Sanlorenzo SL96 Asymmetric
- LOA: 29 m
- Beam: 6.76 m
- Accommodation: 8 guests, 4 crew
- Engines: twin MTU 16V2000 M86, about 2,216 hp
- Top speed: about 28 knots
- Fuel: about 10,350 litres, fresh water about 1,500 litres
- Design: exterior by Bernardo Zuccon (Zuccon International Project)
- Line: presented in 2020 within the SL Asymmetric range
The asymmetric goes mainstream
The SL96 Asymmetric followed the pioneering SL102, bringing the reordered main deck to a size that a much larger group of owners could reach. Presented in 2020, it helped turn a bold one-off idea into a settled part of the Sanlorenzo catalogue. At 29 metres it sits above the SL86 and below the thirty-three metre SL110, holding the middle of the planing range. Its arrival confirmed that the asymmetric layout was here to stay.
The boat belongs to the composite Yacht Division and is built to individual order, so specifications differ across the fleet. Its role in the line is the well-rounded choice, big enough for serious cruising yet still nimble. For many buyers it is the SL that makes the clearest sense.
Light on the water
The exterior, drawn by Bernardo Zuccon of Zuccon International Project, keeps the low, athletic SL profile with a long glazed flank. Removing the port side deck lets the saloon reach the fuller beam and brings the glass down close to the sea. The reported gain in usable interior area is around ten square metres, which is considerable on a hull of this size. The single starboard walkway keeps a safe, sheltered path forward.
Owners can choose an open flybridge or a hardtop version, adapting the boat to sun-heavy or cooler waters. The foredeck and cockpit are shaped for life at anchor, with space to relax and to handle the tender. The whole design reads as calm and precise. Daylight is the SL96's signature, flooding the main deck through the low port glazing.
The SL96 turned the asymmetric main deck from a bold one-off into a settled series success.
A wider saloon
Inside, the SL96 accommodates eight guests and a crew of four. The extra width freed by the layout is spent on the main saloon and a full-beam owner's suite, both of which feel notably broad for the length. Interiors carry the quiet, residential style associated with Piero Lissoni's direction, built around natural materials and open sight lines. Owners specify the finish closely within that framework.
The plan keeps a strong link between the saloon and the cockpit, so the day flows easily between inside and out. Guest cabins sit on the lower deck, leaving the main deck for shared living and the view. The result feels more like a bright apartment than a corridor of rooms. Space and light do the work here.
Pace with control
The SL96 is driven by twin MTU 16V2000 M86 engines of around 2,216 hp, feeding the planing hull that gives the SL line its speed. The reported top speed is about 28 knots, so an owner can cross open water quickly when the weather allows. At a gentler cruise the boat runs efficiently for longer coastal passages. It handles like the sports flybridge it is.
As with every asymmetric model, the underwater hull stays symmetrical, so the deck plan costs nothing in sea-keeping. Fuel is carried at around 10,350 litres, supporting real distances between fills. Sanlorenzo keeps the engineering proven and easy to service. The SL96 is built to be used hard and often.
Who the SL96 suits
The SL96 Asymmetric suits the owner who wants the fullest expression of the asymmetric idea at a size that stays manageable. It is well suited to family cruising with a small professional crew, where the main deck is the centre of the day. Its 2020 arrival and steady sales have made it one of the most recognisable boats in the range. For a buyer stepping up from the mid-twenties in metres, it is a confident move.
Against rival flybridge yachts near thirty metres, its case is the reordered main deck and the daylight that comes with it. For a Sanlorenzo owner it is the balanced heart of the SL line. It rewards those who value how a day feels at anchor as much as the numbers on a page.
Who it is for: An owner who wants the balanced heart of the asymmetric SL range, with pace, space and daylight.