“Clients are looking at their boats like an extension of their privacy at home.” Stefano De Vivo, chief commercial officer of the Ferretti Group, explains this as we sit in the saloon aboard the Pershing 8X at the recent Palm Beach International Boat Show. “People were doing business onboard in years past, but less so now.” Therefore, builders like Pershing are responding with more creature comforts, while remaining true to what attracted customers in the first place. With the Pershing 8X, the Italian brand provides eye-catching designs, along with indulgent features. Of course, the 83’8″ (25.55-meter) megayacht still produces speeds to give passers-by whiplash.
The characteristic sleek superstructure of the Pershing family appears on the 8X, with twists. Literally. Note the open arches aft (below), particularly the port-side one. The arch incorporates the stairway leading to the flying bridge. Gone are the typical ladder-like stairs, replaced by this sculptural element, which still remains practical. In fact, it may make some buyers and guests feel more secure in moving about. Furthermore, it frees up some usable space for crew and guest traffic flow. All these curves and forms come courtesy of styling by Fulvio De Simoni and carbon fiber construction.
Note also out here the open nature of the saloon entry (above and below). The Pershing 8X has both an opening door and opening window between the saloon and aft-deck dining nook. Then consider the large ports to each side, as well as the opening sunroof and the fixed dining-area skylight. The sensation of space and indoor-outdoor living is not restricted to time at anchor. In fact, Pershing says you can run the megayacht with them open, without feeling too breezy.
Staying consistent with the Pershing foundation, the Pershing 8X preserves an open main-deck layout. This benefits you and your guests as much as your crew. For example, the captain and crew at the triple-seat helm have clear sightlines all the way aft (above). Eliminating the ladder and changing it to the sweeping stairs within the arch opens up visibility even more for them. In addition, the windshield is a single piece of glass. It’s a welcome change from a number of semi-custom yachts in this size range.
Also a change compared to some similar-size semi-custom yachts: the cabin layout. The Pershing 8X offers four staterooms standard, though the U.S. version swaps one out for a TV/movie lounge. It sits steps down from the helm. Alternately, you could request the beds and therefore an enclosed cabin, but if you want creature comforts, resist the urge. The media room is also in proximity to the full-beam (19’2″, or 5.86-meter) master, seen above, and your guest staterooms, ideal for midnight movies before heading off to sleep.
True to tradition, the Pershing 8X treats owners and guests to a thrill ride. Two different MTU packages promise top speeds upwards of 40 knots. With the standard 2,435-hp MTU 16V 2000 M96 engines, for instance, you should see a 45-knot max. Upgrade to the 2,638-hp M96L engines for 48 knots. Either way, your captain has control over the powerplants (coupled to surface drives), thrusters, and steering all within one joystick. The downside to speed, understandably, is range. However, the expected 320 nautical miles at cruise with the standard engines, and 310 with the optional ones, is still plenty to explore sandy shores.
While the 8X helps grow production-boat customers into its megayacht offerings, Pershing has several additional designs on the drawing board, including the Pershing 170. That magnitude might surprise some brand fans, but it makes perfect sense to the Ferretti Group. “The sky’s the limit,” De Vivo asserts, adding that the combination of speed and efficiency isn’t restricted to so-called small sizes. Neither, of course, are creature comforts. The builder is sure to surprise here, as the project comes along.
Pershing pershing-yacht.com
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