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Boats The Maxi knack ‘Swedish flair and superior performance’: Peter K Poland salutes the extensive range of Maxi boats designed by Pelle Petterson ention But the most prolific Swedish the Soling class; he skippered unusual for its era. A conventional Scandinavian- builder and designer of cruising Swedish America’s Cup challengers saloon, aft galley and separate built cruisers in yachts followed a slightly different twice; and he won the 6 Metre forecabin (with WC located under general and path. Indeed, the first world-beating World Championships in 6s of his the berth) gave plenty of space, Swedes in design drawn by Pelle Petterson own design. Latterly, he received while its DLR of 150, ballast ratio of particular, and didn’t even float. He studied the King’s Medal for his outstanding 49% and sporty SA/displacement Msolid stalwarts like Hallberg-Rassys, design at the Pratt Institute in New contributions as a sailor and boat ratio of 18.15 ensured above- Najads and Malös spring to mind. York, and then – while a student of designer, and most of these boats average all-weather performance Such quintessentially Swedish Pietro Frua – he drew the most go by the name of Maxi. for a volume-built family cruiser. craft, with substantial displacement- successful sports car ever built by As one would expect from a And how did the market react to-length ratios and elegant Volvo. Called the P1800, it even designer who collects awards for to this trendsetting yacht? An interiors with rich joinery and blue featured on the TV series The Saint a sports car and wins yacht races astonishing 3,900 were sold. upholstery, evoke dreams of blue starring Roger Moore. galore, the Petterson-designed Petterson hit the bullseye with his water voyaging. And all have found However, competitive sailing Maxis don’t resemble the heavier first Maxi. When asked 30 years great favour down the years with was Petterson’s real passion. He and more traditional HRs, Najads later how he viewed the Maxi 77, cruising sailors, even if they cost twice represented Sweden in the and Malös. They combine Swedish Petterson modestly replied: ‘I see more than volume production Olympics in the Star class, winning flair with superior performance and that many boats seem to be well cruisers from France and Germany. silver and bronze medals; he won volume production methods (at cared for and that the owners World Championship medals in least in the early days). And – as enjoy their sailing in it. That it still with other Scandinavian brands – seems to fill its need is clear when there’s not a bilge keel in sight. owners tell of how happy they are ABOUT THE AUTHOR with their boats.’ Peter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m Hitting the bullseye Larger (the 8.7m/28ft 6in Maxi (25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30 In 1972, the Maxi 77 (7.8m/25ft 6in 87) and smaller (the 6.8m/22ft 4in years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is LOA) set the ball rolling. Its transom- Maxi 68) models soon followed. now a freelance journalist. hung rudder, bulbed fin keel and Both shared the 77’s looks, the sleek full-width coachroof were distinctive blue flash on the 24 Practical Boat Owner 589 Summer 2015 • www.pbo.co.uk Pelle Petterson’s Maxi boats galley situated aft on either side Maxi 95: available of the companionway steps. second-hand Once again, Petterson went for from £10,500 a moderate DLR of 222 and high-ish SA/disp ratio of 15.49 to ensure sharp performance. Maxi 95 owner Richard Shardlow says: ‘It’s very spacious, certainly living up to the nickname of the Swedish Tardis. We have a cockpit enclosure that means the rear cabin is very useable even in inclement weather while in port. This gives privacy to guests. Would I buy her again? A very definite yes!’ Another owner, Rob Watt (cruiser captain at Greenwich Yacht Club), adds: ‘My wife Kim and I were looking for a good boat with comfortable, spacious accommodation that the two of us could handle without any problems. I also wanted something that could hold its own in club races.’ A 95 fitted the bill, and as Rob observes, ‘she’s an excellent boat, handles well in all conditions and is a good club racer. When we are on our four-week summer cruise the rear cabin becomes Kim’s wardrobe and dressing room. The one problem was leaking windows: the design is “of the era” and they tended to flex. Maxi 1050: available They have now been sealed and second-hand then bonded with Sikaflex.’ from £70,000 Sailing Scenes Runaway success The 1977 Maxi 84 (8.5m/28ft) was another runaway success, and around 1,350 were built. The Petterson Maxi recipe evolved with Sailing Scenes a slightly wider beam (2.9m/9ft 8in), slightly lower ballast ratio (37.5%) coachroof and coaming sides, and and more substantial DLR (268). Maxi 84: available good performance. The smaller 68 The layout remained practical and second-hand boasted a ballast ratio in excess traditional with amidships heads from £4,500 of 40%, a DLR of 205 and SA/ and L-shaped galley aft. A Volvo displacement ratio of 14.99. These saildrive provides powered push, figures, combined with a fin-keel and it remains a marvellous cruiser draught of 4ft 3in, gave sailing to this day. qualities that ‘same era’ owners of A subscriber to an online forum similarly-sized bilge-keelers like recently asked: ‘I’m looking at a Westerlys and Snapdragons could Maxi 84 which seems well specc’d only dream of. In total, 1,295 Maxi and is a good price. Has anyone 68s were sold. any experience of these boats? We The 1976 Maxi 95 (9.7m/32ft are looking for something that will LOA) introduced another ‘first’ for go well round the cans but will also Petterson – a separate twin-berth cope with west of Scotland stern cabin and a centre cockpit – cruising.’ One respondent replied: but these new characteristics were ‘I have had two 84s, one in the UK not allied to a heavy long-keeler and now another in Norway. It’s a (as on similar-sized early HRs). safe family boat: good in a blow, The sleek 95 has a low easily sailed single-handed and coachroof, skeg-hung rudder and with lots of room inside. sharply raked fin keel. The engine ‘Fast? Yes, if you sail it right. I’ve lives well forward, placing its had 7, 8 and even 9 knots both weight low and in the centre of the up and downwind and won yacht to maximise stability and handicap regattas! The latest win minimise pitching. The saloon is was last year. Total ownership is comfortable and practical, with an more than 20 years.’ enclosed heads compartment and Another sailor replied: ‘The Maxi Sailing Scenes ➜ Practical Boat Owner 589 Summer 2015 • www.pbo.co.uk 25 Boats Maxi 999: available to buy second-hand from £29,000 Sailing Scenes 84 is about as close to the ideal Company to Hellenic Europe’, boat for the uses you describe in silver in the ‘Best Activity Holiday Maxi 33: available second-hand from £30,500 terms of pleasure per buck spent. Company’ category and bronze Not the fastest in light airs, but it’s in the ‘Best Family Holiday competitive in moderate winds Company’ category – now buys upwards. If there’s a good No3 fleets of brand-new yachts for its with the boat that can be sheeted flotillas. However, it still uses its inside the shrouds, it will point older Maxis as lead boats crewed really well in a blow and little by its employees. can touch it. The windward Amy Neilson (daughter of performance is useful and the founder and MD Barrie) says: ‘All boat will keep you out of trouble our lead boats are still Maxis, a due to its stiffness. Like all boats, mixture of 95s and 100s. They some will have issues, so caveat have been our lead boats since 1990 and are still going strong. We emptor applies!’ This particularly Sailing Scenes applies to elderly Volvo diesels. have bought a number since then Spare parts can be expensive. and each crew has added its own disp ratio of 17.5. The 9.4m/30ft us retired folks which would offer Maxi 84 owner Alan Jeans says: modifications over the years. 10in Maxi 100, introduced in 1982, effort-free coastal cruising. ‘I’ve owned my 84 Snowgoose for ‘They offer unrivalled solidity, followed a similar format with the ‘Before then I was a wooden- about six years. I have cruised and have excellent onboard addition of a fixed wheelhouse boat enthusiast, but there was extensively in the Clyde, the east storage room that is essential for ‘lid’ over the front of the cockpit. too much labour! I needed an coast of Ireland, the Irish Sea and carrying spare parts to keep our When he introduced the 8.3m/ easily-maintained GRP yacht North Channel including Rathlin flotillas running smoothly. These 27ft 3in Maxi Fenix 8.5 in 1981, with a well-crafted wooden Island, and up the west coast of models have a fantastic layout for Petterson changed to fractional rig interior, and found a Fenix with Scotland as far as Tobermory. I three crew members to live on for this performance fin-keel cruiser. a new engine and saildrive! bought the Maxi because I was board. The centre cockpit splits He also updated the styling.