Merry Fisher 1295 Fly, the family outboard cabin cruiser. TEST

The explosion of the outboard market has brought these engines to boats unthinkable just a few years ago. The Merry Fisher 1295 Fly is perhaps one of the most striking examples of this phenomenon. Jeanneau’s new sport-cruiser, which becomes the flagship of the range, is a cabin cruiser designed as a family weekender that, thanks to three 300-horsepower Yamaha V6s, touches open-sport speeds. A special mix suitable for a particular audience that wants to add outboard performance to the volumes. The Merry Fisher Fly family, quite different from the Sport family-designed for fishing-was created precisely with the intention of satisfying those who like to take short- to medium-range cruises with everything they need on board.

Merry Fisher 1295 Fly

Kitchen on the cockpit, sunbathing areas on the deck and fly, generator and stabilizer: between standard and optional equipment everything is set up to have in your hands a boat that can stay out in autonomy and comfort for quite some time. Starting from the cockpit, the all-around weekender modularity immediately emerges.

The aft bench can be moved forward to get outboards out of the water when stationary, the starboard flybridge ladder can be moved to the window when not in use, and the starboard folding (electric) broadside increases the available surface area even more. Basically, with just a few moves, you can improve circulation and not a little. Dominating the cockpit is a large L-shaped sofa with coffee table off-center to port abutting the galley, positioned in the salon but directly connected by a window that scrolling to starboard totally joins the two sections.

Interior

We do not have the capacity that a long-range cruiser offers, but continuing inside on the tested model we find dirimpetto in the kitchen and dirimpetto to it various storage spaces, including a wine cellar. Further forward is a C-shaped sofa with a raised center table, ideal for indoor meals when the weather does not permit. Directly in front is the helm station with a great rotatable chair and side hatch that makes it easy for those steering the boat to move around on board.

This goes some way toward obviating the choice of having a very narrow walkway on the left flank, which allows for a significant increase in interior volume while reducing, however, the possibility of movement on that side. A staircase from the aft cockpit leads to the flybridge, a true relaxation area suspended over the sea with sundeck at the bow and sofa C at the stern, which can be equipped with a refrigerator and awning, not to mention a second helm station for those who love sailing
en plein air
With the wind in your face.

In the bow is a very large second sundeck with a large cushioning that folds forward in the center to reveal two can holders and the master stateroom pass-through. The latter, thanks to a glazed panel right at the base of the “deckhouse” on which the sundeck rests, is very brightly lit even without direct rays that would heat and, above all, maintaining the necessary privacy. Remaining below deck, we then see the forward master stateroom equipped with a queen-size bed, with storage space below and several closets on either side.

This is the only one with a private bathroom with a large separate shower stall, while the other two, one on each side with two single beds, share a same toilet area, also with a separate shower and sink, which also serves as the
day head
.

Merry Fisher 1295 Fly – Performance

How does Jeanneau’s new flagship Merry Fisher sail? Powered by three Yamaha V6 outboards of 300 horsepower each, 900hp total, it proved fast overall, even touching 40 knots (in our test we got up to about 38 kn). There is a lot of mass to move when we consider that, for example, compared to a Cap Camarat 10.5 (4,582 kg without engines), we have just 50 more horsepower to push 8,181 kg (without the engines).

We are dealing with two totally different types of boats, it is clear, but the comparison serves to make the point that this Merry Fisher for having a non-trivial tonnage, still has interesting performance. At 24 knots, for example, a comfortable cruising speed, overall consumption is 124 liters per hour. During our test, from the flybridge, navigation was smooth in both direction changes and wave transitions. The boat takes longer to reach the glide, also complicit in the actual displacement, but once “on the wave” everything is very linear. The model tested, moreover, was equipped with Zipwake, interceptors that automatically greatly improve shipboard trim. Also completing the package is Yamaha’s Helm Master, with which every maneuver, even in tight quarters, becomes truly child’s play.

Merry Fisher 1295 Fly