Boat Review: Falcon 86

Presentation

Falcon Yachts 86 presented in 1999 had a tough job to follow, repeat or beat the yards success with the 82S. Look ten years back and this entry level super yacht from the Viareggio builder is still in production and going strong. Designed by Architect Stefano Righini, renowned globally for his Azimut designs, he rarely gets mentioned for the Falcon Yachts designs which where among his first and still are his duty as at today. For Falcon, Righini takes a more traditional interpretation to the classic Italian yacht outside and inside. Another wise move for Falcon was to stretch the rules achieving in all this an overall of 86 feet but a measured length of under 80 feet, allowing the owner operator with competency to helm his boat with minimum crew.
Accommodation

Falcon 86 is a traditional two deck and flybridge yacht. Regarded by many as still one of the most spacious in its size offering, the 86 really gives space everywhere. The main deck welcomes you in a big environment offering a two level split area. Upon entrance you have the relaxing dining zone finding the big l-shaped saloon settee, followed by an eight person dining area, up a step you find the internal stairs to the flybridge, to port side you also have the separate galley room, more to fore you find the main deck day head, and forward you have the centrally located helm station joined to port by an l-shaped dinette for passage viewing.

Below is the accommodation deck, reserved for a spacious four double cabins en-suite layout. Here again spaciousness is the word, offering a traditional layout. Owners cabin at midships, VIP cabin to fore, and two double guests cabin in between. Worth to note is the big changing room in the owners room, but also that each guest bathroom comes with a bidet. Two crew cabins are located at the forward end serving also as a sound insulation for the VIP room, with entrance from the outside deck. Crew space is also more then what one gets here with a twin head and three or four bunk berths.

Performance

Not the highest performer in its size, the Falcon 86 is all about cruising in comfort and feeling safe. It is a solid boat although dry is not the word in head seas, but I am sure guests will feel safe in most rough seas with the Falcon 86, due also in part to its heavy displacement for its size and type. Steering is also on the heavy side especially when compared with yachts equipped with tunnel pockets. Hull is a planning Vee with warped design, deeper forward sections and medium closing aft. Performance is a top speed of 26 knots and cruising at 22 knots with the standard 1520hp MTU. If you want an extra two knots in cruising and max, bigger 1826hp MTUs are available.

Positive

Day head on main deck

Dual staircase

Cabin spaces

Negative

Crew cabin berths

Competition

It is incredible how the offer in this size have expanded over the years. When the 86 was presented there where only a couple of competitors. Nowadays in 2009 there is too much competition, which is not bad for the buyer really! Think of it this way, so much is found that this list includes only yachts in the 26 metres LOA if you go one metre less or above you have triple choices to this.

Abacus 86 - big aft deck, crew area with l-shaped settee to fore, 33 knots

Aicon 85 - modern, unusual crew quarters with lobby, hard top on fly

Azimut 85 - modern classic reinterpretation of spaces, crew aft, big owner cabin

Canados 86 Fly - tender garage aft, 33 knots performance

Horizon Elegance 87 - Taiwan build Italian design, 2 PWC garage, small crew cabin

Majesty 88 - sport sleek, 2 galleys small on main, bigger in crew lobby aft

Amer 86 - sleek, semi custom interior, 32 knots with only 1625hp engines

Riva 85 Opera Super - legendary builder, crew aft, 33 knot make it top performer

Sanlorenzo SL88 - timeless beautiful lines, raised pilot house spacious main deck

Sunseeker 86 Yacht - super yacht with sleek aggressive style, crew aft

Versilcraft 87 - raised pilot house, garage for tender

WILD CARD: Gianetti 85 Navetta Sport - modern semi displacement, raised pilot house

Conclusion

When Falcon presented the 86, they found a clever way to offer a pocket super yacht to its limits, with the right dimensions for the owner who likes to helm. This created a new segment which at 86 became like a new window to an entry level super yacht but still staying in the rules as a smaller boat. Falcon at the time also used this to there advantage, and created unknown spaces which still today set a benchmark in its size. All this made the semi custom 86 a huge success in the market which looking ten years back today in 2009 has paid off, still going strong in sales, and one of the most captain suggested yachts in the med.

Technical Data

LOA. 26.10 metres (85.6 ft)

Beam. 6.40 metres

Draft. 1.95 metres includes props @ medium load

Displacement. 65t med load

Fuel Capacity. 8500 litres

Water Capacity. 1600 litres

Accommodation. 8 berths in 4 cabins + 3/4 crew berths aft

Engines. 2 x MTU 12v2000M91 1520hp, MTU 16v2000M90 1826hp

Propulsion. v-Drive with shafts

Speed. max 26 knots, cruising 22 knots with MTU 1520hp

Hull Shape. vee shape planning

Project. Stefano Righini exterior

www.falconyachts.com

Picture Copyright Falcon Yachts. Data Falcon Yachts.