There was a time when Sanlorenzo didn’t build superyachts over 164 feet (50 meters), or in steel. Fifteen years after it splashed its first steel project, hull number one in the Sanlorenzo 58 Steel yacht series is cruising with her owners. The yacht Perla Lunar represents a new direction in both design and propulsion systems for the shipyard, and for buyers.
The Sanlorenzo 58 Steel yacht joins a now-six-model lineup that includes the Sanlorenzo 57 Steel series. The approximate three feet (1 meter) of length difference between the two may not seem like it offers much variety. However, from volume to zero-emission propulsion options, there are definitely differences. The hull design and interior layout are different as well, due to the hybrid propulsion package and its space requirements. Massimo Perotti, Sanlorenzo’s executive chairman, asserts, “It represents out ambition to remain the benchmark in yachts up to 2,000 GT.”
Firstly, the new series is beamier, spanning 37 feet (11.25 meters) versus 35’9” (10.95 meters). The volume, though, is where owners and guests might really feel the difference. The Sanlorenzo 58 Steel yacht’s gross tonnage is 1,165, compared to 1,050 for her smaller sister. According to the shipyard, the healthier volume rivals that of a 210-footer (64-meter). Increasingly, build and design teams are showing clients that the volume is the difference maker, not simply the distance from bow to stern.
Additionally, big differences come in the configuration. (Only illustrations are available.) Typically, a yacht like Perla Lunar would accommodate 12 in six staterooms. The master suite would be on the main deck or an upper deck. Not only does she have accommodations for “just” 10, but she also has three full-beam VIPs. In fact, two are below decks, while one is on the main deck. Sanlorenzo calls the main-deck VIP (above) a “Supreme VIP,” since it rivals owners’ suites. The owners have quite the private domain, the upper deck. The sleeping area sits forward, with views out through full-height glass over a pool. An office and a lounge, meanwhile, are aft, with the lounge doubling as a theater. Although the owners of the yacht Perla Lunar don’t intend to charter her, this double duty is something that future Sanlorenzo clients who do occasionally offer charters might want to consider.
With further amenities like a main-deck infinity pool, a three-sided beach club with a hammam and beauty salon, and dark woods throughout, the yacht Perla Lunar embodies Sanlorenzo’s new permanent focus on more sustainable operations. As the first 58 Steel, she is its first steel-hulled superyacht with diesel-electric propulsion. The shipyard and its subcontractors created the series purposely to run on a hybrid system, which it expects will reduce emissions by about 10 percent under a typical operational profile. A 1-megawatt-hour battery bank and four gensets are the heart of the system. Perla Lunar can cruise silently on electric power alone for up to two hours, plus rely on it at anchor for up to eight hours. Furthermore, azimuthing pod drives activate while cruising, quieter and more maneuverable than conventional shaft propellers.
Yet another benefit of the diesel-electric system is its size. It requires less floorspace than diesel engines do. This more compact nature freed up more than 430 square feet (40 square meters), which Sanlorenzo spread among the guest accommodations and beach area. The beach area, by the way, feels bigger than it is, thanks to three opening sides and a skylight that is actually the floor of the main-deck pool.
While Perla Lunar is off on her maiden voyage, the shipyard continues progress on several other steel yachts. Naturally, they include the next hull in the Sanlorenzo 58 Steel yacht series.
Sanlorenzo sanlorenzoyacht.com
More About the Sanlorenzo 58 Steel Yacht
LOA: 191’1” (58.25 meters)
Beam: 36’9” (11.25 meters)
Draft: 9’2” (2.8 meters)
Guests: 10 in 5 staterooms
Engines: 5/425 kW gensets w/1 MWh battery pack (diesel-electric propulsion)
Range: not specified
Builder: Sanlorenzo
Stylist: Zuccon International Project
Naval Architect: Zuccon International Project
Interior Designer: Sanlorenzo Style Department