English
Alejandro Bottino designed full carbon performance sloop from Maxi Dolphin in Italy. Launched 2020 and featuring a fantastic inventory for effortless fast cruising or regatta sailing.
PRESS REVIEW:
THE INVERTED BOW, AND THE TRANSOM, BOTH WITH A SLIGHT TILT BACKWARDS OF A FEW DEGREES. The low, sleek deckhouse. The redan steps that feature on the sides just above the waterline. An imposing sail plan and the maximum beam set well back, nearly as far as the taffrail.
The new Maxi Dolphin is most definitely beautiful. At the yard based in Erbusco, it is said to be a “comfortable cruiser and a powerful racer”, and that is a very apt description of this nineteen-metre boat by Alejandro Bottino, a designer who may be young yet already has a long CV and deep understanding of our market. «The nice thing about the MD62ab is how it successfully it combines beautiful external lines with large volumes in the interior rooms», explains the Argentine designer. That isn’t an easy balance to achieve and is the outcome of a fortunate encounter between the talent of Bottino as a designer and the long experience in building boats at Maxi Dolphin, which was founded in 1987 and has been run since 2016 by MD Technologies.
Its distinctive qualities remain the same, starting with the ability to create semi-custom boats that are rigorously Italian-made and which can fully meet the requirements of its customers. In other words, the proverbial ability of Italian tailors of being able to make anything as well as possible has taken expressed in a sailing boat.
Another distinctive feature of the Maxi Dolphin is how light it is, a quality that has always been sought out, and determinedly so, by Maxi Dolphin starting from the first design phase and later in the choice of techniques and construction materials. The whole boat is made in sandwich layup carbon-epoxy fibre which is vacuum-laminated with a Corecell centre and then post-cured at 60 degrees centigrade in the yard’s 40-metre oven.
The solution applied in the interiors and with the furniture is the same one that has been used by the yard for some time, in which all elements are made using a light-weight sandwich technique. As well as not weighing very much, the distribution of the mass has been done extremely well and has made the boat fast and fun to sail. The rigging has been made in carbon fibre and of the 31-tonne total displacement, 8,500 are in the bulb keel which draws 3.4 metres. There is also a canting keel version available, which reduces the draught to 1.8 metres.
Luca Botter, the CEO of MD Technologies, said: «The MD62ab is the product of great teamwork. It is a semi-custom boat that is right up to date. It is simple and easy to handle. It has a sporty potential, but can also be enjoyed on a family cruise». With that in mind, the deck has been designed to be clear and functional, with a lot of free space behind the two twin wheels, while the entire transom folds down to create a spectacular beach area, which is also perfect for moving the tender around. Located separately, and forward of the helm there is a cockpit for manoeuvring, and one for guests – which is easily changed from a relaxation area into a dinette.
The design of the interiors, which is also the work of Alejandro Bottino working together with the yard’s technical department, is intentionally simple and functional, with an elegant choice of materials and colours: wood with bleached, horizontally-grained oak, light panelling and anthracite fabrics.
The first boat in the series has a large living area midships, at the bottom of the stairs, and side windows with also a sizeable amount of full-height glass. Using a solution that is often seen on big boats, the kitchen is a bit further forward, below the mast, and is slightly lower, while the entire bow area, with its a double cabin, bathroom and walk-in cupboard suite, is given over to the owner. Going aft, there are two traditional double rooms for guests, while there is a small room in the bow, with separate access, for the crew. It is all very simple, and all decidedly beautiful.
Barche Magazine – December 2020
MANUFACTURER’S HISTORY:
“Beauty? It’s something that makes you feel good, therefore something very individual. To me it means order, harmony and sharing. No beautiful thing makes sense if you cannot share it with others”. With this vision, along with his passion for the sea, boats and nature, in 1987 Vittorio Moretti created the Maxi Dolphin boatyard.
The first boat built by Maxi Dolphin was the 73 ft Carmen di Bellavista, designed by Bruce Farr, followed by the maxi 118 ft Viriella, designed by Germán Frers. Two boats built according to that search for innovation, which is the basis of the Moretti Group, operating not only in the boating sector, but also in that of industrialized building , as well as in the top class enological, hotel and catering sectors.
A long number of sailing boats followed the Carmen di Bellavista and the Viriella: standard monotypes (over 300 produced Dolphin 81) and from 75 to 100 ft One-Off sailing boats, the outcome of the cooperation with the main yacht designers.
Roberto Starkel, Germán Frers, Bruce Farr, Luca Brenta Design, Bill Tripp, Finot-Conq are some of the designers for Maxi Dolphin, which in 2007 launched the MD Power: an innovative line of motor yachts, built using the same technologies of sailers and applying the same concept of custom-made, the real hallmark of all Maxi Dolphin boats.
SPECIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION
RCD Status:
• The yacht conforms with the essential safety requirements of Directive 94/25EC (Recreational Craft Directive) and is categorised A – “Ocean”
• Hull and deck construction drawings examined by RINA
Hull, Deck & Superstructure Construction:
• Full carbon, superstructure and deck construction
• Sandwich layup carbon-epoxy fibre, vacuum-laminated with a Corecell centre and then post-cured at 60 degrees centigrade.
• Grey painted topsides with contrasting white stripes
• White painted superstructure and cockpit coamings
• Teak laid side decks, coachroof and cockpit
Keel & Rudder:
• Stainless steel fin keel with lead bulb fixed
• Caron fibre balanced rudder blade with JP3 bearings
MACHINERY
Engine & gearbox:
• Volvo Penta D3-150 5-cylinder 150hp diesel engine
• Reduction gearbox with shaft drive
• Fresh¬water cooled engine.
• Single lever engine control.
Maintenance & Performance:
• Engine serviced annually
Propulsion & Steering:
• Max-Power VIP250 retractable 24vDC bowthruster
• Stainless steel shaft with feathering/folding propeller
• Steering wheel consoles to port and starboard with Isotop carbon fibre helm wheels
• Emergency tiller
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Voltage systems:
• 24vDC domestic systems plus 12vDC generator start circuit with 220vAC via shore-power, generator or inverter
Battery Banks:
• 24vDC 800ah AGM service battery bank
Charging / Inverter:
• Automatic battery charger
• Inverter
Alternator:
• 24vDC engine-mounted alternator
Generator:
• Onan 9.5kw 220vAC 50Hz diesel generator
• Generator serviced annually
Other Electrical:
• Electrical control panel with thermal breakers
• 220vAC shore power supply protected with differential breaker and distribution system.
• 220vAC sockets throughout interior
PLUMBING & GAS SYSTEMS
Fresh Water:
• 24vDC pressurised fresh water system
• The hot freshwater circuit is led into a well-insulated hot water tank, heated by engine or 220vAC immersion heater element
Fresh Water:
• 24vDC watermaker
Bilge Pumps:
• 24vDC electric bilge pumps with overrides at DC panel
TANKAGE
Fuel:
• 900 litres fuel capacity
• Filling of fuel tanks is through deck inlet.
• Fuel level monitoring
Fresh Water:
• 700 litres fresh water capacity
• Filling of water tanks is through deck inlet.
• Water level monitoring
Holding Tanks:
• Black water holding tanks
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT
• Raymarine instrument package consisting of:-
• 2x 16” Axiom chart plotter displays at chart table
• 2x 12” Axiom chart plotter displays at helm pedstals
• 3x Axiom 9” displays at mast
• Quantum radar scanner – mast mounted
• Autopilot
• GPS
• AIS
Communications Equipment:
• Raymarine VHF with DSC
DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT
Galley:
• Miele 220vAC electric cook top and oven
• Miele 220vAC microwave oven
• Frigonautica Stainless steel front opening fridge
• Frigonautica Stainless steel top opening fridge and freezers
• 220vAC dishwasher
• Twin sinks with thermostatic mixer tap
Heads:
• 24vDC electric heads
• Hot & cold pressurised water supplies with showers
Laundry:
• 220vAC washer/dryer
Air-Conditioning:
• Dometic 220vAC reverse-cycle air-conditioning system with 39,000 BTU output and VARC48 variable capacity chiller. Outlets in all cabin spaces.
Entertainment:
• TV
• Stereo system
ACCOMMODATION
Summary of Accommodation:
• Large living area midships, at the bottom of the stairs, and side windows with also a sizeable amount of full-height glass.
• Using a solution that is often seen on big boats, the kitchen is a bit further forward, below the mast, and is slightly lower.
• The entire bow area, with its a double cabin, bathroom and walk-in cupboard suite, is given over to the owner.
• Going aft, there are two traditional double rooms for guests
• There is a small room in the bow, with separate access, for the crew.
Accommodation Finish:
• The interiors feature bleached oak with a horizontal grain.
• The furnishings and internal bulkheads have been made using a lightweight sandwich technique.
• Light panelling and anthracite fabrics.
DECK EQUIPMENT
Rig:
• Hall Spars carbon fibre keel-stepped mast with three-sets of swept-back spreaders
• Hall Spars carbon fibre racing boom with racks
• Barmar sub-deck powered genoa furler
• Self-tacking tracks and additiona sheeting tracks for genoa
• Hydraulic vang
• Navtec stainless steel rod standing rigging
• Harken deck gear
Winches:
• 2x Harken self-tailing powered winches for all sheets and halyard controls
Sails:
• North Sails 3di Endurance fully-battened mainsail
• North Sails 3di Endurance self-tacking jib with vertical battens
• North Sails 3di Endurance staysail
• North Sails code 0
• North Sails A2 asymmetric
• One Sails 13.11 Warp-drive cruising mainsail
• One Sails 13.11 Warp-drive cruising self-tacking jib
• One Sails cruising A3 asymmetric
General:
• Solimar flush deckhead hatches
• Teak cockpit table with folding leafs
• Stainless steel pulpit and pushpits with teak seats
• Double guard lines and stainless steel stanchions.
Anchoring & Mooring:
• Lewmar 24vDC electric anchor windlass with remote control
• Fenders
Covers, Cushions & Canvas:
• Sprayhood with stainless steel frame
• Bimini with stainless steel frame
• Cockpit table cover
• Hatch covers
• Helm wheel covers
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
General note on safety equipment: Any safety equipment such as liferafts, Epirbs, fire extinguishers and flares etc. are usually personal to the current owner(s) and if being left on-board as part of the sale of a used vessel may require routine servicing, replacement, or changing to meet a new owners specific needs.