BoatBanter.com - Observations aboard the Meridian 368

Space Ship

No, we haven't lost our editorial focus in this month's Sea Trial.
We had the pleasure of spending a morning aboard a 2005 Meridian 368
Motoryacht, and we believe boaters hoping to find a vessel that offers
a surprising amount of space in a (nominal) 36-feet will quickly agree
that the Meridian 368 fills the bill. As we poked, prodded, inspected
and explored the vessel, it became apparent that the same expert design
that is reflected in a spacious, user friendly layout is also applied
to create a well made and still relatively affordable family cruising
boat.

Our host for the sea trial was Scott Hauck, CPYB (certified
professional yacht broker), of Olympic Yacht Center in Seattle.

The Meridian 368 is produced in Arlington, Washington. The Meridian
approach to boat building relies very heavily on computer assisted
design technology and a highly organized, modular construction system.
While it's true there may be less of the salty old pipe-smoking
shipwright's influence in a Meridian, there are also fewer
opportunities for human mistakes. Old Salty would never be able to
consistently produce work that met tolerances as finite as
25/1000th's of an inch, especially while completing enough boats to
become one of the best selling brand names in the industry.

Meridian hulls are intended to be strong, but relatively light. The two
concepts are not mutually exclusive. Like the rest of the Meridian
line, the 368 is laid up in gimbaled mold that rotates to assure that
no uneven puddling of resin can compromise the integrity of the hull.
The lamination schedule includes layers of hand-laid and hand-finished
woven roving alternating with layers of fiberglass strands. Stringers
are carried forward up the bow, and the load-bearing bulkheads are
glassed to the hull as well as the deck. Meridian hull-to-deck joints
are chemically bonded as well as mechanically fastened, with
through-bolts every 5-7 inches along the entire length of the joint.
Composite coring is used to build up decks, hulls, cabin soles, and the
superstructure, in proportions carefully selected to reduce the weight
of the boat while maintaining the integrity and stability of the hull.

The Meridian 368 is backed by a 10-year hull and deck warranty.
Vinylester resins and a vinylester barrier coat are used in the layup
to minimize any potential for osmotic blistering.

Vital Statistics:

LOA: 37'8"
Beam: 13'7"
Draft: 42"
Bridge Clearance: 13'6"
Tankage, fuel: 250 gal
Tankage, water: 90 gal
Holding tank: 50 gal
Dry weight: 24,250
Engines: (as tested) 330HP Cummins Mercruiser diesel
Generator: (as tested) 9 kW Onan

Distinctive styling allows the 368 to combine a pleasing form with
extreme functionality.
A flat sheer, high freeboard, and the upper sweeping, expanses of
safety glass windows characterize the side profile. Hull and cabin
lines are contemporary, without being gratuitously avante garde. A
permanent hardtop protects the aft deck, and the hardtop is supported
by stanchions that frame port and starboard acrylic wing doors.

The only practical boarding access to the Meridian 368, in most docking
situations, is via a set of molded steps between the aft deck and the
swim platform. Every boat comes with a few compromises, and this may be
one minor drawback to the Meridian's design. The best location for a
dinghy would be off the swimstep, and it would be beneficial to offset
the dinghy to starboard just a bit and dock portside-to for best
access. At the same time, one must give Meridian credit for a marvelous
innovation that enhances safe and convenient access across the
swimstep. A concave channel is molded into the swimstep, under a
hinged, non-skid cover that can be raised for access to the channel or
latched back into position to become part of the walking surface of the
platform. At the dock, the shorepower cable can be routed through the
channel to the fittings located near the aft cabin steps and thereby
virtually eliminate any risk of tripping on the power cable when
boarding or disembarking a Meridian 368.

Additional side deck boarding options are available, but as with any
high freeboard vessel permanent or folding boarding steps will be
needed for safe and graceful access.

Interior Observations

While Scott Hauck completed his pre-departure checklist, we took the
opportunity to explore the interior of he 368. It took some specific
effort to bear in mind that this is "only" a 36-foot boat, as the
interior space and amenities would compete fairly well with many
vessels in the 40- 42-foot range.

Our test boat had the standard 368 layout. The guest stateroom is in
the most forward compartment, with an island double on centerline. Two
hanging lockers, (one with shelving for a TV/VCR or other entertainment
system), and stowage drawers beneath the bunk maximize the convenience,
comfort, and utility of this "guest" stateroom. On a lesser boat,
this compartment would pass for a master stateroom rather nicely.
Meridian offers an option that creates a slightly less opulent but far
more versatile stateroom in this forward cabin. The optional
configuration includes an upper bunk, v-style seating, and a game or
dining table that can be replaced with filler cushions to create a
large sleeping area. This affords the forward stateroom the flexibility
to serve as an office, an informal game area, or a sleeping space for
several children. Olympic Yacht Center customers have been very
enthused with the more versatile and less formal option.

The guest head is just aft of the forward stateroom, and to starboard.
There is private access from the forward stateroom, as well as general
access from the companionway.
Meridian's guest head includes a Kardon (tm) molded vanity with
single lever faucet, a VacuFlush marine toilet, and a dedicated shower
stall. The walls are all easy-clean surfaces, and a floor drain outside
the shower stall, (to handle sink spills or the drippings from folks
toweling off after a shower), is a thoughtful addition.

The galley is to port, with cherry joinery in an L-configuration on the
forward bulkhead and against the gunwale. The galley is one step up
from the forward stateroom, and one step down from the salon. The
location provides the "part of the party" benefits of an "up"
galley and the "dishes out of sight and out of mind after dinner"
benefits of a galley "down". A convection/microwave oven is mounted
between two upper lockers on the bulkhead, with an electric cooktop
below. A bank of drawers below the cooktop create some handy stowage
options, and a "carousel" shelf in the corner locker below the
galley sink maximizes access to the far corners of the stowage area.
Immediately aft of the sink, a Norcold dual voltage side-by-side
undercounter refrigerator and freezer provide will cool and freeze
enough provisions to feed a hungry crew for a week or more. Additional
galley stowage is available in a locker on the opposite side of the
companionway step to the salon.

While the flybridge and aft deck will be the social centers on a 368
Meridian during daylight hours and warm weather, the salon provides a
comfortable and luxurious environment for relaxing or conversing when
it is too cool on deck or greater privacy is desired. Seating in the
salon is provided by Flexsteel (tm) lounges upholstered in classy
Mirage (tm) leather, with double integrated recliners on the starboard
side. The smaller Mirage (tm) leather settee to port curves gently
around an adjustable hi-lo table that can accommodate either dining or
entertainment. Comfort control throughout the Meridian 368 is provided
by a 3-zone reverse cycle heating and air conditioning system with
24,000 total BTU's. The heated or cooled air circulates through the
salon by means of an
Ultra-Flow (tm) duct system that is stylishly incorporated into the
overhead structure of the salon.

In the salon, one appreciates that the double row of cabin windows on
the 368 Meridian provides more than a simple styling benefit- there is
an unobstructed outdoor view for anyone either sitting or standing in
the salon. An entertainment center in the aft quarter of the
compartment includes a flat screen TV, and an AM/FM stereo CD/DVD
player.

The engine room is accessed through removable hatches in the salon.
Pulling the center hatch allows access to a short ladder that provides
sure footing when descending to the diamond plate floorboard spanning
the inboard stringers above the keel. The Cummins Mercruiser diesels
are routinely serviceable without the removal of the second and third
hatches in the salon, but removing the additional hatches remains an
option for those who want stand-up access to the machinery and plenty
of "elbow room" for working. The systems and installations below
deck are well designed. Engine mounts are hefty, through-hulls are
bronze, and even Old Salty the shipwright would have to admit that
Meridian has done a fine job with the structural and systems aspects of
the 368.

The master stateroom is most aft, with a large bright window in the aft
bulkhead bringing enough light and outside view into the stateroom to
eliminate any semblance of the dark and cave-like compartments often
associated with master stateroom in an aft cabin design. The master
stateroom is compact without being crowded, and includes several
thoughtful features. The queen size berth is basically set athwartship,
but angled slightly away from the aft bulkhead to create a
"walkaround" to the far side of the berth. Meridian included two
cedar-lined hanging lockers, a TV is built into an entertainment
cabinet, and space has been provided for setting up a laptop computer
with telephone connections.

On deck

Going forward from the aft deck is a secure and sure-footed process on
the Meridian 368.
The non-skid side decks are just wide enough for normal walking,
without resorting to a complete heel-and-toe technique. At the points
where boarding gaps have been designed in the welded, stainless,
perimeter rail a stout rail is provided on the superstructure instead.
While a bit of hand switching may be required, the safety adage "one
hand for the boat and one hand for the work" can be strictly observed
on the Meridian 368. A raised toe-rail surrounds the deck, with
drainage created in spaces provided for the 12-inch mooring cleats.
(The cleats are bolted through metal backing plates for increased
strength).

The foredeck features a self-tailing vertical windlass, with both fresh
and raw water washdown fittings concealed under an adjoining hatch.

Six people can sit comfortably on the flybridge, and another six could
join the party on the aft deck. Our test boat was equipped with a full
canvas enclosure for the aft deck and flybridge areas, and we can't
imagine many NW boaters opting for a Meridian 368 without the canvas.
Twenty-five years ago, everybody just knew that "you must have a
lower helm on a boat in the Pacific NW!" Upper deck canvas typically
consisted of a weather cover stretched across the flybridge cowling and
the seat tops, and perhaps a bimini top to provide some shade for
skippers and guests on the hottest summer days.
Given a choice, more boaters would prefer to navigate and steer from
the flybridge, so boats began appearing with all-weather enclosures for
the upper deck and the lower helm was seldom used. It's only a baby
step from "seldom used" to "removed to put the space to better
use." Boats throughout the majority of the country have long been
routinely sold without lower steering stations, and the combination of
an enclosed flybridge and no lower helm is proving not only saleable,
but also very popular here in the Pacific NW.

Observations underway:

Our test boat was moored in a cluster of vessels, near the end of a
dock with an angled extension protruding behind the swimstep. An
energetic crosswind was blowing the Meridian 368 off the dock-
ordinarily a good thing but not when there are additional boats only a
few feet off the outside beam and a an angled, rather than a parallel
exit is required. The Meridian 368 is equipped with the D.O.C.
("docking on command") feature, which consists of bow and stern
thrusters controlled by a common joystick shaped like a boat hull. To
reposition the bow or the stern, the helmsperson need only push the
corresponding portion of the joystick in the desired direction. Scott
Hauck backed the 368 past all the obstacles easily and with total
control. While Scott is an experienced pro, the joystick system would
allow even a boating beginner to execute a similar maneuver with
confidence. D.O.C. promises to take some of the "excitement" out of
boating, and it's the type of excitement most boaters will be
ecstatic to forego.

One advantage of running from an enclosed flybridge rather than a lower
helm is that engine noise at lower RPM is almost imperceptible. The
Meridian 368 certainly does not have a "noisy" cabin environment,
but most boats will be quieter on the upper deck at any level of speed.
We could hear the engines and the generator, but just barely, as we
idled out to Lake Washington.

The helm is well configured on the 368. Most of the accessory switches
are on the starboard side of the cowling, easily reached but unlikely
to be accidentally activated during a rapid maneuver. The recent design
of this boat is reflected in the very compact, but still sufficient
space reserved for electronics. A few years ago a boat with a full
array of electronics resembled a TV production studio, with video
monitors and controls dominating the area near the wheel. The space
reserved for electronics on the Meridian 368 is perfectly proportioned
for products like the Raymarine RL80CRC 7" color radar and
chartplotter; (the RL80CRC is available as a factory installed option).
Modern electronics provide more information, in smaller and more
integrated packages than every before. There is a lack of space for
traditional charting, but we live in an era when most boaters consider
traditional paper charts a last, emergency resort rather than the
primary navigation tool.

Aft cabin boats often experience a bit of bow rise when transitioning
to plane, and this was true of the Meridian 368. There was just enough
bow rise to be notable, but not enough to significantly impair forward
visibility. Just about the time when the skipper wonders if it would be
useful to apply the trim tabs to correct the attitude, the Meridian 368
achieves plane and the bow drops back to a very acceptable position of
its own accord.

We weren't prepared to measure fuel consumption, but Meridian
provided the following figures based on previous tests of the 368 with
twin 330 Cummins Mercruiser diesels and a full load of fuel, (250
gallons).

1000 rpm: 7 mph, 463 mile range
1200 rpm: 8 mph, 391 mile range
1400 rpm: 8.8 mph, 309 mile range
1600 rpm: 9.55 mph, 223 mile range
1800 rpm: 10.3 mph, 175 mile range
2000 rpm: 11.8 mph, 152 mile range
2200 rpm: 14.25 mph, 151 mile range
2400 rpm: 18.55 mph, 176 mile range
2600 rpm: 22.75 mph, 198 mile range
2800 rpm: 28.1 mph, 206 mile range

The Meridian 368 proved to be one of the most responsive boats we have
recently tested in its size category. Even at speeds approaching 25
knots, the rudders were effective enough to allow tight, flat, turns.
Conditions were fairly calm, so we powered through our own wake several
times, as well as anything even remotely resembling chop. It became
easy to develop an opinion that the Meridian 368 is solid enough to
handle conditions far worse than any Pacific NW pleasure cruisers are
likely to encounter. We believe the 368 will be a "dry" ride in
head seas, and much more stable than the high profile and the weight of
the aft deck hardtop might suggest in beam sea conditions.

Once up on plane, there was only a moderate wake. Meridian has made
good use of the potential of CAD in this hull.

Conclusions:

There's a lot to like about the Meridian 368. In common with most aft
cabins, it's not the most "fishable" design ever built but the
boat has the potential to be a fabulous family weekend and vacation
cruiser in our Pacific NW waters. Many believe the mission of a
pleasure boat is to transport the captain and passengers safely,
comfortably, and in a flourish of style to a wilderness anchorage, a
waterfront village, or a luxury resort and then provide a pleasant and
entertaining environment. If so, the Meridian 368 will perform up to
and beyond expectations. Boaters shopping for a new 36-footer would be
well advised to consider the 368. In fact, boaters shopping for boats
in the 40-foot category and beyond may want to check out the 368 before
inking a check for a larger boat elsewhe some are likely to conclude
that this 36-foot "space" ship offers all the capacities and
facilities of a larger yacht in a more compact and affordable package.

Scott Hauck informed us that, as tested, the price of the Meridian 368
is in the "mid threes". For additional information on the 368 or
other Meridians, contact Olympic Yacht Center at