Prestige 550 Flybridge

By John Armstrong

Jeanneau produces many distinct lines of both sailing vessels and power boats; Prestige is one of these pedigrees.

The Prestige 550 Flybridge is a luxury high performance flybridge motor yacht with a magnificent French design and decor and thanks to the buying power of the parent company, Prestige represents great value for your dollar.

The boat is very spacious and is available in a few different layout configurations. We felt the three stateroom plus crew cabin test boat was very well laid out. It has large windows both up and down, with a private entrance to the master stateroom back near the cockpit and galley. This stateroom uses the entire beam, giving a very “palatial look” to this functional and practical owner’s quarters. This design also provides for a spacious walk-in closet and larger en suite head, yet you also have a separate dressing room and a cozy breakfast nook.

The guest cabin is forward and this is deceptively large, plus being highly functional. This cabin is equipped with a queen berth that can be split into twins there is a second mid-ship guest cabin on the port side. Again, the berths can be two singles or a queen and both of these guest cabins share a dry head.

There is space for a washer/dryer under the companionway stairs leading to the two forward staterooms

An unexpected but excellent feature is the crew cabin that you enter from the cockpit. This has its own private shower, head and transom window. So, overall, the cabin accommodations are significant and highly accommodating.

The main deck is raised with a very comfortable sofa and a dining table to port that folds out to accommodate various entertaining options.

The galley is aft and also on the port side, and again French ingenuity has prevailed as it serves both the main cabin and the cockpit. The galley is equipped with a dishwasher, microwave, oven, refrigerator, deep freezer and sink. It is at main deck level and the chef has abundant sightlines to the horizon. Generous counter space and a serving area make this an especially good galley layout.

Up the starboard side is another couch, storage spaces and the lower helm station, all of which can be open to the breezes thanks to the large sunroof. Both helms provide good visibility and are well laid out, with an optional docking station available in the cockpit on the starboard side.

The flying bridge is well suited for entertaining and enjoying the sun. A massive lounge area around the helm station has space for many people and the bridge is equipped with a beverage serving area with sink, grill and a small refrigerator.

The side decks are 21” wide and the rails are 35” high, making it very easy to walk safely around the vessel.

The engine compartment houses twin 600 HP 8.3 L Cummins QSC diesels using jackshafts to connect to the Zeus pod drives. By moving the engines forward the weight is distributed in a better manner improving the longitudinal center of gravity. Wide open throttle approaches a little better than 30 knots, while the boat has been designed to cruise in the mid-twenties. The Zeus auto trim system takes all the work out of balancing the vessel when underway, but you may revert to manual control of the tabs if so desired. The pods are housed in tunnels giving the boat a draft of only 3’10”.

The optional hydraulic platform will house the tender rather than using the garage system which takes up the space where the crew cabin is located.

Prestige has made very good use of teak both on the decks and various tables, a nice touch!

Again Prestige has hit a home run with this 550 Flybridge yacht in terms of practicality, design, running features and all of this at a nice price point; yours to enjoy!

SPECIFICATIONS

Test boat engines: twin 600 HP 8.3 L Cummins QSC diesel. ZF Zeus pod drives with integrated trim and joystick docking.

ENGINE RPM SPEED MPH

Idle

1000 7.7

1400 10.5

1800 12.9

2200 17.8

2600 22.8

2800 28.7

3030 35.0

CRUISING SPEED rpm / mph