The Prestige 680 goes into battle against some seriously talented rivals with an inspired layout and impressive value for money on its side
The Prestige 680 is the largest boat that the Jeanneau Group has ever built at the Les Herbiers factory.
Yes we’ve had the 750 but that is constructed at the Bénéteau Group facility in Monfalcone, Italy where Monte Carlo Yachts are built.
The Les Herbiers plant is where Jeanneau churns out Merry Fishers and Cap Camarats by the bucket load but the Prestige 680 is going up against the likes of the Sunseeker Manhattan 65, Princess 68 and Azimut 70. So how does it get on?
Related stories:
See our video review of the Prestige 750
Prestige 680 details revealed ahead of Cannes launch
With this talented stream of rivals in place Prestige knew that it had to do something different to attract customers, aside from offer the relative value for money that the French yard is known for. Our test boat, for example, came in fully loaded at just under £1.75m inc VAT where as the Princess starts at over £2m.
Prestige 680 master cabin pride of place in the bow
However, taking inspiration from the 750 the 680 has something that is unique in class and that is a raised master cabin forward on the main deck.
This means that the owner has the privacy of being tucked forward, away from guests, in a cabin that is swimming in spaciousness, has bags of light, a walk-in wardrobe and a fabulous ensuite and is as far away from the din of the machinery spaces as possible.
An added bonus is that the full-beam amidships ensuite usually reserved for owners on this size of boat is now free for two of your lucky guests to use.
There is a three or four cabin option on the 680, our test boat had identical twins to give you eight sleeping spaces on board plus two crew but if you want less sleeping space and more luxury you can spec a third double cabin to sleep six in real comfort.
This being a Prestige there is of course separate access to the guest cabins via a stair well in the saloon.
Galley aft layout in the saloon
Speaking of the saloon, this has an aft gallery layout with the main lounging area amidships where you can either have the layout we had on test with the TV stand to starboard, in board of the guests’ staircase or this can be replaced with more sociable seating and the telly moves adjacent to the helm.
Performance
There is one engine option on the Prestige 680 and that is IPS1200, which uses a pair of Volvo Penta’s D13 900hp motors.
These are relatively small engines for a boat of this size (and weight of 29.3 tonnes light) and that shows in the top speed of 27.5 knots that we managed on test, although Prestige says the boat was hitting 29 knots in their own testing.
Prestige 680 lower helm looks smart and the ergonomics are good
Even so, for some the prospect of not being able to cruise at 30 knots will steer them towards the competition but during our two-day shakedown in the Adriatic the cruising speed of 22-24 knots felt ideal, especially as the 680’s sound readings are very low.
That being said we never found any proper sea to put the J&J Design hull through its paces, though refined cruising nature of the 680 during our sea trial can not be faulted.
There is the option to have a hardtop over the flybridge
That is just a taste of a boat that has a huge amount going for it and you can read the full feature in the October 2015 issue of MBY.
Contact See Prestige website for dealers. Web: www.prestige-yachts.com
Pros
- Excellent forward cabin
- Privacy of sleeping spaces
- Refined cruising attitude
- Feeling of quality and attention to detail
- Relative value for money
Cons
- Ergonomics of the upper helm
- Low-rent fixtures and fittings here and there
- Some will want more performance
Price as reviewed:
£1,750,000.00 inc UK VAT
Verdict
The value for money that Prestige is known for is still in place on the 680 but the boat has far more strings to its bow than that. There is real invention in the design and execution and as long as you are happy with the cruising performance the Prestige 680 is an incredibly well-rounded prospect.
Details
Length: 70ft 4in (21.46m)
Beam: 17ft 5in (5.33m)
Fuel capacity: 759 imp gal (3,450 litres)
Water capacity: 202 imp gal (920 litres)
Draught: 5ft 2in (1.58m)
RCD Category: B for 14 people
Designers: J&J Design & Garroni
Displacement: 29.3 tonnes (light)
Test engines: Volvo Penta IPS1200
Cruising speed: 22-24 knots
Top speed: 27.5 knots
