Marlow 70E MkII

Part of my job as a yacht reviewer is to bring our readers some of the obvious and not-so-obvious features of a yacht under examination.

Accomplished via a thorough walk-through of said yacht, I also spend time off the dock, putting the vessel through various speed runs and maneuvers (depending how much water is under the keel). Of course, occasionally there may be some negative things to point out so the reader can determine if they are minor inconveniences or true functional concerns. To that end, each yacht must be reviewed with an unbiased mindset but with an equally detective-like sense of sleuthing.

Enter a new Marlow Yachts 70E MkII. You may recall that I did review one of these a few years ago for Lakeland Boating magazine (February 2019), but here’s the rub: Each Marlow is different, designed by the owner in collaboration with the Marlow team. This allows an owner to put their own signature on their yacht, for their enjoyment and pride. Changes can be subtle or major. This 70E has both types.

Room to stretch

Quickly noticeable on the 70E is the amount of space on all levels, both inside and out. There’s no tripping on furniture in the beamy salon. With a plush, buttery, L-shaped Ultraleather sofa to starboard and twin swivel chairs to port, there’s easily room for a stout coffee table. Satin-finished Burmese teak cabinetry and woodwork is complemented by the light-colored fabrics chosen by this owner, as well as by the teak and holly flooring.

Opting for a desk forward of the sofa, the owners can get work done and telecommute from the comfort of their yacht. In these days of social distancing, why not have a little office onboard. With a cabinet for a printer and drawer to place a laptop, the area blends seamlessly with the rest of the décor and adjacent buffet cabinets.

With 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom, a 54-inch TV with Bose home theater, a wetbar, a wine cooler, a fridge, an ice maker and Ocean Air electric blinds on all windows, the salon is an inviting place to relax.

Feed me

With all that relaxing there must be food, and the upper galley is fully equipped to deliver any culinary delight. Opting for the U-shaped galley under the windshield layout, the owners benefit from a larger galley footprint and a spacious, split dinette table aft. If you enjoy cooking, this is the way to go.

Supporting the operation are a plethora of appliances, including six drawer-style Subzero 30- and 24-inch fridge/freezer drawers, a Wolf convection oven and four-burner induction cooktop with pot holders, a Wolf drawer-style microwave oven, a Fisher Paykel dishwasher and more. There’s an acre of Taj Royale Caesarstone eased-edge countertops for additional appliances like a coffee maker, as well as space for prep and plating meals. A large center island offers additional counter space and storage. There’s elbow room for multiple chefs, and commanding views through the three windshield panes and side windows. Electric blinds can be controlled for all windows by a single switch.

A drop-down 32-inch flat-screen TV is over the aft end of the island and swivels for a view from any location.

One neat feature is that all doors have screens. These aren’t flimsy panels that get Velcroed around the frame; they actually pull out from a hidden receptacle and run along their own track, making it a self-contained unit. When installed, Marlow adds teak trim over the frame to hide the apparatus. Removable bungs cover the frame’s screw holes for easy maintenance. This is a perfect solution for those days that warrant opening the doors. It keeps bugs, flies and dastardly gnats away. It’s rare to find screens on yachts, so this is a refreshing change.

Bunking down

Marlow designs the 70E in a four-stateroom model, if desired. The three-stateroom layout on my test boat allows for more space in the staterooms. For guests and owners, there’s access to the GE washer/dryer station in the foyer; it includes a storage cabinet above for suds and such with a pull-out shelf for sorting and folding clothes. Pocket doors keep the appliances out of sight but recess into the cabinet during operation to keep the hallway passable.

Marlow knows how to outfit a yacht for extended cruising, as evident in the master stateroom. Not only is there a soft king bed on the centerline with a full walk-around, there’s plenty of drawers and hanging lockers for apparel and gear.

With ample ceiling, recessed and sconce lighting, the room can be dimmed or brightly lit. Add in ambient lighting from the four portholes, and the 6-foot, 8-inch headroom means you won’t feel like you’ve been banished to the brig. Take a break and enjoy the wall-mounted 50-inch flat-screen TV. The vanity table to port can easily double as another office area.

You know this is a hands-on owner as he had a Garmin display and plug-in VHF remote installed not only in the master, but on the aft deck, crew quarters and in the salon. This is so he can monitor his location and anchoring status and comms.

The full-beam his/her head is separated by a central shower. Tecma macerating heads are used throughout.
Guests can enjoy the VIP in the bow with a king berth and 32-inch TV, or the starboard room with twin bunks and a 28-inch TV. Each has an ensuite head with shower stalls.

Power up

One major enhancement is the propulsion package offered on this yacht. Dropping a pair of Caterpillar C32 V-12 engines producing 1,800 hp each gives the 70E hull an impressive top-end speed but also an efficient burn and range.

Our test boat cracked 31 knots wide open at 2350 RPM, so you know it has the speed when needed. Marlow expects another 1-2 knots with a retuning of the props, and I have no doubt. At 120,000 pounds, this hull easily gets up on top of the water, thanks also to the bow and longitudinal hull strakes. Cruise efficiently at 1700 RPM, 20.1 knots and 79 gph burn. At this speed, the 70E hull is on plane with an approximate range of 875 nm (depending on load). For the long hauls, dialing back to 8 knots will yield 2,751 nm range at 10 gph.

Marlow’s space planning allows for clutter-free access around each engine and a dedicated mechanical room that houses two Kohler 25 kW gensets and other systems.

At the con

Operation of the 70E is from the enclosed bridge. Twin Stidd helm seats flank the four Garmin multifunction screens that keep an eye on everything, and CAT engine displays, Quick gyro stabilization monitors, Lewmar thruster joysticks and VHF radios are on the dash. Overhead, the console houses switches, indicator lights, plus Naiad stabilizer controls. Exceptional ride quality and stability are due in part to the proprietary Velocijet strut keels and hull design.

From a social aspect, the bridge is a great gathering place, thanks to the corner L-settee and high-gloss teak table. Access to the lounge deck is via the aft or side doors, and offers tender storage (thanks to the Aritex 1600 davit), a lounge area, an Aritex 10-foot sunshade, a BBQ grill/fridge station and a freezer/storage cabinet.

Marlow met the owner’s needs by fabricating dedicated cradles in the upper railings for the Switlik life rafts. Marlow’s state of the art construction methods sport custom metal and woodworking expertise noted throughout their yachts.

The 70E looks great with the familiar flag blue Awlcraft hull and oyster white superstructure, and it complements the white bottom. Full walk-around, covered decks take you from the aft deck with dining table to the forward Portuguese bridge with center bench seat and table. Other niceties include four hull boarding doors, side deck wing doors, starboard aft deck day head that doubles as a shower, aft crew cabin, lazarette and storage space everywhere.

It’s evident that Marlow Yachts Owner David Marlow lives up to his motto: “Each one better than the one before.” This 70E MkII may be the best one yet.