Boating | Exciting things expected from expanded Maritimo factory

At a media briefing at its state-of-the-art headquarters, the company remained tight-lipped about new developments, with their R&D facility protected from prying eyes.

However, Maritimo general manager operations, Phil Candler, hinted "From a design and development point a view, we have been looking at opportunities that exist in the market."

"Over the next few years, you will see some exciting product come out of the design and development team."

The company recently completed a $13 million expansion of its production facility at the Coomera Marine Precinct on the Gold Coast.

The factory expansion has enabled Maritimo to diversify its product range and ultimately increase the size of its vessel offerings without interfering with current production.

"The new advanced facilities are capable of developing projects up to 100 feet, which enables great flexibility of new product offerings for future product expansion," Candler said.

"We now have design and new product development divisions located together for better integration of design into new product prototypes and tooling, with more productive flow of ideas and information between design and production."

The total plant area now covers 4.664 hectares and the expansion increased overall building area by 52 percent.

The company also reported their most successful years ever in 2018 and 2019 with record figures of 30 per cent sales growth. Sales into the US so far this calendar year (up to mid-November) are up 60 per cent on the same period in 2018 year.

Maritimo sales Americas' president, Dave Northrop, said Maritimo's "owner-friendly systems and engineering", which were simple and reliable for owner operation, together with the family friendly layouts, and the overall functionality of the Maritimo range were significant draw cards for customers in The Americas.

"That combined with quality, seakeeping, economy and range has established the Maritimo brand with heralded status over the North American continent," he said.

"Maritimo's latest models within the M-Series Flybridge Motor Yacht and X-Series Sport Coupe lines have captured the attention of the markets within the Americas with tremendous success, and with knowledge of what is on the horizon we are confident our design and new product developments will launch the brand to even further new heights in the near future," Maritimo CEO Garth Corbitt said.

Maritimo's product line now consists of 11 models across its M-Series Flybridge Motor Yacht, X-Series Sport Coupe and S-Series Sedan Motor Yacht ranges.

The development of three heavily customised M-Series Flybridge Motoryachts tailored to a range of customer needs has been underway since January 2019. The recently announced Maritimo One custom division enables Maritimo owners to make significant changes to their base model vessels.

"Maritimo has been internationally renowned for the level in which it enables client customisation, where most other brands have set limitations," the company's lead designer and brand director, Tom Barry-Cotter, said.

"Due to the company's sales success and subsequent growth of production in recent times, the need surfaced for a more systemised approach to the customisation of boats in order to maintain production efficiencies within the standard model range."

"Maritimo One was established to uphold the brand's identity and reputation for enabling customers to tailor a vessel to their specific needs or environment."

Its first major project, a massive M72 motor yacht specifically designed for serious sports fishing in New Zealand's north island, has already been handed over to its owners.

Rayglass has released a range of new Protector RIBs that feature harder edges and a noticeably more masculine and modern appearance.

The new range is available in two configurations: the Chase centre console and the enclosed cabin Targa.

The new 7.5-metre Protector 250 Chase can carry 250-400hp and has a fuel capacity of 320 litres. The 310 Targa is a 9-metre RIB designed to be powered by 400hp to 800hp outboards and has a fuel capacity of 495 litres.

Future models in the new Protector range include the 310, 330 and 380 Chase and the 330, 380 and 410 Targa.

America's Cup challengers Ineos Team UK are set to take over Britain's entry in SailGP next year. Ben Ainslie and Ineos Team UK have entered into a one-year commercial agreement to join the Great Britain SailGP Team, with Ainslie to take over at the helm.

"SailGP has proven itself as one of the most exciting sailing leagues, with top level competition and racing in iconic venues across the world," Ainslie said.

Sailors from the Ineos Team UK will use SailGP as a valuable training platform in the lead-up to the America's Cup in 2021. The 2020 season of SailGP begins in Sydney on February 28-29.