March 14, 2026
The Sanlorenzo SL86A: When Asymmetry Becomes Your Advantage
The SL86A hides its side deck to buy back interior volume. Sanlorenzo's own words are concealed circulation and optimised volumes — and 29 k…
Read the articleSanlorenzo SL86A
Expert Review, Technical Specifications & Market Analysis
The Essentials
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Overall Length | 87' 3" (26.6 m) |
| Beam | 20' 10" (6.35 m) |
| Engines | 2 × MAN 12V, 2,000 HP each |
| Fuel Capacity | 2,113 US gallons (8,000 L) |
| Water Capacity | 449 US gallons (1,700 L) |
| Cabins / Heads | 8 guests / 4 crew |
| Max Speed | 29 knots |
Source: Spec & Photos courtesy of Sanlorenzo. Specs verified by Tony Smith, USCG 100 Ton Master, on August 11, 2026.
Part of the Sanlorenzo SL series — see how owners step up through the lineup.
Quick Verdict
- Sanlorenzo's own framing is pioneering asymmetric design: hidden circulation and optimised volumes that expand outdoor living and interior space alike
- Twin MAN 12V at 2,000 HP each for a published maximum of 29 knots on an 87'3" hull
- 8,000 litres of fuel, 8 guests and 4 crew, with floor-to-ceiling glazing the yard describes as flooding the interior with natural light
Our Take
The SL86A is where Sanlorenzo's asymmetric idea gets small enough to be useful to a lot more people. The concept is simple once you see it: conceal the circulation on one side, and the volume you would have given to a walkway becomes interior space and a much better connection to the water. Sanlorenzo's own description is optimised volumes, hidden circulation and large glazed surfaces, and every one of those three is doing real work.
Twin MAN 12V at 2,000 horsepower a side and a published 29 knots. That is the yard's figure and it is the one I would use. You will see 30, 31 and even 32 knots quoted for this boat in various places; Sanlorenzo says 29. When a builder publishes a single number and the market publishes a band above it, the builder is the one whose name is on the warranty.
Eight guests, four crew, 8,000 litres of fuel. As everywhere in this fleet, no cruise speed, no range, no draft, no displacement. On an 87-footer that will spend its life island-hopping, the draft is the one I would chase hardest — it decides which anchorages you actually get to use, and it is in the build specification even though it is not on the website. Ask for it in writing.
Official Sanlorenzo Premiere: Inside the Sanlorenzo SL86A
Video courtesy of Sanlorenzo.
Sanlorenzo SL86A Photo Gallery
Photos courtesy of Sanlorenzo.
Sanlorenzo SL86A Articles & Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Sanlorenzo SL86A?
Sanlorenzo publishes a maximum speed of 29 knots for the SL86A, on twin MAN 12V engines rated at 2,000 horsepower each. Higher figures of 30 to 32 knots circulate for this model, but 29 is the builder's own number and it is the one to plan around. The SL86A is the quickest of the three SL models reviewed here, ahead of the SL96A at 28 knots and the SL110A at 26 or 27.
What is the draft of the Sanlorenzo SL86A?
Sanlorenzo does not publish it. The yard publishes no draft figure for any model it builds, so any number you find for the SL86A came from a source other than the builder. On an 87-foot yacht likely to spend its life among islands and shallow anchorages, the draft is worth chasing hard: it is recorded in the build specification, and you should ask for it in writing before planning around any particular cruising ground.
What does the SL86A's asymmetric layout actually change?
It converts width you would have spent on a walkway into interior volume and better access to the water. Sanlorenzo's own summary is optimised volumes, hidden circulation and large glazed surfaces — the concealed circulation is the mechanism, the expanded volume is the payoff, and the glazing is what you notice first. The yard says the result is significantly expanded interior volumes with an uninterrupted visual dialogue with the seascape.