Sanlorenzo is happy to describe its new SL78 as an entry-level motoryacht. Yet, like all the shipyard’s projects, she’s still largely designed according to each owner’s wishes. The first SL78 is a spec project, with a “prototype” decor of muted grays, pale veneers, and soft furnishings by Ivano Redaelli. But, she places special emphasis on light levels and space.
The SL78, which 80’10” overall is a little longer than it sounds, particularly does this in the saloon. Sanlorenzo cut away the gunwale outside to clear sightlines from within. Furthermore, the glass-sided flybridge stairs with “floating” treads barely intrude into your vision. It’s a feature which might be described as spectacular, but for the fact that it’s virtually invisible. Clever stuff.
The accommodation layout features a midships master stateroom that makes excellent use of the full 18’10” beam. You’ll also find two roomy twin-berth ensuites, and a small VIP cabin forward. A large flybridge, fully furnished aft deck, and comfortable foredeck seating area provide plenty of choice for outdoor relaxation.
The flybridge itself, which Sanlorenzo claims is the biggest on the market in this class of yacht, features a cool, slatted Venetian-blind sunroof and an expansive bimini to shade the seating areas. Sun-worshippers can take to the recliners at the back. The sense of space up here is not illusory. A refreshing absence of tenders, chocks, and cranes emphasizes it, thanks to the SL78’s most significant design innovation: a tender garage.
It’s no afterthought, being capable of accommodating a 12’6” Williams 385 jet RIB. No other flybridge yacht of this size can boast as much, according to Sanlorenzo. But it’s not without compromise. Mounted athwartships, the tender is accessible only after raising both sets of transom steps. This might make life awkward for the crew on occasion. The twin-bunk crew cabin, meanwhile, usually in the stern on yachts of this size, is actually in the bow. It occupies the port side, and considerably reduces the space available to the VIP ensuite.
But, every yacht suffers some compromises somewhere. The bottom line is that the SL78 has both a crew cabin, and a tender garage—and according to Sanlorenzo, that makes it unique.
Fitted with the larger of two engine options, twin 1,622hp MTU V10s on V drives, the SL78 posted a useful top speed of just over 28 knots during our sea trial, and was very comfortable cruising in the mid-20s.
Leave a Reply