Is the Intrepid 51 Panacea a high-performance go-fast boat, a hardcore fishing boat or a sporty pleasure yacht? Yes to all three. No wonder it bears the name Panacea.
Belowdecks, the 51 Panacea boasts a double berth, a spacious salon with a galley, and a large head, shower and sink. Ready for an overnighter? This boat is.
Topside, the bridge is four-bucket-seats-wide and two rows deep, with glass-cockpit instrumentation and three flush-mounted touchscreen displays. Every important system in the boat actuates through those touchscreens. Added to that control is an array of tactile switches nested in the dash brow, a space usually reserved just for looks—but not here. The effect leaves room for the convenient location of an added engine display, an audio controller, inductive phone-charger holders and more.
Ergonomically, the bridge deck seats are ideally located for easy driving, whether standing or sitting. The center seats are electrically adjustable and, for shorter captains, the bridge sole rises 4 inches, giving a higher vantage point that is handy in close quarters.
The 51 Panacea is intimidating at the dock but a baby to handle, thanks to joystick maneuverability, plus a bow thruster. A kid could dock it. On the high seas, let those ponies go. They run out to 70 mph and corner like a barrel-racing horse. Tighter and tighter circles kept our props engaged and the single-step-bottom boat hooked up.
Picture yourself with a large fan club spread out on the three-passenger-wide bow lounge or sprawled on wraparound bow seating. Your best buds join you at the bridge in two rows of four bucket seats, or another four can perch on the foldout transom seat.
When you get tired of cushy riding for show, tuck away the seats and cushions and deploy the trolling rods. Bait is in the transom well, which is pressurized to keep them swimming freely and ready to entice your quarry.
High Points
- Cocktail table, bow seat lounge backs, and helm deck platform operate electrically.
- Single-step hull “levitates” on plane, with nearly no bow rise.
- Quad 600 hp Mercury motors are exhilarating to drive.
How We Tested
- Engine: Quad Mercury V-12 600 hp
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/16 3/4″ x 33″ (front); 151/4″ x 33″ (aft) stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 2.50:1 Fuel Load: 840 gal. Water on Board: 0 gal. Crew Weight: 1,100 lb.
| Price: | $2,300,000 |
| LOA: | 51’0″ |
| Beam: | 14’10” |
| Draft: | 3’11” (motor down) |
| Dry Weight: | 30,500 lb. (with engines) |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | Yacht Certified |
| Fuel Capacity: | 900 gal. |
Intrepid Powerboats – Dania, Florida; intrepidpowerboats.com
