The Amazing Evolution Of The Max Cruise 44 Catamaran Revealed! (MJ Sailing - Ep 323)
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- What changes would you make if a catamaran designer let you make tweaks to your new boat?
We're back with a new video, and this time, with something a little more interesting than us touching up spots in our primer. (Which we've learned after talking to a lot of people, show up WAY LESS on camera than they do in person.)
This week we've made the trip out to the Max Cruise factory in Vietnam to to a tour of the yard. One of the largest reasons for that visit, you'll see in next week's video when we reveal the production of their new 48 and 55 ft catamarans. But before we can get to those, we thought we'd show you the amazing evolution of the 44 - the same boat we're building!
In person we've only seen hulls 04 and 06, which both launched in the summer of 2022. And while some changes made to each of these have been at the request of each particular owner, there has been a progression of staples that are making their way onto each new hull.
One of the big things we can relate to is the raised helm and surrounding areas, as we're busy building out ours and can take a lot of great ideas from it. Another is to take away the island sitting at the sill of the cockpit, and replace it with a comfortable L shaped settee and permanent table.
Specific to this hull, the owner has asked for extra storage inside each of the aft bunks, and we see this becoming a popular request on future hulls. Then there are things such as adding veneer to the major bulkheads as well as painting the cabin sides, which we're doing similar things to, but are at that point just a matter of aesthetics and owner's taste.
Take a look through and tell us which changes you like the best, or any suggestions of what you would ask for if this were to be your boat.
We hope you enjoy!
Thank you SO MUCH to all our Patrons for your continued support. Without your help, these videos, And This Build, would not be possible.
Much love,
Jessica, Matt & Georgie
Max Cruise Website: maxcruisemarin...
Contact Terry: terry@maxcruisemarine.com
(Tell him we sent you!!)
Amazon wish list:
www.amazon.com...
Matt, your complete frustration over their ability to fair a perfect line is endearing. These MaxCruise boats are amazing, but I have to admit I have a special place in my heart for your boat. Something about following along over the past years makes it special. Thanks for allowing us to live vicariously through you both!
Max Cruise couldn't ask for better ambassadors for their products! Nice job M & J!
Agreed.
Half million USD Club.
_SO_ frustrating when one is either confronted with an idea previously not considered - and too far down the line to include, or - when someone does something you were planning and steals all your valor!
A general anesthetic every week for a year wouldn't be enough to claw back all the sleepless nights I've spent staring into the dark visualizing detailed plans.
_If you find yourself going through Hell, keep going!_ ~ Winston Churchill
It's very interesting to see how they have changed as more boats are produced. I like the pocket door, rather than the lift up door.
We really like the option of that as well - the only drawback is that to do so the doors need to be thinner and therefore lose a bit of strength.
Very beautiful 😍🌸
Matt I respect your frustration on the fiberglass work. I have done my share of bodywork on metal (car restoration) to the point where at my old age my fingerprints are pretty bad, LOL. If this is really bugging you find an expert you guys can hire and help you get the finish work down. I am sure your marina could find you somebody, heck I suspect you could ask around at the local body shops and locate the go-to Corvette shops that have a good reputation. Might be able to point you to an older retired guy with the time and skills you want to learn...and a yen to keep his hands in the game a bit., and help you get another set of eyes on the trouble areas.
You guys have the basics down, we are talking about the final glazing and sanding....also...as you well know "bodyworking" a flat panel is just as frustrating, or more, than doing a fender that is a series of compound curves.
Just a thought...from a feller that has wore out a lot of long boards and DA's and compressors in the past 45 years.
Fantastic video and wonderful to see the evolution of these great sailing catamarans, each hull just gets better and better! The finish on these latest models are beautiful and the design of these cats ticks all the right boxes! Well done Maxcruise and MJ ❤
Must be a great boost in your energy levels towards the project when you see such a similar design finished out and appreciate what the finish line will look like. She is going to be gorgous guys hang in there you are one heck of a lot closer then you were before you started! Kinda cool to see both of your faces fully rather then 3/4 covered by a mask and covered in dust!! LOL, 😂
I'm quite surprised you haven't gone for a washing machine given that you have the space and can, arguably, carry the weight without any significant issues ... surely the voltage requirements, whatever they are, can be overcome by your choice of machine or transformer etc?
I lived off-grid for several years and by far my biggest issue with the lifestyle was doing the laundry!
It was never a concern for Jess and I. We have always been able to find a wash and fold place whenever we have needed. We just carried enough clothes and sheets for a month between visits.
@@MJSailing Fairy Nuff - a month between visits is probably the top end of what you might require - or more than enough for any crossing of an ocean - assuming that you would drop in at eg Tahiti and Tonga, or similar, when crossing the Pacific. Most Atlantic crossings seem to be done within 4 weeks.
Perhaps the bigger constraint is on lifestyle - island hopping in the Carribean, or Greek islands etc where you have to factor in a day's stop for laundry
Very excited for you both, I like the headlining idea and design of the sliding doors.
Great job showcasing the Max Cruise Marine build. I love their hybrid build. Just like you guys, the hybrid was critical to my purchase decisions. I appreciate your commentary perspective on the various customer desires and choices. Very good video MJ.
The storage cabinets in the guest cabin look so good. I wonder if someone had to spend as much time in there as you did Jess. Those things were one of the heart breakers. I also would like to say that you clean up very nicely Jess, it's not often we get to see that side of you. 🙂
"You clean up very nicely Jess, it's not often we get to see that side of you." Agreed Jess is a very pretty woman, Matt's a very lucky guy in many various ways! 😊
I understand the fixation over getting the perfect crisp-looking line, but is it worth the time and effort? Maybe not. I would instead fill that line with fairing compound to connect the 2 surfaces with a slightly more generous radius. That way any geometric imperfections would be unnoticeable. Maybe you could make a quick custom shaped profile cut in a piece of sheet aluminum that would serve to tool the fairing compound consistently to the desired shape.
Great update on past, present and future. You have some room and time for your build.
Exactly! We're really stoked to see the changes in the overhead of the bridge deck. It's something we had been contemplating for awhile, but didn't know just how to achieve on our build. Now we do!
It will be interesting to see which interior and exterior modifications you chose to adapt to your build. Storage space, sliding, fixed or bi-fold
doors. Accessories, colors, space utilization.
Considering your plant area will be on the galley side I suggest a nice herb garden. Nothing beats having fresh herbs at hand.
That's the plan!! Time to get a green thumb!
@@MJSailing 🌱🌿
I may have missed the installation on hull 14, but didn't see a navigation chart panel at the helm, or even a potential placing for one. I cannot emphasise enough how useful a chart panel with AIS at the helm station is, particularly in crowded shipping areas and in fog.
Take a look at the curves and furnishing finishings on the HH44 over at gone with the Wynns. It might not take you a lot of time to modernize your design and incorporate some curves - instead of the hard angles that dominate the design of your final salon. Bedrooms are less important, but you will be more comfortable with strong finishings in the salon. (I hate the wooden doors, but that's one opinion...) Hidden LED multicolor is also a must - realizing that its a little more time in wiring and hiding. Are you lighting the underwater as well?
I thought the HH44 was all squared corners and flat panels. Are there curves in the interior?
@@MJSailing yes its salon and cabinetry design includes more curves - I am thinking of the nav station connection to the sofa at this moment. There are not too many features like this, but enough to make it look modern and well thought through.
The flowing form from the nav to settee was in the original design, but it takes up space (even those 6"+ matter) and isn't comfortable - unless laying against it- as an armrest. So they took it out in the final design. But I do agree the HH looks more modern and has a gorgeous interior.
Seems customer service is a prime reason to go for a Maxx Cruise cat. It’s good to know they take care of their customers. You’re going to go back home to ideas overload! Stay safe!
Don't believe everything you see on UA-cam.
@@JustynaColumbia Matt and Jess are Legit.
ok, I see the mini washer
uploaded 3 minutes ago? I'm early!
You're just in time!! 😁
This is my comment.
Mine right below😅
Thanks for both of your comments! 😍
Did you allocate space for Georgia's litter box, water dish, and food dish?
Yes! We're making a spot in the tall storage cabinet of the owners berth her litter box, where she'll have access in and out from the steps. ☺️
Can you have the company allow you to borrow one of their employee to come and help you with the lines?
Hahaha, they're also so tired with how long this fairing is taking us, that I think they would if they could!
@@MJSailing Better yet, find out what is there secret is to make it look so so good.
Moulds. 😉
You and I both.
If ur already running lines to the hybrid engine, why not throw the battery in there and wire it up with the rest?
Will you guys become boat brokers next?
Hahaha, I could maybe see Matt doing that waaaay down the line, but first we want to enjoy cruising the boat we're building. 😉
I haven't seen the washing machine yet
Are you going with 110 volts? Sure that is a good idea, most of the stuff you'll by that breaks, in the rest of the world, like the dishwasher, that will be 220-240 and 50 hz? (disregarding the other advantages with 220, of course)
That's been a debate we have had since the beginning. Our last boat was 110v also, and while we only once ran into the issue with a broken shop vac and needing to import a 110v version to the UK, it wasn't fun. But it's also not easy getting anything 230v in the USA. Just for my current sanity, we have gone 110b and future me will have to deal with finding replacements later on.
@@MJSailing Ok, I suppose it depends on the expected time frames, eventually everything will break. I am also thinking that you may eventually want to have much more convenience electronics on this boat than the former. Just from an outside the US-perspective, it is a bit hard to see that working from *my* sanity's perspective. :-)
The good thing is with wiring size appropriate for 110v, I can easily switch to 230v at a later time with just a swap of outlets and inverter.
@@MJSailing Quite true.
And couple of kilos of extra stiff wiring and transformers have never hurt anyone. ;-) (shameless appeal to the performance considerations, a better joke would be that they stiffen up the boat :-) )
Just get finished and start cruising!!
We have the rest of our lives to go cruising, this is the only time we'll ever build a boat by ourselves and we want to be proud of our craftsmanship. 😍⛵
@@MJSailingan extra 4 - 6 months on a build of this size is nothing. One thing you don't want to do is be finished but have a list of "I wish we had of". Your commitment to doing it right the first time will pay off over the years of enjoyment you will get in sharing your accomplishment with friends and sailing colleagues. Totally understand the commitment to perfection. 😊
Correction, nothing is to complicated for you guys. 😜😜👍👍
Favorite comment, lol. 😍
The boats looks really nice, however a few points on dtails;
Mattrasses should be made in standard sizes and not hve corners impeding into the rectangle of the bed are. Think No4 had a dangerous localion of the cooktop, just at the back of the saloon setee. Non of the cooktop had any opening hatches above thhem to extract fukes and heat.
The engine under the bunck is a disaster for three reasons, one any engine room fire would be inside the hull and difficult to put out without risk of POB.
Number two, the engine bay will be hot and it will be uncomfortable to sleep in while under way, engine running.
Number three, the insulation looked inferior and there was no gasket in the perimeter of the hatch, maby that is coming later and is of a fire proof type.
Good luck going forward on your projects, I wish you did not spend all the time on fairing and making all these minor details so important, you could have used a non flamable fabric instead.
The original plans called for a standard queen mattress, but once engineering got involved, there was no moving the structural beam in the area. I agree that would have been a huge money saver on store bought mattresses.
I disagree about the engines. They need to be forward to keep the weight centered. And it's the only way to have shaft drives instead of sail drives. The heat is addressed by proper ventilation.
Well done, Monica. Grubby cowards. It is the official Australian flag for now. Great to meet an Australian patriot. There should be more, but we are being overrun by others who want the country to be something else. Well done Monica. 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
I see all these benches molded into place, and then? Folks are stuck with a setup...
Flooring, like in a cargo airplane, offers a set of locks & rail guards, that allow to move around your furniture.
Each furniture needing the matching set lock... Floor needs a set of removable tiles to customize the setting.
I know, I'm a genius, there is no need to point it out :)
Modular would be nice, but these furniture pieces are structural and add to the rigidity of the boat. So they do need to be fiberglassed in place.
@@MJSailing I wasn't sure, and hopped not, but if this is the case, this is scary.
(Back to parley that had over tight its rigging + the floor sandwich that wasn't tight, i.e. flapping around.)
But a bench, which adds structural strength, is a scary fact.
If those things were properly designed, the backbone boat's skeleton should do the work.
Design and cosmetic should be here for comfort.
The opposite is true. All components should add to the rigidity of the structures. The issue with Lagoon is that all their furniture, shelves and everything is modular and doesn't contribute to the strength of the boat. It's like they removed the bones of a body and are just left with the skin supporting it all.
This isn't a catamaran thing, it's how good monohulls are done too. For those it's usually plywood furniture, but the best ones still glass all those into the hull for the extra strength this gives the boat. Cheaper, mass produced boats just screw them in place which does nothing
The newer boats will be slicker looking with new liners, and ceiling panels and the boat will be substantially heavier.
Actually hull 8 through to hull 14 have gained no more weight if anything they has lost construction weight, for example the ceiling panels are 38 kg lighter,
Plus the newer boats are using molds on the interior, taken from hull 04. And since hull 04 was the first, it was finished off with a lot more fairing compound, adding extra weight to it. Unfortunately, as amateur builders, something we have to deal with on our own build.
Nice boats but i really dont like the idea of an Ice deisel engine under the bed layout even with insulation...
but unles you go the series generator, batterys, hybrid and twin electric motors route, the layout though demands it... 🤔
With a seperate genset you can stick it wherever theres space away from the sleeping areas possibly easier to get at and the only connection being the wires.
Efficient small light APU/gensets are on the way and depending on the motor design easy enough to pass through a standard deck hatch .. as they dont drive the boat they can run at one speed on different fuels and tend to contain about 50parts typically.
Check out the liquid piston motor and the Durham University 🇬🇧 opposed inline shuttle piston generator.
We specifically avoided a series hybrid system as we wanted the redundant systems that work independently of each other. Power the boat by diesel or electric.
@@MJSailing
I understand .... We are at a transitional point.. its just unfortunate that it's usually the Diesel engine and or the fuel supply that seems to cause the most problems for the sailing channels I follow. That's 30-40.
Take a look at those two designs and see what you think the implications will be . Theres also whole new battery techs arriving in years not decades given the way AI is being used to do the bulk sorting and combinations for investigation. The new chemistries are notably cheaper greener and more stable ...like Na... the best of the first gen Na are already overlapping with Li Phosphate tech. The US happens to sit ontop of 80% of the world's known Na ash . But salt deposits are common globally as is salt water but the other key chemistries involve Sulpher and Aluminium...
If the combustion engine can be run on a range of none fuels then it may extend its use but the aviation guys are working on light wt high power H2 fuel cells .🤔 To drive electric motors for reliability and the ability to regen under some flight patterns.
great vid what is competion date of your cat
_Saturday._
We're looking at a summer 2025 launch.
@@MJSailingwow not really that far away get at er! 😊
The sharp metal handles on those cupboards are entirely unsuitable for life at sea!
Hey guys I haven't heard you say what you're doing for sure about the color of the wood trim and doors and stuff but please don't use that orange color of stain they used on the production model. I just really think it cheapens the whole look of the boat 🎉😅😅🎉
We're using a riff cut white oak as trim on our hull. ☺️
Go ahead, convince me she said no to the washing machine!
If anyone were to break down and get a washing machine, it would be Matt. 😜
@@MJSailing ok, so just run the utilities so when Matt comes around you can say it was always part of the plan !
You should ask to see how they are finishing and fairing that confound angle you are both so frustrated about. Learn from the experts!!!
They taught us on our very first visit in 2022, we just haven't been able to master it, lol.
@@MJSailing There is always the option of covering this confounded angle with a piece of wood? trim in spite of the extra weight such a thing might add...... LOL
No nav table. It would be wise to learn how to navigate, by the old ways.
Electronics can go down and will go down. I’d also consider the state of
the world.. it’s very questionable with all of the latest electronic warfare.
I could go on, but no one wants to even think about it.
You should definitely have all of your systems, at least Navigation, EMP proofed.
We'll still have all the electronics that would normally sit at a nav station, the only thing that has disappeared is the table itself. And should we need to revert back to using paper charts.....there's a huge dining room table directly next to the extra seating the nav table was replaced with. 😉
Just wash clothes on the wavy wasboard walls. 😂
Damn... That's true but painful :)
at this rate your boat will never be finished.
Don't worry about it. 😉
My father also said don't buy early models of anything. I did love your rig but this that much bettet.
Luckily for us, we can still make *some* of these modifications. But unfortunately I think we're past the extra cabinets in the aft bunks. 😢
@@MJSailing Other than the sliding door, what features of the newest Max Cruise boat will you be considering / adapting to your boat?
We'll be using an accent color on the two main bulkheads of the bridge deck (paint though, instead of veneer), and painting the uprights, but probably gray instead of black.
Our raised helm will also more or less look like this when we finish it. Much more than the previous hulls anyway.
One of the interesting things is this owner decided to go with half height cabinets in the outer owners hull because they saw us do it while building out our furniture.
Would rather watch you working on your boat than ‘visiting” others. At this rate It will be a few more years. I’m assuming you get paid for showing off these other boats.
No, we're not getting paid for this at all. Working 7 days a week on our own boat, it was a nice break to get away from our own build. We get first hand information from the yard on how things look, feel, and function. So in the end, these visits save us time as we don't have to do as much trial and error on our own boat.
@@MJSailing I stand corrected. Thanks for your amazing reply and ignore my criticism.
Okay this is all god to know but you kinda done this with other boats newer / I would like to see you working on your own boat not showing someone else’s boat so I’m going to skip through this video until next week
You may want to stay away fir the next few weeks then - we have one more yard tour and two sailing episodes before we get back to our own boat. See you again in May!
What a horrible boat everything is so out of place and wrong poor quality and pure ugliness all cabinets stick out sharp odd corners everywhere nav station with no space for a plotter you seriously put the auto bilge switches facing your face you practically never use them the inverters will be noisy close to a bed the fridges will over heat and burn there gas the exhaust will over heat on the engine as it’s being called after wards and if you have a 30 horse power engine your boats only going to go 3 knots especially if your batteries are low and I can prove it
So if anyone has 900,000 aud and buys this good luck
While no one has mentioned it.... it kinda looks that we could be starting a family while getting ready to Splash in the water once again. just the way J is carrying weight above the hips looking from the rear when she is in the position..?? Prego???
Damn dude. You sound like you're a real lady killer lol. You comment on every womans body like that?😂
🤔 I'm actually speechless. Might need to consult @mishabrown for the right words here.
WT Actual F?! (1) Who actually wonders this? (2) Of the vanishingly small number of people who do, what tiny percentage of them would find it appropriate to post it?
The intellect scale must be pretty low if you think it was a good idea to openly comment on a woman's body to the point where you're asking if she's "preggo". Last week it was lewd comments about her tits and how blokes had a right to comment on them, now it's comments about being pregnant.
I thought it was supposed to be "manners maketh the man" but apparently not.
Her outfit is just baggy. Calm down.
This is an excellent catamaran at a reasonable price, but it is not a full carbon construction.