24 hours with the Prestige 520 | Review | Motor Boat & Yachting
Reviews 5 years ago 29,155 views
To get beneath the skin of the Prestige 520 we spend 24 hours on board in the South of France ► Become a FREE SUBSCRIBER to YBWTV's YouTube page now - https://www.youtube.com/user/ybwtv?sub_confirmation=1 ► For the latest reviews, new gear launches and tour news, visit our website here - http://www.mby.com ► Like us on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/motorboatandyachting ►Follow us on Twitter here - https://twitter.com/mbytimeinc ►Feel free to comment below! ►Remember to hit that LIKE button if you enjoyed it :)
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Some things we would like to see:
1. More emphasis needs to be on the boat though and less on the presenter. Train the camera guy to point his/her camera at the object the presenter is talking about and not the presenter. We are buying the boat, not the presenter.
2. I should also add that we have a significant other(s) who will be part of the purchasing decision making process ... so given that you have 24 hours you should also show more detail, like storage in the galley, fridges, dishwashers etc and ditto for saloon, fly bridge, master room and so on.
What have they done to secure crockery underway? Do the surfaces allow for glasses not to slide off tables underway or at anchor. Are there cooking rails on the stove to stop pots sliding off the cook tops onto the floor?
Boating is surely more than a hull and an engine!!
3. It would be good to see setting up anchoring overnight; how you choose the anchorage spot by using the charting system on board. Then you can also cover the anchoring system from the deck and show us what thinking the manufacturer has put into its windlass system, quality of cleats etc. and storage for fenders, ropes, taps etc.
4. Also a growing market is couples without crew, so you should show us all the new technology to help make boating easier especially for anchoring, navigation and docking. This will open up a whole new market for manufacturers if you can remove those boating fears.
5. What's on board for entertainment eg music systems and where they are located; fly bridge, saloon etc. Are there any TV's, beach clubs, tender garages etc.
And, if there is a tender garage then open it so we can see it ... and even launch the dinghy so we can see how easy or not easy it is and how much thought the manufacturer has put into the tender launching systems, including retrieval.
Is there also space in the tender garage/lazarette for surf boards, kayaks, jet skis, stand up paddle boards etc.
Is there a passerrelle hidden under the stairs for the kids to dive off?
Any BBQ's, ice makers ... and open the doors so we can see them.
You need to bring us into the lifestyle of boating, not just talk about engine rooms etc. I personally couldn't give a toss about the engines. If it does 25 knots and has a range of X that's all I need to know. I will pick the engines that can deliver the performance I want.
It's like the car salesman at a Lambo shop who opens the bonnet to show you the engine. My first question is: "Can it go from 0-100 kms/hr in under 3 seconds?" Yes, it can. Good, I don't need to see the engine then ... it does what I want it to do.
You guys know all this boating "stuff" and take it for granted because you have a lot of experience, so you are only appealing to seasoned boaters when you present. You are failing to capture:
(a) New people to boating who are holding back on taking that purchasing step, because they feel it's all too hard for the inexperienced.
(b) People unfamiliar with the brand of boat.
(c) Not telling us about the USP (unique selling proposition) of the brand you are showing ... what clever things has the manufacturer thought of that other manufacturers have not ... or what they do better ... after sales service etc.
This means you need to show how easy it is to navigate, auto pilot, joysticks for docking and IPS for maneuverability that makes docking easy, virtual anchoring, remote docking equipment ... all the things that assist the couples market without a crew ... and therefore save on running costs.
What about powering the boat? Does it have solar power, battery storage. Are there back-up systems ... remove our fears ... please.
"We're gonna sleep onboard" = "We don't work much"
"Use the bathrooms" = "Take a shit"
"Use the galley" = "Get pissed"
"Eat onboard tomorrow" = "Fill our pie holes"
10. comment for 24 hours with the Prestige 520 | Review | Motor Boat & Yachting
I'd also really like to see one for the Aquila 44.
20. comment for 24 hours with the Prestige 520 | Review | Motor Boat & Yachting
This is a heavy boat with rather small engines. So in real life you should expect to see 18-19 knots at 3000 RPM, burning 130 LPH. Real life meaning 6-7 people on board, a 200+ Kg dinghy or PWC, 3/4 full tanks, water maker and washing machines and all the paraphernalia to live on board and enjoy life on the water. Crew cabin is also very useful as an extra sleeping space for a teenager.
Handling is solid, not sporty by any means, but you will be comfortable and safe, and on hot summer days you can run the boat from the air conditioned lower helm.
Maneuvering in a marina, in windy conditions, can be challenging. Despite the big volumes, this is a relatively light boat (low inertia), with lots of windage. The IPS and Thruster come handy, yet you need to anticipate, work with the momentum (don’t let the boat stall), and use positive inputs.
At anchor or at the dock, this is a floating house with all the comforts you have at home. And if you have time and can settle for lower speeds, say 10 knots, consumption drops dramatically ( about 40 LPH). If you just want to do island hopping in Greece for example, and you have a water maker, you can be autonomous for weeks, without refueling.
What you get in return is a boat with nearly half the weight of a solid GRP boat, which means economy, but also better insulation and probably rigidity.
For the rest, the quality of the interior, and the fit and finish, are outstanding. Two years and 2000 NM after commissioning, there are no leaks or squeaks, and there will not be any, since Jeanneau has very long experience with sailing boats, where fit and finish is of paramount importance, or you end up having a noisy and squeaky boat.
A well equipped boat will have all kitchen appliances including a dishwasher, a washer dryer (under the steps to the forward cabins), barbecue and fridge on the fly bridge, air conditioning, ice maker... A water maker is a must have, since you can spend weeks at anchor simply because the boat is so comfortable. A good tender will also give you great mobility for dinners and provisioning, and play time with your kids or guests. All you really need is the time to enjoy it.
Finally, on my comment on the windy conditions. The joystick can be a trap for inexperienced seamen. It will not hold this boat in cross winds exceeding 15 Kn, even in the high power mode. Nothing dramatic, but training yourself on handling a twin engine boat the old way (center rudder /asymmetric throttle), will give you more confidence in close quarters, when you are dealing with strong cross winds.