Marco Boats has earned its reputation by building tough alloy boats that thrive in real offshore weather, and Lunatic, the new 700 Souwester customised for a private client, shows just how far that platform can go. It sits on the proven hull lines of the 700, but the specification belongs more to a small launch than a trailer boat. This is the most heavily equipped 700 Marco has delivered, and it signals how flexible the Souwester design has become for owners who want to travel further, stay out longer, and fish with serious intent.
The bones of the boat remain pure Marco. This 700 carries a 8mm bottom and transom, 5mm sides, and the familiar full length stringer system that gives these boats their reassuring ride. At 7.55 metres overall, and 2490kg dry on its custom Marco alloy trailer, it still tows behind the right vehicle, but once afloat the boat feels bigger than its numbers. The broader Souwester family has long been known for a firm grip on the water, a predictable ride in a following sea, soft entry, and the weight and composure of a larger hull. Those traits are here too. Anyone who has spent time in a Souwester will recognise the settled trim, the sure handling and the confidence the hull inspires when you push into rougher conditions.
From that starting point, Lunatic becomes something else entirely. It is the first Marco 700 to carry a Seakeeper gyro, a major step for a boat of this size and a clear indicator of the brief. Stability at rest, especially on deep water fishing trips, was a priority for the owner and it has been delivered in full. Adding that mass also deepens the boat’s planted feel, shifting the 700 even closer toward the launch-like character we saw in Boating New Zealand’s 750 review.
The electronics fitout belongs in a much larger wheelhouse. Twin Furuno TZtouch 16 inch screens dominate the helm, driven by a 3kW CM599 transducer and a separate 360 degree sonar system mounted through the hull, a rarity on a trailer boat and evidence of the fishing style Lunatic has been built for. Radar and autopilot round out a navigation and fishing package that would not look out of place on a commercial boat. Power for the house system comes from a huge 330 amp hour lithium battery paired with a full monitoring setup, giving the skipper real time visibility of loads and charge states.
Marco has also responded to a clever layout request. Lunatic is the first 700 with a second helm station, giving full control from the cockpit, and the first with a second bunk in the forward cabin. The extra berth turns the cabin into a more practical overnight space and speaks to the owner’s plan for extended liveaboard weekends. The builders have framed the additional bunk neatly into the existing moulded structure, keeping the cabin bright and open without compromising storage.
If you are wondering why a second helm station was part of this build, the answer lies in how the owner uses the boat. He often fishes solo and works a 50w outfit from a gimbal belt, which makes it almost impossible to stay on the main helm while keeping the rod tip out and over the side. For those who fish this way, a second station is worth its weight in gold.
Fishing systems are equally serious. Tuna tubes, a dedicated live bait tank, Marco’s own Stealthtech outrigger bases, washdown pump and a secure bay for a 160 litre Icey Tek chilly bin are all installed cleanly into the cockpit. The wiring and plumbing that sits behind the scenes is just as impressive, with the same high standard of sealing and routing that Marco applies to their structural work. The company’s own alloy trailer completes the package, set up specifically for the extra weight, Transducer clearance and balance point created by the gyro and electronics.
Lunatic shows exactly what Marco Boats can deliver when a customer arrives with a clear vision and the team leans into the challenge. The 700 Souwester has always been a strong offshore performer, but this build steps beyond that. It is a true expedition boat that still happens to sit on a trailer. For anyone who knows New Zealand’s coastline and the mix of conditions we face, from settled days to the rugged stuff, Lunatic proves how far a proven Kiwi alloy hull can be pushed when modern offshore ambition meets smart custom design.
