Caprio’s First impression: A 65-foot yacht isn’t exactly small, but this Pearl, equipped with two or three pods, allows the design team to draw an interior worthy of a larger vessel—her exterior is pleasingly contemporary.

The Pearl 65 is the second product of a collaboration between naval architect Bill Dixon and interior designer Kelly Hoppen. She made her public debut in September at the Cannes Boat Show. Based on the notion that the exterior styling and technical features attract the men, but the interior’s appeal to women is what actually sells the yacht, Pearl Motor Yachts, founded in 1997, has made an intelligent choice of designers. 

Hoppen made her reputation by designing calm and elegant interiors that encourage effortless living. Her use of texture, tone, and neutral colors sets the owners and guests at ease, though I’m not a fan of sharp furniture edges on a boat. A fall against one of these could cause a serious injury.

The general arrangement plan shows a wonderfully open single-level space from the inside helm to the transom. The galley is in the after starboard-side corner of the saloon, immediately abaft the dinette, which has a table that adjusts from counter level to dining level. A luxurious U-shaped lounge is opposite, allowing occupants to view a large flatscreen TV outboard of the dinette seating. A generous amount of window area, though interrupted by structural elements, floods the saloon with light and gives the occupants a decent view. However, they’ll get the best view from the massive lounge area on the flying bridge. A huge sunpad is located forward of the centerline helm, and all the way aft is a U-shaped settee and table. 

Belowdecks, we find a full-beam master stateroom amidships, two guest cabins forward of that, and the VIP suite in the bow. With the exception of the en suite master, the three other staterooms share two heads. 

Cummins Zeus or Volvo Penta IPS propulsion, tucked into the engine room as far aft as they can be, allows enough volume to provide a two-berth crew’s quarters between the master stateroom and the engine room, accessible from the afterdeck. 

Among the standard features are a hydraulically operated swim platform, air conditioning, a hydraulic passerelle, generator, and teak decking. 

High performance combined with a spacious and luxurious interior ought to attract customers who want a yacht that they can manage alone if they don’t choose to go with a professional crew.

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Specifications

  • Builder: Pearl
  • Model: Pearl 65
  • Year: 2014
  • Base Price: Upon request
  • LOA: 65’11” w/ pulpit
  • Beam: 16’11”
  • Displacement: 77,161 lb.
  • Fuel Capacity: 770 gal.
  • Water Capacity: 200 gal.
  • Standard Power: 3/600-hp Cummins Zeu
  • Optional Power: 2/800-hp Volvo Penta IPS1050s or 2/900-hp Volvo Penta D13s w/ shaft drive
  • Cruise Speed: 28 knots
  • Top Speed: 32 knots

This article originally appeared in the November 2014 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.