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Pardo 50 yacht review: Is this classy cruiser more than just a cove queen?

• The Pardo 50 hit a top speed of 34.1 knots on test

The Pardo 50 was designed in collaboration with Zuccheri Yacht Design

The teak caps extend all the way to the bow and pop-up cleats are an added bonus

The driving position, whether seated or standing, is very comfortable

There are optional cooler drawers in the base of the dinette

• Steps up to the deck reveal themselves as the hydraulic platform is deployed

The floor of the tender garage lifts out for better access to the engineroom

The open-plan master is bright and spacious with access to a separate bathroom

• This wardrobe grants the owner 
some hanging storage within the main saloon
• The private guest twin reaches back beneath the cockpit
• Guests have access to their own bathroom
• Top stories

The flagship of the classy Pardo range dreams of sun-drenched bays and warm evenings but is the Pardo 50 anything more than a big day boat?

The Italian port of Portopiccolo, close to Italy’s border with Slovenia, is a fascinating place. The name – literally, “small port” – is highly accurate given how the compact basin has been manipulated to contain a smattering of berths.

This former quarry is unrecognisable from its old self, now a pristine horseshoe of luxury residences and high-end shops and restaurants all linked by hidden tunnels and winding staircases. If you own one of the spectacular apartments clinging on to the craggy cliff face then why would you worry about buying a boat that you could sleep on overnight?

Enter the Pardo 50. This is the flagship of a range of T-top walkarounds from the same Forlí-based shipyard that builds Grand Soleil sailing yachts. The current Pardo range includes a 38-footer and a mid-range 43 .

The 50 is the ultimate expression of what Pardo stands for, with a main deck that, purely from gazing over it, transports you to a sun-drenched anchorage and coaxes visions of lazing about in the sun and diving off its enormous bathing platform into clear blue water.

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Sadly, the weather on the day of our test paints quite the contrast to that vision, the threat of rain hanging heavy in the air and a gusty winds whipping up white tips in the bay. It is at least an opportunity to see if this big Italian is anything more than a fair weather friend.

To add to its challenge, because this is a group press event, we exit the berth with 11 people on board, 60% load in the 2,000-litre fuel tanks and 20% fresh water on board for good measure. It’s a good job that the test boat is fitted with the largest engine option, a pair of 600hp Volvo Penta IPS800s.

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Still not huge amounts of power for a 53ft boat, but thanks to its resin-infused structure and carbon-fibre hardtop the Pardo 50’s displacement is less than 15 tonnes. The IPS800s are €128,000 more than the standard IPS600s however, while the mid-range IPS700 option splits the two and costs an additional €98,000 for the pair of 550hp engines.

Thoroughbred credentials

I slip behind the centrally mounted wheel as we sit bobbing around in the swell in the mouth of the port. A gyroscopic stabiliser is an option (costing €43,000) but the test boat doesn’t have it fitted so I ease the throttles forward to give us some respite from the wallowing.

Even with this number of people on board the silky smooth 7.7-litre diesels make light work of getting the boat over the hump and on to the plane. In fact, there isn’t really a noticeable hump at all as the hull passes its displacement speed and surges up into a 25-knot canter.

Though they are expensive, this is where the IPS800s show their worth because performance is effortless. They only top out at a lazy 3,000rpm but by then you’ll be doing just shy of 34 knots (and inevitably more with fewer bodies on board), which means the optimum fast cruising speed of 25 knots is quiet and refined because the engines aren’t being overworked.

Though eye-catching for their value, I imagine the IPS600s would be working pretty hard in these conditions. There’s an argument that few people will travel with 11 persons on board but note that this boat is rated RCD category A for 16 people. Given its popularity as a superyacht chase boat, it’s likely that the Pardo 50 will have to get used to carrying big numbers in comfort.

What’s most remarkable about driving the 50 is that, despite the openness of its decks, you feel so secure and well protected. From their spot in the middle of the boat the helmsman is especially cocooned thanks to the tall windscreen, deep bulwarks and a T-top overhead that feels as if it could take a direct hit from a mortar and remain intact.

The helm position is flanked by supportive bucket seats, the port side one mounted the far side of a central walkway, which leads through the split wetbar galley and aligns with the companionway steps.

The steering is as light as a feather and a little docile for a hull that feels this capable but because you’re so beautifully connected to the elements you get the added pleasure of hearing and feeling the rush of water off the hull as the boat powers through the water.

For wafting along and eating up big distances the Pardo 50 is the perfect tool, aided by that 2,000-litre fuel capacity, which means that even at top speed its range is over 250 miles with 20% in reserve. The driving environment is generally pretty good but the shiny GRP dash material produces a lot of reflections and shows light scratches far too easily in direct light; a matt finish would look classier and weather better too.

There’s more to enjoy away from the helm station where the sprawling deck spaces come into their own. With everything on one level it’s such an easy boat to move around, you can drift from the hydraulic bathing platform up the built-in steps to the cockpit and then sweep down broad side decks protected by those tall bulwarks.

The vast aft module balances a huge four-person sunpad with enough dining space for eight people if the table is extended. This is a natural place for guests to congregate. They can easily transition between the warmth of the sunpads and the dinette, which benefits from an extendable sun shade that rolls out from the aft end of the T-top.

Beneath the sunpad is a tender garage large enough to hold a Williams Minijet, leaving the aft platform free of obstructions.

Luxe living quarters

As standard, the split main deck galley comes with a two-ring hob, fridge and sink but the optional barbecue grill, drawer fridges mounted in the seat bases and ice maker are all worth having. The ice maker can be substituted for a coffee machine, naturalmente. Enjoying life on deck and eating and drinking with guests is at the core of this boat’s purpose, so it makes sense to spec the galley out as highly as possible.

You’re probably waiting for this review to head below decks and proclaim that, yes, the main deck is excellent, but that’s only because the interior is so horribly compromised. Well that’s simply not the case and the notion that boats like this are best used as villa accessories is a nonsense when you see the space, quality and comfort of the Pardo 50’s interior.

There’s well over 7ft of headroom in the saloon and even as the coachroof slopes towards the bow there is 6ft 2in over the master bed. There’s an argument that with so much space to play with Pardo could have fitted a bulkhead to close the bed off from the rest of the saloon but then you would lose what makes the interior feel so spacious. This and classy, light-hued timbers and plenty of skylights to draw natural light in.

The guest cabin amidships does have a door so guests have some privacy, and with direct access to the day heads they can access their own bathroom without going back into the saloon.

A hatch in the guest cabin connects to a small third cabin, which is meant to be a skipper’s cabin. It’s a bit claustrophobic for an adult but it would work well as an overspill for guests’ children. Pardo is a flexible shipyard, though, so if you want to use this space as storage it will accommodate such requests.

There’s nowhere to sit below, so if the weather deteriorates you have to stick it out on deck – but by the usual standards of a summer evening in the Med most will want to be on deck anyway, before retiring to an air-conditioned cabin.

Price as reviewed:

£1,020,000.00 ex. VAT

As Portopiccolo’s rugged geography demonstrates, appearances can be deceptive. At first glance the Pardo 50 could be labelled as a cove queen, only used for sitting on anchor and looking pretty. On the contrary, because of the way it drives, its practical layout and an interior that makes extended cruising a real possibility it is a far more rounded proposition than initial impressions suggest.

Starting price : €799,000 (ex. VAT) LOA: 53ft (16.2m) Beam: 16ft (4.9m) Draught: 4ft (1.2m) Displacement (light) : 14.7 tonnes (32,408lbs) Fuel capacity : 2,000 litres (440 gal) Water capacity : 450 litres (99 gal) Test engines : Twin 600hp Volvo Penta IPS800 Top speed on test : 34.1 knots Cruising speed : 20 knots Consumption at 20 knots : 123lph Range at 20 knots : 317 miles RCD category : A for 16 people Design : Zuccheri / Pardo

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The Pardo 50 is the epitome of Italian-style, performance, and comfort on the water. As the flagship model of the Pardo Walk-Around model line, the 50 is exquisitely appointed while also offering excellent seaworthiness. The deep-v hull guarantees a smooth ride, gliding effortlessly through the sea safely and at exhilarating speeds.

SI Yachts is proud to be your Pardo Yachts dealer for the Northeast and can assist you in the purchase of a new 50. We offer the ability to take your existing boat in on trade or can help you sell it through our Diamond Listing brokerage services. Since 1964, SI Yachts has been helping boaters make the most of their time on the water. Call us today at 1-718-984-7676 or email us at [email protected] for Pardo 50 pricing and availability. We also have access to used Pardo 50 boats.

Pardo Yachts is synonym for power and elegance, comfort, functionality and personalization. These values identify each Pardo Yachts model, hand built by expert artisans for a sophisticated owner, who appreciates high quality, top design, luxury and comfort, combined with performance and speed.

The deck is walkaround, developed on a unique surface, from bow to stern. The high freeboards provide great safety when having children or guests on board. The 172-square foot fixed T-top is made of rigid and light carbon fiber spreading from the cockpit to the dining area.

The interior plan is very unique and one of the key selling points of the Pardo brand. On the Pardo 50 you can find a wide open space with two cabins and two heads. These interiors with great heights are the core of the shipyard’s DNA: a tailor made timeless design made by the hands of expert artisans.

The lines and the refined furniture are enhanced by the perfect choices of wood, and the attention to detail that make Pardo 50 an excellent symbol for the phrase 'Made in Italy'.

Interested?

Contact a SI Sales Professional to learn more about this yacht.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Model Walk-Around
• Water Capacity 117 gallons
• Fuel Capacity 520 gallons
• Length Overall 53' with platform
• Max Draft 4'
• Engine 1 Specs
• Model IPS 600 (700 or 800 optional)
• Fuel Diesel
• Engine 2 Specs

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PARDO 50 MISSONI CUSTOMIZED

Pardo yachts reveals the first pardo 50 missoni customized.

Pardo Yachts is pleased to reveal the first-ever Pardo 50 entirely customized with Missoni fabrics, a project resulting from the collaboration of two pioneering brands of the Made in Italy: the historic Milanese maison founded by Ottavio Missoni in 1953 and Cantiere del Pardo, shipyard with artisanal and industrial roots dating back to 1973. Despite coming from very different industries, the two Brands share common values such as attention and commitment to luxury, aesthetics and unique creative design marked by a distinct overseas entrepreneurial spirit. The result? The elegant, clean lines of Pardo are broken by the movement of the iconic, colourful Missoni pattern creating a perfectly balanced combination. Two Italian synonyms of excellence with different styles but perfectly compatible and synergistic.

Heigo Paartalu, shipowner and Pardo Yachts brand ambassador, perfectly sums up the goal of the collaboration between Pardo and Missoni: “Despite coming from such different industries, I knew these two brands would create more than just a boat: a real icon of fashion and style on the water. Cantiere del Pardo truly let us push the boundaries and turn the vision of Pardo 50 customized Missoni into reality”.

Pardo 50 Missoni Customised was presented and unveiled at Cannes Yachting Festival 2022.

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