The Fountainebleu Hotel in South Beach, Miami, is an iconic design—a near-perfect match for the Pardo GT75’s sleek, modern lines. I had first seen the shipyard’s new flagship when it was introduced to Americans at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where two things about the build stood out: the flexibility in the interior layouts, and the performance promised with the triple Volvo Penta engines. Now I’d have a chance to give this model a more thorough look, at the dock and at wide-open throttle.
I entered the GT75’s salon from twin curved-glass sliding doors aft, and it was clear that I was in the primary entertaining space. With 80 inches of headroom, the salon can be fully shaded and air-conditioned for tropical climates, or opened with power sliding-glass windows on each side and a slatted power sunroof overhead. Skippers can open the pantograph doors on each side of the helm to further increase airflow and allow easy access to the bow.
Naval architecture is by Zuccheri Yacht Design, with Nauta Design handling the exterior and interior design. Cantiere del Pardo wanted a yacht that would appeal to clients worldwide, which is why the design has so much flexibility.
In the first GT75, the open salon has a wet bar and refrigeration just abaft the helm and plenty of seating. The galley is belowdecks, along with a VIP stateroom forward and a master aft. An island for stowage and prep hides a flat-screen television for the U-shaped lounge area opposite. The galley is equipped with a full-size refrigerator/freezer and a four-burner Miele cooktop. There is 78 inches of headroom throughout.
In this configuration, the GT75 feels more like a supersize dayboat, ready for fast cruises and island hopping with the occasional overnighter thrown in. Pardo’s optional layouts move the galley to the salon while adding one or two staterooms belowdecks for family cruising and more frequent nights aboard.
Back at the helm, a trio of 22-inch Garmin displays provided all the information we needed as we warmed up the engines for departure. The 21-inch-wide side decks kept the crew moving fore and aft safely, with guest space at the bow’s U-shaped lounge and table, and a sun pad. Aft, there’s a second lounge with a shaded overhang two steps down from the salon deck. From there, it’s another two steps down to the swim platform and enclosed tender garage.
I stuck to the helm, where Pardo’s distinctive raked windshield significantly reduces glare and complements the vessel’s plumb bow. More than a few onlookers paused to enjoy the view as we slid down Miami Beach’s waterways en route to the open Atlantic.
With light winds and a rolling 3-foot groundswell off Government Cut, conditions were perfect to gauge the vessel’s performance. Triple Volvo Penta IPS1050s are standard, but this boat had the optional IPS1350s. They delivered a top hop of 37 knots with approximately 400 gallons of fuel and six people on board, and the Quick gyrostabilizer and interceptors operating normally. That’s impressive for a vessel displacing more than 106,500 pounds. Even better, there was virtually no bow rise and no pounding or hobbyhorsing as we traversed the widely spaced seas at speed. Steering was light and highly responsive.
The GT75 is a blast to run, and it can be fairly economical too. Slowing to 27 knots at 70 percent engine load, the diesels burned 86 gallons per hour. That’s good for a range of 322 nautical miles with a 10 percent fuel reserve. At 9 knots, fuel burn was just 15 gph, which allows for more than 600 nm between fuel stops.
Construction and soundproofing are also impressive. At idle speeds, I registered just 68 to 70 decibels, about the same as normal conversation. The reading was only 78 decibels at wide-open throttle, with no creaking, pounding or jarring.
Fast mega-dayboat or luxurious long-range family cruiser? With the Pardo GT75, the answer is yes. And it comes with top-notch performance, rugged construction and head-turning good looks. A worthy new flagship, indeed.
Behind the Brand
Cantiere del Pardo embodies the Italian spirit of boatbuilding, with the cornerstones of style, performance and quality. Spanning 50 years of history, Pardo has established itself as a builder of luxury sail and power vessels that are comfortable and easy to handle. The yard’s philosophy is based in large part on its roots in Emilia-Romagna, which is also home to renowned automobile brands Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.
Changes in Latitudes
With cooler air temperatures and less humidity, Europe is far different from South Florida. The GT75 is built to enjoy both regions. Open the sunroof, side windows and aft sliding doors to enjoy the sea breeze, or crank up the air conditioning in the tropical heat. Pardo worked closely with the Miami dealer on the “chill factor,” as well as on upgraded sound systems and features that Americans prefer.
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