Prestige to debut M48 powercat at Cannes Yachting Festival

Prestige has revealed details of its upcoming M48 power catamaran, as the French builder becomes one of the first leading monohull motor yacht builders to start developing twin-hulled motor yachts. However, as part of Groupe Beneteau, the builder is a sister company of catamaran leader Lagoon, which builds powercats but only larger models like the Sixty 7 and Seventy 8.

Prestige, one of the global leaders in monohull motor yachts from 40-70ft, plans to make the M48 available for media sea trials in early June and stage the model’s official premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival from September 6-11.

The raised swim platform becomes an extension of the cockpit

Designed by long-time Prestige designer Garroni Design of Italy with French naval architect Philippe Briand, the 14.8m yacht is tall and thin, with a beam of just 6m. This is significantly wider than the brand’s flagship X70 (5.34m), but much thinner than even shorter powercats by Aquila, Leopard, Fountaine Pajot and Bali, which range in length from 13.1-14.1m and have beams between 6.6-7.3m.

The lowered platform allows access to a toy garage

The M48 was unveiled in an online presentation by Prestige’s Erwin Bamps (Brand Director), Erik Stromberg (Power and Motor Yacht Product Director) and Rosalie Le Gall (Product Marketing Manager). Fitted with twin Volvo Penta D4-320 V-drive engines, the yacht is expected to cruise up to 18 knots and have a top speed of 20 knots.

Bamps said: “Our customers’ expectations extend to multihulls. Prestige owners cruise with their families and, for the majority, without crew. They particularly value the feeling of spaciousness afforded by the 360-degree view in the saloon, the extraordinarily bright interior, the optimal design of the owner’s cabin, and ease of handling of our yachts.

The flybridge covers nearly 20sqm(215sq.ft.)

“Today, our buyers want more luxury, space and comfort. High cruising speed is no longer a demand – stability is, on the other hand. These have naturally pointed us to the catamaran. With this platform on the water, Prestige renews its promise to realise the dream of living on your own private island.”

Prestige estimates the 48ft 6in catamaran to have the interior volume of a 60ft motor yacht. Arguably the most notable aspect of its design is a full-beam lower deck that can accommodate two guest-cabins aft with window-facing beds and either a full-beam master or two more guest cabins forward.

The cockpit seating is separated

The central electric swim platform can carry a tender and be lowered to become flush with the twin transoms, forming a 6m-wide terrace and allowing access to a toy storage locker.

The platform can also be raised to form a lounging area just one step down from the aft cockpit, where a central walkway separates the L-shaped sofas and two tables, although the latter can ‘open’ and connect to accommodate up to eight guests for dining. All exterior furnishings are from the outdoor collection by RODA.

The cockpit also has seating forward

Port stairs lead to a nearly 20sqm flybridge where the starboard side has a teak table and a C-shaped sofa adjoining a modular sunpad aft and a forward-facing sofa. To port is a wet bar and a bench-seat helm station. There’s a large windshield, while a hard top is optional.

The foredeck is notably spacious and has a triple sunpad and an aft-facing C-shaped sofa with a removable table. The bow layout allows access to the anchor windlass and storage lockers, while a skipper cabin is in the port forepeak, with a head to starboard.

The C-shaped galley is to starboard, facing the dining area to port

The 22sqm saloon starts with the C-shaped galley to starboard, where the aft window can be opened flush with the roof. The lounge to port features a C-shaped sofa, dining table and the option of loose chairs. Woodwork is in walnut with touches of high-gloss lacquer, while floorboards are available in natural brushed light oak hardwood.

The galley countertops and the dining table are offered in black marbled ceramic (optional), which is among a wide selection of interior and exterior upholstery.

A full-beam master suite is optional

A forward door leads to the optional full-beam master suite, which is 5m wide and covers 18sqm. The cabin has a king-size bed and a bathroom with shower on the port side and a separate toilet with sink to starboard. Custom Monalison bed linens in certified organic materials are an option, while bathrooms feature Hazelnut Corian countertops.

Designer Camilo Garroni said: “For the M48, the objective was to offer a true powercat, well positioned in the world of yachting, with an owner’s suite worthy of that found on a 70-footer.”

The master suite’s king-sized bed faces aft

Aft, two en-suite cabins are separated by a bulwark and feature window-facing queen beds that can be made into singles.

The stepped hull is pronounced to cut through the waves and diminish the effects of spray, while the nacelle has been sculpted to limit the water slapping under the boat. A Volvo joystick can control the two 320hp engines, one in each hull, while the range is estimated to be 250nm at 18 knots and over 600nm at eight knots.

The aft guest cabins have window-facing beds

Le Gall concluded: “For an optimal power catamaran, we decided to approve an exclusively powerboat design. This design concept enabled us to offer a multihull that is not as wide as a sailing catamaran, but taller. This approach, without a doubt, has won over both sailing catamaran and motor yacht owners.”