Maritimo M600: Capable Cruiser of The Great North from Down Under

Maritimo founder Bill Barry Cotter has been in the boatbuilding game a long time. In 1966 he started building boats out of wood when he was 21 years old under the Mariner name. He soon switched to fiberglass which was an up-and-coming new technology back then. By 1978 Mariner Cruisers was the largest boat builder in Australia when Bill sold his interest in the company and cashed out. By 1980 he was at it again and started Riviera and soon moved their operation from near Sydney to the Gold Coast of Queensland where they remain today. In 2002 Bill sold Riviera and subsequently started Maritimo which is now across the street from Riviera’s factory in Coomera. Bill is also involved in offshore powerboat racing, and Maritimo still has a very successful powerboat race team. 

So why the history lesson? I think it speaks to the deliberate way Maritimo builds boats. Maritimos are meant to be serious cruisers and are built with that purpose in mind. They are fast because Bill doesn’t like to go slow and designed to be able to run in all conditions. The waters off Australia can be rough, so by their nature Australian boats are built to handle extreme conditions. Maritimos are shaft driven, they don’t use pods or V-drives because they want clean direct power. For improved stability they keep the center of gravity low by placing the engines deep in the hull which minimizes shaft angles increasing drive efficiency. Power is directed more horizontally with low shaft angles, so the engines are pushing the boat forward not trying to lift it up. I am not a physicist or a naval architect, but to me this principle makes sense. 

To see how a recent model performs and how it is being used I caught up with Kim and Jan, the owners of a 2023 Maritimo M600. They joined a flotilla during their first summer with the boat. A group of boats led by Waggoner, the leading cruising guide in the Pacific Northwest, cruised to Alaska. During that cruise they befriended two other couples that owned Maritimos. In 2024, the three Maritimos cruised together through the Inside Passage traveling up the east side of Vancouver Island, Canada, and onto Southeast Alaska. The summer trip kept them onboard for around three months and let them extensively explore some of the most pristine waterways anywhere near the U.S. Coast.

When we met up with Kim and Jan to check out their M600, my wife and I were on our boat in the San Juan islands. We left our boat in Friday Harbor to go with them for a quick run on the Maritimo to Anacortes. They were headed there to meet one of the other boats and do some serious provisioning at the mainland grocery stores before their trip North. They backed up to the dock and we stepped aboard the swim platform and then into the expansive cockpit of the M600. 

The cockpit is big enough for some serious fishing but also has refinements for entertaining and cruising. There is a lighted baitwell at the transom and plenty of room on the combings for rod holders, downriggers, crab pullers, and all sorts of fishing equipment. This lower cockpit area is also ideal for other leisure activities. The centerline console has a wet bar (sink and refrigerator), storage drawers, and a barbecue which are all neatly concealed under contoured fiberglass lids. On newer models of the M600 this area has been modified as part of Maritimo’s “Black Edition”. The island console and the aft seating in the area above have been upgraded and expanded along with some other stylistic and practical improvements elsewhere. The cockpit area is an ideal space for entertainment and with music coming from speakers along the gunnels, it makes for a great dance floor. The close proximity to the water and access through the transom door to the swim platform connects this area nicely to the sea. Whether entertaining, fishing, or just enjoying the breezes I like the versatility of this open space.

A step up from the lower open cockpit there is a covered lounge area. A variety of seating options are available that feature a forward-facing settee with a teak table. Kim told me that customization was a major reason why they chose Maritimo. It was important to be able to arrange areas of the boat how they wanted, add equipment of their choosing, and pick materials that weren’t just different colors of the same thing everyone gets. Maritimo is not a custom boat builder, but they do allow more customization than many other brands. If the buyers have specific requests, they try to be accommodating. In many ways Kim and Jan were able to personalize their boat. In the cockpit lounge area for instance, they chose L-shaped seating and sliding doors forward since the seats partially block galley access anyway. Many Maritimos keep this area open and have bifold doors that completely open the galley to this deck lounge area. They also wrapped Isinglass panels behind the forward-facing lounge. This covered space under the overhang of the flybridge allows you to be outdoors but also protected from the elements.

Just inside the sliding door the central location of the galley creates great connectivity aft to the cockpit lounge, forward to the salon, and up the internal staircase to the enclosed flybridge. Maritimos typically have an upright fridge in addition to drawer style fridges, freezers, and dishwashers, and a convenient central island. Jan configured the galley to better suit the way they cruise. Most Maritimos have a fold out upright pantry with wire shelves, but she set hers up with drawers and shelves. She also placed the appliances including an oven, stove, microwave, coffee maker, dishwasher and numerous fridge/freezer drawers where she wanted. The galley surfaces they chose are an elegant quartz with gold-colored accents. I am not usually a big fan of gold but the color in the counters really works well to bring out the warmth of the adjacent high gloss teak cabinetry. They also customized both the texture and color of the ultra-leather cushions and wall coverings throughout the boat which gave the interior a more refined look than more typical off whites. 

The M600 features deluxe sleeping accommodations that allow Kim and Jan to live comfortably for extended periods on the boat like during their trip to Alaska. Their full beam cabin features a king-sized island bed, plenty of storage with both drawers and a hanging locker, a flat screen TV, and a large ensuite head with a separate shower compartment. A full-size washer and dryer adds convenience. When guests or family come aboard there are two more cabins and another head with a separate shower. The forward VIP cabin features a queen bed canted to one side which allows easy access all around the bed without climbing steps like on many V-berth style setups. The third cabin can be configured with twin beds like theirs, or as another double.

Maritimo makes sedans in their S-series, but the M-series signifies an enclosed flybridge which I really like. Not only is this climate-controlled upper cabin an ideal place to drive the boat from, but it has plenty of comfortable seating, storage, and a flat screen TV on a lift. Being high up adds privacy when tied to a dock even without having to close the blinds. One of the lounges can be configured as a pull-out bed so this area can be used as an extra cabin when needed, however it is a long way down to the head. An outdoor sky lounge is accessed through glass doors and can be configured in a number of ways that include different seating arrangements, tables, a wet bar, and even a steering station.

From one of two adjustable bolstered helm seats I noted that helm visibility forward is excellent. There is easy access to lights and controls, and to the twin Garmin MFDs, VHF, and autopilot. The side windows open as can overhead hatches. Throttles and an optional Twin Disk Express Joystick System (EJS) are conveniently located to starboard. A shaft drive boat with a joystick might seem strange but this system uses variable speed transmissions (gears) and is integrated into the bow and stern thruster. Kim previously had a pod drive boat and says he prefers this system because it moves the boat so evenly. I have played with this system before and appreciate the smoothness as it compensates for my heavy-handedness with joysticks.

We ran reciprocal test runs from a dead stop to wide open throttle in both directions measuring speed, fuel burn, and sound levels. With optional twin Scania 1,150 HP D16 engines we hit a top speed of 30.2 knots even while heavily loaded with a substantial tender, a Seakeeper gyro, and a lot of gear. The manufacturer says they hit 34 knots on an M600 powered with these same engines but under real life loaded conditions I thought the performance we recorded was fine. 

Sound levels never went above 70 dB even at WOT and at a 21 knots were 65 dB, within the level of normal conversation. At a fast cruise of 26 knots we ran at 2000 RPM using 93 GPH or 3.1gallons/nautical mile. With standard 1,200-gallon tanks this gives the M600 a range of 302 nautical miles factoring a 10% reserve. Range like this at speed is what allows owners like Kim and Jan to take extended cruises like their trip to Alaska. Slowing down to a 15-knot cruise more than doubles the range to 685 nautical miles. For deliveries the range provides a lot of offshore capability. While Scania engines are relatively new to the recreational powerboat market, they have been used extensively on commercial vessels in the Pacific Northwest so there is a service network here to support them. That is in part why Kim chose these engines. Maritimo has used them for a number of years in Australia and they have proven to be reliable. Other areas like Florida have marine service for them too. If Scania doesn’t suit your needs, twin Volvo Penta D13 800 MHP are standard equipment and a pair of D13 1000 MHP is another option.

Our visit with Kim and Jan was over as we tied up in Cap Sante Marina of Anacortes, but this short trip helped us understand why this Maritimo M600 is uniquely suited for serious cruising like the Inside Passage trip they were about to embark on. We kept in touch throughout the summer as the three Maritimos traveled through the San Juan Islands into and through Canada, up to Southeast Alaska, and back. They spent three months on this epic journey where they saw amazing wildlife including lots of bears, bald eagles, and whales. They caught salmon, halibut, and prawns along the way. They visited towns and cities on their journey but also viewed glaciers up close and anchored in secluded coves with streams and waterfalls flowing beneath the majestic snowcapped mountains looming above. Their Maritimo M600 served them well on this trip enabling them to safely and comfortably cruise extensively in an area few of us ever get to experience. We will cover more highlights of their trip at a future date, but they were kind enough to share some of their amazing photos which we have included for your pleasure. (See photo gallery below)

Maritimo sells through factory sales representatives. For more information or to find a rep in your area go to: https://www.maritimoamericas.com/

Publisher’s Note: I have followed Maritimo since their inception in 2003. The company was founded by Bill Barry Cotter who is the best-known recreational boat builder in Australia. I have known Bill since before Maritimo was formed, and for clarity’s sake I still am involved in some aspects of Maritimo’s marketing. 

Arnie Hammerman Publisher

Boats and the ocean define my life. From teaching sailing to captaining yachts, marine publishing, and marketing, I’ve spent decades sharing seafaring tales. At Best4Boats, adventure awaits—welcome aboard!

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