Aussie builder puts
his racing knowledge
into luxury cruisers.

Reprinted From Southern Boating

Powerboat racing is one of Bill Barry-Cotter’s great passions, and he’s won seven Australian Class I offshore powerboat championships. The technology he’s utilized and helped develop in the demanding world of offshore racing has helped him to design his Maritimo line of long-range luxury motoryachts, which he founded in 2003 in Queensland, Australia. At displacement hull speeds, Maritimo offshore cruising yachts, which range from 44 to 60 feet, can travel up to 3,000 miles, while at cruising speeds of 28 mph, they can travel from 500 to 1,000 miles without refueling, depending on the model.

That speed and range, along with hull design, rigging and attention to detail, have made Maritimo a brand that is turning heads in the United States market. With nine dealerships in the United States and one in Canada, Maritimo is quickly gaining interest among U.S. buyers.

Southern Boating Contributor Doug Thompson sat down with Bill at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October and learned what he had to say about the U.S. market, how he builds his boats, and what other boat builders he admires.

Reprinted from March 2010 Sea Magazine

WE LEFT THE DOCK IN A 10- TO 15-KNOT side wind, but our captain, Chris Elliott of Compass Point Yachts, used the remote thruster control and the aft controls to move the boat effortlessly into the channel. Later, when I turned the boat stern-to at 8 knots into a choppy sea with a good groundswell (I noticed no chattering, shimmering or cavitation), we took on 6 inches of green water in the cockpit. I stopped the boat and the water was gone in about three seconds — I timed it. I wasn’t surprised by either of those events, however, because the Maritimo 550 Offshore Convertible has Bill Barry-Cotter’s 40 years of shipbuilding experience behind it.

The summer of 2009 started out with great promise for boaters in the Pacific Northwest, and I don’t think anyone was disappointed.

Our adventure started in beautiful Victoria; the capital of British Columbia, a charming Canadian city on Vancouver Island. As we enjoyed sunshine in the harbor while looking at the majestic parliament buildings that grace the waterfront, a local photographer putting together his portfolio visited us, and in no time we became his subject, or rather our Maritimo 52 Skylounge was the subject (see www.reubenkrabbe.com  and click on portfolio- people). Our photographer was prepared and had even brought his own model. I thought perhaps I might even have a chance so we took pictures too! Victoria was beautiful and we did so enjoy the beautiful city views.

The Sea of Cortez, or the Gulf of California as it is now called, is one of the best cruising and fishing destinations we have ever experienced. In April of 2009, during Spring break, the Verheyen family ventured down to bask in the sun and experience some of God’s most stunning creations.

The two-hour flight from Los Angeles to La Paz was almost too short to make the work to play transition. The word is almost! We hailed a taxi for the quick trip from the airport to the marina, with a short provisioning stop at the local super market. Our new boat (52-69), “Pura Vida” (translated; Pure Life) awaits us at the beautiful Costa Baja Marina, a sprawling development with a state-of-the-art marina. We quickly unpacked and joined some friends down at the beachside restaurant. After al fresco dinning at the Marina Azul, we walked back to the boat along the beach and called it a day.

Well … if you haven’t noticed already, we have a fresh new clean look. Our new website has been redesigned by Joe Streno of eMac Consulting. It’s brighter, cleaner, & leaner. It’s also easier for you to find information on the entire line of Maritimo Yachts.

Whether it’s photos, videos, price sheets, fuel economy statistics, PDF brochures, or even our new Virtual Walk-Throughs, you’ll find all the information you will need to help you find the boat of your dreams.

As you can see we have even updated out blog. So have a look around the place, take the site on  a “sea trial” then come back and let us know what you think, or even what you’d like to see in the future. Your comments are always welcome.

And if you need anything more, we are a phone call or an eMail away. Our knowledgeable brokers are here and ready to assist you.

Offshore powerboat racing is a sport with tremendous fan appeal in Australia. Enthusiasts cheer for the championship teams and driver with the same sort of fervor normally reserved for NASCAR in the United States. The accomplishments of Australian offshore racer Bill Barry-Cotter as commonly known and widely acclaimed “down under” as the names Richard Petty or the late and lamented Dale Earnhardt are instantly recognized in North America. An offshore racer trusts his or her life to the design and integrity of a hull designed to challenge the open sea at speeds in excess of 100-mph. Bill Barry-Cotter applied the knowledge gleaned through such experience to become a world-renowned designer and builder of tough but very classy, bluewater capable boats in Australia. Barry-Cotter was instrumental in the founding of Riviera Yachts, eventually departing that firm in 2001 for semi-retirement as a real estate developer.

November 2008
For Immediate Release:

Australia’s premier manufacturer of long-range luxury motoryachts, Maritimo, is looking to the future by investing heavily in Research and Development over the coming years.

Maritimo Cabriolet 50

Maritimo CEO and legendary boat designer and builder Bill Barry-Cotter said that the company will spend $10million on R&D over the next financial year: “We have a five-year plan which includes that $10million,” said Mr Barry-Cotter. “And by the Sydney Boat Show 2009 we will have eight all-new models on the water. This is not a rebadging exercise, they are brand new models to co-exist with our current range.”

Maritimo Shines In Ft Lauderdale – Update

November 13, 2008
For Immediate Release:

Australia’s premier manufacturer of luxury long-range cruisers, Maritimo, had a very successful show in Fort Lauderdale this year.

Maritimo Marketing Director Luke Durman said that the show was one of the company’s best ever in what is described as America’s foremost boat show: “We had a great Fort Lauderdale show this year,” Mr. Durman said. “Our sales were up on previous years and this is testament to the quality of our dealer network.”

“The boating fraternity in the U.S. are very particular and they expect the best in terms of quality and performance. Our sales and follow-up from the Show has certainly shown that they respect and admire the quality of the Maritimo product,” he added.