9X
The Pershing 8X is an 83-foot sports cruiser yacht with a sundeck that was launched by the Ferretti-owned Italian boat-building firm Pershing in 2018. This yacht’s metallic, fighter-jet form with an arrow-head bow, a curved hood, flared wings and sharply defined trapezoidal windows is sure to catch the eye in marinas worldwide, while a deck lay-out emphasizing entertainment is bound to be a hit with at-sea partygoers. Winner in the “Custom Yachts” category at the 2021 Motor Boat Awards, this yacht doesn’t just look like something out of Top Gun but performs like it, too, with top speeds touching the 48-knot barrier.
A curving sunpad with backrests sits at the rear of the teak-lined, al-fresco sunpad, and, along with a rear-facing loveseat, provides a great place to enjoy both sea views and unimpeded sunshine. At the front of the bridge there are a trio of Poltrona Frau helm chairs facing a fully-equipped dashboard with everything needed for adrenalin-charged, elevated steering.
A foredeck lounge with a Portuguese Bridge sofa and a block-stitched leather sunpad offers yet more sun-kissed outdoor lounge space, while the aft-cockpit boasts a transom sofa, a rear sunpad and an L-shaped dining sofa surrounding a timber-topped dining table. Side steps lead down to a hydraulic bathing platform and access to a large tender garage, while guests enjoying an underwater snorkel can keep listening to their favorite tunes thanks to this yacht’s innovative “Music Hull” that turns this yacht’s frame into one giant speaker.
Minimalist and modern interiors offer a cool and restrained feel throughout, while sliding glass doors and double-height side glazing give guests a view of the sea at all times. Whitened oak floorboards, Poltrona Frau furnishings in pale leather, snakeskin-effect cabinets, brushed carbon-fiber paneling, fixtures in stainless steel and horizontal strip lighting await as you enter the salon to find a low-slung L-shaped sofa and a wet-bar console with an icemaker. A tempered glass-topped dining table occupies a central position in here, providing room for up to six guests to enjoy lavish meals. Up front there is a modern helm station with three leather seats, a Xenta joystick, a Simrad-NAVIOP Loop system with two touch-screen panels, DGPS display, an engine feedback screen, VHF radio, ZF thruster controls, an above-helm sunroof and a skipper’s door.
Four lower-deck cabins provide rest room for up to eight overnight guests, with a VIP double to the bow featuring a skylight and two amidship twins boasting trapezoidal glazing. Many North American clients, however, choose to ditch one of the twin cabins to open up space for a lower-deck cinema-room for late-night movie screenings. A full-beam owner’s stateroom features a king-sized bed, mirrored wall panels, a bespoke chaise-longue, a vanity station, a walk-in dressing room and a bathroom clad in geometric Italian tiles. A galley with Bosch appliances is located below-deck too, and sits neatly to aft alongside the crew quarters for private food prep.
Twin 2638MHP MTU 16V M96L diesel engines linked to Top System surface drives offer thrilling top speeds of up to 48 knots, with cruising speeds of 42 knots blowing competitors out of the water. Should you wish to leisurely glide along at 7.5 knots, meanwhile, you can expect a horizon-busting range of 768 nautical miles. This yacht’s proprietary deep-V hull features a constant-deadrise and chines for a ride with plenty of lift and superb balance as you take those sharp turns at speed.
