Sanlorenzo SX120: New Standards for Crossover Yachts

The SX120’s aft architecture features a 70sqm beach area achieved by expanding a 40sqm platform with opening side terraces, and a lift-and-slide sundeck that conceals a retractable pool, altering embarkation patterns, berth planning, and tender operations for ports and marinas accommodating large composite superyachts.

Design Synthesis: flybridge lines with explorer functionality

Sanlorenzo’s 36.6 m SX120 consolidates the crossover brief—melding a flybridge silhouette with explorer robustness—while increasing onboard liveability without simply scaling up previous models. At a reported volume of 270 GT, the project emphasizes spatial reallocation: engine-room compaction, forward volume shift, and a nearly continuous indoor–outdoor flow that affects provisioning, crew circulation, and guest embarkation sequences.

Exterior architecture and circulation

The exterior language preserves the SX range’s horizontal composure and introduces sculptural surfaces to soften the volume. The aft configuration exploits movable terraces that, when deployed, create a multifunctional terrace-on-the-sea. Those terraces reveal lateral windows that admit light to the lower-deck lounge and change the crew’s access points and gangway arrangements during berthing, which has practical implications for charter logistics and marina allocations.

Beach Club Supreme

One of the most operationally significant attributes is the expansive aft beach area: when unfolded, the platform and side terraces deliver 70 sqm of contiguous space that can host water toys, exercise classes, alfresco dining, or a swim platform setup for divers and fishermen. The integrated pool uses a lift-and-slide mechanism, allowing it to be covered for safe navigation or privacy—an important consideration for charters and private owners alike when transiting to different anchorages or during overnight passages.

Interior versatility and materials

Lissoni & Partners extended the SX identity by adapting the internal layout for flexible use. Typical arrangements include three lower-deck cabins plus a transformable ‘jolly’ cabin that can convert to a lounge, spa, office, or dressing-room extension. The owner’s suite sits forward on the main deck, while sculptural circulation—a glass-bannistered staircase—connects decks and amplifies natural light to lower social spaces.

Practical finishes and maintenance

Material choices reflect operational priorities: stainless-steel accents add durability; a steel-effect film used on staircase cladding and selected walls provides low-maintenance repairability akin to automotive wrap techniques; ribbed wooden ceilings conceal HVAC and technical runs. For charter operators and private crews, these choices reduce downtime and simplify cosmetic repairs between guests.

World first in propulsion: Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform

The SX120 is the first composite superyacht to integrate the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform, employing steerable pod units with counter-rotating propellers and two 1,000 hp engines per pod. The compact pod layout reduces engine-room volume—freeing internal space for accommodation or tankage—and offers improvements in maneuverability, fuel efficiency (via an Eco Mode) and emissions control through Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).

• Handling: Steerable pods allow tighter turning circles and easier close-quarters operations in marinas and crowded anchorages.
• Efficiency: Optimized propulsion and Eco Mode can lower fuel burn on longer passages, useful for delivery legs and charter itineraries.
• Service implications: Pod systems require specialist maintenance routines and may influence after-sales logistics and parts supply for owners and charter fleets.

Operational implications for charter and yacht rentals

From a charter or boat-rental perspective, the SX120’s features create both opportunities and obligations. The vast beach club, modular sundeck seating, and convertible cabin increase guest appeal—ideal for couples, families, and groups seeking varied activities such as swimming, fishing, or on-deck dining. Conversely, the yacht’s footprint and systems lead to stricter berth selection, possible higher mooring fees, and the need for experienced captains and crew trained on pod propulsion and pool mechanisms.

Checklist for operators

• Assess marina compatibility for deployed terraces and platform clearance.
• Plan crew rota for pool and beach-club housekeeping between charters.
• Ensure technicians are certified for Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform servicing.
• Advertise modular cabin options and sundeck configurations to attract diverse bookings.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, understanding what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course, placing no limits on a good life by helping clients find a vessel that suits their preferences, budget, and taste.

The SX120 advances the crossover concept into a mature expression where architecture and engineering converge. For destinations focused on beach clubs, bays, and clearwater anchorages, the larger aft volume and flexible layouts will influence how superyachts are presented for charter and sale—shaping expectations for activities, guest flows, and on-water entertainment options.

Highlights: the SX120’s expansive beach-club design, retractable pool, Smart Island modular seating, and the adoption of Volvo Penta’s IPS Professional Platform mark meaningful innovations. Experiencing a new location is always multifaceted—one learns about culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

Forecast: This announcement is a targeted technological and design advance rather than a broad industry upheaval; its global impact will be most visible within high-end yachting, charter markets, and specialty marinas that can accommodate expanded beach clubs. Nevertheless, it remains relevant to customers—GetBoat aims to stay abreast of developments and keep pace with a changing world. If you are planning your next trip to the seaside, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat.

In summary, the Sanlorenzo SX120 blends a 70sqm beach club, a retractable pool, flexible cabin arrangements, and the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform to create a crossover superyacht that prioritizes liveability, performance, and serviceability. Whether for private ownership, charter, or sale, its features will appeal to those seeking versatile yachting experiences across seas, gulfs, lakes and marinas. For yacht and boat enthusiasts looking to charter or buy—be it a sailing yacht, motor yacht, or superyacht—platforms that provide transparency on make, model, ratings and options make planning easier. Set your course and sail.