At just under 61 feet overall, with a 30-foot beam and a displacement near 64,000 pounds, the 580 is a substantial blue-water catamaran. It’s aimed at owners who put structural rigidity and bespoke living space ahead of high-volume charter layouts. Reverse bows identify it as part of a new generation of catamarans.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck use GRP sandwich construction with a PVC foam core, vacuum infusion, and vinyl ester resin on the exterior. Privilège Marine builds all the GRP parts for its catamarans this way, a method that replaced older hand-lamination across the Série and Signature generations.
The keel stubs are firmly laminated to the hulls and reinforced by an integrated steel frame. This allows the boat to stand easily on its hull appendages when dry, a practical advantage during yard periods and bottom work.
The 580 Signature also departs from a long-standing Privilège feature. Earlier models carried the master suite in a central forward rostrum; here, that signature pod gives way to a forward cockpit directly connected to the saloon.
Materials throughout are selected to combine durability with refined, contemporary elegance. The boat carries a CE design category A offshore rating.
Rig, Helm, and Handling
A low boom supports a powerful sail plan without compromising handling or safety. The fractional sloop rig has a mast roughly 90 feet above the waterline and carries more than 2,290 square feet of sail area.
Testers describe the setup as a variable rig concept. During a published sea trial in light ENE winds of 8–12 knots and a slight sea, the catamaran was sailed just off the wind under a square-topped mainsail and overlapping genoa.
Without exception, all halyards and sheets lead back to the raised steering position on the side. The shipyard supplies two large electrically operated winches as standard. The helm station sits between the cockpit and flybridge, giving the helmsman both visibility and protection.
Hydraulic steering is common on catamarans of this size, but testers found that the 580’s system provides hardly any feel. The helmsman can only steer to maintain course—a trait that pushes reliance onto visual cues or autopilot rather than tactile feedback.
Living Spaces and Layouts
Inside, the Signature 580 emphasizes continuity and openness. The direct connection between interior and exterior spaces improves the flow of life aboard, while carefully balanced volumes provide both communal areas and privacy. Natural light shapes the atmosphere throughout.
The forward cockpit, reached directly from the saloon, offers another intimate and protected place to relax. Above, the flybridge adds further space and comfort. Circulation around the boat is fluid and intuitive.
Privilège offers two basic layouts, with either three or four extremely spacious double cabins. Each cabin has its own bathroom. In the three-cabin arrangement, the galley is separate and built into the starboard hull, alongside a crew cabin with Pullman berths and a private wet room. In the four-cabin version, the galley is in the saloon, as usual.
There are no five- or six-cabin versions, setting the 580 apart from large-scale production rivals. Testers praise the outstanding workmanship, immaculate woodwork, and high quality of the built-in components. They also report unusually quiet saloons and cabins, even in strong winds and at high speed.
Machinery and Ownership
The 580 has two 80 hp Yanmar engines and carries 264 gallons each of fuel and water, supporting extended cruising. Its heavy-displacement hull form and vacuum-infused construction are suited to long-term liveaboard use, while its ability to stand dry simplifies annual maintenance.
Seven units had already been ordered before the first test was published. Privilège Marine built the model as a contemporary vision of luxury sailing.
The Verdict
The Privilège Signature 580 is a thoughtfully engineered, owner-oriented catamaran. It breaks with the brand’s rostrum tradition without giving up structural substance. Its open, light-filled accommodations and quiet ride suit serious cruising, while the dry-standing keel structure and accessible systems make ownership easier.
Pros
- Vacuum-infused GRP sandwich hull and deck, with a vinyl ester exterior
- Integrated, steel-reinforced keel stubs that allow the boat to stand dry
- Forward cockpit directly connected to the saloon, plus a flybridge for protected, open-air living
- Powerful, low-boom sail plan, with all lines led to the helm and electric winches fitted as standard
- Outstanding interior fit and finish, with unusually quiet cabins at speed
- CE category A rating, twin 80 hp Yanmar engines, and balanced three- or four-cabin owner layouts
Cons
- Hydraulic steering provides almost no tactile feedback
- No central rostrum owner’s suite
- No five- or six-cabin charter configurations for buyers who want those layouts
