I bumped into the first hull of Pershing’s just-launched GTX116 twice this past fall, first at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, and a few weeks later at the Monaco Yacht Show. It was the latest among a string of launches from its Ferretti Group parent.
Even among the superyacht giants at Monaco, this Pershing with its Montecarlo-gray hull, low-profile lines, and snub-nosed bow, stood out. Think of this yacht as a massive dayboat with multiple staterooms. Its flashy looks, 1,776 square feet of exterior space, and the monster engines attached to the highly maneuverable KaMeWa water jets, combined to make the interior feel like an afterthought.
In fact, the inside of the main deck is about the same size as the cockpit and, compared to the standout details across the rest of the yacht, the salon was conventional—not the word you want to use for any Pershing.
The aerial view gives a sense of the exterior spaces.
Pershing Yachts
But everywhere else is anti-conventional, defined by style and that sense of extra you won’t find on other yachts in its category. One place where excess reigns supreme is the lower helm. It looks like it fell out of a Star Trek movie. The captain sits in a throne-like seat with two hands on the throttles for the KaMeWa jets (which are matched to either triple 1,800 hp or 2,000 hp MANs).
Joysticks on either side accommodate slow-speed maneuvering, and there are screens built into the armrests to keep an eye on the yacht’s vitals. Carbon-fiber details are everywhere. Though a seasoned captain, I would need a tutorial before running this Pershing.
With the 2,000 hp engines, the 116-footer can hit a top end of 40.8 mph and cruise at 33.9 mph. The water jets on the stern deliver a minimal 4’9” draft, giving it access to shallow waters and even the ability to nudge up on sandbars. The owner of the first hull will keep it in Miami. He sees the 116 as the ultimate South Florida-Bahamas boat. Its flashy top end and skinny draft play major roles, but the boat’s exterior entertainment spaces cement his claim.
A very space-age helm. Note the screens and joysticks on the armrests.
Pershing Yachts
The yacht’s beach club is one-of-a-kind. It has a davit and access to a garage large enough to hold a RIB and Jet Ski, but what sets it apart is that the transom that splits hydraulically, hinging to port, and starboard respectively. This allows the space to join seamlessly with the swim platform, making for a giant party platform at sea level. Very cool technology.
A few steps up from the beach club, a giant sunpad (with enough space for five people) presides over the stern. The elevated cockpit also has a wetbar, barbecue, and teak alfresco dining table for 10. A third exterior entertainment space comprises the whole front deck, where a Jacuzzi is the highlight.
This area is situated perfectly for maximum privacy when docked stern-to. Along with the other design differentiators, the Pershing also has a custom stainless grille on the forepeak, which announces the boat’s arrival in style.
Even the main salon is attached to the outside by a side deck with a fold-out balcony.
Pershing Yachts
On the lower deck are five guest cabins, including a full-beam master, two twins and two VIP doubles. There are also crew quarters for three. The interior styling is similar to the upper salon, employing a high contrast with dark woods and light carpeting, and natural light from the hullside windows.
Despite the comfortable, sizable guest quarters, I’m sticking with my initial assessment that this is, at heart, a 116-foot dayboat. The amount of exterior space across multiple zones, the shallow draft, impressive top end and the space-age helm all add up to a Pershing that will attract an owner who wants to live outside and near the water, but still be the most stylish boat in the marina.