Maritimo flagship M73 conquers the world

by Denby Browning on 18 Feb 2010 Australia's premier luxury boat builder, Maritimo, has announced the first overseas sales of the company's new flagship M73 Motoryacht.

Through a strong international boat show season, the company has taken orders for M73 hull number 4 to be delivered to client in Texas in the United States and for M73/05 to a client in Singapore.

The M73 Motoryacht bound for the US is already being built at Maritimo's Hope Harbour facility on the Gold Coast and the Singapore order was confirmed this week following a sea trial off the Gold Coast.

'We are delighted by the market's response to this magnificent craft,' said Maritimo Marketing Director Luke Durman. 'We knew it would be accepted quickly in Australia but we are very pleased with the international response.'

Mr Durman said the Singapore-bound boat will include a dramatic metallic bronze hull while the US boat would be similar to the one on display at the Sydney International Boat Show with upgraded Caterpillar C32 turbo diesel engines rated to 1,652hp.

The sales cap a successful year for the Gold Coast boat builder, with healthy sales at all major Australian boat shows in spite of the world economic downturn that saw many boat builders around the world in crisis.

Mr Durman returned to Australia from the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show this week to report healthy sales across the Maritimo range. This follows a strong showing during the European season late last year.

'Our Dealers continue to make sales even though we are competing in an international market with a strong Australian dollar and most of our competitors holding excess stock,' he said. 'It puts us in a particularly strong position as the US and European economies begin to recover.'

CEO Bill Barry-Cotter said he was pleased with the way his staff had rallied through the crisis.

'The first half of last year was difficult, but the company had been taking on new staff over the past four months as sales pick up,' he said.

'The new M73 orders will certainly stretch our staff resources.

'We are now in a strong position to take advantage of the economic recovery. We will launch two new models in the sub-50-foot range at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in May and a further four through the year.'