When Marlow Yachts announced a surprise debut at this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show, the boating cognoscenti expected an expansion of the Explorer or Voyager lines. Either would have been welcome, but instead, what we got was even more interesting.
The Marlow 65 Avalon is the first boat in a new model line for the Palmetto, Fla.-based builder. The 73-footer, designed by founder David Marlow as his personal steed, has a number of features that set her apart. This yacht also holds fast to the brand’s core mission: building capable cruisers that go fast and far in comfort and safety.
The starting point for the Avalon is Marlow’s fast-displacement hull form, a true, tried and tested platform. Her cored hull is finished in a process called Full Stack Infusion, which uses composites that include carbon fiber and Kevlar to achieve the yacht’s strength-to-weight ratio. The builder’s Velocijet Strut Keels eliminate drag and protect the running gear.
Like other Marlows, Hull No. 1 of the Avalon series is meant to stand out on the water and at the dock. She sits in the water stoutly, reminiscent of long-range boats with generous interior volume. The planked hull, finished in gleaming glacier blue metallic paint, is set off by an ice blue (think bone white) superstructure with a raked flybridge hardtop.
Twin staircases aft, accessed from the swim platform, frame a wide transom door that leads to the beach club. A custom tender, also built by Marlow, fits here in a way that allows access to stowage flanking each side.
Moving forward, a lounge with a settee and double berth (it can also be configured as captain’s quarters) gives way to the engine room. In true Marlow fashion, the mechanical area has soaring headroom with meticulously organized and labeled mechanics and ample workspace around the engines. This space is also air-conditioned.
Delightfully unexpected on the Avalon are her abovedeck spaces, most notably the atrium lounge. Located in the forward section of the cockpit, this lounge is a four-season gathering space with a sunroof, opening glass windows in the after section, and a pair of L-shape settees to either side. A wet bar with a grill and refrigerator occupies the forward port section. The atrium is climate-
controlled and can be enclosed or open to the cockpit, depending on the climate.
A pocket door leads to the salon, which is finished in book-matched teak with matte and high-gloss finishes. A day head is across from the galley, which is aft and to port. A pass-through window to the atrium lounge is a fine touch.
The single-pane windshield gives the captain unobstructed views forward from the centerline helm. Boarding doors to port and starboard grant access to full walkaround side decks and weatherproof stowage compartments in the foredeck. Access belowdecks is to port, with a three-stateroom, two-head layout that includes a full-beam, midship master and a forward VIP.
There is no external access to the flybridge. Instead, a portside wood-and-steel staircase leads to the second helm station. The hardtop shades the entire space and can be left off future builds to reduce the 19-foot, 11-inch air draft.
Power on Hull No. 1 of the Avalon 65 is 1,200-hp MANs, which will likely push the boat to speeds over 30 knots and cruise speeds in the mid-20-knot range. At the time of this writing, sea trials were underway.
Marlow Avalon 65 Specifications:
LOA: 73ft. 8in.
Beam: 19ft. 6in.
Draft: 4ft. 2in.
Displacement: 85,098 lbs.
Fuel: 1,850 gal.
Water: 350 gal.
Engines: 2x 1,200-hp MAN V-8
Info: marlowyachts.com
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Passagemaker magazine.
