Four brand new 55ft boats were launched at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024, all of different styles. They are the Prestige F5.7, Sunseeker Predator 55, Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 and Absolute Navetta 53.
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A flybridge, sportscruiser, trawler and crossover, all of around the same length and price, but which one is best? In this article, we're going to compare them side by side so you can see where the differences lie and the pros and cons of each one to help you decide which style of boat might suit your cruising habits best.
Flybridge: Prestige F5.7
56ft 9in (17.3m)
€1,290,000 ex. VAT
The Prestige F5.7 - the flybridge offering - is brimming with usable space but strikes a nice balance between space and style.
The cockpit is well laid out with a port-side sink for rinsing hands after dealing with lazy lines and offers the ease of moving around the seating area. Like the Absolute, its cockpit seating faces across the boat so that those sitting in the cockpit have equally pleasant views out over the water. The foredeck is great for sunbathing, equipped with pop-up backrests and a table.
Inside, the ocean-view design of the galley bar connects well with the cockpit. The main seating area is spacious, featuring a large sofa and pop-up TV. The helm station is seated only but comfortable, with major controls within reach, though the screens could be a bit closer to the skipper.
The layout on the lower deck comprises three cabins but they are arranged quite differently to the other three boats.
The VIP cabin, which is amidships not forward, has an offset berth, avoiding the awkwardness of climbing over someone sleeping, and has a touch more floor space. It includes a walk-in wardrobe and a decent ensuite with a separate shower, too.
The forward owner cabin, typical of the F-Line range, is roomy with excellent headroom and natural light. The bed is low and wide, complemented by a sofa and TV. The ensuite bathroom, with a pocket door, is bright with twin sinks and a large shower. There are pros and cons to this cabin arrangement. The owner's cabin forward has better headroom than it would amdiships but it's more exposed to hull slap if the boat is anchored overnight or swinging on a buoy. Conversely, being that bit further away from the engine room means you're less exposed to noise from machinery such as the stabiliser and generator.
The flybridge keeps it simple yet effective, with wrap-around seating allowing easy movement. The table folds for different group sizes, with practical cup holders and handholds. The optional hardtop with a standard sunroof covers this area; the alternative is a canvas bimini.
Catering options include a sink and fridge, with an optional ice maker and grill. Up front, the sunbathing space includes backrests for comfort when the boat is on the move. Twin helm seats are standard, a nice touch on this type of yacht. Propelled by IPS800 engines, it reaches a top speed of 27 knots and cruises comfortably at 22 knots - solid performance.
Reasons to Buy
- Roomy owner's cabin
- Flybridge living space
- Amidships VIP
Things to Consider
- Built to a price
- Long options list
Interested in owning a Prestige F5.7? This model is currently in production and can be customized to meet your specifications - order a New Prestige F5.7. Ready to purchase sooner? View All New & Used Prestige F5.7 Boats for Sale available now! Or explore the entire current Prestige range to find the model that best suits you.
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Prestige F5.717.27m Prestige Yachts
from 2024
Sportscruiser: Sunseeker Predator 55
56ft 3in (17.1m)
€2,002,000 ex. VAT
The Sunseeker Predator 55 is the classic sportscruiser shape. Sleek, sporty and designed to turn heads it's also likely to be the most entertaining from the helm given it shares a platform with the Sunseeker Superhawk 55.
Without a flybridge, it offers an open, single-deck design, making it a better choice if you enjoy socialising in a single space without people being split across decks.
It's also the only boat here with a tender garage (large enough for a Williams 325 jet RIB), meaning the hydraulic bathing platform is kept clear for swimming and water sports.
There's strong practicality beneath those swoopy lines, however, with a versatile cockpit that includes a large adjustable table and a pop-out shade for some respite from the sun. The foredeck features a neat bench for sundowners on the bow and beneath the sun pad there is an enormous storage void, large enough to swallow all the boat's fenders and possibly play part-time hot tub!
The big draw with this style of boat is the sunroof, which makes the saloon so versatile. You can easily open the area to the elements on warm days or close the roof and go boating when it's cold. Even with the huge carbon fibre roof closed there's plenty of natural light drawn in thanks to the large glass panels.
Inside, the Predator 55 has some clever space-saving solutions, with deep drawers under the helm seat and a pop-up TV that can face the cockpit. The galley is practical, with an optional dishwasher and extra cooling space downstairs.
The helm is new for this model and it's a classy design. You don't have the second helm position of other boats in this feature so it's important that this one hits all the right notes and it certainly does. There's a nice mix of MFDs and the round dials that Sunseeker use on other models and they look the part.
Powered by Volvo Penta IPS950 engines with 725hp per side, the Pred will hit 36 knots flat out and cruise at 25 knots. If performance and the driving experience are an important part of your boat buying equation then this is the one for you. The Prestige and Absolute run on IPS but they're unlikely to have the sparkling dynamics of the Predator out on the water. Given it shares an engineering platform with the Superhawk 55, this is a proven performer.
On the lower deck, like the other three, there's a three-cabin layout. The starboard twin offers options for an ensuite or utility space with wash and dry facilities. A full-height fridge freezer is available - an intelligent choice for a boat accommodating six.
The forward VIP cabin, with ensuite access via a Jack and Jill door, doubles as the day head. The amidships owner's cabin is spacious, with over 6ft of headroom and plenty of storage, including cupboards and a bureau. It features a large bed, hull windows, and a TV. It has a new design language for Sunseeker, very contemporary with stylish lamps and smart bed heads. It feels a cut above the Prestige and Beneteau in terms of fit and finish but it should do, because it costs more.
Reasons to Buy
- Top performance
- Massive sunroof
- Excellent fit & finish
- Single-level living
Things to Consider
- Expensive
- Less deck space
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Sunseeker Predator 5517.15m Sunseeker
from 2024
Interested in owning a Sunseeker Predator 55? This model is currently in production and can be customized to meet your specifications - order a New Sunseeker Predator 55. Ready to purchase sooner? View All New & Used Sunseeker Predator 55 Boats for Sale available now! Or explore the entire current Sunseeker range to find the model that best suits you.
Trawler: Beneteau Swift Trawler 54
56ft 2in (17.1m)
€1,130,000 ex. VAT
The Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 is the flagship of the Swift Trawler range, and it is a different experience from the Prestige F5.7 and Sunseeker Predator 55. Very much designed for longer stays on board, it has a semi-displacement hull, twin shaft drives and a top speed of around 20 knots. It's designed for a different type of boating and a slower pace of life. It will cover 700nm at 9 knots but drop that speed to an albeit rather glacial 6 knots and the range soars to over 2,000nm!
Storage is a strong point, with an enormous walk-in lazarette that can be converted into a crew cabin if needed. Unlike other boats in the Swift Trawler range, the 54 has symmetrical decks and is completely walk-around. The foredeck is not as large as the Sunseeker but is practical with sunbathing space and a table. 18 solar panels arranged across the hard top and flybridge overhangs as part of the Silent Boat pack, allow for up to eight hours of silent running, though this is a €90,000 option.
While not as sleek as the Prestige or Sunseeker, the flybridge on the Swift Trawler 54 extends far back and it has probably the biggest upper deck of the flybridge boats in this article. Internal access from the saloon to the flybridge is ideal for long passages, allowing quick access to the galley. A large fridge, grill, and wet bar add convenience and mean you can serve guests without having to dash to and from the galley.
The saloon's layout differs from rivals, with a central galley separating two living areas. This positioning eases access to supplies during passages but limits interaction with those in the cockpit.
Below deck, the Swift Trawler 54 has a three-cabin, two-bathroom layout. While it feels a bit more cramped than the others, it's practical in its arrangement. The forward VIP cabin has private access to the day head, shared with the twin cabin. The owner's cabin, amidships, has a large double bed and private bathroom, offering bright and wide spaces. Though not as connected as the Prestige's open-plan design, the Swift Trawler's interior is sociable and well-suited for extended cruising.
Reasons to Buy
- Best liveaboard option
- Great storage solutions
- Tough semi-displacement hull
- Good value
Things to Consider
- It's the cheapest and feels it
- Limited performance
- Lower deck feels cramped
Interested in owning a Beneteau Swift Trawler 54? This model is currently in production and can be customized to meet your specifications - order a New Beneteau Swift Trawler 54. Ready to purchase sooner? View All New & Used Beneteau Swift Trawler 54's for Sale available now! Or explore the entire current Beneteau range to find the model that best suits you.
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Beneteau Swift Trawler 5417.3m Beneteau Yachts
from 2024
Crossover: Absolute Navetta 53
52ft 2in (16m)
€1,290,000 ex. VAT
The Absolute Navetta 53 is a crossover yacht that combines elements from both the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 and the Prestige F5.7, offering a blend of trawler practicality and flybridge luxury.
It's equipped with an impressive optional crew cabin, which can alternatively serve as a spacious lazarette. This space offers direct engine access via a watertight door, a feature not found on the Prestige or Sunseeker.
The cockpit is incredibly flexible, echoing the Prestige's modular design, but Absolute has been perfecting this for years. Seating can be rearranged, and the table can be turned to suit any occasion, always offering a view of the sea.
The Navetta 53's flybridge extends far back, similar to the Swift Trawler's expansive design, and provides ample space for relaxing or entertaining. This area is open but can be furnished with seating or sunbeds, and an optional bimini provides shade. The quality here is top-notch, with a teak table, a well-crafted wet bar, a grill, a fridge, and a sink for easy catering.
Inside, the aft galley layout is practical, with a domestic-sized fridge and freezer, cooking facilities, and ample storage. The saloon is bright, with plenty of glass, and features a flexible table and pop-up TV, making it a sociable space quite similar to the Sunseeker's layout, though it is noteworthy how much natural light the sportscruiser's sunroof brings in compared to its flybridge rivals.
The lower helm is a marvel of ergonomics with an attractive, functional dash where all major controls fall to hand really easily. It's faultless.
Downstairs, the Navetta 53 offers a three-cabin, two-bathroom setup. The forward VIP cabin has an angled berth for more floor space and shares the day head with the starboard twin cabin. The amidships master cabin is spacious, with a full-beam layout, excellent headroom, and smart use of pocket doors. The ensuite bathroom is well-sized, with a separate shower cubicle.
The optional crew space can double as a guest cabin, featuring a berth, natural light, and essential amenities, along with access to the engine room. This balance between practicality and luxury makes the Navetta 53 a compelling choice, though it isn't the best looking craft of the bunch.
Reasons to Buy
- Outstanding quality
- Interior volume
- Helm ergonomics
- Decent crew cabin
Things to Consider
- Divisive looks
- Single helm seat at lower helm
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Absolute Navetta 5315.98m Absolute Yachts
from 2025
Interested in owning an Absolute Navetta 53? This model is currently in production and can be customized to meet your specifications - order a New Absolute Navetta 53. Ready to purchase sooner? View All New & Used Absolute Navetta 53 boats for Sale available now! Or explore the entire Absolute range to find the model that best suits you.
Our Verdict
The Sunseeker Predator 55 is arguably the best-looking of the bunch, and if you’re after a rewarding driving experience, it’s the one to beat. It’s also the only boat here with a tender garage - a handy feature. That said, the generous deck space of its flybridge rivals is a compelling advantage.
The Prestige F5.7 has a great-looking design with a clever lower deck layout. It offers the trawlers’ deck space but keeps a sense of flair they can’t match, though some cost-conscious measures can be seen in places.
The Beneteau Swift Trawler 54, is also built to a price, but has an honest, practical appeal. It’s a workhorse that prioritises function, and if you prefer the simplicity and ease of maintaining shaft drives, this is the one for you.
The Absolute Navetta 53 strikes a smart balance between flybridge and trawler designs, paired with the effortless control of IPS. Its quality shines through, and the addition of a crew or guest cabin is a welcome surprise at this size. It’s not the most elegant of the quartet, but it’s undeniably well-made.
If I were spending my (imaginary) budget, the Beneteau Swift Trawler 54 would get my vote for its blend of usability, practicality, and value.
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