Prestige, the high-end French builder, just announced that they’re launching a new line of power catamarans, starting with the M48. Prestige has been making yachts from 40 to 70 feet since 1989, but they’ve all been monohull motoryachts. The new M-Line, starting with the 48, will change all that.
Part of the Beneteau Group, Prestige will have the new cat ready for the Cannes Yachting Festival next September. Powered by twin 320-hp Volvo diesels with V-drives, the M48 is projected to have a top speed of 20 knots and a range of 600 nm at 8 knots.
At any speed, the living will be easy. Indeed, in a video call, Erwin Bamps, the Prestige general manager, said the M48 will serve as “a private island” for its owners, “a second home away from home.”
Owners can choose from two accommodations plans: Three staterooms (with a massive owner’s suite forward) with three heads, or four staterooms, two in each hull, also with en suite heads. Either way, the beds are positioned in a transverse style so guests can have a view of the sea as they fall asleep (or wake up).
The M48 was designed by Italy’s Garroni Design organization, which has designed all Prestige boats so far. Philippe Briand, the French naval architect who often works on expedition and large cruising yachts, did the hull.
The new Prestige is relatively slender for a luxury power cat, with just a beam of 19’ 8,” but it is designed to pack in several separate living areas. The Beach Club aft serves as a watersports (or having-a-drink-while-watching-the-sunset) center; it also opens to the garage for toys.
The aft cockpit is protected by an overhang from the flybridge. It has two settees, seating eight, with tables on each side against the transom, plus a lounge and bar forward. On the foredeck, a large sun lounge is situated just under the windshield, while all the way up against the bow is another sun lounge, facing aft.
In the salon, the galley is aft on the starboard side, and it’s large enough to serve a family or lots of guests on a long cruise. A large U-shaped settee and table are to port. The lower helm is on the starboard side, with a door opening to the side deck.
Up on the flybridge, the upper helm, seating two, is to port, and a massive wraparound settee and sun lounge with a table are to starboard.
Specs.: LOA:48’6”; Beam:19’8”; Draft: 3’7” Disp.:38,537 lbs.; Fuel: 317 gals.; Water: 159 gals.; Power: 2×320-hp Volvo D4s. Read more at http://prestige-yachts.com and see the video below:
