

The loos are the Techma type that run on freshwater or, if you're running low, can be switched to saltwater. The communal head to starboard has a second door to the VIP stateroom in the bow, so if there are two couples you'll each have an en suite, which is nice when spending time away.

The VIP guest's cabin also features an island double bed with innerspring mattress, hanging lockers, huge headroom and smart fitted bedding. The companionway might be a bit tight for big blokes, however.

Grandkids and additional crew get the starboard cabin with bunks, sufficient floor space to dress, an Omega washer/dryer, three shelves and hanging space. As with the other cabins, the port lights open into the bulwarks so there's plenty of privacy as no-one can peer inside from the marina.

Naturally, the owner gets the pick of the cabins, as denoted by a queen-sized island bed to port, roughly amidships and therefore somewhat removed from the water playing on the chines. There are lowboys, a massive storage hold under the bed, hanging lockers with lights and soft-touch linings, a full-length mirror, separate air-con controls and entertainment options.

OFFSHORE CRUISING
I'm not sure if Maritimo has a direct line with the weather gods or it's just good fortune but, yet again, the sea was all glass during our test off the Gold Coast. But, as ever, the off-the-wheel steering was a highlight, with the flat-backed boat turning more like a sportsyacht than a long-range wagon.

With one-third fuel and three-quarters of a tank of water, the 52 Sky Lounge held plane at 12.5kts and 1420rpm, which is, of course, far from efficient. At 1815rpm, the boat does 19.6kts - a pleasant passage-making speed - for 160lt/h consumption and a safe cruising range of about 425nm, leaving 10 per cent of the 3850lt fuel capacity in reserve.

At 1960rpm and 22.6kts, a nice cruise speed in calm seas, the C12 Cats drink 170lt/h for a safe range of 460nm, indicating these revs are very much the sweet spot for these motors on this boat. Maximum continuous revs of 2135rpm produce 26.1kts for high-speed cruising, while top speed is 30.1kts at 2365rpm.

With a flat run aft, the key to this boat's ride in rough water will be keeping the forefoot cutting through the sea which, should it produce spray, won't worry you in the air-conditioned hardtop.

But where the Sky Lounge will come into its own is probably not so much getting there as the time spent at anchor, in a quiet bay, river or behind a tropical island, perched in the flight deck, the observation deck, the penthouse... the Sky Lounge. Whatever you choose to call it, think of it as more real estate for not much more money, and a great place to kick back with your friends and a cocktail or two at sunset.

• More real state in the bridge where views are best
• Great engineering
• Long-range tanks for serious cruising
• Walkaround decks, stairs to bridge and big cockpit cater to the grey brigade
• Well-respected boatbuilder with backing from Bill Barry-Cotter
• Aft galley and three-cabin layout are part of many motorcruiser buyers' wishlists
• An efficient hull for long-range work
• Snap to park with bow and stern thrusters

• The moulded non-skid used by the Maritimo is difficult to clean
• Forward helm station doesn't offer a view of the transom
• Black canvass over sky lounge generates heat and shows seagull calling cards
• Small internal dinette
• Tight companionway below decks

As featured in the 2008 edition of trade-a-boat's 'Big Boat Collection' Also featuring: » Jeanneau Prestige 50S » Marlow 57 Classic » Riviera 45 Open Flybridge » Sea Ray 60 Sundancer » Beneteau 40, 43, 46    and many more ...