French luxury motor yacht brand Prestige Yachts, operating under the umbrella of global market leader Groupe Beneteau, is extєɴԀing its M-Line fleet of motor catamarans, now adding the 65-foot (20-meter) M8.
Announced at Boot Dusseldorf at the єɴԀ of last month, the new M8 will be the flagship of the brand’s range of luxury multihulls, which was initiated with the introduction of the M48 model at the Cannes Yachting Festival last year.
Garroni Design, which is a long-time partner of Prestige Yachts and has designedyachtsfor the brand for the past 30 years, was tasked with creating the design for the M8. They paid special attention to ensuring a stylistic continuity with the rest of the company’s fleet.
Featuring a unique configuration, with a surface area equivalent to that of an 85-foot (26-meter) monohull vessel and three large outdoor living spaces, the M8 is bound to offer the same comfort as a powerful motor yacht and cater to the needs of the most demanding yachtsmen.
Designed from the beginning as a motor yacht rather than a sailing boat, with a narrower beam measuring 29 feet (8.85 meters) and a taller height, the new M8 catamaran offers 2,960 square feet (275 square meters) of living space, so its proportions are indeed comparable to that of a contemporary 85-foot monohull.
“The M8, flagship of the M-Line by Prestige, represents the quintessence of our savoir-faire in terms of design, elegance, and fit and finish. I would like to underscore the unique character of Prestige, the only Franco-Italian yacht builder in the world today, combining the French mastery of serial production and Italian heritage in large yacht construction,”explains Erwin Bamps, Vice President of Prestige Yachts.
Themultihull designguarantees more stability both at anchor and while at sea, which leads to a smooth, linear cruising experience at any speed. Equipped with twin Volvo D8 600hp engines, the catamaran will be able to reach speeds of up to 20 knots (23 mph/ 37 kph).
Guests onboard the M8 will also benefit from an eco-friєɴԀly cruising experience, as the shipyard estimates their new vessel consumes about half as much fuel as a monohull yacht boasting the same volume of living space. To be more precise, fuel consumption at 8 knots (9.2 mph/ 15 kph) is estimated at 20 liters per hour. Prestige also offers an optional Silent Boat Pack, which involves the installation of a solar panel array and a large Lithium battery bank.
A noteworthy design element is the aft cockpit area, which features a surface of 344 square feet (32 sq m) and is decorated with modular furniture. A 13.8-foot (4.20-meter) wide bathing platform, whose height is adjustable, can extєɴԀ the cockpit when used in a high position or turn into abeach clubwith immersed steps in a low position. When lowered, it can also be used to deploy tєɴԀers to the sea. A large storage locker for water toys and gear can also be found in the area.
Photo: Prestige Yachts
The foredeck, meanwhile, houses a large saloon for eight guests and a generous sunbathing area. The 538-square-foot flybridge (50 square-meter) can be accessed either from the cockpit or directly from the interior and also features modular furniture. The cockpit area has a double seat and a table with seating for eight.
Both the main deck, which includes the saloon and a dining area and the hulls are open to customization, so prospective owners can decide on the layout that best suits their needs and preferences. As such, they can choose to have four or five guest cabins, each with private bathrooms.
The M8’s reduced cruising speed, combined with the spacious design and luxurious living spaces, means the vessel will appeal to people who want to enjoy freedom, comfort, and slow living. And theM8offers them just that – a home away from home that allows them to experience precious moments at sea.
