Maritimo launches Caribbean 40F and 27F flybridge cruisers at Sanctuary Cove boat show

Two new flybridge cruisers carrying a name that has meant something to offshore boaters since 1958 made their world debut at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on Queensland's Gold Coast in May 2026. Maritimo, the company behind the revival of the Caribbean brand, brought the Caribbean 40F and Caribbean 27F Flybridge Cruisers before the public for the first time, and the response at the show reflected what had already become clear months before the boats were finished.

"We've done no marketing, zero," said Sean Savage, Business Development Manager at Maritimo, "and we've been overwhelmed by interest. That says something about the strength of the Caribbean brand." Savage made that observation in September 2025. Eight months on, the boats were real, and they were at Sanctuary Cove.

Caribbean boats: a brand built on offshore credibility since 1958

International Marine had been producing boats from its Melbourne facility since 1958, and for generations of Australian and New Zealand offshore boaters, Caribbean was never simply a model range. It was woven into the fabric of the sport, the kind of brand whose boats were handed down through families with the stories still attached.

“It’s almost a changing of the guard. Generations of Aussie boat owners grew up on Caribbeans. Their families fished from them, cruised the coastline, and passed down both boats and stories. Yet time marches on, and even legends need a fresh coat of gelcoat, or in this case, a full rethink.” — Sean Savage

When Maritimo began consulting existing owners during the acquisition process, certain words surfaced repeatedly: strong, reliable, built to last. The criticism was equally consistent. Fitout and finish had fallen behind the times, and that shortfall had only widened by the time International Marine folded and the brand changed hands. Maritimo, whose core business is long-range luxury motor yachts, had the manufacturing capability needed to close the gap.

“For decades, Caribbean earned a loyal following because the boats worked exceptionally well in real offshore conditions. This new generation of Caribbean has been designed to retain those core principles while evolving the brand with modern engineering, contemporary styling, improved layout and liveability, as well as all the benefits of Maritimo’s world-class manufacturing scale and capabilities.” — Bill Barry-Cotter AM, Founder, Maritimo

How Maritimo rebuilt the Caribbean flybridge range from scratch

The development process began with an unusual first step. Maritimo pulled existing Caribbean boats from the water and brought them into the Coomera factory to be digitally scanned, inside and out.

“Once we had the boats digitised, we could put them on our design programs and get an in-depth analysis of them.” — Sean Savage

That exercise was followed by a focus group drawn from long-time Caribbean owners, many of whom had owned several boats from the brand. Their feedback was blunt and consistent. The hull was right. The ride was right. The deck and fitout needed to go. With that direction settled, Maritimo left the deep-V hull largely untouched and rebuilt everything above the gunwale.

“We redesigned the entire upper footprint. New coach house, flybridge, deck layout, the lot. We’re keeping it traditional, functional, but with a nicer finish than the original Caribbeans had. We are going to keep things intentionally simple and strong, with an emphasis on external staircases, fibreglass hardtops, and high-quality clears.” — Sean Savage

The economics of the project rest on what Maritimo already has in place. "For most boat builders, the cost of setting up to produce a 40-foot boat would outweigh the profit they make," Savage noted, "but Maritimo already has the infrastructure and the systems. That's why we can do this, and do it right."

Caribbean 40F Flybridge: layout, engines, and offshore capability

Of the two launches at Sanctuary Cove, the Caribbean 40F carries the bigger headline. Forty feet of flybridge cruiser built to a crossover brief: offshore-capable enough for extended passages and game fishing, yet practical enough for a family weekend away.

The Caribbean 40F draws on the qualities that defined the earlier Caribbean flybridge models, strong seakeeping, dependable handling, and deep-V offshore performance, while bringing the exterior properly into the current era. The flybridge lines are sharper, glazing areas are larger, and the hardtop profile reads as genuinely contemporary. The styling is purposeful rather than decorative. The aim was a cleaner, more thoroughly finished version of what Caribbean had always built.

Among the layout choices that shaped the design, removing the side elements of the forward-facing glass proved particularly consequential. That change freed up space that went directly into fridge and pantry storage. Wide side decks, a generous saloon, updated onboard systems, and a flybridge helm positioned for offshore visibility round out the main deck.

The flybridge ladder sits within the awning envelope on the starboard side and rises through a dedicated hatch, leaving the cockpit clear. The port side houses the fridge/freezer, while sink and barbecue are positioned to starboard beneath the ladder. The Caribbean 40F fishes well and entertains just as well.

Propulsion throughout is shaft-drive diesel. Twin Volvo Penta D8s, the six-cylinder in-line 7.7-litre units, are the standard power option. The boat on display at Sanctuary Cove is running something considerably more aggressive.

“These won’t be the standard power plants. The base engines will be Volvo Penta D8s, but for this build, the intention is to demonstrate the full performance envelope of this hull.” — Paul Wrench, Manufacturing Manager

That means twin Volvo Penta D11s delivering 670 horsepower combined.

A 400-litre water tank reflects serious range ambitions. The Caribbean 40F also runs a dedicated engine room liner that stiffens the hull and makes the engine room easier to service. Buyers can configure their boat toward fishing or family cruising, and the owners who fed into the design process were targeting cruise speeds of 25 knots with headroom into the 30s.

Caribbean 27F Flybridge: the compact offshore cruiser reborn

The Caribbean 27F is aimed at a different part of the market, and for many Caribbean loyalists it may prove the more significant of the two new boats.

The original Caribbean 26 and 27 flybridge models ran for decades, building a following among offshore fishermen and coastal boaters that bordered on the fanatical. Compact, capable, and easy to tow, they brought serious offshore fishing within reach of owners who couldn't stretch to a larger vessel. The Caribbean 27F rebuilds that proposition from scratch.

“The 27-foot segment is incredibly important because it represents the sweet spot for so many Australian boat owners. Owners want offshore confidence, cruising comfort, and ease of ownership in one package. That’s exactly what the Caribbean 27F has been designed to deliver.” — Bill Barry-Cotter AM, Founder, Maritimo

The most considered design work sits in the cabin. The brow, the forward overhang above the screens, has been shortened and shifted rearward, recovering 300mm of cabin space. On a 27-footer, 300mm is not a small number. That recovered room flows into the seating and galley, and both headroom and entry access have improved in the process.

The exterior has been refreshed throughout: cleaner glazing, updated flybridge proportions, smoother hull surfaces, and a moulded-in toe rail. The finish is contemporary; the offshore character is unchanged. The cockpit is generously sized, the flybridge helm sits high for good visibility, and the first Caribbean 27F will be powered by twin outboards.

Maritimo is expecting the Caribbean 27F to connect with offshore anglers, with owners stepping down from larger flybridge yachts, with families after a manageable cruiser, and with long-time Caribbean owners who want a modern version of something familiar. The original Caribbean 26 and 27 spread their following across all of those groups.

Boating New Zealand Insert

This review dates from September 2024, before Maritimo acquired Caribbean and reworked the 27-footer into the new Caribbean 27F Flybridge unveiled at Sanctuary Cove 2026. The deck, cabin, and drivetrain have all changed in the new model. The deep-V hull underneath them has not. Read this as a record of the platform that Maritimo chose to build on, and you'll understand why they did.

Read the Caribbean 27 Flybridge review

Maritimo production, racing history, and what they mean for the new Caribbean range

Maritimo brings more than factory space to this project. The company has a long record in offshore powerboat racing and multiple championship wins, and the experience from that racing programme shapes how their boats are engineered for rough-water conditions.

“This launch comes at a time when interest in authentic offshore flybridge motor yachts continues to strengthen globally, particularly among experienced boaters seeking capability, reliability, and functionality over trend-driven styling. Maritimo’s decision to revive Caribbean reflects growing demand for practical Australian-built offshore boats capable of genuine blue water performance while still delivering the comfort and finish expected in the premium recreational boating market.” — Bill Barry-Cotter AM

Both the Caribbean 40F and the Caribbean 27F were developed with input from long-time Caribbean owners and experienced offshore boaters. The specific choices in each design, the Caribbean 40F's water tank capacity, the Caribbean 27F's recovered cabin space, the engine room liner, came from those conversations rather than from internal design decisions made in isolation.

“The global unveiling of the Caribbean 40F and 27F at Sanctuary Cove represents one of the most significant Australian production boat launches in recent years. These two new models establish the foundation of the reborn Caribbean range and reaffirm Maritimo’s long-standing commitment to offshore performance, practical innovation, and Australian boat building.” — Simon Stewart, Marketing Manager, Maritimo

Caribbean 40F and 27F: what's next for the relaunched range

Two models is the start, not the full picture. A 49 to 50-footer in the same mould was already under development when the revival was first announced, and with the Caribbean 40F and Caribbean 27F now before the public the pace of that programme is likely to pick up.

New Zealand boaters have good reason to pay attention. The deep-V hull form, the offshore engineering brief, the flybridge layout, and the focus on range and seakeeping all point to boats suited to conditions that Kiwi skippers know well. Caribbean is an Australian brand, but its offshore values are not country-specific.

“We feel honoured to be custodians of the brand. We’re not hiding the fact that it’s built by Maritimo, but we’re keeping the Caribbean name, logo, and legacy intact.” — Sean Savage

The Caribbean 40F and Caribbean 27F Flybridge Cruisers are on display at Maritimo's on-water berth at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, May 21 to 24, 2026.

Caribbean 40F vs 27F: at a glance