If there’s such a thing as a boat with a destiny, CELTIC CROSS might be it. Designed in La Rochelle France by the legendary Henri Amel, this ketch-rigged, ocean-crossing machine has carried sailors around the world for decades. Now I’m the lucky steward of her. The previous owners took exceptional care of her and stocked her with enough spare parts to open my own chandlery. And because the original owner requested several custom modifications, she stands out as something truly unique—even among an already remarkable class of boats.
Dimensions & Core Specs
The Super Maramu is built for distance, comfort, and safety—three things that become more important the farther offshore you go.
LOA: ~52’ 6” (15.97m)
LWL: ~43’ 4” (13.22m)
Beam: 15’ 1” (4.60m)
Draft: 6’ 7” (2.00m)
Displacement: ~20 tons
Ballast: ~3.7 tons
Rig: Ketch, roller-furling main and mizzen
Engine: Yanmar 100hp
Fuel: 158 gallons
Water: 264 gallons
Designer: Henri Amel
Shipyard: Amel, La Rochelle, France
Year Built: 2003
Every measurement on this boat feels overbuilt—and that’s the point. Henri Amel designed for the long game.
A Brief History
The Super Maramu is the evolution of the early Maramu and the precursor to the Amel 54. Its reputation comes from real-world passagemaking. These boats routinely circumnavigate, sail across oceans short-handed, and keep showing up decades later with the same original structures intact.
Amel's philosophy was simple:
“Build a boat a husband and wife can sail around the world in comfort, safely, and without fear.”
That meant:
Watertight bulkheads
Center cockpit protection
Walk-in engine room
Electric furling systems years before the industry adopted them
A layout designed for living aboard, not just weekend sailing
Every inch of the Super Maramu reflects that obsession with practicality at sea.
Capabilities: What This Boat Does Best
The Super Maramu is not a marina queen. It’s a blue-water home.
Offshore passagemaking
With its long waterline, heavy displacement, and ketch rig, the Super Maramu is happiest chewing up miles on the open ocean—calm, balanced, and efficient.
Short-handed sailing
Electric furling, centralized controls, and protected helm make it realistic for a solo sailor or a couple to handle in almost any conditions.
Stable in heavy weather
With dual headsails, a low center of gravity, and legendary Amel construction, the boat stays composed when the seas turn fast and unfriendly.
Liveaboard comfort
A real engine room, generator space, large tankage, and cabin layout built for long-term living make it more “small ship” than “big sailboat.”
Long-range independence
With serious tank capacity and systems engineered for reliability, Super Maramus often go weeks between marinas.
Why This Boat Matters to Me
For me, the Super Maramu is more than just a vessel—it’s a partner in a long-imagined adventure. It’s a boat with lineage, purpose, and seaworthiness baked into its bones. Every decision Amel made was about keeping sailors safe and comfortable while they sought out the far edges of the map.
And that’s exactly what I’m preparing to do.