Inspired Maritimo M50 Reflects Owner Input
Drawing inspiration from Maritimo’s flagship models – particularly the M75 which launched in 2023 – the Maritimo M50 Flybridge made its global debut at the 2025 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. The 15.69m model is the result of hundreds of hours of consultation with Maritimo owners and advisers and many hundreds more in craftsmanship and engineering expertise.
Bill Barry-Cotter, Maritimo’s founder and Chairman, is considered a pioneer in the Australian motor yacht industry, renowned for his specialist prowess in flybridge design. The latest incarnation of his dexterity is the M50, which at its unveiling he described as “the epitome of everything Maritimo stands for”.
“Its exterior beauty, functional interior and grand accommodations offer owners and guests exceptional space and comfort,” he said. “Every square centimetre has been carefully considered. We’re confident it will be enjoyed by Maritimo owners worldwide.”
Exports make up about 60 percent of Maritimo’s market, and the staunchly Australian-made marque has upped the ante when it comes to increasing its presence in Asia. For Maritimo, the Asian market in all its diversity is increasingly important, and it is continuing to appoint dealers in the region.
Investment in infrastructure in Phuket, Bali, Hong Kong and Kobe, as well as a superyacht marina in the Maldives, are predicted to create a surge in international yacht visitation as well as piquing local interest in the boating lifestyle.
Region-wide consultation with Maritimo owners and dealers has influenced the fleet’s evolution over the past 20 years, resulting in the M50 Flybridge – a feature-filled, people-pleasing package.
Phil Candler, Maritimo’s General Manager Operations, explained: “Our approach is to tailor our product to the market – to adapt to the standards and options and to make it user-friendly for them. We understand that owners have diverse interests, whether that’s fishing, as a day cruiser or for making long passages, and the product, in this case the M50 Flybridge, must be adaptable to suit.”
In addition to the Maritimo hallmarks of ocean-going capability and ease of handling for newcomers to boating, the M50 Flybridge will appeal for several reasons, Candler continues.
“As well as its size, and the ability to raise the articulated, hydraulic transom to fit into 15m berths, the single-level living is proving popular. For safety and ease of movement around the boat, wide, walkaround decks, protective bulwark, high rails and internal staircase to the flybridge tick those boxes.
“There are dozens of features on board, such as the climate-controlled, enclosed flybridge, the enclosable cockpit, the large, luxurious master and VIP accommodation, and the ability to convert lounges into double beds for additional guests.”
Maritimo’s fastidious craftsmanship – evident in the M50’s contemporary styling, luxurious appointments and onboard amenities – is yet another drawcard.
From a technical and structural standpoint, the planing hull design enhances the M50’s performance and fuel-efficiency. The hull incorporates a reverse chine that runs nearly its full length, and the keel was designed to soften the re-entry into the water in challenging conditions, ensuring guest comfort on board. The support and service from a network of experienced local dealers is equally reassuring.
Heading out on the Gold Coast Broadwater mid-winter under brittle blue skies, it’s smooth cruising from Sanctuary Cove to Southport. The M50’s muscular hull and angular glazing over three levels combine to create a head-turning presence on water. During our test run, we enjoy several admiring waves, nods and honks from passing craft.
A standout feature is the integrated hydraulic lifting and hinging swim platform, which when elevated, shortens the vessel by 75cm, making it a perfect fit for 15m berths common in many marinas. When extended, this adventure deck is the ideal launch pad for kayaks, jetskis and other watertoys, and doubles as a water-level social zone, complete with barbecue, sink, cooler, and hatch for lazarette access.
Dual staircases lead to the cockpit which has been raised to the same level as the galley for convenient and safe single-level entertaining. Between the two is a neat drain plate in case of wave wash and for washing down the cockpit. New ‘squaring’ of the rear rope lockers allows the option of side boarding gates.
The cockpit is decked out with a dining table and seating, which both invert to reveal the large lazarette below, lockers on each side, Fusion speaker and Garmin Marine IP camera, as well as roll-down clears for added protection and privacy. The aft deck is somewhat of a blank slate on which owners can write their own preferences: extra built-in seating or storage abutting the sliding doors, TV and entertainment system.
Accessed through a hatch in the cockpit, the engine room houses the twin Volvo Penta D13-800 engines and features a centralised fuel tank system for better stability and extra space. Supported by a fuel capacity of 3,700 litres for extended range, the M50 cruises smoothly at 24 knots with a top speed of 30.
For sound and vibration reduction throughout the vessel, Maritimo has insulated the space with an improved liner material. There’s no stabiliser on this model, but owners can specify their choice of gyro, water maker, and any other equipment which is easily accommodated in the spacious engine room.
Heading to the foredeck via the wide side decks with protective bulwarks and high rails ensuring safe movement for guests, it’s easy to forget this is a 50ft motor yacht. The expansive foredeck can be used as a social space with room for tender stowage and the option of a 250kg davit.
There’s a large skylight which illuminates the VIP cabin below and skylights above the two ensuites. A heavy-duty Muir winch, stainless-steel plow anchor and anchor-chain counter are standard.
The interior of the M50 sets a new standard for 50ft yachts. In size and accoutrements, fitted with Miele appliances, stone benchtops, and gloss walnut cabinetry, the galley rivals that of the M55.
The centre island is a practical feature for food preparation on top and beneath, storage and waste disposal. Spanning the galley and saloon, the glazing that is so prominent in its profile illuminates the living spaces.
Just one step up to the saloon and the generous head height of 1.9m is obvious. This expansive space is dedicated to relaxation and socialising, with lounges on both sides, a fold-out table to port and the sofa on the starboard side convertible into a double bed.
Modular pieces such as a footstool that doubles as a coffee table make the space adaptable to the occasion. Forward, within immaculately crafted cabinetry, is a 50-inch TV that rises with the flick of a switch.
The internal reverse staircase, with enclosed risers for safety – a feature Maritimo has perfected over the past 20 years – leads from the saloon to the enclosed flybridge.
The M50 is all about the flybridge, which is effectively a second saloon. Built with external wings in the style of the M75, it takes full advantage of the 5.22-metre beam to deliver the largest four-sided enclosed flybridge in its class. More than a mere helm station, it’s a second-storey retreat complete with two lounge areas – the one behind the helm convertible into a double bed.
The geometric reverse rake windscreen cuts down the glare and facilitates run-off from rain or sea spray. Adjustable twin helm seats offer heating for the skipper and co-pilot’s comfort, and a large skylight opens the flybridge to the sky above.
The streamlined helm comprises two 19-inch Garmin display screens and a Garmin transducer below. The M50 is equipped with the Volvo Penta Boat Trim System (BTS) which uses patented interceptor technology for optimal trim, quicker planing and reduced drag, contributing to a smoother, more comfortable ride.
Along with Vetus 150 proportional electric bow and stern thrusters, the wireless Yacht Controller system simplifies docking, which is a great asset for a cruising couple. This remarkable flybridge is complemented by a versatile, covered aft deck that offers around 11sqm of usable space for chairs, bean bags, rod holders or built-in furniture if preferred.
At SCIBS 2025, visitors aboard the M50 were lavish with their praise for the accommodation, which really defines its offering from competitors. Accessed by the central stairwell, flooded with light from the atrium above, the accommodation consists of a full-beam master located midships and the VIP in the bow.
“We prioritised volume and liveability over cabin count, which reflects a fundamental difference in philosophy from many European brands,” designers state in their rationale.
The master suite features a king-size bed, chaise lounge, plenty of storage in the form of cabinets and closets, while long hull windows and opening portholes deliver sea views and ventilation, and concertina blinds block out the light and UV. The indulgent private en-suite boasts an oversize shower, cabinets, basin and WC, with hatches shedding light into the space.
The VIP stateroom forward features a convertible queen-to-twin bed, ample storage, and a full en-suite/day head that includes a full-height shower, skylight and mirrors to enhance the feeling of space. In the companionway between the two cabins, the washer and dryer are concealed in cupboards – just one of many examples of thoughtful design on board this new-generation flybridge model.
Large undercover outdoor areas, seamless indoor-outdoor flow, and robust air-conditioning systems ensure the M50 is built for comfort and long-range capability, whether cruising across island chains or entertaining friends and family onboard.
Combining the ease and agility of a compact cruiser, with the space and luxury of a much larger vessel, the Maritimo M50 Flybridge delivers the best of both worlds and sets the benchmark in 50ft motoryachts.
Images courtesy of Maritimo
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