Exploring the Spacious 58-Foot Catamaran Afloat: A Seafaring Villa Experience
Prestige Yachts, a French-Italian yacht builder, has made a strategic move to expand into the growing market for luxurious power catamarans. Last year, they introduced two new catamaran models, the M8 and the M48, marking a departure from their traditional flybridge yachts.
The success of the M48, a smaller and more elegant model, has been impressive, with 70 units sold in just two years since its debut. The M8, the larger of the two, has a high-volume, boxy appearance and had slow initial sales. However, the M7, a 58-footer, is set to change the game.
The M7 is designed for potential clients who are downsizing to a boat with fewer crew or purchasing their first boat. It offers a slower, more steady pace, rather than life in the fast lane. The yacht's lower-profile hull and narrower beam make it more suitable for owners who may have difficulties navigating in a marina or dealing with wind.
The M7's interior design is a testament to livability, with a large salon and a primary suite featuring residential touches. Contemporary vertical mirrors and circular basins in the en suite add a touch of elegance. The second helm in the salon is discreetly placed under a hood area to starboard.
One of the key features of the M7 is its beach club, equipped with a transformer swim platform that helps with tender retrieval or stepping into the sea. The aft cockpit features sofa seating that allows guests to interact with those in the water or those on the rear of the flybridge deck. The flybridge offers multiple social zones and a second helm for navigating in good weather.
The M7's exterior design is a result of a Franco-Italian crossover, with the yachts being built in France but benefiting from Italian design aesthetics. The M7 is less boxy than its M8 sistership in its design.
The M7 is powered by twin Volvo Penta D8-550 engines, with both smaller- and larger-hp options available. The yacht's interior was designed by naval architect Marc Lombard and features a more upscale feel with neutral coffee-and-cream colors and full-height windows in the main salon.
The M7 has already sold two units before its official launch next month at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Money is not an issue for Prestige's clients, who could afford either the M7 or the larger M8.
Prestige's entry into the catamaran market is acknowledged as impactful due to their distinct design philosophy and powercat focus, differentiating them from mainly sailing cat-derived models by competitors. The M7's aggressive effort to compete in terms of size and comfort within the premium catamaran segment positions them as emerging challengers among established catamaran builders like Sunreef, Aquila, and Silent Yachts.
The M7 was taken for a test drive by a group of journalists in Portopiccolo, Italy, and early reviews suggest it is a crowd-pleaser. With its combination of luxury, practicality, and performance, the M7 is set to carve a niche in the competitive catamaran market.
Home-and-garden magazines might find the M7's interior design intriguing, with its large salon, residential-style primary suite, and contemporary touches like vertical mirrors and circular basins. The M7's lifestyle appeal extends beyond the sea, as its beach club, social zones, and comfortable living spaces mimic elements often found in upscale homes.
