A joystick for easy movement of large units
The test of the Merry Fischer 1295 Fly takes place in Cannes in April, on a sunny but cool day. The foulies are out. The sea is beautiful, barely rippled by a light breeze. There are 5 of us on board, and the 2x600-liter fuel tanks are 54% and 83% full respectively.
Leaving port is easy, thanks to the joystick. A relay for the steering wheel at low speed, it allows us to control the movements of the imposing 40-foot motorboat smoothly and easily. We're positioned on the flybridge, snug in the pilot's seat, with an unobstructed view of the horizon.
Impressive top speed
We finally reach the open sea and increase the throttle. The Merry Fisher 1295 Fly reaches her planning speed of around 18 knots. Since the sea is quite flat, we can easily push the boat to the limit, and reach an impressive 38 knots at 6000 rpm. Incredible for a Merry Fisher of this size, with an unpowered weight of over 8,000 kg! Fuel consumption at this speed is 304 l/h, or 8 l/nm.
Stable, safe cruising
Although it can reach almost 40 knots, that's not what the Merry Fisher 1295 Fly is about. It's a family cruiser, for sailing with children or friends. Cruising speed is around 20 knots. At 4,000 rpm, speed is 22.5 knots, for fuel consumption of 126.1 l/h, or 5.6 l/nm, giving a range of around 200 miles. At 27.7 knots obtained at 4500 rpm, fuel consumption remains fairly similar, at 162.4 l/h, or 5.8 l/nm. Best performance is achieved at 19.7 knots - 3,700 rpm - with fuel consumption of 100.8 l/h, or 5.1 l/nm.
Underway, the Merry Fisher 1295 Fly remains stable and comfortable. Its hull passes pleasantly through the wake we create, compensating for the absence of waves. When cornering, the boat remains just as stable. Although imposing, with a length of over 12 m, we're thrilled by how easy it is to steer. The ride is smooth and responsive, further enhanced by the electric steering.
A flybridge cruiser that embraces versatility
This sea trial confirms the boat's suitability for family use, with a strong sense of security, even when perched almost 4 m high on the fly. With two helm stations - inside and outside - the Merry Fisher is a versatile boat, offering a wide range of driving possibilities in different conditions, all well protected.
