Review: McKinna Yachts 70' Pilothouse Motoryacht

Espinosa carries the decor and materials from the main deck down to the lower level. The full-beam master stateroom is mid-ship, under the galley/helm area and accessible via a port side, curved staircase at the forward end of the salon, segregating the master from the other staterooms. It's interesting to note the headboard of the king berth is positioned against a forward bulkhead, not aft against the engine room wall. This helps minimize noise and vibration under way.

Richly appointed, the opulence of the master is only trumped by a limitation of space.

A port side vanity doubles as a desk area with drawers. Three high-polished, oval-shaped portholes grant views of the harbor. The center portholes open for a cross-breeze or a sampling of generator exhaust from nearby boats. Privacy is courtesy of the Hunter Douglas Silhouette electric blinds.

On the starboard side is a large master head. Sliding pocket doors eliminate swinging planks of lumber and the space needed for them. Step in and yes, that marble floor with the compass inlay is heated. Mmmm, toasty!

The single sink basin has a waterfall faucet. Positioned at the aft end of the granite counter, this smartly leaves ample counter space for sundries. Again the electric blinds cover the portholes and thanks to the remote control no wet hand prints on the shades.

A separate shower stall has ample elbow room with a teak floor grate and teak capped bench seat. The shower head fixture is a work of art in itself, featuring two nozzles for full body coverage.

In the forepeak, you’ll find that the VIP stateroom is no less luxurious than any other area of the yacht. A centerline island berth is easy to navigate and surrounded by African Cherry, high-gloss finished wood. Cabinets and drawers abound.

Adorning the large, round ceiling hatch is a decorative wood inlay. I like that the forward deck sunpad has a cutout for the hatch to open and doesn’t cover it as found on some other yachts.

The VIP head boasts a stall shower with an ornate, back-lit sink.

Crew quarters on a 70-footer? Yes! A great place for kids to escape parents, these accommodations are also adequate for honeymoon guests. Appointed as well as any other area, it is self-contained with flat screen TV, sink, microwave and fridge.

On the opposing side, a separate head/shower room, plus a double-size bunk.

Engine room access is via the crew quarters because nothing brings romance to the honeymoon suite like WD-40 and a good set of tools...

Managing the juice, either from shore or on-board, comes in different flavors. Twin Northern Lights gen sets (25kw and 12kw) with sound enclosures keeps the air conditioning on when cruising. Decide on the appropriate power distribution units (50A, 50A/30A/50A, 50A/50A) to handle the load.

Stepping into the engine room is like approaching heaven (so I’m told). Brilliant white aluminum perforated walls, Cat engines and ancillary systems give a sense that you should be wearing a lab coat and carrying a clipboard. It’s “cleanly” finished with good access. Underwater outlets along with the heavy insulation wrapping keep exhaust noises to a minimum. Walls contain 1” foam with lead inlay to keep the diesel sounds within.

Wide enough for folks with girth, the center walkway allows access to McKinna's main motivators. Connected to ZF gears, the Cat C-18’s produce 1,015 hp each, moving the 110,000 lb McKinna 70 up to 25.5 knots. At that speed, you’ll be gulping 104 gallons per hour total, with a hurry-up range of 490 nautical miles. Dial it back to 2000 rpm for a range of 600 nm and 67 gph total. Back it down further 10 knots and you'll cover 1200 nautical miles. Or drop it all the way down and you'll get a 6,000 mile range at 5.7 knots. Not saying you’ll do it or get it depending on conditions and such, but it’s possible, as per McKinna’s performance data.

Shallow water destinations shouldn’t be a problem thanks to the Howard Apollonio designed hull. Deep prop pockets reduce the draft to 4’11” which results in reduced shaft angles for better efficiency. 5-blade Ni-Bral fast props mix it up, supported by bronze I-struts. Naiad stabilizers keep the ride comfortable.

Keep in mind that this is a fiberglass hull, with a solid bottom, bagged with four layers of resin infused glass. With a watertight bulkhead in the bow compartment, Victory at Sea should be a cakewalk. Engine stringers are fiberglass reinforced with steel.

The underside of a yacht can tell a compelling story. The read on this hull, coupled with a sea trial, support expectation. The centerline keel keeps tracking true and the rudder size made for instant response. This picture of the swim platform represents the engineering approach; nothing is an afterthought, it's designed into the original molds to become an integral part of the entire structure. Even the underwater lights were considered as part of the overall design and molded in.

On the subject of integrated components, notice the centerline opening on the trailing edge of the swim platform? A swim ladder is neatly stowed away!

The McKinna 70' Pilothouse is a perfect example of the type of boat that we like to cover on YachtForums. Actually, it's one of the select few that qualifies for coverage. It's a well thought-out, well-built boat that meets a long list of review criteria ranging from fit, finish and execution to builder reputation, support and value. If you're looking for a boat that does it all and does it well, put the McKinna 70' on your short list!

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Review by Capt. Tom Serio and YF Publisher Carl Camper ​

Specifications:

Length: 73' 8"
Beam: 18' 6”
Draft: 4' 11"
Height:
Displacement: 110,000 lbs.
Fuel: 2,000 gallons
Fresh Water: 310 gallons
Water Heater: 30 gallons
Gray Water: 260 gallons

For more information contact:

McKinna Yachts
2507 W. Coast Hwy., Suite 101
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 673-4879
McKinna Yachts

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