For Auckland’s Orakei Marine, official Prestige dealers for New Zealand, the sale of and subsequent launch party for the new Prestige F4.3 at the Auckland Boat Show was a triumph. Sold to an Auckland owner and named Cindy, the vessel is the first Prestige F4.3 in New Zealand, and indeed, the first inthe Asia-Pacific region.
The entry level boat in the F-Line flybridge range, which includes the F4.9, F5.7, and F6.7 models (with rumours of an even bigger 70-foot plus model to come), the F4.3 builds on the success of earlier Prestige models, but benefits from recent rationalisation within the Beneteau Group, which has pooled resources and incorporated many design features, equipment options and hardware from the group’s diverse portfolio into this new vessel.
Essentially replacing the Prestige 420, the F4.3 is very much an upgraded, premium offering. This is reflected in the quality of the fitout, especially with this boat whose owner has ticked most of the factory options and upgrades. Although it is the smallest model in the range, for its size the F4.3 offers generous living spaces and many features usually only found on larger vessels.
The iroko-soled cockpit/aft deck, while not huge, is designed for easy social interaction with Sunbrella upholstered wrap-around seating across the transom, a large cockpit table, and an electric awning that extends downwards at an angle from the cockpit ceiling towards the transom to provide comprehensive shade even when the sun angle is low. At night, floodlights illuminate the transom and there are spotlights for the seating area. The ‘floating’ side panels either side are a distinctive styling feature.
The social nature of the aft deck is accentuated by the beach bar style connection to the ‘Ocean View’ main galley, positioned across the rear of the saloon with a large barn-style window opening to the cockpit. Unusually, there’s no aft door into the saloon, but a pair of side doors instead, one on each side immediately forward of the galley. In practice, this arrangement works very well, allowing access from either side of the cockpit and from the side decks.
There’s easy access from the aft deck to the flybridge via stainless steel and iroko stairs and aft to the large submersible rear platform (optional), raised and lowered hydraulically. This platform will receive Orakei Marine’s usual Kiwi boating treatment with the addition of a staple for a bait board or dinghy, while a stainless-steel cage on the starboard side should ensure safe and secure fishing, an activity Cindy’s owner loves. The boarding ladder, cockpit shower, washdown and transom door are on the port side, while the vessel’s outdoor ‘Beach Club’ galley, addressed from the swim platform, takes up the full width of the transom. Like the galley inside, it’s fully electric – there is no LPG onboard. The transom also boasts a locker and a large ‘boot’ for storing bulky items, both accessed from the swim platform.
The main galley is on the same level as the aft deck and uses the same smart-looking laminated iroko timber sole. This looks just like teak decking but is more sustainable, more durable and easier to care for. It’s also used on the side and foredecks, and on the swim platform, a factory option. The owner has opted for upgraded natural stone counter tops, also on the starboard side under the window. There’s a domestic-sized fridge-freezer beside the barn window on the port side, an icemaker (optional), microwave combi-grill, and plenty of 240V outlets for appliances – this vessel is equipped with a genset as well as an inverter.
Like the aft deck, the saloon is not huge, but it feels spacious due to it fresh, modern decor, large glasshouse and clever layout. The ceiling features concealed LED strip lighting and there’s provision for an electrically raised large screen TV forward under the windscreen on the port side.
The saloon table folds out to accommodate up to six seated on the C-shaped wrap-around settee which occupies the whole of the port side of the cabin forward of the galley. It also drops down to create another berth for up to two extra guests. Opposite is the main helm station with a bench-style helm seat big enough for two, an expansive console and dashboard with a comprehensive Garmin electronics package, including two 12-inch MFDs the Volvo Penta digital display, Garmin autopilot, Zipwake auto trim system, and all the usual controls, gauges and communications equipment. This setup is largely duplicated for the upstairs helm, except there’s only one 12-inch Garmin MFD up top.
The boat’s interior design is by Italian interior decorator Valentina Militerno de Romedis and it complements the boat’s Garroni Design styling very nicely – a happy combination of French flair and Italian sensibility. Dark Alpi timber is used to good effect, as are suede covered ceiling panels. Curves, radiuses, and bevelled joinery edges are a step up on previous Prestige interiors.
The stylish theme continues down below where the accommodation is spread over two large cabins. The owner enjoys a superb full beam master cabin with a queen bed arranged longitudinally, excellent cabinet, shelf and locker space and plenty of natural light from the wide side windows.
A cabin of this size is unusual in a 13m boat and lends the F4.3 a measure of luxury that’s hard to match in the size range. There’s also provision for a wall-mounted TV, but the owner hasn’t sprung for this option.
The guest cabin is nestled in the bows with an island-style queen bed and ample locker storage. There’s a skylight/escape hatch onto the foredeck in the ceiling, side windows for natural light, and like the master cabin, nicely understated concealed lighting along with strategically placed spotlights, plus bedside reading lights
The vessel’s single bathroom, which also serves as the day head, is shared semi-ensuite style between the two cabins. It’s compact but well-appointed with a separate glass-fronted shower box and good quality fittings.
A second bathroom/day head is optional, but instead, this owner has chosen a large walk-in wardrobe at the bottom of the companionway stairs to starboard. It offers lots of useful storage for clothing, bed linen and other items, and also somewhere to put a washer-dryer if that’s what the customer wants.
The flybridge is what defines the F-series range. The Prestige F4.3’s open flybridge is great for sitting back and enjoying the journey on a good day and probably the favoured helm position at docking time, thanks to its good all-round vision. That said, sightlines from the main helm are good too, thanks to plenty of glass and the large barn window aft. The Garmin displays also support camera inputs, and this vessel has an aft-facing camera that’s useful when docking.
The flybridge is laid out for socialising with plenty of Sunbrella-covered seats, an expandable table with fold-out leaves, drink holders, a bar fridge under the table, and a stainless steel and canvas bimini top that provides shade when required. On the other hand, if it’s sunshine you are seeking, the F4.3’s foredeck can be fitted out with cushions for sun-lounging.
We enjoyed some autumn sunshine for our outing in the new Prestige F4.3. Leaving the dock was easy enough, greatly aided by Volvo’s excellent joystick control, which makes low speed manoeuvres in tight spaces easy. The system is integrated with the bowthruster, too, for extra control, and the bowthruster can also be deployed independently.
Twin Volvo Penta D6 440hp engines deliver their power through v-drives and shafts. It’s ample power for a boat of this length, delivering a top speed of 30 knots and a comfortable 22-knot cruising speed. Engine room access is via a large cockpit hatch. The installation is tidy and clean with everything nicely labelled and easy enough to reach, although that requires getting down on your knees at times.
Zipwake interceptor trim tabs control pitch and roll, automatically compensating for boat speed and seas conditions. Visibility from the helm is good, with large windscreens, two washer-wipers and a demisting system for cold or wet conditions. Once the 15-tonne (heavy displacement) boat is planing, the bowrail levels up nicely with the horizon.
Like most modern vessels, the Prestige is easy to drive, electric steering and fly-by-wire throttle and shift controls requiring almost no effort, and a full suite of electronics – including Garmin autopilot and Radar – ensuring everything you need to know about the vessel and its surroundings is available at a glance. The new switchgear, replacing the old rocker switches, is very stylish and the owner has opted for sliding side windows for extra ventilation and handy extras like a chain counter, bowthruster, and a second MFD downstairs.
The ride quality and handling are reassuring as well, the F4.3 responding readily to wheel and throttle inputs and delivering a smooth and quiet ride with no rattles or squeaks we could notice. At 20 knots, we saw 97 litres an hour total fuel burn, or 4.8 litres per nautical mile. With 1170 litres of fuel onboard, the effective range at cruising speed is somewhere in the region of 230 nautical miles, which is pretty decent for a European-built vessel. Freshwater capacity is 330 litres, which should easily allow weekends away or longer without refills, and the ground tackle is up to the task of New Zealand cruising and overnight anchoring.
Prestige’s new F4.3 is a meaningful upgrade on earlier models, and with interesting design features like the Ocean View galley, it’s a refreshing take on an entry-level motor yacht from a well-respected builder. There’s an excellent Prestige warranty too: three years general and 10 years structural.
Cindy might be the first F4.3 in our waters but I doubt she’ll be the last.
