Alexander Marine are pleased to have SOLD this late model 2017 Marlow Explorer 53.
She is hull number 15 in this popular series, and was specified with all the necessary goodies by an experienced yachtsmen for coastal exploration around Australia or beyond in safety and comfort. She is CE category A-rated to take on any voyage. Marlow Yachts combine traditional styling and sea-kindly practical designs with modern technology to create excellent cruising boats - the 53 model being yet another example. Indeed the Marlow construction method involves an airframe design philosophy, with the effect being to lower the overall height and center of gravity of each vessel (for greater passenger comfort) all the while maximising headroom.
Guests and crew would be welcomed onboard the boat via dual access doors across the stern. The vessel was equipped with a teak laid hi/lo platform which can be used for tender storage and was wonderful for swimming and diving directly off the boat.
The cockpit and side decks were also teak laid. Access to the boats lazerette, and forward through to her impressive engine room, is possible from a watertight centreline access door off the swim platform. At sea, access to the engine room is also possible from the lower deck to keep everyone safe - more about that later. Once in the cockpit you observed molded seating across the stern, which was full beam between the two access doors off the swim platform. The seating area could enjoy weather protection from the flybridge overhang which is well suited to our Australian climate. A height-adjustable teak cockpit table complemented the molded seating - add some deck chairs if you are entertaining a larger crowd - and you have an alfresco dining setting for eight people with an amazing view nice and close to the water. While still in the cockpit, to starboard against the saloon bulkhead you observed a docking station complete with throttles, bow and stern thruster controls, and for those gadget people, this Marlow 53 was also equipped with the Cummins Inboard Joystick docking system.
The side decks were also fitted with wing doors which could be closed off to provide further weather/wind protection in the cockpit. The cockpit flows nicely into the spacious saloon via two doors. The saloon and pilothouse level featured a timeless and flawless teak fit out. The saloon featured sisal floor coverings (loose laid over teak and holly floors should the new owner prefer) which offered a refined yet relaxed feeling underfoot. Large frameless glazing permit lots of light to flow in and for passengers to observe their surroundings at all times. The all-important wine fridge is just inside the saloon to port. A spacious L-shaped settee in beige upholstery was built-in to starboard, with two individual charcoal tub seats to port. A timber coffee table concealed two ottomans when not in use. A 40" flat-screen TV was built into the forward bulkhead of the saloon when called for. The boat was equipped with satellite television.
Moving forward from the saloon, up three steps, you arrive on the pilothouse level with features the galley to starboard, twin helm doors out onto each side deck, a settee and table to port, and a centreline helm station complete with a comfortable Stidd helm seat. Needless to say, the vision from the raised pilothouse is excellent, and the skipper will enjoy the well laid outspread of Raymarine touch screen MFD electronics along with Marlow's impressive presentation of the ship's systems across a broad overhead panel. It clear from the helm station this boat was intended to be cruised, and great effort has been made to assist the skipper interacting with his vessel by way of easy access to instrumentation & electronics.
Some highlights of the galley included the tiled floor, and a full-height French door Fisher & Paykel refrigerator (a real plus when you are living on board for extended periods of time). Otherwise, the galley was equipped with high-end Miele appliances as you would expect from a vessel of this quality. For improved flow and connection between the chef in the galley and the guests in the saloon and cockpit, this 53 was built as an open bulkhead arrangement.
Access to the lower deck accommodation via a staircase to starboard of the centreline helm station. Three guest cabins were featured on the lower accommodation level. A lighter maple timber was selected for this area of the boat. In the bow she featured a VIP cabin with an island queen bed. To port she featured a twin cabin with side-by-side single beds. The VIP & twin cabin shared a spacious tiled head featuring a huge opening screened porthole and complete with a separate shower stall. This bathroom also acted as the day head when entertaining short stay guests. Directly under the raised pilothouse the mid-master was a highlight of this layout. The athwarthships king-size bed offered excellent access around all sides of the bed. Large portlights offered good natural ventilation and light. There was plenty of storage. The tiled master head is to starboard and runs along the length of the cabin. Moving aft from the master cabin, you entered a very handy utility room. At sea to access to engine room, and in the event of trouble in the forward accommodation area, this passageway doubled as an emergency exit out to the stern of the boat.
The utility room was equipped with a front-loading Miele washing machine and separate Miele dryer, plus an additional Miele freezer. As we move further aft again out of the utility room we entered the gleaming engine room via a watertight door. It was an impressive space offering good access to all of the boats equipment - and there was a lot of equipment onboard! The full height engine room housed the boat's low hour Cummins QSM11 main engines, two Onan generators, her watermaker, and her Seakeeper 9 gyro stabilizer - the gyro being one of the ultimate cruising resources money could buy and providing stabilization at rest and importantly while stationery. Access to all of the equipment in the engine room was well thought out.
Further aft of the engine room the last space we enter is the lazerette which then opened out on the swim platform. A great space in which to store all the necessary cruising equipment one ends up carrying!! Back in the pilothouse, to port, a staircase took you up six steps to the open flybridge. The flybridge helm station featured two Stidd helm chairs and generally offered excellent vision for the skipper and navigator every which way you look. Setup as an additional entertaining space, under the protection of a stylish GRP hardtop, the flybridge amenities included an L-shaped settee and GRP table to starboard. Running athwartships behind the L-shaped seating was a GRP module that featured a BBQ, sink, drinks refrigerator, and ice maker.
Aft of the hardtop was a huge sun lounging space (and or storage area for cruising equipment or water toys such as kayak's and SUP's). This area could easily carry the vessel's tender (or a second tender) with the addition of a flybridge crane - for ease of operation, the primary tender storage on this 53 was configured as being on the boats hi/lo platform. Access via a molded staircase from the flybridge down to the cockpit, and vice-versa, which was perfect if you are wet and or otherwise don't want to use the internal staircase from the pilothouse.
In summary the Marlow 53 was a fantastic cruising platform, being large enough and suitably well equipped to do some serious miles while being small enough to owner-operate and featuring a low maintenance exterior. Her walk around decks and Portuguese bridge completed a well thought out, very compelling, late model cruising package.
Disclaimer: Images displayed in this listing are sistership photos for illustrative purposes and may contain equipment & components not included in the sale and offering by the vendor. All specifications in this presentation are provided for information only and particulars herein are obtained from sources believed to be correct, but not guaranteed.
