Design and Construction
The Super Maramu is a production boat whose features remained consistent from factory to ocean, built ready to sail and eliminating the need for expensive customization. Its hull is solid handlaid laminate of biaxial cloth set in polyester resin, using a special flat-woven type created for Amel that bonds to itself with minimal voids and no intervening mat. A proprietary blister barrier coating sits directly under the gelcoat, and this has reportedly kept osmotic blisters from appearing on any Super Maramu hull. Decks are balsa-cored and laminated to the hull while still in the mold with six layers of cloth, forming a monocoque structure; the deck is solid laminate wherever hardware mounts, with stainless fasteners tapped into buried stainless plates. Four full-height watertight bulkheads, two with watertight interior doors, were bonded in place with the hull in its mold, and the boat carries no fewer than eight watertight compartments with valved limber pipes routing stray moisture to a deep central sump. Originally there were just three raw-water intakes — two for toilets and one for all machinery — but the Millennium edition built after 1998 reduced this to a single intake with one master sea-chest; all outlets sit above the waterline.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig is built around push-button operation from a well-protected center cockpit, designed so a single person lifting no more than 50 pounds can run the boat. Both the in-mast mainsail and headsail furl with electric furlers, while the smaller in-mast mizzen uses a direct-drive furler turned by winch handle, and all sheet winches are electric. The shrouds are outboard, giving wide sheeting angles, and a unique twin-pole system makes booming out sails from the shrouds straightforward. The underbody pairs a well-shaped fin keel with a separate skeg-hung rudder anchor, though the waterline is relatively short and both main and mizzen lose some drive to the hollow leeches demanded by in-mast furling.
Propulsion and Systems
The engine installation is a proprietary U-drive: the engine faces aft, transmitting thrust through two right-angle joints to a drive leg on the back of the keel, so the propeller's thrust is perfectly horizontal and carried by the keel itself. That arrangement lets the engine sit on very soft mounts, keeping vibration low, while a single diesel delivers up to 100 HP and 158 gallons of fuel are carried. All machinery lives under the cockpit in a large engine room with close to standing headroom, and identical systems across the fleet make maintenance a manageable task.
Accommodations
Below, the boat sleeps up to seven across two staterooms with large beds, the cabin interior finished in classic mahogany with leather accents and an elegant original design. The saloon holds a U-shaped dining table with an extension that seats up to ten, and the galley is equipped with fridge, stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Three independently controlled heating and cooling zones let different areas hold different temperatures, and the boat is complete with shower, hot water, and stove. The Millennium edition introduced a blue fiberglass cabin sole.
Equipment and Factory Fitting
Standard equipment ran well beyond essentials: a generator, dishwasher, washer-drier, fridge, freezer, microwave, vacuum cleaner, hairdrier, and a specially designed shopping cart were all part of the package, with most boats delivered with optional watermakers and air-conditioners installed. A retractable bow thruster aids docking, the power windlass with chain counter operates from the cockpit, and an integral anchor washdown in the bow roller lets the windlass be worked without leaving the helm. A solid rail encircles the entire deck. All gear was either Amel-made to its own standards or sourced from suppliers considered absolutely reliable.
The Verdict
The Super Maramu is a thoroughly engineered bluewater system rather than a bare hull with options. Its watertight bulkheads, monocoque hull-deck bond, and centralized machinery spaces reflect a builder intent on delivering a finished, supportable cruising yacht. The trade-off is a rig compromised slightly by in-mast furling geometry and a relatively short waterline, but for the long-distance cruiser who values independence and factory backing, few production boats of the era were as complete. Writing in an editorial review, Cruising World recognized the Super Maramu 2000 as the Year’s Best Boat anchor.
Pros
- Monocoque hull-deck structure with four watertight bulkheads and eight sealed compartments
- U-drive engine on soft mounts for low vibration, with stand-up engine room access
- Push-button furling and electric winches operable single-handed from the cockpit
- Factory-fitted generator, watermaker, and air-conditioning as common equipment
Cons
- Hollow leeches on main and mizzen reduce sail efficiency
- Relatively short waterline limits theoretical hull speed under load
- Early hulls carry three raw-water intakes rather than the later single sea-chest
