From its humble beginnings in New Zealand to its rise as a builder of world-renowned racing and luxury cruising yachts, Marten Yachts carved a distinctive path in the marine industry. Founded by a visionary craftsman, the company became synonymous with cutting-edge composite construction and high-performance design, leaving an indelible mark on both the racing circuit and the bluewater cruising world.
The Origin Story
Marten Marine was founded in New Zealand in 1972 by Steve Marten. Steve Marten's journey into boat building began much earlier, as he lovingly crafted a 4-meter dinghy with his father in 1964. With a competitive sailing background, Marten brought a profound understanding of performance and craftsmanship to his burgeoning company. His vision was to push the boundaries of yacht construction, focusing on advanced materials and techniques to create vessels that excelled in both speed and structural integrity.
History and Evolution
Marten Marine quickly established an international reputation, particularly for its pioneering work in composite yacht construction. The company's expertise spanned a wide range, from opulent cruising yachts to high-stakes America's Cup contenders. By the mid-1980s, Marten Yachts was at the forefront of groundbreaking innovations in racing yacht construction.
Around 2000, Marten Yachts strategically shifted its focus, moving from primarily racing yachts to the production of high-performance cruising boats, aiming to create the "ultimate performance cruising boat." This pivot leveraged their race-bred technology into designs that offered both exhilarating sailing and comfortable living.
A significant corporate change occurred in late 2005 when Marten Yachts was acquired by Azzura Marine of Australia. Following the acquisition, production for Marten Yachts models, such as the Marten 49, moved to Azzura Marine's facilities in Coomera, Australia. However, the global economic downturn, coupled with a rising Australian dollar, created significant challenges for the luxury yacht building industry. By 2009, Azzura Marine's Nowra facility faced insolvency, and Marten Yachts itself reportedly went into voluntary liquidation around the same time.
Design Philosophy and Identity
Marten Yachts cultivated a reputation for being innovators in advanced yacht construction, particularly as pioneers in carbon fiber applications. Their core identity revolved around high performance, sophisticated design, and robust composite construction. This allowed them to build yachts that were both strong and lightweight, a crucial combination for speed and efficiency. Their designs aimed to translate race-winning technologies into luxury performance cruising yachts, blending speed with comfort and ease of handling.
Throughout its history, Marten Yachts collaborated with several celebrated naval architects and design houses. Notably, the iconic America's Cup challenger KZ1 was designed by the renowned New Zealander Bruce Farr. For their successful range of performance cruisers, including the Marten 49 and Marten 67, the company frequently partnered with Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design, a firm known for its high-performance sailing yacht designs. They also collaborated with Tripp Design on custom projects like the Sirona 62'.
Iconic Models and Legacy
Marten Yachts built a number of significant vessels that cemented its legacy:
- KZ1: Perhaps the most famous yacht built by Marten Marine was KZ1, known as the "Big Boat." This monohull was the New Zealand challenger for the 1988 America's Cup, designed by Bruce Farr. Though ultimately unsuccessful against Dennis Conner's catamaran, KZ1 remains an iconic symbol of New Zealand's yachting heritage and Marten Marine's advanced construction capabilities.
- Marten 49: After shifting focus, the Marten 49 emerged as a highly successful model. Designed by Reichel/Pugh, this performance luxury cruiser exemplified the company's new direction. Several Marten 49s were built and exported globally, finding homes with owners in Europe, the UK, and New Zealand. The model was praised for its blend of racing performance and cruising comfort, even winning races against purpose-built IRC racing boats.
- Marten 67: Another notable Reichel/Pugh design, the Marten 67 was conceived as a high-performance, stylish, and simple-to-sail bluewater cruising yacht. Its construction utilized full carbon fiber and featured a lift keel, showcasing Marten's commitment to advanced materials and flexible design. The Marten 67 aimed to set a new benchmark in the cruiser-racer market.
- High-Profile Racing Yachts: While specific build details are less documented, Marten Yachts' reputation also extended to building famous racing yachts like Kingfisher and Mari Cha III, which further underscored their expertise in high-performance custom projects.
The Builder Today
As of the current understanding, the original Marten Yachts operations under Azzura Marine ceased around 2009, coinciding with Azzura Marine's financial difficulties and Marten Yachts' reported liquidation. While the martenyachts.com website is no longer active, the brand's reputation for high-quality, high-performance composite yacht construction endures. Although the shipyard no longer has current production line models available, its historical impact on composite yacht building and its contributions to both racing and luxury performance cruising remain a significant chapter in marine history.
