Untitled - Meridian Yachts

LIVING LARGE
The multilevel Meridian 459 packs a lot of usable
space into a “self-docking” cockpit motoryacht.
By CAPT. STUART REININGER
hen I first saw the new Meridian 459, it was backed into its
berth at the MarineMax dealer facility in North Palm Beach,
Fla. My first impression of this spacious new cockpit motoryacht was that it has a lot going for it, and the goods get better the closer you look and the higher you go.
At the waterline, there’s a low-slung integrated swim platform that practically sits on the water—it’s just high enough, yet it has
the structural heft to take on the most muscular PWC. Then, it’s up
a step into the roomy aft deck with high coamings. From here, you
can venture to the next two levels. First, walk up a portside staircase
to the equally spacious cockpit deck. Here, you can hang out and rest
a while; there’s seating for at least a half dozen passengers, as well
as a handy wet bar. From this area, you can march up another
staircase (just three steps) to the bridgedeck (whew!), where
you’ll find lounging space for another eight passengers.
The skipper, however, sits in splendor in a Starship
Enterprise-style chair. He faces a helm that’s
designed to accommodate a variety of electronics. In fact, the spacious dash will
gladden the heart of the most passionate techno-geek.
Meridian makes it easy for
passengers to access the foredeck from their seats on the
bridge. They simply walk
down one level to the cockpit deck. Here, there are solid,
latching doors to both port and
starboard. These handy wing gates
lead onto wide sidedecks with high
rails that will hit most people just
above the waist.
Those are just a few of the nice design details on the Meridian. I also liked the stanchions, which are through-bolted to aluminum
backing plates and mounted on a small coaming-like lip. Even if you’re
on deck at night with bare feet, you’ll be able to feel the edge of that
sidedeck. The 12-inch stainless steel cleats, including the all-important amidships cleats, are recessed into the coaming lip for safety. This
W
O PENING S PREAD
LIVING LARGE
BY
B RUCE M ILLER
THINK BIG: The oversize salon with cherrywood trim is bright and open to the L-shaped galley and the lower helm station.
will keep you from stubbing a toe.
The foredeck arrangement is an interesting mix of functionality and fun.
The anchor windlass is flanked by
what appear to be two spacious rode
lockers. One is gel-coated, self-draining and latched. The other, however,
is a cooler with its own freshwater
faucet; this locker also houses a washdown, one of two on board (another is
on the aft deck). The cooler is a great
idea for the foredeck lounge lizards
who just don’t feel like scooting below for a cold one. These passengers
can stay put on sunpads set into two
molded recesses.
When you do go below, you won’t be
roughing it on the Meridian. The 459’s
cabin layout is among the best in this
boat’s size and price range. It’s not just
the cherrywood-lined interior, the ex66 MOTORBOATING
cellent fit and finish, or the flat-screen
TV and entertainment center that make
an impression. I would expect those
things on this type of boat. The notable
details include a beautifully designed
and finished high/low salon table and
the fact that there’s functional use for
every bit of space, both seen and unseen.
In the L-shaped galley, for instance,
there’s an under-sole stowage area as
well as additional compartments for
heavy luggage and plenty of plug-ins for
the standard central vacuum system. The
galley itself is smart. The cook won’t
have to stretch more than an arm’s length
for anything, and the refrigerator/freezer is a stand-up unit, the size you’d expect to find in an apartment.
The master stateroom is aft. It features
an athwartships, queen-size pedestal
berth. There’s room on three sides of the
berth, so making it will be an easy chore
each morning. The master has its own
shower compartment that’s separate
from the head, and there’s a delightful
sliding door on the aft bulkhead that
opens onto the lower deck.
For guests, there’s a cabin forward.
This is another very comfortable space
that boasts its own head with shower.
I’ve been in more than a few motoryachts this size where the master stateroom isn’t equal to the guest cabin on
the Meridian 459. Between the guest
and master cabins are approximately
seven cedar-lined hanging lockers and
enough stowage under berths and soles
and in cubbies to make any liveaboard
cruiser eat his heart out, including
yours truly.
So what’s not to like on Meridian’s
latest? Minor details, really. There was
MARCH 2004
LIVING LARGE
no overhead grabrail in the salon, and
the cutlery drawers in the galley were
not well secured—one good lurch and
the salon’s occupants, as well as the silverware, could go flying. Also, the engine room access (our test boat sported
a pair of 350-hp Cummins 370B diesels) was in that beautifully carpeted salon—mechanics who resemble grease
monkeys may not be welcomed aboard
by meticulous owners. In addition, the
two hatch covers, which you remove
manually, have to be lifted up and
stashed somewhere while you conduct
maintenance. On the other hand, the
shafted, centrally located engines contribute to the boat’s stability when under
way, as opposed to the aft-located V-drive
engines that are common on this type
of yacht. The V-drive configuration can
also create a bow-high running angle.
Getting into this engine compartment
isn’t difficult to do, although I wouldn’t
call the area spacious.
There are many things to like aboard
the Meridian, and one of my favorite features was something Meridian calls its
“docking on command” (D.O.C.) system. Essentially, the system is comprised
of integrated bowthrusters and sternthrusters. If you toggle a joystick on the
helm and think about which direction
you want to go, the boat will go there,
negating wind and current, for the most
part. As a matter of fact, this system
could make professional skippers obsolete. My next project, as I’m not ready to
retire yet, will be a campaign to outlaw
all versions of this system.
In all other aspects of handling, the
459 was no slouch. I put it through its
paces in the Intracoastal Waterway off
North Palm Beach, and it handled more
like a big express cruiser than a motoryacht. It came out of the hole very
smoothly and without a hint of bow rise
(thanks to those centrally located Cummins diesels). In fact, it was actually difficult for me to tell when the Meridian
achieved plane; it was just there. Steering at almost all speeds required nothing
more than fingertip control—its Teleflex
hydraulic system helped in this regard.
Even at top-end speed (30 mph) and
slaloming through wide-open S-turns,
68 MOTORBOATING
there was only a slight stiffness at the
helm, but that’s quite normal considering the water pressure on the relatively
small rudders of the boat. With one engine shut down, the 459 turned into the
dead prop with minimal sluggishness,
both going ahead and astern. In a pinch,
you’ll be able to slide into a slip on one
wing, even if you don’t take advantage
of the D.O.C. system.
If you’re shopping around for a luxury motoryacht in this size range, for
comparison purposes you should take a
look at Carver’s 420 Mariner. With an
LOA of 44'5" and a beam of 13'11", it’s
a smaller boat than this one with its 47'8"
LOA and 14'4" beam, but the Carver’s
base price of $493,016 is about $81,000
less than the price of the 459 ($573,893
with test power). Both boats, however,
show similar high levels of workmanship and quality.
The Meridian 459 is a fun boat, no
matter which level you choose to inhabit. It’s also a well thought out and designed seagoing vessel that’s put together by an experienced builder. And
with that D.O.C. system, your motherin-law can even look good docking it.Z
IN AND OUT: The galley and bridge helm.
Specifications:
LOA (w/platform)..................................47'8"
Beam.......................................................14'4"
Draft ......................................................3'10"
Disp. ..............................................30,700 lbs.
Bridge Clearance ..................................14'4"
Transom Deadrise ......................18 degrees
Water.................................................90 gals.
Fuel ..................................................330 gals.
Test Power: (2) 350-hp Cummins 370B diesels
turning 24" x 30" bronze four-blade props
through a 2.2:1 reduction. Power options include twin 330-hp Cummins diesels or twin
420-hp MerCruiser Horizon gasoline engines.
Performance:
RPM
MPH
Knots
dB-A
900
7.2
6.3
62
1200
9.6
8.3
62
1400
10.4
9.0
65
1600
11.2
9.7
65
1800
11.9
10.3
69
2000
13.7
11.9
70
2200
16.7
14.5
76
2400
20.6
17.9
76
2600
23.9
20.8
76
2800
30.0
26.1
80
Speeds measured in the Intracoastal Waterway
off North Palm Beach, Fla., by GPS in 10- to 12mph winds and a slight chop w/two people
aboard, a full tank of fuel and a half tank of water. Sound levels measured at the helm in dB-A.
Base Price (w/test power): $573,893
Standard Equipment (major items): Bridge entertainment center w/sink, preparation surface,
bottle and dry storage; Flexsteel Mirage leather
lounge in salon w/double integrated incliners; solid-plank, folding-leaf high/low salon table; 24inch flat-screen salon TV w/remote; AM/FM
stereo w/CD-player; DVD-player w/four
speakers; teak-and-holly galley
flooring; Norcold dual-voltage refrigerator/freezer; TV/VCR in
master and guest staterooms;
Bennett trim tabs; Teleflex hydraulic steering; PSS packless
watercooled stuffing boxes.
Optional Equipment (major
items): D.O.C. bow and sternthruster system; engine oilchange system and fuel
transfer pump; full bridge
canvas; Onan 11.5-kW diesel genset; hot and cold transom hand shower.
Warranty: Ten-year protection for the hull and deck
structures; component warranties as per individual manufacturers.
Meridian Yachts, (866) 6963743. www.meridian-yachts
.com. For more information,
contact (866) 626-2846 or
www.motorboating.com
/motorboat/productinfo.
MARCH 2004