Why We Love This Boat...
Besides the flybridge and lazarette which I told you about on the home page, there are several other aspects of the boat that are notable. So much so, we have made sure they are features that will be on our new boat.
SpotZero WaterMaker & WaterPurifier
A two-piece unit sits neatly in the engine room, with four reverse osmosis tubes mounted on the forward wall of the lazarette. At first, we hesitated to spend the significant amount of money on this option, but we’re very glad we did. The watermaker itself is excellent and has saved us more than once—but the real star of the system is the WaterPurifier.
The WaterPurifier does exactly what its name suggests: it purifies every drop of water that comes aboard - whether water from the watermaker or from dock water. Whenever we’re tied up and connected to shore water, the WaterPurifier treats it before it ever reaches the tank in the bow.
The benefit is instantly noticeable. We’re drinking and bathing in incredibly pure water—you can truly taste and feel the difference. But the unexpected bonus comes when washing down the boat. Since the wash-down water is free of minerals, it leaves no spots when it dries. No need for a shammy, no streaks, no hassle. On top of that, the wax finish holds up much longer, since there are no harsh minerals eating away at it.
Hydrolic Swim Platform
Whether you buy this boat or another, make sure it has a swim platform—it’s an absolute must. It’s not only great for entertaining, swimming, landing a big fish, or carrying the tender, but without it the stern area feels incredibly cramped. I’ve been on another M55 without a platform, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine trying to move around back there without worrying about falling in the drink.
We even special-ordered an extra set of staple receivers along the stern edge, but we hardly ever use them. The staples work best right on the aft edge of the platform itself. It gives you just the right amount of safety and stability where you need it. To top it off, the kids absolutely love riding the platform up and down into the water—it’s a built-in adventure.
Yacht Controller
If you’re familiar with Yacht Controllers, you already know they’ve been one of the most impactful innovations in boating over the past decade. A Yacht Controller is essentially a wireless helm you can hold in your hand, giving you full control of both engines and thrusters from anywhere within about 100 feet of your boat. This is especially valuable on enclosed flybridge yachts where sight lines are often limited.
I often operate my boat solo, and the Yacht Controller makes that not only possible but easy. I can stand on the dock releasing lines while maintaining complete control of the boat. From there, I step aboard and move toward the bow, where I have a clear, unobstructed view of the fairway as I ease out of the slip. Once clear, I walk along the side decks to bring in lines and fenders—all while staying in full command. I then continue driving out of the marina as I make my way up the interior stairs to the flybridge, where I seamlessly transition back to the main helm. It’s just as smooth a process when coming back into port.
A helpful tip: instead of wearing the Yacht Controller around your neck as designed, clip it to a front belt loop with a carabiner. This keeps it secure and out of your way when you lean over to handle lines or tie up.
Miele Washer and Dryer
Having a washer and dryer aboard is a whole new level of convenience for us. None of my previous boats had the space for anything like this, so it truly feels like an upgrade. You know you’re cruising in style when you can do laundry while underway. No more stashing bags of quarters or spending time in rundown marina laundromats. It’s one of those luxuries that, once you have it, you can’t imagine being without—and with Miele, you’re getting the best of the best.
