The new Prestige 680…. an 'exclusive scoop'!

MapisM said:
Well, if my previous comments came through as maulings I sincerely apologize, that wasn't the intention.
I'm just used to call a spade a spade, and sometimes I forget that this approach can appear unpolite, particularly in writing and in an open forum... :o

Otoh, actually jfm was the first to raise the point of the bow design, albeit in a more diplomatic/elegant way - unsurprisingly, for those who know both of us! :D
And also with regard to my second comment on the IPS, which wasn't specific to the 680 anyway, I'm pretty sure that several folks around here wouldn't even consider a 20+m f/b with that type of propulsion.

All that said, when I wrote the last line of my previous post, I really meant it.
Btw, also my own boat can be criticized in more ways that one, and for perfectly valid reasons.
If I would make a thread about her, and I would only read positive comments, the only logical conclusion I should draw is that some of them are condescending, because I'm pretty sure that many folks wouldn't touch a boat like mine with a barge pole.
And rightly so, in some respects! :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Thank you for your further reply… and it's all good! :eagerness: We are all friends and comrades here in our passion for boating, and I am genuinely grateful for any helpful advice from very experienced sailors like yourself that will assist me to make this boat the best that it possibly can be, within the confines of what is achievable for a standard production boat. I do recognise that it may not be everyone's idea of a great boat, and it will obviously will have its issues… but it will (hopefully!) suit my and my crew's dreams and needs for many years to come perfectly. BTW she is SO excited as the prospect of the Glendinning cabling! :love_heart:
 
Last edited:
Appreciate that Mapism and that's the point I was trying to make. I've read far worse maulings on the forum, not from you in particular. (Although I do seem to remember a pretty hacked off Delta Yacht Architect who took a while to get used to your candid critique :) )

I think that it's difficult for Mark, without the context and familiarity that comes from checking in with the Forum most days, he probably feels like he's shared a very exciting moment with a Show and tell on his new boat only to receive a response of 'congrats but you've bought a pile of dung'

Now I know that's not what you meant to convey but annnecdotally, I remember my wife telling me that soon after she had introduced me to her mother she asked her what she thought of me. My now mother in law replied, 'well it doesn't matter what I think as long as you are happy does it?'
Needless to say I don't visit often :)
 
Nigelpickin said:
I remember my wife telling me that soon after she had introduced me to her mother she asked her what she thought of me. My now mother in law replied, 'well it doesn't matter what I think as long as you are happy does it?'
Needless to say I don't visit often :)
Click to expand...

Isn't that what they call a win/win?
 
Whitelighter said:
I'm never, ever, going to be in a position to buy one of these so perhaps my comments are mute but - why do builders persist on sh!t flat bench seats for the helms. Look at JFMs Squadron - surely there is room in the budget for some decent seats
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. You get comfy seats which move every which way on a £15k hatchback but not it seems on a £2m boat. Having said that, Prestige are by no means the only guilty ones. The Italians do an excellent line in excruciatingly uncomfortable flat bench helm seats.

Having said that, the 680 looks like a lovely boat with a major USP in the shape of that main deck level master cabin and a price which usefully undercuts the opposition. Not a great fan of sharp edged furniture in boats though and why don't builders fit internal flybridge steps these days?

Best of luck to MAFWeiss with his proposed purchase. Looks like yet another new boat build thread is on its way soon!
 
Bench helm seats make a lot of sense to me on a boat, given the whole family like to pile on next to me when I'm driving, wouldn't be too comfortable with twin bucket seats.

Would be good to have the option though, especially on bigger boats, it's not like there isn't the space or it would require major modifications.

What never fails to amaze me when I go to the boat shows is how many big boats are designed with loads of space to lounge and cook, but no leg room for the helms person (trying to be pc here :-) ).

Good luck with the new build. Regarding seaworthiness, you're the only one who's been out in the boat. While the comments on here are probably valid in general, there is no comparison to being out there. Boats like the Targas have features that look like they shouldn't be great sea boats, but when the designers get the balance right you can have a great boat in spite or sometimes helped by the less than ideal features.
I'm sure you'll find the many years of experience on here very helpful along the way. I'm always amazed at the combined knowledge.
 
Well Congratulations in what you are doing, its good to see that all your hard work through out life is now being rewarded in something that you will enjoy, whilst some people may be critical, it is just an Opinion, and like Ar**holes most people have one, but most of them are full of sh@t so it is irrelevant to you. Some like Blue others like Red, what is important is what you like, and you clearly like this boat. I personally could never afford a boat like you are thinking of, I wish I could but cannot. Hopefully I will see you out in the water one day whilst on my 30 footer watching you go past saying That's a lovely boat I wish I could have one :).

On a second point, how do so many people know about boat design? there were some really technical questions many of which I did not even understand what they were on about such us the shape of the bow! and where the air vents are! it amazes me at the knowledge of some people, and do they all have a degree in boat design!

Anyway enough of my waffle, In what ever you decide to do, as long as you are happy that what matters.
 
MAFWeiss said:
By the way, I just watched this video on the San Lorenzo 62 from MBY from October 2012. OMG… what an ugly boat!!! all IMHO of course :p. But would you really want to buy that above the 680?? BTW...check out the wobbly shelf.
Click to expand...

Agreed, the SL62 is not one of SL's finest looking boats but I've had a good look around one at the SL yard and I have to say that the overall build quality is a notch or 2 above the mainstream production builders. You pay for that of course. SL's list prices are eye watering. Leaving aside the questionable styling and the usual completely unergonomic Italian helm layout, the SL62 is a remarkably large boat inside for its length and reputably, all SLs are pretty good sea boats as well. I wouldn't even say its a competitor for the Prestige 680 or indeed most other modern 60 odd footers. Somebody who buys a SL62 new has to really want to own a SL and nothing else
 
Deleted User said:
Agreed, the SL62 is not one of SL's finest looking boats but I've had a good look around one at the SL yard and I have to say that the overall build quality is a notch or 2 above the mainstream production builders. You pay for that of course. SL's list prices are eye watering. Leaving aside the questionable styling and the usual completely unergonomic Italian helm layout, the SL62 is a remarkably large boat inside for its length and reputably, all SLs are pretty good sea boats as well. I wouldn't even say its a competitor for the Prestige 680 or indeed most other modern 60 odd footers. Somebody who buys a SL62 new has to really want to own a SL and nothing else
Click to expand...

That's all well and good BUT it's still rather a dark and ugly three berth boat, and not a good looking four. And remembering of course that beauty is always in the eye of the beholder!
 
MAFWeiss said:

That's all well and good BUT it's still rather a dark and ugly three berth boat, and not a good looking four. And remembering of course that beauty is always in the eye of the beholder!
Click to expand...

Personally I prefer the timeless look of the SL over the Prestige. And how often do people really boat with all four cabins occupied - perhaps better to have three larger ones? Also worth noting that SL values for older boats seems to be holding well.

I certainly agree that lack of large hull windows is a major shortcoming of the SL though.

But hey, who cares, its you who is buying it!
 
Last edited:
MAFWeiss said:

That's all well and good BUT it's still rather a dark and ugly three berth boat, and not a good looking four. And remembering of course that beauty is always in the eye of the beholder!
Click to expand...

Well I did say that it is not one of SL's finest looking boats! Yup it will certainly be darker inside than a typical modern production boat but all SLs are rather classic nautical in their design rather than cutting edge which means that spaces are separated by bulkheads rather than being open plan. Personally I quite like that. My Ferretti 630 is an open plan boat and sometimes I feel like I'm living in a greenhouse! The other thing to mention of course is that the SL62 is a design that dates back to the 1990s so its not quite fair to compare it to the Prestige 680
 
petem said:
I certainly agree that lack of large hull windows is a major shortcoming of the SL though.
Click to expand...
Yeah but the aircon has to work less hard with smaller windows especially since SL line the insides of their hulls with some kind of thermal insulating foil, which I've never seen on any other boat
 
lionelz said:
On a second point, how do so many people know about boat design? there were some really technical questions many of which I did not even understand what they were on about such us the shape of the bow! and where the air vents are! it amazes me at the knowledge of some people, and do they all have a degree in boat design!
Click to expand...

There's a lovely story about four forumites (names withheld!) sitting around discussing details. After a while one says: "you'd have to have a degree in engineering to understand this stuff". The other three look at one another and, after a brief pause, one of them replies, "but we all do have degrees in engineering."
 
Steruth1 said:
Well done on choosing another prestige, I'm looking at a new 500 and would be interested in your opinions on your 550. Thanks
Click to expand...

In the summer of 2012, when the wife and I decided to get a motor yacht to keep on the Med, we started off intending to buy the Prestige 450 which was yet to be released, thinking it would be a perfect boat for us. Then in November when we went to the factory in Les Herbiers for its launch at a 'VIP Day', we decided the master cabin was way too small for our idea of comfort and so it became a toss up between the 500 and the 550. And in the end, we both agreed that we would always wish we had bought the larger boat if we had gone for the 500, and so the extra space in the master cabin and galley of the 550 encouraged us to take the huge leap into moving up from our Merry Fisher 925 to buying the 18m yacht. We have not regretted that decision, and if it wasn't for our joint new found obsession and an eye for the ''golden years'' ahead of us, we would happily have stayed with the 550 for the foreseeable future.

My view of the 550, and again I reiterate I am very much a 'newbie' - and someone who loves the idea of having a home on the sea rather than the actual hard-work of being a true sailor, is that it is a perfect 2 + 2 boat. We have never had more than two other people - either as a couple or singles - with us, and are very happy sailing her on our own. We especially love the master cabin, which has a great 'zen' like quality, and indeed may not be even improved on in terms of layout and functionality by the new 680. The flybridge layout works very well too. We have sailed in some very uncomfortable seas, but she has always handled them well and got us home safely. All in all, the boat has a great vibe to it, and I will genuinely very sad to see her go at the end of this season.
 
Re the new 680, contracts now all signed and deposit paid. It will be hull no 6 or 7, and we will sign off on the final spec during our visit to Cannes during the last weekend. Would be great if to meet up with any fellow forumites who wish to have a good tyre kick around hull no 1 with me then! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Bouba
Port-Cros tomorrow
Replies
17
Views
478
potentillaCO32
P
O
South Coast - Cheap boating option
4 5 6
Replies
107
Views
3K
Boathook
Boathook
H
Chinese exhaust elbow - precaution
Replies
4
Views
336
Hangie
H

Share this page

Top