1974 Pacemaker 40 MY

Although motor yacht design has changed significantly over the years, many (myself included) enjoy the style of a traditional flush deck motor yacht that was particularly popular in the 1970s.

One of several manufacturers of this style of boat was Pacemaker, whose roots date back to the late 1940s.The company saw significant growth in the ’50s and ’60s, during which time production expanded to 27 models.

In the early 1970s, Pacemaker was converting to all-fibreglass production. One of the first production fiberglass models that Pacemaker produced was the 40-foot Motor Yacht. Sharing the same solid fibreglass hull as the 40-foot Sport fisherman, the 40-foot MY debuted in 1972 and had an eight-year production run. Today we’re going to take a look at a 1974 model.

With the high freeboard on this style of motor yacht, boarding from a low dock can be a bit tricky. There is a transom ladder at the stern for boarding from back aft and our test boat was also fitted with convenient adjustable steps – or ‘Tide Riders’ as they are sometimes called – for easy boarding at the side deck.

One of the nice features of this style motor yacht is the tremendous amount of room on the aft deck. There is plenty of seating for a crowd and the captain is not isolated from his or her guests. Another nice feature is the wide side decks fitted with high lifelines. This is a practical feature for your guests as they work their way to the foredeck and the comfortable seating area at the bow.

At the helm, it was impressive to see that many of the original gauges were present, and in good working condition as well! Some additional electronics – such as stereo,VHF and digital depth sounder – were neatly flush mounted in an overhead cabinet. In addition, an older (but functioning)

radar was mounted to the deck head in an easy-to-view position from the helm.

Also found in the aft deck area is the access ladder to the fly bridge. Up on the bridge itself, you find a captain’s seat and some additional seating for a few guests. Although a few people can join you up at the controls and a Bimini offers some protection from the sun, I think you’ll find yourself operating a boat like this from the lower helm a majority of the time.

Down below, the main salon is quite expansive and features an open concept galley located aft and to starboard. The galley itself features a large stainless sink, 3⁄4-size refrigerator, three burner Princess stove with oven, built-in microwave and plenty of cupboard space.

This model is very popular with live-aboard cruisers as well. With a beam of almost 14 feet, you’ll find a lot of cabin space on-board. In the main salon, for example, there’s plenty of room for a small sofa and some modular furniture. Much of the interior of the boat was tastefully decorated and the use of light tones complemented the interior woodwork. Off to port, a television and entertainment system was built into the hull side. Here you’ll also find plenty of shelf space and a sliding door reveals a large storage locker. Up forward, you’ll find a functional bar area, again with plenty of storage space.

Sleeping accommodation up forward consists of a stateroom with two offset upper and lower bunks. Lockers and large drawers under the upper bunk offer up plenty of storage for your crew’s gear. Also forward there is a good-sized day head, with the usual amenities.

Back aft, a full-beam master stateroom features a single berth to port and starboard, which is a typical configuration for a vessel of this vintage. The stateroom also features an ensuite head with a separate shower stall. Again, you’ll find plenty of storage space, which is another reason why this style of boat is popular with liveaboards or those who just feel they need the extra space.

Our test boat was powered by a pair of 454 Crusaders. When underway, we settled into a comfortable cruising speed of 9.7 mph at 2200 rpm. The engines still had substantial power remaining, but any further application of this power would have a significant affect of fuel consumption – although a minimal affect on the overall cruising speed. Besides, even though this well-aged yacht has been maintained to a higher standard, it’s sometimes best to treat these classics in a kinder fashion, so we opted not to push the engines too far.  

The ’70s gave us lots of great things… disco, leisure suits and flush deck motor yachts. Okay, maybe I’m pushing it with disco and leisure suits, but flush deck motor yachts get full marks in my opinion. Although somewhat dated by today standards, this style of yacht is still very popular with many boating enthusiasts and live aboard cruisers.

Whether you’re underway or at the dock, this style of boat is great for entertaining with plenty of room for guests both on deck and down below. And, after all, for many half the fun of boating is mingling with your friends.