We task Nick Burnham with finding a fantastic used boat bargain, this time it's a three-cabin flybridge cruiser
Jeanneau Prestige 46
2008 – £224,995
Two years ago, the stand-alone prestige (as the name infers) echelon of Jeanneau wowed the world with a sub-70ft main-deck master cabin and recently
it launched a 75-footer. Yet barely under a decade ago, this 46-footer, still with Jeanneau in the title, was the flagship model. Progress indeed.
Interior
Considering it’s a three-cabin mid-40ft flybridge boat, it’s interesting that the most spectacular element of the interior isn’t all the bedrooms – it’s the saloon. You’d expect a little compromise in deference to the sleeping areas, but the reality is almost the reverse – it’s vast! A large lounge area greets you through the aft doors, there’s a U- shaped galley plus, remarkably, a dinette alongside the helm that doubles as a great place to sit underway. Downstairs, two double cabins and a twin complete an interior more akin to a 50ft boat.
Exterior
Italian designers Vittorio Garroni and Musio-Sale had a hand in the exterior form, resulting in a stylish look. You don’t usually see asymmetric side decks on this size of boat – this means the port deck is a full foot wide, making access forward easy. The flybridge has a decent footprint but side coamings are low (albeit topped with rails) to keep the profile sleeker, as are flybridge seats. An optional crew cabin is squeezed beneath the cockpit seat.
Performance
Twin Volvo Penta TAMD 74 or 75 motors, giving 430hp or 480hp each, were offered upon launch in 2003. Cummins QSC8.3 500hp engines were offered
on later boats, the combined 1,000hp achieving over 30 knots.
Seakeeping
A medium vee-hull with an 18-degree deadrise means that the Prestige 46 isn’t the last word in wave cleaving, but it’s nothing that a gentle easing of throttles and touch of tab in rougher conditions won’t sort out. What is impressive is noise levels. Even flat out, the readings remain sub-80dB(A).
Data
Length 47ft 5in (14.5m) Beam 14ft 1in (4.3m) Draught 3ft 11in (1.2m) Displacement 12.5 tonnes Fuel capacity 337 gallons (1,530 litres) Engines Twin Cummins QSC8.3 500hp diesels Contact www.jaykaymarine.co.uk
