Tested By Capt. Randy Emmerman

Just catching up to the 408 Motoryacht from Meridian Yachts was challenging. She was in the Punta Gorda area of Florida as they were being thrashed by Hurricane Charley. We finally had a chance to board the boat upon arrival in Sarasota. Standing beside the yacht and looking at her profile, she appeared to be a lot larger than 40 feet. Meridian Yachts packs a lot of features and amenities into the Motoryacht.

One of the first things you notice on the bridge is how quiet her engines are when running. With two diesels and a generator running, the gauges were the only indication she was ready to roll. The Meridian has a new docking system that everyone will like. It is an integrated bow and stern thruster design that was easy to use and will simplify the docking job. The thrusters are brought together on the dash with a movable silhouette of a boat; not a joystick. Simply move the bow of the boat left or right and the Meridian will follow. There are many combinations you can use encompassing both the bow and stern thrusters. With a little practice this device should make even the toughest docking situation a snap.

The weather was typical for Florida in August. Hot, hot, hot. We were in the low 90’s with plenty of humidity and the seas calm; a perfect day for a boat ride. Too bad we didn’t stop to jump in for a swim! As can be seen by the performance numbers of the 408 Meridian, she has a nice cruise speed and has the amenities of a luxury condo. Although we didn’t have a chance to run her in rough seas, the Meridian Yachts’ representative said she will run with the best of them.

The interior of the Meridian 408 shows a lot of thought for entertaining and cruising. She has a large salon with plenty of seating with a couch on either side with a built in entertainment center. The entertainment center is surrounded by built in cabinets and flows nicely with the interior of the boat. In addition the main saloon is open and airy with all natural light from the windows. A few steps from the saloon is the galley with plenty of counter space and full size refrigerator. The solid galley cabinets, Corian countertop and the teak and holly flooring give her a warm inviting feeling. You even have a private laundry room. This laundry room has plenty of storage and is cleverly designed not to take away additional cabin space.

The Meridian 408 motoryacht offers both a forward and aft stateroom. Both have plenty of room for relaxing. The aft stateroom offers a large double berth, built in cabinets with lots of storage and a nice private head and shower. In addition, the windows provide an open and comfortable feeling.

The top side of the motoryacht is designed for entertaining and relaxation. The expansive swim platform allows easy motor access, inflatable cleats, power supply connections and a shower. Integrated into the platform is a molded fiberglass staircase and hand rail.

The 408 offers two more top side large areas. The bridge has two L-shaped lounges along with the captain’s chair. This captain’s chair will put you in the center of all activities. The helm has great visibility and the gauges are easy to read. The dash board allow for plenty of electronics without the cluttered feeling. A few short steps from the bridge you will find another large area with a built in refrigerator and neat bar. Both of these areas are covered by built in fiberglass hard tops.

Access to the engine room is through two hatches in the main saloon. Once in the engine room you have a generous amount of room to service the engine and other systems. The engine room has a good layout and the hatches are sound proof for more enjoyment.

If getting away from it all or a weekend ride is what you are looking for, the Meridian 408 may be the boat for you.

• Top speed for the Meridian Yachts 408 Motoryacht (2004-) is 30.9 mph (N/A kph), burning gallons per hour (gph) or N/A liters per hour (lph).