MJM 3z

MJM Yachts may be rooted in their Down East heritage, but the company is continually evolving in order to bring the brand to a broader market. That evolution first manifested with outboard power on the 35z, and it continues to make waves with the brand’s new dual console model, the 3z, which was just announced.

“The dual console has taken off because it does so much for family boating, but no company marries form to function as well as MJM,” says CEO Peter Truslow. Function comes by way of the 35-footer’s “Three Zones of Fun,” from which it earns the 3z moniker, atop the proven hull of the 35z. There is ample seating forward around a table with storage below. Aft is an L-shaped settee with a flip-down bolster backrest that converts to a lounge area, and there is plenty of storage aft for inner tubes, fishing gear and coolers. The helm area offers exceptional visibility and a new dashboard layout. The new windscreen design opens to allow airflow on nicer days, but it can be sealed when the weather turns south so, with the Taylor Made side windows closed and the after isinglass curtain deployed, you can run the heat or air-conditioning. MJM reports that the boat will have 360 degrees of visibility. Below deck is a freshwater head with shower to port and a utility room with enough space to store your bags to starboard.

Power comes from twin Mercury 300-hp Verados, which should provide a top speed around 43 knots, according to MJM. The boat’s low profile should decrease drag above and below the waterline, and its fine entry should pierce the waves, making it suitable for offshore usage under appropriate conditions. “The boats have the Down East heritage, but all boats are designed to run 50 mph, so it’s a modern performance boat that can compete against some of the mainstream brands,” says Truslow. Like the other hulls in the MJM lineup, the 3z is designed by naval architect Doug Zurn.

MJM yachts have traditionally been built at Boston Boatworks, but the new 3z will be built in the company’s new Washington, North Carolina facility. The construction method will no longer feature their sophisticated vacuum-bagged, post-cured pre-preg epoxy process, but it will still utilize resin-infused modified epoxy. The base price for the dayboat will be $595,000, which comes in below the 35z’s base price of $725,000.

MJM is taking a stab at a crowded market space, but the company is confident that its heritage will set its product apart and offer its craftsmanship to a wider range of boaters. “MJM’s core original market was New England and the Chesapeake, and our roots come from express cruisers, but we deliver something that is far better than the other offerings on the market,” says Chairman Peter Johnstone. “The outboards have enabled more people to enjoy our brand, and this new day layout will really put the boat in the sweet spot for how a lot of people use their boats in the rest of the country.”

MJM 3z Specifications:

LOA: 37’11”
Length on Deck: 35’8”
Beam: 11’
Displacement half load (est.): 13,279 lbs.
Draft Up/Down: 1’9”/2’8”
Fuel: 250 gal.
Water: 58 gal.
Air Height: 8’10”
Power: 2/300-hp Mercury Verados
Top Speed (est.): 43 knots