Boat & Sail

Builder · Luxury · Poole, England

Sunseeker

British luxury motor-yacht builder, 1969-founded. Sport yachts and flybridge yachts famous for the Predator open-helm sport-yacht line.

Sunseeker sport yacht at coastal cruise
Founded
1969
Headquarters
Poole, England
Ownership
Lifestyle Investments (Wang family)
Tier
Luxury
Website
sunseeker.com

Sunseeker is the British luxury motor-yacht builder from Poole, England, founded in 1969 by Robert Braithwaite. The brand has been owned by Lifestyle Investments (the Wang family) since 2013. Production stays at the Poole facility on the Dorset coast.

The brand argument is the sport-yacht heritage and the Predator open-helm sport line. Sunseeker has long been associated with British sport-luxury yacht-building and competes head-up with Princess at the same segment.

Lineup

Current platforms.

Model breakdown

Each platform, what it does and where it falls short.

Sunseeker Manhattan flybridge (52 / 55 / 60 / 66)

Manhattan is the volume flybridge line. Twin MAN or Volvo IPS inboard, full master stateroom.

Things we like

  • · British luxury fit-and-finish at segment top
  • · Volvo IPS option on smaller Manhattan hulls

Things we don't

  • · Pricing competes with Princess F-Class at equivalent LOA
  • · US dealer coverage thinner than European

Sunseeker Predator sport (50 / 55 / 60 / 65 / 75)

Predator is the sport-yacht line. Open helm with hardtop, twin MAN inboard, premium fit-and-finish.

Things we like

  • · Sport-yacht layout with hardtop and aft sun-pad is the segment standard
  • · Predator hull design holds 30-knot cruise on a 60-foot hull

Things we don't

  • · Open layout limits weather-protected use
  • · Pricing pushes into superyacht territory at the larger hulls

Sunseeker 76 / 86 / 116 Yacht flagship

The 76, 86, and 116 are the flagship superyacht line. Master suite with separate dressing, crew accommodations, generator and A/C.

Things we like

  • · Full superyacht experience with British luxury fit-and-finish
  • · Heritage sport-yacht design language

Things we don't

  • · Pricing competes with Ferretti, Mangusta, and full-custom yards
  • · Crew accommodations on smaller flagship hulls are tight

Buyer's guide

The Sunseeker story and what to know on the used market.

Origin and ownership

Sunseeker was founded in 1969 by Robert Braithwaite in Poole, England. The brand grew through the 1970s and 1980s as the British sport-luxury yacht segment expanded.

Lifestyle Investments acquired Sunseeker in 2013. Production has stayed in Poole throughout. The brand is closely associated with several Aston Martin and Bond-film co-marketing partnerships.

Design philosophy

Sunseeker hulls use moderate-V planing form (typically 17 to 19 degrees at the transom on the Manhattan and Predator lines).

MAN diesel inboard is the dominant rigging on the larger hulls; Volvo IPS available on the smaller hulls.

Used-market notes and known issues

MAN i6 1000 and 1200 fuel-injector pattern on 2017 to 2020 hulls warrants inspection at 1,000 hours.

Hull-side cosmetic gel coat on Mediterranean-stored hulls shows oxidation.

Generator service is a 100-hour preventive item.

British dealer network supports UK service; US coverage runs through limited authorized dealers.

Resale

Sunseeker holds resale tightly in the European luxury motor-yacht segment. Three-year depreciation runs 12 to 18 percent. Five-year depreciation runs 22 to 30 percent.

Where Sunseeker fits

Buyers cross-shop Sunseeker against Princess, Azimut, Ferretti, and Riva at the European luxury motor-yacht segment. The argument is the sport-yacht heritage and the Predator open-helm line.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

Sunseeker or Princess?
Both heritage British luxury motor-yacht builders. Sunseeker has the sport-yacht (Predator) heritage; Princess has the conservative flybridge (F-Class) tradition. Build tier comparable. Cross-shop on layout preference and dealer proximity.
What's the maintenance cost on a Predator 55?
Annual service on twin MAN i6 1000 inboards runs $8,000 to $14,000. Bottom paint $1,800 to $4,000. Storage $8,000 to $25,000 indoor. Insurance for a $2.5M hull runs $15,000 to $25,000.
Where are Sunseekers built?
Poole, England. Lifestyle Investments-owned facility on the Dorset coast.

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Categories Sunseeker fits.

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