Boat Review: Menorquin MY 145 Fly

Presentation
Launched in 2007 the Menorquin Yacht 145 continues up market thinking by the Spanish Menorca Island boat builder. This made the MY145 not only important for being a new model in its presentation at the Palma Show of Spring 2007, but more so because it introduced vacuum infusion in the building method, and the use of an outside designer with Tommaso Spadolini taking the job for the exterior looks. This last idea of out sourcing the design got so much praise in the MY145 that Menorquin have also used a separate independent designer for the newly planned 20 and 24 metres flagships, using the hands of other famous Italian architect Fulvio De Simoni for the upcoming Custom Yacht range. The MY145 is one of the recent additions to the Menorquin line, but the yard listening to customers demands put a new additional three cabins five berths version in early 2009. As many Menorquin's the MY145 is also offered in different versions for what regard the outside. A Fly as for the review here, or the standard Hardtop.

Accommodation
Interiors have always been the bread and butter of the Menorquin yachts, offering livable layouts with good spaces and classic wood filled finishes. But lets start with the outside of the MY145 welcoming you aft with an extended integrated bathing platform which comes out stylishly from the lower part of the traditional canoe stern. A small moulded door to starboard welcomes you to the aft deck. This space is available as both free or with an optional two person bench settee to port. On both sides and up one step you go to the integrated and safe side deck, which takes you to the bow, where you find a very nice forward looking four person bench sofa. From the aft main deck is the the ladder which takes you to the flybridge. The fly has a C-shaped settee to port, helm station to starboard, and optional hydraulic crane to aft which creates stowage space for a medium sized tender. The crane and extended bathing platform makes it possible to carry two tenders.

Back to aft and moving forward a three part patio door welcomes you inside the interior living deck. To port here is an L-shaped settee which can transform to a double berth, making total sleeping capacity plus two for a total six or seven berths. To starboard is a small furniture unit opposite the dinette, and the fully equipped internal helm station.

From the middle of the main deck and down four steps you reach the lower accommodation deck. This part of the MY145 is available in two layouts. The standard is a two cabin, two shower heads, C-shaped galley, and a small L-shaped settee. Optional is a three cabin version. This gives a single cabin in lieu of the small settee below and also takes part of the galley. Cabin planning is rather standard as a traditional cruiser should be. But that does not mean that is not comfortable. The owners suite is located to fore, double cabin midship port side with two single berths. and a guest shower head. The third cabin option gets its location to starboard side in front of the galley, and is a single berth.

Performance

Having a traditional fully keeled semi displacement hull, the Menorquin MY145 Fly gives a respectable medium speed cruise. The full keel pays a price in performance due to drag, but then it gives back in better direction control, which added with the full hull measuring only seventeen centimetres to the overall length gives also superior stability. These two factors, keel and full under the water hull give also minimum rolling with a natural progressive movement during cruise or anchor. The MY145 is offered with four engine choices starting with the standard twin Volvo D4 300hp, to the other optional choices from the D6 330hp, most high revving Yanmar 310hp, and the Cummins 330hp which revs the less. With twin Volvo D6 330hp the MY145 Fly reaches top speeds of 18 knots at the max 3500 rpm. Optimum cruising was at 2800 rpm with speeds of 14 knots, range of 245 nautical miles, and consumption of 5.2 litres per mile. If you want to enjoy more the trip you can also cruise at a slower 8 knots with the Volvo's 330hp only revving at 1600 rpm, giving a long range of eighty hours or 645 nautical miles.

Positive

Good economy speed

Full deck use

Accommodation

Negative

Low flybridge safety walls

Competition

Surprisingly the Menorquin MY145 Fly is the real wild card for staying closer to its roots. In fact the MY145 unlike other traditional looking boats stays true to its ancestors hull shape, and is unique for having medium range explorer qualities in its DNA. If you want a semi displacement hull the closer you can get is with a live aboard explorer like the Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU, or the Rhea 43. Competition criteria was for flybridge, thirteen to fourteen metres size, two or three cabins, twin engines, and 15 knots plus of speed.

Beneteau 42 Swift Trawler - explorer trawler, 2 cabins heads, 26 knots max

Grand Banks 41 Heritage EU - 2 cabins 1 head, explorer with classic trawler looks

Hinckley 44 Talaria FB - lobster design, available in single cabin lower salon

Mainship 45 Trawler - explorer two cabins, large main deck

Patrone 42 Convertible Flybridge - planning gozzo, three cabins, main deck galley

Rhea 43 - smallest, explorer trawler, two cabin heads

Sciallino 40 Fly - planning Ligurian gozzo, two or three cabin choice

WILD CARD: Portofino 47 Fly - three cabins, cross over modern traditional

Conclusion

Slow Yachting is the new Menorquin campaign presented in the fall of 2009 in November during the Barcelona Boat Show. This campaign gives reasons why one should choose a Menorquin boat. Most important are that of stable navigation, relax sailing, easy manoeuvrability, max safety, fuel economy, and enjoyment of the boat during cruise. Obviously the MY145 Fly has all these features and more, being one of its latest designs. Its lower deck for example is spacious and the three cabin plan gives also better flexibility for those who cruise as a large family. You also get an exterior and living main deck where safe enjoyment is a total experience, thanks to safe bulwarks, and the settee to fore. The Menorquin MY145 Fly should be a first look if you want a traditional looking cruiser echoing the past with a canoe style stern, good comfortable spaces, and slow to medium economical cruising speeds.

Technical Data

LOA. 13.99 metres (45.8ft)

Waterline length. 13.82 metres

Beam. 4.50 metres

Draft. 1.12 metres

Displacement. 18.7 t

Fuel Capacity. 1 x 600, 1 x 785 litres

Water Capacity. 600 litres

Max Persons. 12

Accommodation. 4/5 guest berths in 2/3 cabins + 2 berths in convertible saloon

Engines. 2 x Volvo D4 300hp, D6 330hp, Yanmar 6LPA-STP 315hp, Cummins QSB5.9 330hp Propulsion. line shaft

Speed. 18 knots max, 14 knots cruise, 8 knots economic 

Range. 245 nm at 14 knots,. long 684 nm at 8 knots

Hull Shape. Full keel semi displacement

Project. Tommaso Spadolini

Construction. vinilester resin with vacuum infusion method

Certification. CE A

www.menorquin.com

Picture Copyright Menorquin. Data Menorquin.