Prestige 550 Flybridge

[jfm]

I couldn't agree more re. the builder which is being discussed, but it isn't fair to tar all French yards with the same brush.
Check out the following boat, frinstance.
http://www.ocea-yacht.fr/aldabra.html
I'd rather afford some rough stuff with one of these than with any Princess etc.

Yes indeed Mapis. There should be no tarring with big brushes here because there is some very fine stuff made in France: Ocea, CNB, CMN and others. No corner cutting at any of those builders. You also have the bespoke builders like Esterel who made the gorgeous Acajou (not sure if she got restored after the Greek trajedy that I posted pics of a few years ago) and even Trehard in Antibes who built the lovely Chantella

 

[alt]

Is this a once-off bad build for Jeanneau, or does it tend to be across the board? I only ask because I viewed a Prestige 34 HT before buying the Smeraldo 37, and something just didn't feel right about the boat. I wasn't in a position to give a technical explanation, however it just felt wrong

 

[michaf]

Hi everyone, jumping in late but thought I could add something. I don't own a P500 but do own a P350. I live in Australia, west coast, 500 km north of Perth. When I was looking for a boat all the locals told me the same thing, no European boat will handle our conditions. Nevertheless, the P350 was what I was looking for in terms of look, interior design, use of space and ... price, halve of a comparable OZ made boat the same size. I use that boat to sail from Geraldton to the Abrohlos Islands (40 nm). The going can get rough, very rough, 3 meters swell with 25 knots isn't unusual, and that would be considered mild during summer. I have had the boat for 2 years now and clocked 180 hours, all for the crossings. Apart from just a few stress hairline cracks, the boat has handled it very well. I've had no major issues. That's my experience and I would buy it again if I would have to do it again. In fact I'm upgrading for a Voyage 42 so that's how much trust I put in the yard. Micha

 

[Bramers]

A mate has a Prestige 35 based in Poole with a hole in the hull. I've seen the photos of the sandwich construction & it's quite frankly shocking. Everything JFM said.

He may post the images here but for the moment he is in discussion with Janneau.

 

[alt]

Can anyone advise re. Prestige 32? I had always considered one in the future when I get back from travels... an entry-level fly-bridge that'd suit me

 

[volvopaul]

A mate has a Prestige 35 based in Poole with a hole in the hull. I've seen the photos of the sandwich construction & it's quite frankly shocking. Everything JFM said.

He may post the images here but for the moment he is in discussion with Janneau.

I wonder if uk dealer ancasta have read this, the last time I made a comment about sealine hulls I got a pm from the administrator telling me to keep quiet about my findings .

 

[Truro Ex Pat]

I wanted to add my experience to this.
I bought a Prestige 36 and it was just 2 years old and sold it but failed the survey due the hull.
I went through a huge battle with Jeanneau and cost me surveys etc and other costs and finally jeanneau took it back to France and repaired it.
I got it back and sold it 2 years later but again the survey showed what a poor job that had been done.
I would not touch another jeaneau or prestige and at the time contacted the various monthly magazines as i thought it would make a good story but they never wanted to take it up perhaps the advertising budget is worth more than the story.

 

[oGaryo]

I wanted to add my experience to this.
I bought a Prestige 36 and it was just 2 years old and sold it but failed the survey due the hull.
I went through a huge battle with Jeanneau and cost me surveys etc and other costs and finally jeanneau took it back to France and repaired it.
I got it back and sold it 2 years later but again the survey showed what a poor job that had been done.
I would not touch another jeaneau or prestige and at the time contacted the various monthly magazines as i thought it would make a good story but they never wanted to take it up perhaps the advertising budget is worth more than the story.

I have no direct experience but recall the surveyor of my boat when selling it to call him if I were to consider buying a boat from this brand mentioning he had much experience of failing the boats due to the hull construction. A respected surveyor so I steered clear and went for the S28 instead

 

[SpottyDog5]

I have owned 4 Jeaneau's, 3 Merry Fishers and a Prestige, great value for money boats, all those customers cant be wrong.
If you listen to the scare mongers, you wouldn't buy a Sealine either (had one of those too) again many very happy owners.

 

[michaf]

I'm curious as to why it failed the survey, can you give us more details regarding the integrity of the hull?

 

[Capt. Tony Intermarine]

actually on that issue, could it be that ONLY the cases where a boat sinks surface on the news, whereas the cases where IPS works as in breaking off leaving the hull unharmed are sinking/disappearing in the news?

do we have sucessful IPS failures cases?

cheers

V.

I am the corporate Captain (and sales consultant) for the dealership that sells Prestige Yachts in Southeast Florida and yes, there are at least two occasions involving IPS (and ZEUS) where the owner(s) drifted off route and into shallow water and hit bottom. In both cases the pod sheered off exactly as designed with not one drop of water intrusion.