We had a very, very short shopping list when we started looking for our ‘liveaboard together’ boat: we wanted an Amel Super Maramu. Done. We weren’t looking at any other boat. We’ve both spent years as liveaboards (both being single and as a couple) and we’ve owned, seen and have been on many different sailing yachts. So we knew exactly what we wanted – and didn’t want.

Dealbreakers for our shortlist

Very well built – like a tank, so to speak – and actual, proven seaworthiness
Headroom for Martijn – he’s approx. 6’3″ / 1.95m and when you live aboard your boat fulltime, headroom really matters
Center cockpit. Best layout for us, and a well protected cockpit
No teak decks. Not glued, not screwed, not new, not old – just no teak decks, period
Easy to handle with just the two of us (as we’re getting older too)
Decent availability in the EU (to avoid having to pay VAT and import rights)

A very short shortlist

With just the headroom and no teak deck dealbreakers, our shortlist became very short. Add to that the ‘built like a tank’ dealbreaker and you end up with a handful of boats at best. Our shortlist came down to pretty much Amel only.

We had the Mango (53.00ft / 16.15m, first built in 1980), Maramu (45.28ft / 13.80m, first built in 1978), Santorin (45.93ft / 14.00m, first built in 1989) and the Super Maramu (52.49ft / 16.00m, first built in 1989) written down. The choice between those models was a question of personal preferences and availability. All things considered, the Super Maramu quickly made it to number one on our shortlist.

Amel build quality

What, exactly, do we mean by ‘built like a tank’? In case of our Amel Super Maramu, it’s features like our four full-height watertight bulkheads (two are fitted with watertight interior doors), that were bonded in place with the hull still in its mold.

The hull is solid, handlaid fiberglass of bi-axial cloth layers including the skeg and stub keel. The deck is cored with Balsatek (except where hardware is installed). To join the deck and hull, Amel placed the deck on the hull while the hull is still in the mold and fiberglassesed the hull from the in- and outside to the deck — creating a single structure.

Molded faux teak decks

From a (long) distance, it can look like the Amel has real teak decks; she doesn’t. An original Amel has faux teak. In the older models like ours, it is colored gelcoat that was purposefully applied a little too thick, with a fine texture molded into the faux boards to make it look more like real teak. The striping is done by hand (!). It is as good a non-skid solution as a real teak deck, without any of the long and short term maintenance issues.

Our perfect liveaboard boat

We were both liveaboards for years before we met, and between us we’ve owned and seen a great many different sailingboats. For us, the Amel Super Maramu is the perfect liveaboard. We had a list of wishes and dealbreakers, and she obviously ticks all the dealbreaker boxes. But also many of the ‘wishes’, which is a friendly way of saying ‘things we’d really love to have, but are willing to compromise on’.

She’s actually a lot more focussed on comfort than we were, but somehow that’s pretty easy to get used to ;) Did we set out to find a boat with a washing machine, watermaker, microwave and airco? Nope. Did we write down electric furling and winches (with a manual overrride, by the way)? A generator? Again no, we did not. But we’re in our 50’s and we have little difficulty getting used to an easier life afloat.

How to find your perfect boat

Finding the most suitable boat for your future plans, budget and way of life is a very personal path. One size definately doesn’t fit all, and neither does one brand. And Amel is definately not a brand everybody loves or even likes. You either embrace everything that is an Amel, or you don’t. We are fine with whatever you feel and think about Amels and we’re very aware that our perfect fit can be somebody else’s nightmare.

The only advise I can give is to make a list of your own personal wishes (features and options you’d like to have but are willing to compromise on), dealbreakers (must-haves or walk away!) and have a very serious think about your budget as well – both the initial cost of buying your boat, the refit she’ll need soon after and the costs of maintaining and keeping her.