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New Member
- Nov 27, 2012
- 284
- Boat Info
- 2015 Prestige 550 Fly
- Engines
- Cummins QSC 8.3 / 2x600CV + Zeus
I'm starting this thread because Rocket asked me why I purchased a 2015 Prestige 550 Fly over a new Sea Ray. I traded up from my 420DB which I absolutely loved. She treated me well as I did her.
Since comparing boats is often a difficult if not a futile endeavor -- there are so many variables -- I can only share my line of thinking as it relates to my boating needs/budget/taste/etc. I didn't buy a Prestige because I think Prestige makes better boats than Sea Ray. In fact, many aspects of the build of a Sea Ray are likely better than a Prestige. Just ask a MarineMax salesman
I'll offer some context to illustrate why I chose the boat I did. My wife and three children (12, 11, 7) boat on the Chesapeake Bay. When we're on the boat, we're rarely in the marina or in any marina, for that matter. You'll usually find us on the hook somewhere. Starting next year, we'll take the boat FL for the winter.
First of all, I love the look of the Prestige. That's an entirely subjective perspective but it counts for something. Moreover, in this class/category of boat, I think both the interior and exterior offer clean lines that will stand up to time. Some boats look dated in a matter of only a few years because they make bold design choices that don't catch on.
Second, I LOVE that the full beam master with table and seating for two has it's on private stairway on the starboard side as you enter the cabin doors. It offers a level of privacy not often found on boats of this size. The kids can do their thing in the two cabins forward and we can do our thing with a bit more privacy than usually possible on a boat.
Third, the VIP stateroom has a queen bed that slides open or closed so that it can serve a couple or two individuals who do not share the same bed. Additionally, the boat has a crew/captain's quarters aft with private head and shower (my kids are already fighting over who gets to sleep there). Of course, I won't have a captain or crew so it can serve as a fourth stateroom. You don't find many boats of this size offering four staterooms.
Fifth, speaking of size. It is right in the sweet spot of the size I wanted. It's LOA is 58.9 and beam is 15.8. I wanted to be just under 60 feet. On the bay, once you go over 60 feet you have trouble doing the kind of boating we do. Even at 58.9 (probably more like 60 feet with the tender on the platform) we can no longer pick up a mooring ball in Annapolis Harbor.
Sixth, why didn't I go with a Sea Ray of similar size? Well, the 51 Fly is a bit too small for what I wanted and I don't love the use of interior space on the boat. It feels tight and cramped whereas, from my perspective, the Prestige feels more open and there is literally a 360 degree view out of the main cabin area (salon, helm, galley). It's incredibly light and open. Oh, and I like the galley aft.
The Sea Ray 59 Fly is of comparable size. I think it's a gorgeous boat. One of my very close friends just took delivery on one at the beginning of this past Fall. There are some big differences between the Sea Ray 59 Fly and the Prestige 550 Fly that made me go toward the Prestige.
The big one: price. The Sea Ray is about a million more at list price for the same size boat. You might say the Sea Ray is a better appointed boat and you'd be right. The materials used on the interior are better: granite, better woods, better leather, etc. But I wasn't willing to pay an extra million dollars for those details. The retail price for the Sea Ray 59 Fly is about 2.4 or 2.5 million. The retail price for the Prestige 550 Fly is about 1.4 to 1.5 million. That's a HUGE difference. Although, if I win the Powerball today (apparently it's up to $900,000,000) I'll buy a super yacht and donate my new Prestige to the CSR admin with the most posts.
The Prestige is 20,000 lbs lighter because Prestige uses a resin infusion process for manufacturing its hulls rather than the traditional wet process (many of the best builders are using this process now). At first, I was worried that this might be a con but for the kind of boating we do at this point in our lives, I think a lighter boat is a plus as long as it's heavy enough to handle our typical boating conditions. The boat still weighs 53,000 lbs (loaded) which is heavy enough to handle pretty much anything the bay can throw at us. I did my sea trial on a day with 25-35 knot winds and 4's and 5's on the bay and the boat handled like a beast. I pushed it hard by taking it on the beam and running into the wind at 30 knots and it performed like a champ. OK, 30 knots into the waves didn't feel great but the hull felt stiff and the boat easy to control.
Less weight also means she burns less fuel. The Prestige 550 has two Cummins 600 QSC 8.3's with Zues pods. The Sea Ray has three. At 22 knots, the Prestige burns 41 gph and at 30 knots, 62 gph. Comparatively, the Sea Ray, at 22 knots, burns 71 gph and at 31 knots, 97 gph. (According to BoatTest.com.)
I didn't really intend to make this a Prestige 550 Fly vs. Sea Ray 59 Fly comparison but those where the two boats that best fit my needs and my style. I could go on with the comparison but it really boils down to the fact that I wasn't willing to spend an extra million dollars for some of the things that the Sea Ray offered. Nonetheless, price being equal, there are still things about the Prestige that I preferred over the Sea Ray.
Whew. I've run out a steam so I think I'll close this up before I completely bore you to tears. Who knows how I'll feel in five years but, at present, I am just grateful that I have the opportunity to own a boat of any kind, let alone one as luxurious as a new Prestige.
Please don't hate me for not buying a Sea Ray. But, even if you do, I'm not leaving CSR no matter what you say! It's still the best boating forum on the web.
- Michael
UPDATE: I was scolded, rightfully so, for not adding pictures. However, for some reason, I'm unable to add pictures. Instead, here is a manufacturer promo video of the Prestige 550 Fly.
Since comparing boats is often a difficult if not a futile endeavor -- there are so many variables -- I can only share my line of thinking as it relates to my boating needs/budget/taste/etc. I didn't buy a Prestige because I think Prestige makes better boats than Sea Ray. In fact, many aspects of the build of a Sea Ray are likely better than a Prestige. Just ask a MarineMax salesman
I'll offer some context to illustrate why I chose the boat I did. My wife and three children (12, 11, 7) boat on the Chesapeake Bay. When we're on the boat, we're rarely in the marina or in any marina, for that matter. You'll usually find us on the hook somewhere. Starting next year, we'll take the boat FL for the winter.
First of all, I love the look of the Prestige. That's an entirely subjective perspective but it counts for something. Moreover, in this class/category of boat, I think both the interior and exterior offer clean lines that will stand up to time. Some boats look dated in a matter of only a few years because they make bold design choices that don't catch on.
Second, I LOVE that the full beam master with table and seating for two has it's on private stairway on the starboard side as you enter the cabin doors. It offers a level of privacy not often found on boats of this size. The kids can do their thing in the two cabins forward and we can do our thing with a bit more privacy than usually possible on a boat.
Third, the VIP stateroom has a queen bed that slides open or closed so that it can serve a couple or two individuals who do not share the same bed. Additionally, the boat has a crew/captain's quarters aft with private head and shower (my kids are already fighting over who gets to sleep there). Of course, I won't have a captain or crew so it can serve as a fourth stateroom. You don't find many boats of this size offering four staterooms.
Fifth, speaking of size. It is right in the sweet spot of the size I wanted. It's LOA is 58.9 and beam is 15.8. I wanted to be just under 60 feet. On the bay, once you go over 60 feet you have trouble doing the kind of boating we do. Even at 58.9 (probably more like 60 feet with the tender on the platform) we can no longer pick up a mooring ball in Annapolis Harbor.
Sixth, why didn't I go with a Sea Ray of similar size? Well, the 51 Fly is a bit too small for what I wanted and I don't love the use of interior space on the boat. It feels tight and cramped whereas, from my perspective, the Prestige feels more open and there is literally a 360 degree view out of the main cabin area (salon, helm, galley). It's incredibly light and open. Oh, and I like the galley aft.
The Sea Ray 59 Fly is of comparable size. I think it's a gorgeous boat. One of my very close friends just took delivery on one at the beginning of this past Fall. There are some big differences between the Sea Ray 59 Fly and the Prestige 550 Fly that made me go toward the Prestige.
The big one: price. The Sea Ray is about a million more at list price for the same size boat. You might say the Sea Ray is a better appointed boat and you'd be right. The materials used on the interior are better: granite, better woods, better leather, etc. But I wasn't willing to pay an extra million dollars for those details. The retail price for the Sea Ray 59 Fly is about 2.4 or 2.5 million. The retail price for the Prestige 550 Fly is about 1.4 to 1.5 million. That's a HUGE difference. Although, if I win the Powerball today (apparently it's up to $900,000,000) I'll buy a super yacht and donate my new Prestige to the CSR admin with the most posts.
The Prestige is 20,000 lbs lighter because Prestige uses a resin infusion process for manufacturing its hulls rather than the traditional wet process (many of the best builders are using this process now). At first, I was worried that this might be a con but for the kind of boating we do at this point in our lives, I think a lighter boat is a plus as long as it's heavy enough to handle our typical boating conditions. The boat still weighs 53,000 lbs (loaded) which is heavy enough to handle pretty much anything the bay can throw at us. I did my sea trial on a day with 25-35 knot winds and 4's and 5's on the bay and the boat handled like a beast. I pushed it hard by taking it on the beam and running into the wind at 30 knots and it performed like a champ. OK, 30 knots into the waves didn't feel great but the hull felt stiff and the boat easy to control.
Less weight also means she burns less fuel. The Prestige 550 has two Cummins 600 QSC 8.3's with Zues pods. The Sea Ray has three. At 22 knots, the Prestige burns 41 gph and at 30 knots, 62 gph. Comparatively, the Sea Ray, at 22 knots, burns 71 gph and at 31 knots, 97 gph. (According to BoatTest.com.)
I didn't really intend to make this a Prestige 550 Fly vs. Sea Ray 59 Fly comparison but those where the two boats that best fit my needs and my style. I could go on with the comparison but it really boils down to the fact that I wasn't willing to spend an extra million dollars for some of the things that the Sea Ray offered. Nonetheless, price being equal, there are still things about the Prestige that I preferred over the Sea Ray.
Whew. I've run out a steam so I think I'll close this up before I completely bore you to tears. Who knows how I'll feel in five years but, at present, I am just grateful that I have the opportunity to own a boat of any kind, let alone one as luxurious as a new Prestige.
Please don't hate me for not buying a Sea Ray. But, even if you do, I'm not leaving CSR no matter what you say! It's still the best boating forum on the web.
- Michael
UPDATE: I was scolded, rightfully so, for not adding pictures. However, for some reason, I'm unable to add pictures. Instead, here is a manufacturer promo video of the Prestige 550 Fly.
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