Overview
The 440 Gourmet Cruiser is optimized to meet the needs of boaters seeking a cruiser to serve as a luxurious, floating country house or cottage—one capable of 40 mph—and with features borne of obvious time spent cruising. Marex applies a user-focused approach to boating, inspired by an ownership and management team consisting of devoted cruisers.
It is available with the buyer’s choice of inboard, sterndrive or Volvo Penta IPS (which we tested) for power.
Engines
You can order a Marex 440 with your choice of three different engine configurations. The most affordable option consists of twin Volvo Penta D6-440 diesel DPI sterndrives. Our test boat featured twin Volvo Penta IPS 650 diesels. In addition, a third version with shaft drive (V-drive) and twin Volvo Penta D6-480 is offered.
We tested it with full tanks and recorded a top speed of 41 mph. The 440 planed easily delivering cruising speeds between 28 and 34 mph with noise levels averaging a low 69 decibels.
Interior and Accessories
The Marex 440 is available in two versions, the Gourmet Cruiser we tested, and the Scandinavia, debuting in the US as we go to press. Both feature a cockpit that can rightly be called an exterior salon, since they offer plush seating, sun and rain protection from an overhanging top with a sliding canvas insert, and further weather protection from Marex’s unique, and easily deployed cockpit enclosure. Aboard the Scandinavia version, find two almost equal-sized salons outside and inside, separated by a sliding glass door. The Gourmet Cruiser offers a larger U-shaped galley and bar. An electrically retractable window in combination with a sliding door provides a seamless connection between outside and inside. The lavishly equipped galley features an L-bench and a U-bench with Corian top and is equivalent to the kitchen in a well-equipped Nordic villa.
The entire aft cockpit-salon consists of a huge seating area around a solid, lowerable folding table around which 10 to 12 people can comfortably dine around.
Sliding doors port and starboard at the helm grant access to wide side decks with their good handholds. This makes it easier for a couple to handle a boat this size, and its inclusion evidence of Marex’s boat-savvy philosophy. Aft, the tremendous, teak-covered platform is nicely arranged for swimming and as another entertaining space. Integrated LED lighting gives a subdued and elegant atmosphere.
On the bow, find a substantial sun bed and, in the Nordic tradition, the Marex 440 sports an open-bow pulpit, the better to pull up to a rocky shore in that region’s many natural harbors. Smart details like this are evident everywhere. For example, a whopping 10 bollards ring the deck to facilitate tying up in any situation.
Aboard the Gourmet Cruiser, we found comfortable seating for four people indoors in the direction of travel. Here, the back cushion is raised sufficiently from the seat cushion to provide space to stretch out on the bench if a person wants to lie down comfortably. In front of the double passenger seat, there is a solid and elegant folding table in teak.
The focus on details is also expressed in the driver’s environment. The entire helm section, including the window pillars, is matte gray to minimize glare. At the helm there is room for two 16-inch screens and all levers and control panels are placed logically and easily accessible. The console adjusts electrically in and out for maximum comfort and easier access via the side door.
Both editions are also available in versions with two or three cabins, all with large hull windows. We tested the three-cabin version, which has two separate cabins located amidships and a main cabin forward. The two-cabin version has a large cabin amidships with a transverse double berth. All versions come with two large and well-equipped head compartments. Another sign of design experience: Both heads and showers afford roominess for a large-size male.
How We Tested
- Engines: Twin 480 hp Volvo Penta IPS 650
- Drive/Prop: IPS/T5 propsets
- Gear Ratio: 1.853:1 Fuel Load: 275 gal. Water on Board: 100 gal. Crew Weight: 550 lb.
High Points
- The bow shape is flat, or snubbed, at its top, and the pulpit is open, to allow easy disembarkation when moored in natural harbors or any bow-to situation.
- Your choice of power: IPS, sterndrive or V-drive inboard.
- Boasting more teak than the Burma Road, this cruiser will awaken the yachtsmen in many buyers.
Low Points
- The helm is tight while standing at it, even with the electrical adjustment of the control panel.
- We’d like to see a few more inches of space between the wheel and the seat
Toughest Competitors
A similar-size cruiser available with a choice of Volvo Penta IPS or diesel Aquamatic sterndrive power is the Beneteau Gran Turismo 45 ($1,205,390 with twin IPS 600s and packed with niceties such as cockpit air-conditioning and a hydraulic swim platform). It doesn’t offer the Marex’s deep, wide side decks, but it possesses a larger cabin as a result. Another boat you might consider is the Nimbus 405 Coupe (about $800,000), which offers access to deep side decks from the helm and is inboard-powered, so it’s a few knots slower than boats powered by IPS.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $1,437,366 (with test power; well-equipped) |
| LOA: | 44’9” |
| Beam: | 14’0” |
| Draft (max): | 3’3” |
| Displacement (approx.): | 28,660 lb. |
| Transom Deadrise: | 13 degrees |
| Bridge Clearance: | 12’11” |
| Max. Cabin Headroom: | 6’9” |
| Fuel Capacity: | 314 gal. (2 x 157 gal.) |
| Max Horsepower: | 960 |
| Available Power: | Twin Volvo Penta diesel sterndrives, inboards or IPS to 960 hp total |
Speed, Efficiency, Operation
Marex Boats – Vettre, Norway; marex.no
