Prestige Motor Yachts Experience

[PAPA G2]

I am returning from the Miami Boat Show where I explored the Prestige 550 Fly. I really like the layout, overall quality and attention to user needs (such as the third Zeus controls in the aft cockpit and the starboard aft wince). I have little knowledge of this brand and they are apparently relatively new to the US market. The parent (Jeanneau) is known for building quality, lightweight and fast sailboats. But I do not know how that carries through for motor yachts. Specifically, the 550 total weight is approx. 20,000lbs lighter than competitors in the category (Azimut, Princess).

I am interested in any experience out there with this brand. I am concerned with hull integrity, performance, overall structural integrity, etc. I will be using her in Caribbean waters around the Cayman Islands. Thanks.

 

[rlw]

Hi Papa G2,

No personal experience with the Prestige and it definately has its followers. Hard to tell how other makes would fare in similar circustances but if I was looking I would want to read the report below.

http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/...intaselostus_2/c32010m_tutkintaselostus_2.pdf


Rlw

 

[Firefly625]

Known for their build quality… Really?

 

[LittleShip]

but if I was looking I would want to read the report below.

http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/...intaselostus_2/c32010m_tutkintaselostus_2.pdf


Rlw

Boy oh boy does that rip apart the quality of the build........ I'm sticking with wood

Tom.

 

[Anders_P42]

Interesting read but seems the findings of the report were disputed or thrown out by boat builder and Finnish transport safety agency?

 

[Chris_d]

Nothing wrong with Jeaneau/Prestige quality surely, but they are mass produced leisure boats built to a price, if you want a bullet proof all weather commercial grade type hull then look elsewhere.

 

[MystereMarcus]

It may well be worth reading this thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?346567-Prestige-550-Flybridge&highlight=prestige
the subject of build quality was widely discussed.

 

[MapisM]

Known for their build quality… Really?

LOL, I suppose it's fair to say that build quality is a major factor often associated with this builder...
...it just happens to be notorious, rather than famous, for build quality! :ambivalence:

 

[Nigelpickin]

Hi Papa G2

Welcome to the forum, some interesting responses to your question.

I have owned 2 Prestige boats thus far, a 390s and currently a 500s; for context I have worked through a few brands including Wellcraft, Larson and Crownline.

That report has been pasted in response to questions regarding Prestige boats before but before you give too much credence to the forum clique, perhaps a sanity check is in order.

The Beneteau Group turned over more than a Million bucks in 2013, they are selling huge volume world wide.
Google is not exactly awash with stories of their boats sinking and I have been given very agreeable rates when insuring both of my Prestige boats...
I wonder how many boats would fair well when driven at speed into a rock?

When I bought my current boat it was following a visit to the Prestige Factory and the decision to buy was based in main on the following:

Price, the boats track around 20% less expensive than the 'equivalent' British alternatives
Layout, no other boat in the size category gave the master cabin with the privacy afforded by the separate stair well or the space/light/usability of the saloon.
Dealer/Manufacturer support, the confidence gained from our time at the manufacturing facility and the dealer network in the areas in which I cruise were a real factor.
Volume of Sales, being hull number 200, (fly and sports cruiser combined), within 2 years of launch pretty much guaranteed that I was buying a tried and tested product.

With regard to my direct experience, well the 390s was a great boat, I ran it for 2 years and had no problems other than a faulty compass on the Skyhook system which was fixed, (replaced), within a week of the fault being reported and get this, the dealer from whom I bought the boat had gone bust, I was dealing direct with Prestige...

The 500s is in a different class, very easy going and versus any other boat that I have been on/owned or tested, it is amazingly quiet and well planted. The 550 will be on a different power block but you will get amazing value and ease of use with the Cummins/Zeus/Skyhook set up.

I only picked the boat up in September, have done around 45 hours already, we, (wife and I), brought the boat back from Southampton to Falmouth, around 170 miles along the English Channel without a cough or a splutter, we were particularly impressed with the lack of creaks and noises when we were traversing some of the messier water. It's not easy to get the hull to slam but when it does come down hard the boat takes it well.

Problems thus far, well the garage door has a small spider in the GRP where it flexes when open. Our dealer attempted to repair the two inch area but they felt that the flexing would continue to cause the effect so Prestige are sending a new door across to replace...no fuss, no nagging and zero frustration.

One of our electric blinds was slightly kinked when retracted and again this was replaced within a week of me reporting it to the dealer.

That's about it and we are left even more assured about the brand.

There is a chap on this forum with a 550 Fly, he seemed pretty happy with things when last he spoke up:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?381243-Has-the-Prestige-350-flybridge-been-discontinued

Perhaps he will chip in, unless his boat has sunk or fallen apart in a stiff breeze...

I know that my 500s is the smaller sibling but should you have any questions please feel free to ask.

All the best, enjoy the process and if you can get you dealer to fly you across to Les Herbiers, France for a factory tour, go for it...I bet you get your check book out before you fly home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCr4OTBCYA

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

Hi Papa G2,

No personal experience with the Prestige and it definately has its followers. Hard to tell how other makes would fare in similar circustances but if I was looking I would want to read the report below.

http://www.turvallisuustutkinta.fi/...intaselostus_2/c32010m_tutkintaselostus_2.pdf


Rlw

That build quality is shocking ! Worse than that though is the visibility from the helm , was it designed for this guy ?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The Beneteau Group turned over more than a Million bucks in 2013, they are selling huge volume world wide.

A billion, not a million, Nigel! That does dwarf any UK manufacturer so they must be doing something right

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

A billion, not a million, Nigel! That does dwarf any UK manufacturer so they must be doing something right[/QUOTE


Excellent sales doesnt mean to say the build quality is excellent. What does Ikea turn over ?

Went to the launch of the Voyage 42 and was shocked by the build quality , hence why we didnt buy one.

 

[Nigelpickin]

A billion, not a million, Nigel! That does dwarf any UK manufacturer so they must be doing something right

Oops

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

A billion, not a million, Nigel! That does dwarf any UK manufacturer so they must be doing something right[/QUOTE


Excellent sales doesnt mean to say the build quality is excellent. What does Ikea turn over ?

Went to the launch of the Voyage 42 and was shocked by the build quality , hence why we didnt buy one.

Nobody is arguing with that but the price/quality ratio is at a level which the market finds attractive. I'm sure we would all like to drive about in Rolls Royces but most of us drive something more prosaic. In any case, the evidence against Prestige is all anecdotal. There is no evidence of endemic failures unless someone has some information we don't know about yet. I'm not sure a launch boat is indicative of overall quality anyway. Anyone who saw the Hardy 62 at SIBS last year might conclude that Hardy's build quality is rubbish but as we know, it isn't

 

[Nigelpickin]

A billion, not a million, Nigel! That does dwarf any UK manufacturer so they must be doing something right[/QUOTE


Excellent sales doesnt mean to say the build quality is excellent. What does Ikea turn over ?

Went to the launch of the Voyage 42 and was shocked by the build quality , hence why we didnt buy one.

Agree that the Velasco has a cheap & and cheerful finish...but the OP's question related to the Prestige brand. Have you looked at a Prestige 450 fly, it would be good to get your opinion on a direct comparison. My concerns regarding the Velasco would be more focused on its reported sea keeping and engine set up....

Theres no doubt that the Prestige brand is playing catch up with some of the better know quality builders but the 550 the OP is talking about is a world away from the 42s.

Horses for courses but a recent look around the latest Fairline 48's doing the rounds left me feeling a little smug....

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Agree that the Velasco has a cheap & and cheerful finish...but the OP's question related to the Prestige brand. Have you looked at a Prestige 450 fly, it would be good to get your opinion on a direct comparison. My concerns regarding the Velasco would be more focused on its reported sea keeping and engine set up....

Theres no doubt that the Prestige brand is playing catch up with some of the better know quality builders but the 550 the OP is talking about is a world away from the 42s.

Horses for courses but a recent look around the latest Fairline 48's doing the rounds left me feeling a little smug....

I think manufacturers are having to address the issue of affordability. Somebody may flame me for this but I think new boat prices rose at a much faster rate than inflation during the boom times prior to 2008. Now the world has changed and there are far fewer buyers out there willing and able to spend megabucks on what is in effect a toy. Its all very well building the highest quality boat ever built and charging a zillion quid for it but if there aren't enough buyers out there to make it a viable business, you're wasting your time. In that respect the Beneteau group has to be commended because they seem to be able to hit a price/quality sweet spot in the market and sell loads of boats as a result. Its all very well some manufacturers sneering at them but they're not sitting on a billion pound turnover or anywhere near

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

Look at even the cheapest of cars now and the finish is a lot better than some of the mid-range ones a few years ago. Some boat manufacturers havent moved in the same direction. Given the choice again of a new mass produced or a used hand built boat , I know which way I would always go.

The accident report not only highlights **** build but it reads like things have been done not as their design specs and to cut corners.


Also remember , turnover is vanity as they say

 

[sea-commander]

Went to the launch of the Voyage 42 and was shocked by the build quality , hence why we didnt buy one.

I thought the same last year, but now, one year later (renamed as Velasco 43) it seems to be much better.

 

[MapisM]

the OP's question related to the Prestige brand

Not really. The OP said "The parent (Jeanneau) is known for building quality".
As I understand, this is what the "forum clique" argued against, or at least that's what I did, simply because the very opposite is true.

That said, "quality" is not a black or white concept, of course. If what they have to offer floats your and the OP boat, good for you.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Also remember , turnover is vanity as they say

Well I guess that attempting to redact the principals of a global business methodology into a pithy sound bite is admirable...here's to the vanity that paid for my boat!