Is this the superboat equivalent of a supercar?
Exceptionally fast, uber-cool, very glamorous and Italian – you can see why Pershing motor yachts are often called Ferraris of the sea. But that is far from being the full story. Because, when it comes to creature comforts, a Ferrari is no match for the sumptuous luxury of a Pershing.
The typical top speed for this kind of high performance motor yacht is around 35knots/40mph/65kph. Very few are capable of 40 knots. Even fewer are capable of 45 knots, but one such is Pershing. It’s all down to raceboat technology. If you have ever watched a racing powerboat at speed, you’ll have seen the huge ‘rooster tail’ of spray cascading high into the air that follows in its wake. The reason for that is what are called surface drives. Conventional propellers operate underneath a boat, whereas raceboats use surface propellers which extend behind them. As the name suggests, they operate at the surface of the water, with only half of the propeller immersed. Sounds bizarre, but due to some hi-tech science, that actually makes them much more efficient at high speed.
Almost all Pershings have surface drives, with the exception of Volvo IPS drives on the very smallest model, the 54ft Pershing 5X, and water jet drives for the very largest, the 140ft Pershing 140. To reach speeds of 45 knots in boats of this size takes quite a bit of power, rather more than the typical Ferrari. The Pershing 5X has twin 725hp engines. The new 84ft Pershing 8X reaches 50 knots, or 92kph with twin 2638hp engines. Impressive for a 60 ton boat.
If it’s luxury waterfront designer living you’re after, the pictures tell that story better than any words. A Pershing is a model of premier league Italian luxury, styled and furnished by some of Italy’s top designers, with deck spaces that would put some villas to shame.
Apart from the obvious thrill of driving a 60 ton powerboat at these kinds of speeds, the greatest pleasure of owning a Pershing is when you open the throttles, accelerate away to 50 knots, and leave almost everyone behind in your wake.
The sea is one of life’s last great freedoms, with very few rules and no speed limits. If you want to make the most of it, nothing beats a Pershing.
Pershing, along with other brands from the Ferretti Group are represented in Spain and in the UK by Ventura
Offices in Marbella, Mallorca, Barcelona and London.
