Sunseeker 80 knot boat

[Ian h]

I see in this months magazine that now Sunseeker have teamed up with Red Bull Technology to build an 80 knot performance boat,

Looks like the void left by Hunton has been filled, As the big 3 British builders have all realised there is a gap in the market

 

[MrB]

That should read as Adrian Newey has teamed up with Sunseeker as he has been designing boats since he took a back seat with F1. If anyone can do it it will be him. He's a design genius. :encouragement:

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

What is so special about an 80 knot boat?
I mean its been done before and if you go to Miami Boat show this month you will find a handful and feetful builders who can do that.
For those that don't know its been done since the sixties in a production boat, started by a fella named Don Aronow.

Also Sunseeker had similar performing boats in the racing tuned 39 Cobra and 34 XPS Portofino units, which used a copy/paste hull of the alloy build Don Shead designed Cuv 38.

 

[z1ppy]

Quite right...

Hunton were "slow" in comparison the the equivalent US boat of similar size.. of course adding Merc 1350's would make a difference but who is going to want to do that in this country with petrol on the water at £1.50 + per L?

you can buy a stock Outerlimits SV29 that will get you close to 100 MPH these days.

Sunseeker had the XS2000 in recent history which i think was a Buzzi hull but didnt set the world alight with sales...

With $500K in your pocket i reckon you could get a selection of 80 Kt boats in the us market and i am sure that whatever Sunseeker build will be considerably above this price point...

I am sure it will be nice and a Sunseeker with all the Sunseeker trimmings and luxury at 80 Kts would be something to see for sure... i suspect however it will be a stripped out XSMG style boat that has a limited market and attractive only to the Uber rich who want a toy.... but what a toy!

i dont see this as a gap in the market but rather they have been asked by one of their very rich clients to build them something and its a great PR tool as Sunseeker know how to work this so very well.

looking forward to seeing it for real.

 

[rafiki_]

Quite right...

Hunton were "slow" in comparison the the equivalent US boat of similar size.. of course adding Merc 1350's would make a difference but who is going to want to do that in this country with petrol on the water at £1.50 + per L?

you can buy a stock Outerlimits SV29 that will get you close to 100 MPH these days.

Sunseeker had the XS2000 in recent history which i think was a Buzzi hull but didnt set the world alight with sales...

With $500K in your pocket i reckon you could get a selection of 80 Kt boats in the us market and i am sure that whatever Sunseeker build will be considerably above this price point...

I am sure it will be nice and a Sunseeker with all the Sunseeker trimmings and luxury at 80 Kts would be something to see for sure... i suspect however it will be a stripped out XSMG style boat that has a limited market and attractive only to the Uber rich who want a toy.... but what a toy!

i dont see this as a gap in the market but rather they have been asked by one of their very rich clients to build them something and its a great PR tool as Sunseeker know how to work this so very well.

looking forward to seeing it for real.

Well said Howard. Spot on!

 

[julians]

Just been reading a review of that outerlimits sv29, i like thats its most efficient speed is 75mph (range 238 miles if youre interested)

 

[MapisM]

The Popham statement quoted in the YBW website sounds intriguing:
“Sunseeker, in partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, will next year launch a new sportsboat between 30 and 50 feet”
In the world of high performance boats, that's a plan just about as accurate as saying that they will launch a boat that floats...

 

[Omano]

The Popham statement quoted in the YBW website sounds intriguing:
“Sunseeker, in partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, will next year launch a new sportsboat between 30 and 50 feet”
In the world of high performance boats, that's a plan just about as accurate as saying that they will launch a boat that floats...

....and CEO Popham could not even be bothered to wear a tie in the presence of his company logo. A far cry from the launch of the Supermarine Swordfish; where the company principle and the both of the designer's attire gave the product an air of substance.

 

[Blue Sunray]

....and CEO Popham could not even be bothered to wear a tie in the presence of his company logo. A far cry from the launch of the Supermarine Swordfish; where the company principle and the both of the designer's attire gave the product an air of substance.

The 1950s called and they would like their attitudes back please.

 

[MrB]

The 1950s called and they would like their attitudes back please.

:encouragement:

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

could not even be bothered to wear a tie

Oh dear

 

[jfm]

....and CEO Popham...
attire gave the product an air of substance.

If you're happy with a mere air of substance as distinct from the real thing then feel free to wear a tie if it achieves that. Wear your underpants outside your trousers too if you want.
Talking of pointless things, an ellipsis has three dots not four. Lucky there was no company logo in sight

 

[[2068]]

....and CEO Popham could not even be bothered to wear a tie in the presence of his company logo. A far cry from the launch of the Supermarine Swordfish; where the company principle and the both of the designer's attire gave the product an air of substance.

If I was buying a boat, I would be checking the boat for substance, not the salesman's tie, or lack thereof.

 

[petem]

I see in this months magazine that now Sunseeker have teamed up with Red Bull Technology to build an 80 knot performance boat,

Looks like the void left by Hunton has been filled, As the big 3 British builders have all realised there is a gap in the market

Is there really a significant market for fast British built boats?

Oddly, the initial news suggested 35-50 kt performance from the the Fairline F-line 34 but the latest specs suggest a much slower boat. Still, a well known UK dealer tells me that they'll fly off the shelves.

Then we have that ridiculous Princess hull camouflage charade a couple of weeks ago which I imagine was only done to excite the journos. Now we have S/S seemingly jumping on the band wagon without not knowing what they ate going to build (30-50ft, what's all that about)! Sorry but to me, it's just like click bait, in the same category as Aston Martin and Mercedes boats. Still, might come in handy for the next Bond move I suppose.

 

[Portofino]

I think the answer to your Q is above Pete ,

There’s an awful lot of property owners who require a run about / day boat and dare is say it a thrill boat .
8 months of the year it will be hangered .

That demo graph is quietly increasing and they have created the demand for the type of craft our “three “are aspiring to build .

 

[petem]

I think the answer to your Q is above Pete ,

There’s an awful lot of property owners who require a run about / day boat and dare is say it a thrill boat .
8 months of the year it will be hangered .

That demo graph is quietly increasing and they have created the demand for the type of craft our “three “are aspiring to build .

I can see the 'villa' day boat market. Head down to the boat mid morning, perhaps take some bread, cheese, cold meats, a nice bottle of wine, and head out to a nice bay. Drop the hook, have a swim from the bathing platform, have a snooze on the deck in the sun, etc. If not taking lunch, then take the tender ashore to a nice restaurant or beach bar. The Fairline F-line will do most of that, although my boat would do it better!

But taking the Princess or S/S, how many owners (and more importantly their families) would sacrifice the above practicality so that they can go really fast? My wife loves going quickly in our boat (OK so it's only 35/36 knots) but I can see that she would be less keen on something that was loud and built to go much quicker.

 

[Portofino]

I can see the 'villa' day boat market. Head down to the boat mid morning, perhaps take some bread, cheese, cold meats, a nice bottle of wine, and head out to a nice bay. Drop the hook, have a swim from the bathing platform, have a snooze on the deck in the sun, etc. If not taking lunch, then take the tender ashore to a nice restaurant or beach bar. The Fairline F-line will do most of that, although my boat would do it better!

But taking the Princess or S/S, how many owners (and more importantly their families) would sacrifice the above practicality so that they can go really fast? My wife loves going quickly in our boat (OK so it's only 35/36 knots) but I can see that she would be less keen on something that was loud and built to go much quicker.

Yes that’s it P
Real World cruise speed ( as a %of WOT ) with family/ friends aboard depends on the sea state and of course the hull shape imho .
How ever for the inexperienced,low on knowledge but large on £/€ @ a boat show with the boat dressed up hull covered on the display and only the Perspex description / brochure and the odd journo,s biased write up then WOT is all they can go on .
Of the 3 , sales NEW will be proportional to WOT .

The Van Dutch range springs to mind —- seen a lot slam in a chop having to slow down on the run home when the wind gets up - after a days day boating , in threory there WOT is greater than mine ,but we just glide on by without a bump , crash bang wallop etc .
Same with 90,s Sunseeker Super hawks with Trimax drives - so much kg,s at the stern. They either trim the speed off or pitch up and down so much in a swell/ chop they have to back off .

How ever can,t help feeling a bit sorry for the Van Dutch owners .Boats looks the part .

You see they ( our three) will know that and be tempted to flatten the deadrise to max out on lift ,reducing drag and gaining as many extra knots for the given Hp .

1st one to get a boat to market is at a distinct disadvantage as the other two will know what to beat and will beat it .
Last one will be the fastest .
Sounds like FL have blinked first ,Prinny followed a bit behind ( testing one hull* ) and SS watching closely firing marketing chaff.
Put yourself in FL and Prinnys dev team and stand up in front of the “ guys “ and announce SS say they are wading in with a 80 knot er !! .

* if it’s crap cos it’s will quietly disappear an another it’s replcement pop up .

Mclaren hestated while developing the Mp12 C - waiting for the Ferrari 430 replacement-
The 458 was soooooo superior Mclaren delayed the launch and went back to the drawing board having to rework a shed load of systems after they bought a F458 and tested it themselves.
But even so the F458 was / is considered a peach and the Mclaren Mp12C sales where disappointing along with the car .

 

[stelican]

I can see the 'villa' day boat market. Head down to the boat mid morning, perhaps take some bread, cheese, cold meats, a nice bottle of wine, and head out to a nice bay. Drop the hook, have a swim from the bathing platform, have a snooze on the deck in the sun, etc. If not taking lunch, then take the tender ashore to a nice restaurant or beach bar. The Fairline F-line will do most of that, although my boat would do it better!

But taking the Princess or S/S, how many owners (and more importantly their families) would sacrifice the above practicality so that they can go really fast? My wife loves going quickly in our boat (OK so it's only 35/36 knots) but I can see that she would be less keen on something that was loud and built to go much quicker.

Yes but please remember they are going to build for the super rich who must have the latest. No disrespect but you would not see them in a 15 yr old Fairline/sunseeker etc

 

[petem]

Yes but please remember they are going to build for the super rich who must have the latest. No disrespect but you would not see them in a 15 yr old Fairline/sunseeker etc

If you've got the money of course you would buy the newest boat, I didn't say otherwise! I just hope that F'line are going to make a boat that works well for its target market.

 

[petem]

Yes that’s it P
Real World cruise speed ( as a %of WOT ) with family/ friends aboard depends on the sea state and of course the hull shape imho .
How ever for the inexperienced,low on knowledge but large on £/€ @ a boat show with the boat dressed up hull covered on the display and only the Perspex description / brochure and the odd journo,s biased write up then WOT is all they can go on .
Of the 3 , sales NEW will be proportional to WOT .

The Van Dutch range springs to mind —- seen a lot slam in a chop having to slow down on the run home when the wind gets up - after a days day boating , in threory there WOT is greater than mine ,but we just glide on by without a bump , crash bang wallop etc .
Same with 90,s Sunseeker Super hawks with Trimax drives - so much kg,s at the stern. They either trim the speed off or pitch up and down so much in a swell/ chop they have to back off .

How ever can,t help feeling a bit sorry for the Van Dutch owners .Boats looks the part .

You see they ( our three) will know that and be tempted to flatten the deadrise to max out on lift ,reducing drag and gaining as many extra knots for the given Hp .

1st one to get a boat to market is at a distinct disadvantage as the other two will know what to beat and will beat it .
Last one will be the fastest .
Sounds like FL have blinked first ,Prinny followed a bit behind ( testing one hull* ) and SS watching closely firing marketing chaff.
Put yourself in FL and Prinnys dev team and stand up in front of the “ guys “ and announce SS say they are wading in with a 80 knot er !! .

* if it’s crap cos it’s will quietly disappear an another it’s replcement pop up .

Mclaren hestated while developing the Mp12 C - waiting for the Ferrari 430 replacement-
The 458 was soooooo superior Mclaren delayed the launch and went back to the drawing board having to rework a shed load of systems after they bought a F458 and tested it themselves.
But even so the F458 was / is considered a peach and the Mclaren Mp12C sales where disappointing along with the car .

It's interesting, as Fairline have already set out their stall. The only diesel option so far announced is a D3-220 diesel topping out at 32 kts. I shall look forward to overtaking one in my old boat! Personally, I don't believe these boats will bought purely on top speed, for the reasons that I've set out above. I'll happily bet you a fiver that Fairline will outsell the Princess and S/S boats equivalents combined.