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Sunseeker Predator 62 vs. 64

Discussion in 'Sunseeker Yacht' started by Nep6012, Aug 4, 2018.

  1. Nep6012

    Nep6012 New Member

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    I have looked at both boats. According to most of the listings, both boats weigh 63,800 lbs. The 64 is 66'11" LOA with a beam of 16'3"; 62 is 64'4" LOA with a slightly wider beam of 16'5".

    According to Sunseeker info, with the same Man V10-1100 engines, the 62 looks to be a more efficient hull - burns less fuel with a better range at cruise RPM. Anyone have first hand knowledge of the ride comparison between the two boats assuming similar engines.

    Also, how does the 64 run with the Volvo IPS setup?
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I have no experience with the 64 at all. But extensive experience with the 62', putting around 10,000 NMs on one and it is an incredible riding boat. I've had it out in as much as a 10'+ beam sea and still did 22-24 knots and fairly comfortably. The 62' is amazingly dry also, 8 out of 10 times I can run 50-170 NM in the ocean and only have to rinse the hull and transom off.
  3. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    I was told 62 is better then 64 since they moved the engines a but further aft to make a bigger midships cabin in the 64.
    The hull was original designed for shafts, so I would choose it with shafts anytime of the day.

    Most Sunseeker are generally dry boats. but do ride a bit to much bow high and tend to loose a lot of horsepower when losing this.

    The CoG of many Sunseeker's is not perfect, but I do think that the 62 is one of the best boats they have done in the last ten years.
    I think the only thing I never liked of the Sunseeker 62 is the exposed aft cockpit deck design.
  4. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    That's always been my philosophy, that if a hull was originally designed for shafts to stick with them. We did so on our Manhattan. However, I did do a test on a Manhattan with pods and they did a surprisingly good job. However, the boat didn't really get the benefits of pods space-wise. The only other negative was that the draft on the pods was 3" more.
  5. FlyingGolfer

    FlyingGolfer Member

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    Why did it not get the space-wise benefits of pods?
  6. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    Cause space benefiting in pods is a myth. You get the same benefits with a U-drive system and engines located aft, which is how most Sunseekers of the last decade have been designed.
  7. Nep6012

    Nep6012 New Member

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    I have a contract on a 64 with IPS. Sea trial and survey is next week so I'll be able to report back on the performance of the boat. This is my first venture into pods so I'm a little out of my comfort zone. I've read everything I can find on boat diesel, which is some good some bad. Most of the IPS problems seem to be smaller and older engines, but of course there are far fewer IPS 1200 boats.

    Sunseeker sent me a copy of their published performance numbers for IPS, Man V10-1100 and 1200. The IPS mpg was about 30% better across the cruising speed range. It will be interesting how the sea trial numbers compare.
  8. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    And there was no redesign for pods.
  9. Nep6012

    Nep6012 New Member

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    The only other pod boat that I have seen up close is the 48 Sabre. On that boat the pod was very close to the engine using a very short shaft, so there was plenty of room aft of the pods for usable space like the 3rd stateroom/storage area. On the 64 Sunseeker, the shaft is much longer so the pods are much further aft of the engines.
  10. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Not totally true...….close.....but not totally true......with pods the engines are smaller in horsepower and generally physical size so you can get more space and weight savings. Since the pods are more efficient (at least with twins) smaller engines will push the hull generally the same speed. Some yacht manufacturers take advantage of this, but generally ones that only offer pods as a powerplant such as Prestige.
  11. Liam

    Liam Senior Member

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    And Absolute. I think Absolute and Prestige are the ones which makes best use of pod drives, the first more then the second.
    But question was related to Sunseeker. Anyways engines are about 20% smaller in IPS (pods) and then you have the pod system and takes more space then a shaft seal or packing.
  12. sgawiser

    sgawiser New Member

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    If the designer is any good at all, and if the boat is designed for pods, there is a considerable increase in usable space. Not only are the engines somewhat smaller, but there is no need for the space for the shafts which can be a significant cost in space. But absolutely, it is best to have a boat which was designed for the type of power it has not only for space reasons but for weight distribution.
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Generally you either have pod yacht manufacturers that only build yachts with pods (prestige/absolute), or yacht manufacturers that generally use shafts and adapt a shaft boat and hull to pods. In Sunseekers case (and many) the pods are an option and they retrofitted them to an existing hull, in that situation the engine room bulkheads stay the same, so no space is gained inside of the boat. So with pods you're gaining fuel efficiency and maneuverability (and probably range), more maintenance expense and no more interior volume. Generally the fuel efficiency (in a twin application) quickly negates the added maintenance expense.
  14. Nep6012

    Nep6012 New Member

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    It's been 5 weeks and what turns out to be a big waste of time on the 64 Sunseeker. Unfortunately, I won't be able to share the IPS performance numbers because the boat would not run to spec - the engines would only turn 2050 RPM (instead of 2300). The Volvo mechanic thinks the problem is due to a one inch crack on the tip of the front stbd prop which was discovered in the survey haulout. He speculated that the stbd engine was over revving and the computer was holding both engines back.

    Regardless, the seller doesn't want to fix it so the boat search continues.