By James Tiernan, President of ACY Texas, and Eric Smith, Senior Yacht Consultant and Partner
The MY6 (formerly the MY44) is purpose-built to be the ultimate in liveaboard cruising — lighter, stronger, faster, and easier to handle with far greater range. Fountaine Pajot has been building motor yachts longer than any other company in the world, and it shows in the thoughtful, inspired design of the MY6. While other power catamarans place emphasis on their design on the charter market, Fountaine Pajot’s key design focus is on liveaboard cruising, with owners at the center.
“We don’t compromise for charter, so we can build a more luxurious boat,” Fountaine Pajot’s Deputy General Manager Romain Motteau told Power & Motor Yacht Magazine recently. “This is why we are focused on targeting private owners.”
So what does designing for live-aboard cruising really mean when it comes to the features and layout of the MY6?
More Functional Living Space Than Any Other Power Catamaran
With more functional living space than any other motor yacht, the living space and extra storage accommodate weeks and months aboard rather than just a few days. The full owner’s hull offers privacy to owners while guests or kids are onboard. In addition, the MY6’s wider hulls allow for a better layout in the owner’s cabin, with a sideways-facing king-size bed facing the picture window to the sea.
The MY6, by not having the door going forward, has a fourth “bonus cabin” that can be customized for storage, an office, or any kind of owner’s space desired.
In the main saloon, you’ll find three huge lockers including one that is often made into a deep freezer for longer trips. You’ll also find two stand-up bow storage lockers for long-term cruising needs, such as scuba gear, extra clothes, or pantry space. Custom racks and bins can be constructed for whatever you need to accommodate.
Smarter Design for Easier Access to Controls, Engine Room, and More
The incredible thought that went into the MY6’s design translates into ease of access to controls, the engine room, the swimming platform, and more:
- While at anchor, the hydraulic full-width swim platform offers easy access to the vessel from either a dinghy or the water. This makes everyday live aboard jobs like loading groceries from the dinghy to the boat or climbing back onboard after your morning swim or dive an easy task.
- The owner-friendly engine room gives easy access to access motors, the generator, and water makers to carry out simple servicing. This is critical when exploring remote islands, where access to a service company may be limited. When you do need service, Fountaine Pajot has dealers worldwide, unlike other catamaran manufacturers. This has incredible value for service and spare parts for owners.
- The cockpit has a full range of customization possibilities, as does the flybridge. Joystick setup is available for any location on the boat. Adding one to the aft cockpit is a popular option for our couple cruisers.
- In various reviews, the MY6 was rated as having the most comfortable seating (with ergonomic backrests), both inside and in the cockpit, of any boat tested—not so important on a charter boat, but very important on a privately owned boat.
Quieter by Design
The mechanical and electrical systems and the engine of the MY6 are designed to deliver a quieter experience. The reverse AC uses a chiller system, rather than individual compressors for each zone, with the central chiller in the quiet, insulated engine compartment. Individual cabins have no noise from a compressor running in the cabin, just whisper-quiet air handlers fed from the chiller.
Ken Krasco, Atlantic Cruising Yacht’s director of commissioning, is an electrical engineer and has designed systems incorporating Lithium batteries, major solar cells, upgraded inverters, and controllers—all to make a boat that can run at night without the noise of the generator.
IPS Drives for Better Cruising Performance
The Volvo IPS drives on the MY6 more versatile boat speed, and ease of maneuvering for couples cruisers or single handling operation. IPS drives are also about 20-30% more fuel-efficient than shaft drives, which translate to better cruising range.
Overall, the IPS drives are more maneuverable, without the need for separate thrusters, which can be detrimental to overall performance.
In addition to the IPS drives, the hull design of the MY6 creates a number of performance advantages. The wave-piercing hull is designed for offshore cruising and has been shown in studies to deliver excellent seaworthiness and stability regardless of speed. The wider hull allows the yacht to achieve fuel-efficient planing speeds up to 30mph.
To sum up, the MY6 is the latest in a range of Fountaine Pajot Motor Yachts that are purpose-built for private owners with extended live aboard applications. Whether you’re considering the MY6 for a private boat or a private boat placed in charter management, the yacht consultants at Atlantic Cruising Yachts are ready to help. Contact a consultant to learn more and to get started on your yacht ownership journey.