Flexplorer 146/4 Review (2024 Edition)

Cantiere Delle Marche's Biggest Flex

The Making of Maverick

Exterior lines, naval architecture, and engineering are by Hydro Tec and Maverick’s interiors are by Francesco Paszkowski and Margherita Casprini. The metallic-like finish on the walls throughout is Fenix - it is a blend of 60% paper and 40% acrylic resin. This material is tough stuff and it's used in shades of Gold and Steel throughout, aligned 2mm apart to create a strict geometric pattern.

Maverick’s build involved a blend of custom and non-custom elements. The shipyard collaborated with suppliers they hadn't worked with before - such as Steininger for furniture and German lighting company Occhio for circular lighting. The large wine cellar in the stairway lobby had to be brought in and integrated, as well as wardrobes and sliding doors. Steininger also worked with the owner to custom-make the galley, a weatherproof outdoor kitchen/bar on the main deck, and the bar cabinet and counter in the main saloon.  

Owner's Private Deck

The owner's deck epitomises the playful spirit of Maverick, featuring a cabin for the owner's youngest son on the same deck. It's a playroom filled with toys, a little desk, and some lovely artwork, all illuminated by a big window that floods the area with natural light. And it’s very close to the owner's suite.

The owners value self-sufficiency, and they've installed a pantry area just outside their cabin with a cooktop, coffee machine, fridge, freezer, and sink, so no need to call on the crew for a quick coffee or snack. The bedroom offers stunning floor-to-ceiling windows that provide great views. The placement of the owner's cabin on Maverick is usually reserved for the bridge on a Flexplorer, but here they offer incredible views forward from the bed.  

Despite the bed's massive size, there's plenty of room to move around, with big furniture that doesn't crowd the space. Sliding doors lead to the foredeck, which has a sunbathing area and access to the working zones for the crew and twin anchors.

The dressing room has heaps of clothes storage and a big window that allows natural light to pour in. Aft, you'll find a fantastic full-beam bathroom. This bathroom features a sink unit and a walk-in shower with floor-to-ceiling windows, alongside a bath that’s a perfect spot for a soak. Maverick isn't designed to spend its life in marinas - it's going to spend most of its time away at anchor so you won't be overlooked when using these facilities. The bathroom connects to a private aft deck, adding another layer to the owner's private space.

Galley

For a 44-metre yacht, this galley offers more than the usual fare. The presence of stools at the breakfast bar is a thoughtful touch - the owner is keen on cooking and they have the intention to engage with the crew.  

The galley’s design, connecting with the saloon, focuses on the idea of being on board long-term. It’s equipped with everything you'd need for the long haul, including something rare - a walk-in freezer on the main deck. This takes cold storage to another level, at temperatures of 3.4 degrees for the fridge and -20 for the freezer. Add to this the coffee machine and microwave, and you have a galley that’s very practical and surprisingly sociable.

There is direct access to the crew space from here via a short staircase. While not enormous, the space is designed for long-term living, encouraging a personal relationship between crew and family, important given they're going to spend a lot of time together. 

Main Deck VIP

The VIP cabin, forward on the main deck, would be considered an owner's cabin on some yachts of this size. A huge desk on the starboard side, illuminated by a large overhead window - a great spot for work or study. Storage is abundant, with a walk-in wardrobe and a large cupboard by the cabin door. 

The detailing in this cabin is worth noting, and the lighting motif continues here with bright pink accents contrasting the lighter wood finishes. The spaciousness of this full-beam cabin is striking, with enough room to accommodate a treadmill alongside two large bedside tables.

The bathroom shares the beam with the walk-in wardrobe but it doesn’t compromise on space. It features a well-sized toilet cubicle, a sink, and a large shower stall.

Lower Deck

Self-sufficiency is carried on in the lobby of the guest accommodation, much like the rest of the yacht, so family and guests are independent of the crew - with features such as a coffee machine, a sink, and storage.

Starting with the twin cabins, there's a generous space between the twin berths and pullman berths so up to three people can sleep in these if needed. Each cabin includes bedside controls for lighting and blinds, and personalised climate control, and AV. The ensuite bathrooms are a good size, featuring large separate shower cubicles and hull windows for good amounts of natural light. 

The doubles aboard Maverick have real character. Each cabin is tailored to the tastes of its occupants, with one having a computer setup and both featuring sizeable TVs. These cabins are going to be a living space for extended stays on board. There's plenty of room to move about, with wardrobes offering storage for the duration of the voyage. The bathrooms here have twin sinks and a slightly larger footprint than the twin cabins.

It's a proper ship's bridge with inwardly raked screens - it feels more commercial than your typical yacht bridge. The Besenzoni helm seats are fully adjustable and on tracks, sliding forward to be near the helm or back to allow easy passage. You can settle in these seats comfortably, enjoying the fabulous view over the purposeful bow.

Numerous MFDs display everything from navigation information, engine data, weather, cameras, and radar. There's also the usual pair of throttles and a surprisingly large steering wheel for a yacht of this type. 

This is an owner's/guest space as well as a crew space with a bench for guests to enjoy the ride and some personal artwork pride of place. 

The captain's cabin, perfectly private and equipped with its own bathroom, is located just a step away from the bridge. The skipper's screensaver hints at what this boat was built for; a map of the globe with the route of Maverick's 7-year expedition. 

The Crow's Nest

Right at the top, the radar tower looms above the crow's nest. Normally it's just a viewing point, but on Maverick it's also a living area with sofas on either side, giving an excellent vantage point from the very top of the yacht.

The radar tower and surrounding structures are designed to look like the fins of a fighter jet - one of many, many nods to Top Gun. Accessing the aft deck from up here means walking beneath the radar tower and then down a ladder, which can be folded away into a cassette so it's out of the way when not in use.

Bridge Deck Aft

On the bridge deck, you'll find a hot tub snugly positioned at the aft end. This hot tub has glass sections, with lovely views over the back of the yacht, flanked by sun pads. A wonderful spot to relax.

There's a staircase leading down to the owner's deck and with direct access to the bridge, the spaces connect here to form a sociable hub. There's a brilliant entertaining area with a high tabletop covered in glazed aquamarine tiles. Raised high, it's kept as a more private spot than the aft deck.

You'll find two bars here. The first is surrounded by seating for drawing in guests for drinks and snacks, complete with an integrated TV and sound system. The second bar has a cooktop and smart detailing like the counter dropping at an angle into the sink.

Owner's Aft Deck

This elevated aft deck is a wonderful private space that extends right to the deck's aft end, offering a nice, comfortable seating area. This space cleverly balances exposure and protection, great for enjoying a morning coffee. The lighting is a lovely detail that continues throughout the yacht, from mirrors inside the bathroom to overhead on various decks. There's even a playful suspended seat that you can swing on - great for the kids.

Massive Main Aft Deck

The main aft deck is vast - there's an impressive 135 sqm (1,450 sqft) of space. Forward, there's a spacious dining area, complete with a lovely bar which is all well protected by the substantial overhang from the deck above.

For Maverick, function takes centre stage and it's mostly on show with its enormous A-frame. It can support a four-tonne weight capacity for heavier tenders, including the 9.2-metre custom tender that's currently onboard. The A-frame folds down into the deck when not needed, with flaps on either side. Another way to keep this deck uncluttered and one of the more clever features onboard Maverick is the aft deck swimming pool. When not being used, part of the deck can slide across to hide it away. 

It's a standout area of this model, which works as well as a space to store tenders, vehicles, and other toys as it does a huge party platform.

Beach Club

A huge transom hatch transforms into a staircase that leads down the port side when raised, granting access to the beach club, gym, and engine room.

The yacht has a versatile transformer that faces the quayside when upright. This piece of kit can drop down into the water to create a really lovely passageway into the sea but can also lift toys in and out. Of course, there's that enormous A-frame as well, adding even more utility to this aft deck.

Step into the beach club, a truly flexible space currently set up as a gym. You've got your weight rack and Peloton bike, but it can easily become a more traditional beach club, nicely connected to the water. A fridge and sink make it a self-sufficient retreat, and a window offers a seriously cool view of the pool above.

On the port side, there's a laundry room, very rare on a 44-metre yacht. This dedicated space means the crew can manage laundry without going through the cabin areas, with plenty of room for ironing and folding.

The engine room of this 44-metre yacht proves another standout feature, both in function and aesthetic. Start at the starboard-side ante-room, where the shore power converter systems and water maker reside, alongside a spot for scuba diving gear. It’s all perfectly placed for easy upkeep. Through a hefty watertight door, you enter an engine room that's vast for this size of yacht. I've been on 50-metre yachts with engine rooms half the size — it's absolutely enormous.

This yacht lives for long-term autonomy, so the engineer works on the move. A massive workbench allows for easy maintenance, turning it into a genuine workspace. There's even a coffee machine down here — covering all important needs. Between the engines, you find towering headroom and superb access to everything.  

The engines, CAT C32s each with 1,300hp, are a sight to behold. The exhaust system is both functional and wonderful to look at. Cruising at 10 knots, Maverick was predicted to manage a 5,000 nautical mile range. However, after real-world use, the owners have reported an impressive 6,800 nautical mile range. Cross the Atlantic and return with plenty of fuel to spare. Truly phenomenal for a yacht of this class.