Prestige Yachts for Sale

Born inside Jeanneau

Prestige began in 1989 with the Prestige 41, built by the French yard Jeanneau, which wanted to sell powerboats over 40 feet. It was drawn by Garroni Design in Italy, and Garroni has designed more than 35 Prestige models since.

The Prestige 36 Flybridge followed in 1999 and started the F-Line. Between 1999 and 2009 Prestige launched a new open or flybridge model every year, and by 2008 more than 2,000 were cruising in Europe.

In 2009 Prestige became a standalone brand with its own production and began exporting to the US and Asia. The Prestige 500 came out the next year and sold more than 450 boats. Prestige says it became one of the three leading brands for 40- to 60-foot motor yachts in the US within three years.

Where they're built

Most Prestiges are built in Les Herbiers, in the Vendée, at a yard that grew from Jeanneau's first plant and now employs over 1,000 people. Larger models are also built at the Beneteau Group yard in Monfalcone, Italy. Prestige builds with resin infusion. Since 2022 it has also built power catamarans, starting with the M48.

Spec sheet: the 420 Fly

The 420 is a common size in Prestige's F-Line. Prestige's US page lists it at 42'10" overall with a 13'5" beam and 3'7" draft. Light displacement is 22,928 lbs and full load is 32,709 lbs. Power is twin Cummins QSB 6.7 diesels on V-drives, either 380 hp or 425 hp each. Prestige quotes a 22-knot cruise and 30 knots max at mid-load on the US page (25 and 31 on its international page).

Tankage is 309 US gallons of fuel and 112 gallons of water, which the spec sheet breaks down as an 87-gallon standard tank plus a 25-gallon option. The holding tank is listed at 31 gallons on the US page and 32 on the spec sheet. The North American spec adds 32,000 BTU chilled-water air conditioning with reverse-cycle heat and a 7.5 kW generator.

On a used 420, the V-drives, chilled-water system and generator are the expensive systems. Get the engine hours and service records and run the air on the survey.

What to check on a used Prestige

Drive system. Ask whether the boat has shaft drives or pod drives. Pods need dealer service on a schedule, so get the records, and check the drive seals and anodes in a haul-out.

European build. A boat built for Europe may have 230V systems or different shore power fittings. Check it is set up for US 120/240V power, or price the change.

Flybridge. Look at the bridge hardtop, seat bases and drains, and check the cabin ceilings underneath for water stains.

Owner's suite. Full-beam owner's cabins sit low near the engine room. Check for noise insulation, moisture and a working air conditioning unit.

Recalls. Ask a Prestige dealer to run the hull number, and check it in the Coast Guard database.