Comfort and convenience were central to the design. Factory-fitted equipment was intended to let an owner depart ready to sail, without expensive customization. The Super Maramu became a cult favorite, particularly in France, where it was respected both for its design and for the builder’s exceptional customer support.
Design and Construction
The Super Maramu was a production boat whose features remained consistent from factory to ocean. Its hull is a solid, hand-laid laminate of biaxial cloth in polyester resin. Amel used a special flat-woven cloth developed for the company, which bonds to itself with minimal voids and requires no intervening mat. A proprietary blister-barrier coating sits directly beneath the gelcoat and has reportedly prevented osmotic blisters from appearing on any Super Maramu hull.
The balsa-cored deck was laminated to the hull while both were still in the mold. Six layers of cloth formed the bond, creating a monocoque structure. Wherever hardware is mounted, the deck is solid laminate, with stainless fasteners tapped into buried stainless plates.
Four full-height watertight bulkheads were bonded in place while the hull remained in its mold. Two have watertight interior doors. Altogether, the boat has no fewer than eight watertight compartments, with valved limber pipes carrying stray moisture to a deep central sump.
Originally, the Super Maramu had three raw-water intakes: two serving the toilets and one for all machinery. The Millennium edition, built after 1998, reduced this arrangement to a single intake feeding one master sea-chest. All outlets are above the waterline.
Rig and Handling
The ketch rig is designed for push-button operation from a well-protected center cockpit. Amel intended the boat to be manageable by one person lifting no more than 50 pounds.
The in-mast mainsail and headsail both use electric furlers. The smaller in-mast mizzen has a direct-drive furler operated with a winch handle, and all sheet winches are electric. Outboard shrouds create wide sheeting angles, while a distinctive twin-pole system makes it straightforward to boom out sails from the shrouds.
Below the water, a well-shaped fin keel is paired with a separate skeg-hung rudder. The waterline is relatively short, however, and the hollow leeches required by in-mast furling cost both the mainsail and mizzen some drive.
Propulsion and Systems
The proprietary U-drive installation places the engine facing aft. Power passes through two right-angle joints to a drive leg at the back of the keel. This keeps the propeller’s thrust perfectly horizontal and transfers it through the keel itself.
Because of that arrangement, the engine can sit on very soft mounts, helping to keep vibration low. A single diesel produces up to 100 HP, and the boat carries 158 gallons of fuel.
All machinery is housed beneath the cockpit in a large engine room with close to standing headroom. Consistent systems across the fleet also make maintenance a manageable task.
Accommodations
The Super Maramu sleeps up to seven in two staterooms with large beds. The cabin interior has a classic mahogany finish, leather accents, and an elegant original design.
In the saloon, a U-shaped dining table has an extension and can seat up to ten. The galley includes a fridge, refrigerator, stove, oven, and microwave. The boat also comes complete with a shower, hot water, and stove.
Three independently controlled heating and cooling zones allow different parts of the interior to maintain different temperatures. On the Millennium edition, Amel introduced a blue fiberglass cabin sole.
Equipment and Factory Fitting
Standard equipment went well beyond the essentials. The package included a generator, dishwasher, washer-drier, fridge, freezer, microwave, vacuum cleaner, hairdrier, and even a specially designed shopping cart. Most boats were also delivered with optional watermakers and air-conditioners installed.
For close-quarters handling, the boat has a retractable bow thruster. The powered windlass and chain counter can be operated from the cockpit, while an integral anchor washdown in the bow roller allows the windlass to be worked without leaving the helm. A solid rail runs around the entire deck.
All equipment was either made by Amel to its own standards or sourced from suppliers the builder considered absolutely reliable.
Verdict
The Super Maramu is a thoroughly engineered bluewater system rather than a bare hull with an options list. Its watertight bulkheads, monocoque hull-and-deck structure, and centralized machinery space reflect a builder determined to deliver a finished, supportable cruising yacht.
The trade-offs are a rig slightly compromised by the geometry of in-mast furling and a relatively short waterline. Even so, few production boats of the era were as complete for long-distance cruisers who valued independence and factory backing. In an editorial review, Cruising World recognized the Super Maramu 2000 as the Year’s Best Boat.
Pros
- Monocoque hull-and-deck structure with four watertight bulkheads and eight sealed compartments
- U-drive engine on soft mounts for low vibration, with close to standing headroom in the engine room
- Push-button furling and electric winches that can be operated single-handed from the cockpit
- Factory-fitted generator, with watermaker and air-conditioning commonly installed as optional equipment
Cons
- Hollow leeches on the mainsail and mizzen reduce sail efficiency
- Relatively short waterline limits theoretical hull speed under load
- Early hulls have three raw-water intakes rather than the later single sea-chest
