Founded in 2002 by longtime J/Boats honcho Bob Johnstone, MJM Yachts built its brand on a line of handsome, capable vessels with all-weather pilothouses and accommodations for extended onboard time.
A few years back, after two decades in Boston, the company opened its own boatbuilding facility in North Carolina. The MJM 4, which splashed in late 2022, was among the first vessels to come out of the new facility. The latest model is much the same as its brethren, but instead of sporting a pair of 12-cylinder, 600-hp outboards, she is matched to 440-hp diesel sterndrives from Volvo Penta.
One thing that MJM retains on the 46-footer is her winning layout. I’m fond of her large, seat-laden cockpit (with a Bimini top), and the boarding door for easy access to the dock. There’s also a pass-through to the swim platform. A flush deck leads to the thoughtfully designed pilothouse, which can be open to the elements with operable windows all around, including electrically actuated, Safari-style front glass. Or, the pilothouse can be closed off when the weather is not cooperating. There’s a settee to starboard, just abaft the helm, flanked by the portside galley. For overnighting, a V-berth and the midship double berth can handle four guests, with all sharing the head and glass-enclosed shower.
The catbird seat on the MJM 4 may be the open bow, where a C-shape settee for six people flanks a dining table. It’s a fine spot for dining or to enjoy the ride while underway, accessed from the portside deck. A shade system here should prove a popular option.
When paired with the D6 iron from Volvo Penta, the MJM 4 is much more than a dayboat for weekending. According to the builder, her fast cruise of 28.3 knots at 3000 rpm returns a 318-nautical-mile range. At a displacement speed of 7.7 knots, range jumps to more than 706 nm. She’ll top out at 39 knots to outrun storms or make the bar crossing before the tides shift.
Standard equipment includes Volvo Penta’s Joystick Control with the Dynamic Positioning System, a bow thruster, a gyrostabilizer, air conditioning, a generator and twin Garmin touchscreen chartplotters.
MJM 4
LOA: 46ft. 8in. • Beam: 12ft. • Draft: 3ft. 6in. • Construction: FRP • Displacement: 17,730 lbs. • Fuel: 350 gal. Water: 110 gal. • Engine: 2x 440-hp Volvo Penta D6 • Info: mjmyachts.com
This article was originally published in the May/June 2024 issue.
