Which type of motor yacht is right for you: a flybridge or an express? Hybrids are hot in the world of yacht design today, which makes solid sense since few of us ever really enjoy making compromises, particularly when it comes to our boats. Recently, Prestige figured out that the some of the people who love flybridge boats don’t always want to give up that protected yet open feeling that comes with an express-style model sporting a sunroof. So, the French builder merged the two in its new 620 S. On this yacht, dubbed a Sport Fly by Prestige, owners breath deep of that fortifying salt air up on the open bridge and also in the cabin, which boasts a big opening roof that brings the great outdoors into a handsome cabin.

prestige 62

Looking for the ideal motor yacht? The Prestige 620S may well be in the running, whether you're a fan of the flybridge or enthusiastic about an express.



If the 620S looks familiar, that’s because it’s based on the builder’s 620, a more conventional flybridge sans the sunroof. Like the original 62, it has key features that cruising yachtsmen can appreciate. Among them are an extra-long hydraulic swim platform (the largest yet from this builder) and a hull designed by naval architect Michael Peters. No stranger to boat design, Peters has been hard at work for about 30 years and has a top-notch portfolio with production boats, tournament fishing machines, luxury yachts and more, and his firm has developed a number of patents employed by builders around the world.

For the 62, Peters designed a deep-V hull around Volvo IPS pod drive propulsion to create a boat that has the get-up-and-go of a sports cruiser and the smooth handling of a motor yacht. In true IPS fashion, the Volvos increase cruising range by as much as 40 percent when compared with conventional shaft drives and reduce fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent. In addition, sound levels are taken down by as much as 50 percent, which means you can both see and hear the passengers you have chosen to spend those hard-won weekends with. With a pair of 700-hp IPS 900s, the boat will top out near 30 knots and cruise at about 25 knots, where the boat will offer a range of about 325 nautical miles. You’ll be more comfortable docking since the IPS drives can be operated with a joystick. And the ride gets a comfort-boost as well, because this boat is equipped with the Seakeeper 8000A gyro stabilizer.

prestige 620 s interior

The interior of the Prestige 620 S is semi custom, with dozens of decor combinations to choose from.



To accommodate the sunroof forward, the bridge on this boat is more compact than the one on the original 62, but it’s still efficiently arranged and set up with plenty of lounges for passengers, including seats on either side of the driver. The radar arch not only looks great but serves to support the antennas and a Bimini top that shades passengers seated at the dinette. Stowage space below the dinette can accommodate a life raft. We like the relatively high bulwarks on the bridge; they’re good safety features but they’re not so tall that they take away from the lines of the boat, which are fluid, strong and sporty all at once.

The 620 S has a maximum beam of 16’9” and that width is put to good use in the salon, which like other on-trend yacht interiors today is single-level, open and elegant. Alpi Moabi and Alpi Light oak veneer enhances the bright, even pristine, space. This is a production boat, but you can customize some of the décor: think valances, upholstery and settees. (Prestige offers up to 40 possible combinations.) If you've been walking the docks at boat shows lately, you know that many new motor yachts are showing the galley up and positioned aft to better serve both the salon and aft deck. It’s a layout more yacht owners seem to be requesting, so Prestige offers it here. We like the island in the galley, which provides a little more counter space. Opposite the galley is a high/low table. Lift it up for dinner and lower it again after the plates are cleared.

For overnighting, the 62 has accommodations for six, and all staterooms are en suite, which many cruising veterans believe is de rigueur for a boat this size. The master is full-beam with a berth on centerline to keep the captain and his cohort on an even keel and sleeping more soundly if the wind picks up. A VIP stateroom with island berth is forward and the third stateroom has twin berths that convert to a double. The Prestige can also be ordered with quarters for crew, with two bunks.
Specifications
Length63'11"
Beam16'9"
Max. Draft4'3"
Deadrise17 degrees
Displacement49,804 lbs
740 gal.Fuel capacity
211 gal.water capacity

Prestige is a yacht division of The Beneteau Group. A few years ago, Prestige was the powerboat line offered by sailboat builder Jeanneau, also a Beneteau company. The parent company made the executive decision to set this brand apart and to market Prestige as its own series. Today, the line includes express, flybridge and yacht models ranging in size from 39 to 72 feet. The 620S, some discerning yachtsmen say, is in the sweet spot for luxury cruising, sized just right for civilized travel with family and for operation by an owner. This new model has all of that going for it along with its hybrid appeal, which means you might be able to kiss those days of compromise goodbye.

Other Choices
The Monte Carlo Yachts 65 is a bit larger but still in the owner-operator range. And the Cranchi Fifty 8 Fly is a bit smaller, but has sportier performance.

More information

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Written by: Jeanne Craig
Jeanne Craig has been covering powerboats since 1988. She spent ten years as a senior editor at Boating magazine and ten more as executive editor at Motor Boating. She’s now an independent writer based in Rowayton, Connecticut, where she’s close to the cruising grounds she most enjoys.
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