Marquis 50LS

From the very first glimpse, the styling of the Marquis 50LS will draw the eye and stand out from the other yachts in the basin. The test boat had a metallic Brandywine paintjob that was stunning. Stepping onboard from the pier is best at the sides and onto the wide side decking. From a floating dock, step onto the swim platform. Either way, the expanse of real teak decking makes quite an impression.

The hull shape is quite complex especially in the transom and transom doors. This whole transom assembly can move in or out on a track to expand the cockpit or swim platform space as you desire. The cockpit table moves with the aft seat. The shore cables all reel in electrically and there is abundant storage here as well as an engine room access hatch in the cockpit sole.

A wet bar is standard on the port side. It features a cover on gas lift, electric grill, sink and a Raritan icemaker. Opposite on the starboard side are exterior joystick docking controls and a series of controls for the cockpit lights as well as the underwater lighting that would be fabulous at night.

Huge glass doors in stainless steel frames open up the entire cabin to the cockpit or fully enclose it with Russian blinds. But the most impressive thing is the glass – everywhere you look it is just simply amazing. The whole cabin roof is glass with an opening sunroof section and electric blinds if you prefer to keep the sun out. It’s nice at the marina but it would be breathtaking at a secluded anchorage!

On the starboard side, the Marquis 50 LS has a pair of tub chairs flanking the large flat screen television that rises on an electric lift. The audio system is also here as are both the 12V and 11V electrical panels.

Visually, a very handsome liquor locker competes with the futuristic looking pedestal table that raises to fold out to serve as a dining table surrounded by the modern design port side couch. The upholstery looks like leather but it’s a special textured vinyl. The couch has abundant storage under the bases and a side panel lifts to reveal access to the air conditioning systems.

With so much glass to contend with, the standard system is 48,000 BTU divided into zones and optional systems up to 70,000 BTU are available! The test boat had the optional Kohler 23 KW generator to handle the wet bar electric grill, the washer/dryer and the spa shower! Marquis has kept the suffering to a minimum.

The swim platform to the dinette is all one level then it is up one step to the bridge and galley that are side-by-side with the galley to starboard. The u-shaped galley has vast counter space, a two drawer Vitrifrigo refrigerator and freezer, a Contoure convection grill microwave, a very deep stainless steel sink with futuristic but handsome faucets, a two-burner stove top, lots of lockers, four drawers and a trash locker that slides out.

The companionway takes you down four stairs to the staterooms and heads. On the starboard side, this boat has been fitted out with a twin berth stateroom suitable for two kids. There is good clothing and storage space and the Malber automatic washer and dryer combination is hidden here.

Then, on the opposite side, there is sufficient beam to have a conventional full-sized queen-size berth in the second stateroom. A very nice mirrored door on the hanging locker is convenient and there is another even bigger hanging locker with five different drawers plus a little dressing seat off to the side. You get opening portholes, a Sole flat screen television and although this is not quite sitting height for me, it would be a very comfortable place to spend the night, especially with the air conditioning keeping it fresh.

This also has a European-style door into the main day head. Polished marble tile floors, a vessel sink with gorgeous faucets, mirrored medicine chest with lots of shelf space and a full separate shower enclosure makes this a great head. The shower has a glass door and with the VacuFlush system too, this is a really well fitted out head.

The master stateroom is forward with lots of room over the queen-size berth. Features include a big hanging locker, two fixed portholes and another Sole flat screen television, plus a Clarion sound system built-in to the starboard side, hanging locker. Large bins under the berth are useful for clothes or linens and there is a private ensuite head.

Again you get a vessel sink and vanity with a granite-type finish, mirrored medicine chest for shaving or doing make-up plus a second medicine chest as additional space for cosmetics. The owner’s get a fully enclosed shower stall with an opening porthole inside and again with the marble floor, VacuFlush head and this head has a skylight to bring in daylight. It’s frosted for privacy.

Heading back on the port side is a simply sensational looking helm station. This is dramatically shaped and looks more like the flight deck than a helm. The captain gets a beautiful tilting steering wheel, Volvo Penta controls including joystick docking for the triple Volvo IPS 600 pod drive systems that Marquis fits with a pair of Raymarine E120 multi-function screens to complement the Volvo Penta digital engine monitoring systems. You can’t help but notice the gorgeous Plexiglas footrest with the Marquis logo engraved on the back and the double seat adjusts electrically of course.

You drive from this single helm, standing or sitting and for rain or spray; this has the biggest windshield wipers I think I’ve ever seen. They even have washers to deal with the salt. Driving a triple-engine boat sounds tough, but it is a breeze. The diesel engines start easily and the centre engine is computer-controlled and slaved so you only need two levers to run this.

The test boat was snugged into the end of a row of finger docks and with a large sailboat bowsprit beside us and even with a bit if wind, we pulled away and later docked again with ease, using the joystick controls. Anyone could run this boat.

And run it does…we hit 42.8 mph at 3550 rpm and cruised easily and fully planed off at 3000 doing 25.5. It likes to go though. Owners will generally run about 3250 and 36 mph. The ride is sporty for a 50 and you feel like it is more responsive and a smaller boat than it really is.

The Marquis 50LS goes where you point it – smoothly and with an impressive turn of speed. It is a yacht that breaks new ground for style and innovation and it might be just the yacht that lights your fire.

By Andy Adams