[vivariva]

Hello,

I have just registered at YF and would like to congratulate everyone who took part in constructing this web site.

There is a question to which I have always received biased opinions (mostly not positive). How seaworthy do you think Sunseekers are? I have been on a Predator 65 (older model) and a Camargue during the summer holidays. They were peacefully at anchor in both times. I am considering in ordering one (Porto 53) from the local dealer in Turkey and your ideas would have a significant impact on my decision.

How do you rate the brand's performance in terms of stability and reliability of its workmanship? Your anecdotes/ experience would be most helpful.

Thank you and regards

[lwrandall]

Welcome.

You will find the YF community to be some of the most giving and honest (sometimes it may not be what you want to hear) people who love yachts of all types. The wealth of knowledge and experience here, I feel, can not be found anywhere else. I have been on a couple of Sunseekers, Portifino 53, a Camargue 50 and a Pred 75 with triples (sweet). All were good and responsive, sound deadening seems to be an issue (loud) but still fun. I'm sure someone will give a more detailed response, as my rides were rather short.

[KCook]

Welcome to YachtForums vivariva. I'm no help on Sunseeker, but here is a link to another thread that gets into Sunseeker and others -

> General Yachting Discussion > 55-65 Express Cruiser Shootout + Volvo vs CAT vs MAN

Kelly

[vivariva]

Thank you Kelly, that was quite helpful.

[K1W1]

Hi,

I had the pleasure of running a Superhawk 52 with Triple Yanmars in it in 2003. We had a few mechanical issues when she was quite new and ran it from Monaco to Ibiza and Porto Cervo.

Since then it has been all over the Med in subsequent summers.

It was like any small fast boat in heavy weather as far as ride goes but was a lot stronger than a Magnum 56 I had been involved with few years before.

The only casualty in the first season from heavy weather was the screen flew out of the TV. A capacitor appeared on the counter in front of the TV this was noticed when fuelling in Mahon, Menorca closer examination revealed that the screen had fallen back a bit and was wobbly. We got going again headed for Toulon and got a real beating in the last couple of hours before we got there, at some stage the screen must have fallen backwards all the way and then came shooting out the front.

On the Sunseeker there were no cracks in the gelcoat anywhere by the end of the second season and it had been seriously tested both Summers.

[Loren Schweizer]

Originally Posted by K1W1

It was like any small fast boat in heavy weather as far as ride goes but was a lot stronger than a Magnum 56 I had been involved with few years before.

Having only limited experience with Sunseekers-- an early '90s 60 Renegade listing owned by a world-famous F1 driver who reportedly thrashed it but never broke anything--and having never heard any negatives regarding their capabilities in a seaway... and having spent a lot of time with Magnums including watching their construction (which seemed to be put together like brick you-know-whats), I am faintly curious to hear how the Sunseeker 'is a lot stronger' than the Magnum 56.

[K1W1]

Hi,

Loren- shoot me a PM with an e mail addy and you can have a full description of the failures on the Magnum including the Hull No

Carl can vouch for who I am and what I do

[vivariva]

Interesting information in such a short time..


I was just wondering if these below had ever became your problem in less-than-ideal conditions:

- Shaft seals
- Windows
- Through-hull fittings etc..


I can discern from your comments that the boats held up quite well. The research I have done on the web is mostly written by people who have spent a glamorous sunny afternoon on a flat-sea, so your ideas are much appreciated.

I plan to avoid any kind of heavy weather but would like to be confident of the yacht should the conditions change unexpectedly.

Regards,
RR

[jcooper]

Hello!
I guess you will have to take this with a grain of salt because I run the Sunseeker dealership in the Seattle area.
I have spent quite a few hours on sunseekers ranging from the 48 Superhawk to the 75 Yacht in the waters between Seattle and Southesat Alaska. Much of our cruising is in proteced waters but if you know Alaska at all you know it can get pretty bad! The only boat I really didn't like was the tripple 48....loud and not enough beam. Sunseeker designs their boats with foul weather in mind.....they ride steady and quiet in rough seas. The build quality is on a par with any custom yacht and we have had very little problems with the fleet we have in our area.

[xanax]

Hi K1W1,
Been a great enthusiast on Sunseeker’s and owned few of them the last years with great time including all the problems of course that you get anyhow no matter the boat brand’s name after few hundreds of hours of use, but in my case the overall result where to get unforgettable times.
Something which you must have experience too during the voyage of yours from Monaco to Ibiza and Porto Cervo with a Sunseeker Superhawk 52 with Triple Yanmars as said.
Of course with some problems as you mentioned, but your boat with triple engines configuration, I believe they where the 425ps on Trimax surface drives correct? Was not the best for long trips in open seas?
That boat cannot go slow and if does then is not a good boat to be onboard during bad Sea with waives.
More, as all GRP boats on high speeds when meets waives the impact is transferred fast and tremendous pressure build up everywhere, more the boat’s flexibility will reduce and twist volumes in all empty spaces making it very difficult for all el. components, fitted cabinets, GRP arches even sometimes whole separator-wall-panels (I have gone across a Cranchi 39 endurance once that after a meeting with a waive on the wrong hull spot with high speed and wrong angle the whole WC wall-panel collapse and the boat become one large saloon area) something that cannot happen to a Sunseeker.
In general surface drives produce more speeds but at the same time more stress on the boat’s hull but until today I haven’t heard anyone with serious problems because of that and that is very interested to know, where in many other manufacturers even in a Princess serious problems occur in many different cases and those words come from own experiences from owning Princes boats particularly the V series.
Talked to you again
Greetings and wishes for save voyagers
Xanax

[xanax]

Hi RR,
I have already send you a personal email message, but as for your message herein,
Do not hesitate to go through heavy Seas with a Sunseeker anything more than 50ft would give you great experiences and confidence, try to avoid thought surface drives go with conventional shafts drives on mid heavy duty engines preferable single line and then you will feel the superiority.
Heavy Seas need special and serious Captain’s skills but in all case low speeds or even better say the right speed are the secrets of all Captains, avoid insisting to keep your course if the waives says different another good advice its better to make a greater journey in higher speeds than a short trip with low speeds and lots of wobbly movements.
As said I have been thought some very heavy Seas for long time-long legs journeys like 2 hours on 7B scale and believe that was not funny at all but my Sunseeker Camarque 50HT with 2X700MAN from 2003 did great.
So when with Sunseeker do not hesitate go through but seriously handled since the power of Seas are greater than any boat and any engine especially when local phenomenon are building up.
As for Portholes there are always problems if maintenance is pure and the same for the shaft seals and hull fittings.
Kind regards
XANAX

[Loren Schweizer]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Loren- shoot me a PM with an e mail addy and you can have a full description of the failures on the Magnum including the Hull No

Carl can vouch for who I am and what I do

OK, K1W1: You have mail.

[xanax]

Originally Posted by vivariva

Hello,

I have just registered at YF and would like to congratulate everyone who took part in constructing this web site.

There is a question to which I have always received biased opinions (mostly not positive). How seaworthy do you think Sunseekers are? I have been on a Predator 65 (older model) and a Camargue during the summer holidays. They were peacefully at anchor in both times. I am considering in ordering one (Porto 53) from the local dealer in Turkey and your ideas would have a significant impact on my decision.

How do you rate the brand's performance in terms of stability and reliability of its workmanship? Your anecdotes/ experience would be most helpful.

Thank you and regards

Have send you several messages did you received any of those?
xanax

[xanax]

Originally Posted by vivariva

Hello,

I have just registered at YF and would like to congratulate everyone who took part in constructing this web site.

There is a question to which I have always received biased opinions (mostly not positive). How seaworthy do you think Sunseekers are? I have been on a Predator 65 (older model) and a Camargue during the summer holidays. They were peacefully at anchor in both times. I am considering in ordering one (Porto 53) from the local dealer in Turkey and your ideas would have a significant impact on my decision.

How do you rate the brand's performance in terms of stability and reliability of its workmanship? Your anecdotes/ experience would be most helpful.

Thank you and regards

Hi RR,
I have already send you a personal email message, but as for your message herein,
Do not hesitate to go through heavy Seas with a Sunseeker anything more than 50ft would give you great experiences and confidence, try to avoid thought surface drives go with conventional shafts drives on mid heavy duty engines preferable single line and then you will feel the superiority.
Heavy Seas need special and serious Captain’s skills but in all case low speeds or even better say the right speed are the secrets of all Captains, avoid insisting to keep your course if the waives says different another good advice its better to make a greater journey in higher speeds than a short trip with low speeds and lots of wobbly movements.
As said I have been thought some very heavy Seas for long time-long legs journeys like 2 hours on 7B scale and believe that was not funny at all but my Sunseeker Camarque 50HT with 2X700MAN from 2003 did great.
So when with Sunseeker do not hesitate go through but seriously handled since the power of Seas are greater than any boat and any engine especially when local phenomenon are building up.
As for Portholes there are always problems if maintenance is pure and the same for the shaft seals and hull fittings.
Kind regards
XANAX

[comship]

Being in such high seas (force 7) especially with a Yacht like this means that you have to cruise with the minimum possible Engines RPMs. Once I did it and apart of the Big waves I had to face the endless alarms (high temperature) of the MAN engines, and the fear of friends it was a nightmare.
That day I had seen a Uniesse encounder these waves effortless, her sea keeping was excellent