boat review prestige 450 s “advantages of ips”
TRANSCRIPT
Boat review Prestige 450 S
Fishing stylewith
Berthing the boat in 30 knots of breeze at the end
of our run really showed the advantages of IPS...“
”
50 Boating New Zealand December 2013
Orakei Yacht Sales has
enjoyed considerable
success marketing the
French-built Prestige
launches in New Zealand.
Prestige is the premium
motoryacht line from giant French
yacht builder Jeanneau; Orakei also
markets the lower spec’d Jeanneau NC
range of launches.
The Prestige 450 S, for Express,
is a new model released less than a
year ago. This boat is number nine
off the production line but Jeanneau
has already built more than 40
of this model for sale around the
world. It slots into the Prestige range
underneath the Prestige 500 (Boating
NZ, October ’12), three of which have
been sold to Kiwis.
The Auckland brokerage has
worked hard to overcome the
perception that European boats
don’t fit well with New Zealand
boating habits. With an onsite crew
of boatbuilders and numerous
contractors on call, it specialises in
customising production boats to suit
the needs of Kiwi owners.
The 450 S is a good example. Its
owner loves fishing, but the standard
boat has a cockpit layout better
suited for Mediterranean cruising
than soaking baits for snapper. Orakei
Yacht Sales’ Cameron Burch says the
crew has worked with the owner to
customise the new boat and make it
far more fishing-friendly.
“It’s not the first boat we’ve
The French-built Prestige 450 Express just needed a few mods to achieve its Kiwi-style fishability
Words by John Eichelsheim
Photos by Bryce TaylorFishing stylewith subscribe online at www.mags4gifts.co.nz/boating-nz 51subscribe online at www.mags4gifts.co.nz/boating-nz 51
modified in this way, “ explains Burch,
“but we’ve taken the process a lot
further because this owner is so keen
on fishing. Our ability to meet his
needs in this respect was one of the
factors that really swung the deal.”
The team at Orakei added stainless
rails, rod holders and bait tables to
the Prestige 500 S we reviewed in
2012, but the work has been more
extensive on this boat and includes
an upgraded electronics package
sourced and fitted in New Zealand.
They went with Raymarine, which is
also the factory option, but upgraded
it to the biggest HybridTouch display.
With chasing work-ups in mind, they
added HD bird radar and the latest
CHIRP digital sounder technology.
Orakei Yacht Sales also upgraded
the factory anchor and suggested
several other equipment upgrades,
dispensing with factory options the
owner didn’t want.
SmooTh ProgrESSThe weather wasn’t great on the
morning we took the 450 S for a
run. Fortunately, the photos had
European Excellence - surprisingly affordable
Orakei marina, AucklandJason : 021 929 592 Mark : 021 624 614Pier D 12 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, NZOffi ce: (09) 524 8444 Email: [email protected]
Make your appointment to see the Prestige range with us today
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52 Boating New Zealand December 2013
been taken the day before with the
sun shining, but on test day it was
blowing 25 knots from the east and
rising. Nevertheless, we headed out
of the Waitemata into the teeth of
the wind, headed for Tiritiri Matangi
where we hoped to try out the boat’s
fishing modifications.
There was a fairly lumpy sea to
contend with and wind against tide,
but we were able to make reasonably
comfortable progress towards our
destination, covering the ground
at a steady 20 knots. The head sea
produced the odd bang and rattled
the crockery, but the ride was pretty
good and we really only buttoned off
where the waves were standing up
and breaking. Aside from the crockery,
noise levels inside the boat were low.
Plans to fish wide of Tiri were
shelved as the sea continued to build
and we contented ourselves with
a long drift through Tiri Channel,
making the most of the wind shadow
provided by the island. Our efforts
were rewarded with a couple of small
snapper – enough to establish that
the aft platform is really good to fish
from. It was safe and secure even in
the rough conditions and the bait
table and rod holders work well for
bottom fishing.
The wind, registering at a steady 30
knots on the Raymarine windspeed
and direction indicator, and driving
TOP: A dedicated sun lounger on the foredeck is easily accessed via the wide sidedecks, with high railings for safety. The bow and side decks are good fishing platforms and there are plenty of good-sized cleats on this boat too, so it’s easy to tie up alongside. MIDDLE, ABOVE: Ex-factory, there was a void under the cockpit ceiling panel. Orakei Yacht Sales fitted hinges and a latch to the cockpit overhang to convert it to a rod storage locker. abOve righT: The boot is massive, easily swallowing bulky gear including the tender. Supported on gas struts, the lid opens wide enough to easily reach anything inside. ABOVE LEFT: The transom features classy handwashing facilities to manage fishy smells
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rain finally chased us home, but a brief
stop amongst some working birds
halfway back resulted in a few better
snapper and lots of fat kahawai. These
were stowed in the refrigerated slurry
box set into the swim platform.
The trip home with the doors
and windows closed and the heater
on was great; the 450 S cruised at
23-25 knots all the way. The ride
was smooth and dry with only the
biggest holes splashing spray on the
windscreen. The boat felt assured
with the sea behind her and she
would track straight for as long as you
like with your hands off the wheel.
I buttoned off only slightly when
rounding Rangitoto Light where the
seas had really piled up and again
at North Head for the same reason.
These are the conditions in which
boat owners often find themselves
running for home, but the Prestige
450 S was unruffled.
IPS PowErThe Prestige 450 has been designed
around Volvo Penta’s IPS drive
system. This boat has IPS 500 drives,
but it’s also offered with IPS 600.
“The owner decided on the 370hp
500s because the 600s [435hp] really
offered only a couple of knots extra
top speed and no real performance
or fuel economy advantages through
the rest of the operating range – at
least not enough to justify the extra
cost,” explains Burch. Top speed with
the 450 S is around 30 knots with a
full load of fuel and water and the
hull antifouled and cruising speed is
between 22 and 24 knots, where the
engines together burn around 98 litres
per hour for a range of close to 300nm.
“An electric sliding sunroof bares almost half of the saloon to the sky....”
54 Boating New Zealand December 2013
The engines occupy the area
under the teak cockpit sole where
the lazarette would normally be.
Access is good and there are acres of
space around the engines and pod
drives – enough for all the boat’s other
systems including inverter, battery
banks, water heater, fire suppression
and diesel heating systems. The lack
of a lazarette is more than made up
for by the Prestige’s huge boot, which
is big enough to swallow plenty of
gear. It will take the partially deflated
Takacat tender – there’s a pump in
the boot – when it’s not hanging from
davits to be fitted by the owner.
The IPS drives are controlled by a
Volvo joystick at manoeuvring speed,
and conventional electronic throttles
and shifts at normal operating
speeds. There’s a second helm station
in the cockpit with another joystick,
which Burch used to expertly guide
the boat from its tight sales berth
next to the car park at Orakei Marina.
Berthing the boat in 30 knots of
breeze at the end of our run really
showed the advantages of IPS, which
allowed Burch to shunt the boat
TOP lefT: The raised saloon exudes elegant luxury, with a sliding sun-roof that converts to a moon-roof at nightTOP: Orakei Yacht Sales fitted the 15.4-inch Raymarine HybridTouch display – the standard unit is 10 inches – adding Raymarine’s latest CHIRP sounder and bird radar. The easy-to-navigate multifunctional display has overlay and multiple screen modes. The owner has also opted for Raymarine’s Raypilot, a wind speed and direction indicator, rudder angle indicator, remote spotlight, bow thruster and chain counter.FAR LEFT: The for'ard cabin set up as a double berth; it converts to twin berths if desiredFAR, FAR LEFT: The galley is just aft of the saloon
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subscribe online at www.mags4gifts.co.nz/boating-nz 55
sideways down the fairway and guide
it stern-first, with a little help from
the 10hp Quick bow thruster, into
its temporary berth. The manoeuvre
would not have been easy with
conventional drives in the conditions,
maybe even impossible.
good lookIng InSIdE and ouTStylistically the Prestige 450 S is
similar to the 500. It’s a pretty sedan
or Express launch that shares the
same beam and general hull design
as its bigger sibling with short
overhangs to maximise waterline
length. As we found out, it’s a capable
hull that handles well.
The light-filled interior is highly
practical with exceptional flow. The
saloon opens to the cockpit with
full-height sliding doors but steps
up to the carpeted saloon proper. An
electric sliding sunroof bares almost
half of the saloon to the sky, but
even when it’s closed, large opening
skylights and big windows bathe the
boat’s interior in light, accentuated by
plenty of blond wood; cream, almost
white, carpets which are removable
and cover a non-slip sole in moulded
GRP; and light-coloured leather and
fabric upholstery. The light palette of
off-whites, creams and tans and alpe
ash blonde wood continues in the
sleeping accommodation.
The galley is aft with easy access
from the cockpit. Its dark wood
panel floor separates it visually from
the relaxing areas forward in the
saloon and in the cockpit, which
has a comfortable lounger across
the transom. The cockpit remains
an entertaining and relaxing area,
the generous coachroof overhang
affords shade and shelter; fishing
and other water-based activities take
place on the wide swim platform. A
saltwater washdown and freshwater
cockpit shower are standard cockpit
features but the sink and tap were
fitted here as another custom option
for the owner.
The galley features a gas hob,
Corian counters and lots of well
designed stowage in lockers, cabinets
and overhead units. The fridge is
built-in, opposite the galley and the
450 S’s interior is well served by 12V
and 240V power outlets – four and
eight respectively.
The 450 S is a two-cabin design.
That means the cabins are really
spacious, which adds a touch of
luxury, and the decor is thoroughly
modern European. The cabins
provide sleeping accommodation
for four adults, but the saloon table
drops down to convert the settee to
another double berth – a total of six.
The forward cabin’s single berths
can be pushed together to form a
double if desired. The cabin takes up
the whole of the bow and offers more
space than is usual. The clever layout
provides large hanging lockers, desks
and lots of drawers, as well as windows,
opening ports and an overhead hatch
for ventilation. The boat has air-
conditioning as well as diesel heating
with windscreen de-misters.
The day head is a semi-ensuite
design with the shower box
containing the electric toilet with a
fold-down lid that serves as a seat.
The master cabin is amidships,
accessed via stairs from the galley.
The queen-sized berth is oriented
across the cabin, taking full advantage
of the beam. Large windows ensure
ample light, with portholes for fresh
air. It’s a spacious cabin and the
designers have gone to great lengths
to maximise the use of space.
The master cabin communes
with an extra-large, stylish ensuite
bathroom with separate shower
compartment and free-standing
basin. The toilet is in a lidded box
that’s also a seat.
The owner envisages using his
Prestige, which will be based in
Auckland, largely as a day boat so
there’s no washing machine, pop-up
flat-screen TV in the saloon or genset,
but Burch suspects its comforts and
obvious suitability for longer jaunts
will seduce him in the end.
ConCluSIonThe Prestige 450 S is a slightly smaller,
slightly cheaper version of the Prestige
500, a model that has already found
customers in New Zealand. By taking
advantage of Orakei Yacht Sales’
extensive customising capabilities, the
owner of the first 450 S in the country
has taken delivery of a boat that
combines European handling and
style with Kiwi fishability.
➤ loa 13.96m
➤ beam 4.3m
➤ draft 1.05m
➤ weight 11000kg light ship
➤ construction moulded solid GRP, deck/superstructure are GRP with composite reinforcing
➤ engine 2 x Volvo Penta 370hp IPS
➤ propeller 2 x forward facing dual counter-rotating propeller IPS pod drives
➤ deadrise 17° at transom
➤ fuel 1200 litres
➤ water 520 litres
➤ holding tank 120 litres
➤ cruising speed 22 knots
➤ max speed 28 knots
➤ price as tested $916,137 NZD
➤ packages from $876,527 NZD
➤ manufacturer Jeanneau/Prestige Motoryachts, France, www.prestige-yachts.com [email protected]
➤ boat supplied by Orakei Yacht Sales, 09 524 8444, 021 92 95 92, www.orakeiyachtsales.com [email protected]
Prestige 450 S
Twin Volvo Penta 370hp engines with IPS drives power the Prestige 450 S to a top speed of 28 knots
The stainless steel work was fabricated by Custom Stainless. It comprises a wrap-around cage with gates on both sides and in the middle, giving multiple boarding options and allowing the tender to be pulled up onto the platform and stowed. Eight vertical rod holders are welded to the railings and there are another five around the frame for the removable bait table.There are no lockers in the standard boat’s swim platform. Orakei Yacht Sales’ created a large insulated, refrigerated slurry bin set into the platform on the port side. It will chill down to -20°C.Another generous flooding locker has been set into the platform for live bait. It's in two parts, plumbed and furnished with a hatch each side. Orakei Yacht Sales has kept the moulds for use by future Prestige owners.
56 Boating New Zealand December 2013