Sunseeker Camargue 55

[mat]

Dear all,

I am considering buying a 1994 Sunseeker Camargue 55.

Does anyone know of a boat report on this model or even better have some personal experience with this boat?

Thanks in advance,
Meni

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[Divemaster1]

Think a few of these were delivered with the V8 2-stroke Detroit Diesels.... which were a bit thirsty ... about 20% above the equivialent 4 stroke ..."bullet proof" engines... but a lot of owners were caught out by the fuel consumption....

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[Hydropool]

We (the company) bought a '94 Camargue 55 with Detroits about 2 years ago but ended up getting our deposit back after the survey was carried out because it was a 'dog with fleas'.. noisey bugger too. After some reasearch we ended up getting the same boat with 2 x 767hp M.T.U's, which run like a dream, are far more fuel efficient and don't irritate the entire southern coast of Spain when you start it!!! The boat itself, the layout and the sea keeping abilities of the hull are 1st class... in fact we were told that it is one of the best second-hand deals in the Sunseeker range for a boat that size. Don't be affraid to go further afield to find the right one though, there are loads of them in the Med. Good luck!

<hr width=100% size=1>What do you mean we've run out of drink?

 

[camargue]

we too had a camargue 55 with MTU's.-recently sold. it was a '95 boat Engines were great, solid (and gold). beautiful boat and was quick too. our max speed was 36 knots. there were several different 'marques' of the 55 which progressed as the model aged. main differences was tender garage opening and interior shape otherwise fairly similar.

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[mat]

Thanks for your posting.

What was typical fuel consumption at cruising speed? I assume sea keeping was never a problem.

Thanks a lot,
MAT

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[DavidBunn]

Sorry for the late reply...just seen your post.
Agree with all above.
Nearly all 55s up until 95/96 were with Detroits, and are bad news.
95/96 model changed to Mk. 11 and is the same interior as the Preditor. Hence at about half the price of Preditor the 55 represents an excellent buy.
M.T.U. rev flat out at 3450 and suck up 39 galls per hour at full chunter, however, at cruising speed of say 27/28 knots will consume about 28/29 galls per hour. Cruising at about 24/25 knots consumption will be down to 20/22 galls per hour.
No question about seekeeping, there is just no substitute for waterline length.
Hope you find what you want.
David.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Hi David - we saw Retro in Marina del Este when we came over to see tcm (Matt) for the day. Nice machine and nice marina. The only fly in the ointment was that the water supply in the marina packed up in the afternoon. Typical Spain!!

I'll send you a PM when we go to Nerja next. Cheers.

Dave.

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[mat]

Dear David,

thanks a lot for your reply.

I'll keep you all posted.

MAT

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[DavidBunn]

Hi Matt, just one last thing.
PM me when you think you have found the right boat. I can give you some pointers on what to look out for. In particular, have a thorough engine and hydraulics survey, insist that they remove the lagging from the four stainless steel turbo elbows, they get shot where they change to steel and will have pin holes which leak cooling water, and are horrendously expensive to replace if you find out later. One had been replaced on our boat prior to survey, so we presumed that the others had been checked. They hadnt, and we had to replace the other three. Ouch !!!
Good Hunting,
Regards,David

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[DavidBunn]

Hi Dave, sorry we missed you again. Because we are of a certain age, we tend to avoid school holidays for our trips. We may be like ships that pass in the night.
The fresh water in the marina is frequently out of action due to developments further up the hill, conequently we keep the main tanks full, but unlike other posts on here about unhelpful Spanish marinas they could not be more helpful. When they advised us that the water would be off for three days I said we were nearly empty and have fresh water loos, so they offered to bring in a water bowser, but realised that the fire hydrants were on a seperate supply so filled us up with that. (I made sure that we thoroughly flushed it through before filling up).
Hope to meet you soon,
Regards,
David

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.

 

[mat]

David,

thanks a lot for your offer. However the boat I am considering has MAN engines not M.T.U.'s.

I understand your boat had the latter. Correct?

Any other points I should be particularly careful about, ie. window leaks, osmosis, electrics, hinges, hydraulics, vibration and all other things that can be problematic with a boat?

Once more thanks for your help,
Mat

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[DavidBunn]

Hi Mat,
Yes we have MTUs, but MANs are OK IMHO. I think that as they are V8s, what I said about turbo elbows will still apply.
We have spent upwards of 25K renovating RETRO, just because we wanted it "as new". You have to remember that you are buying an 8/10 year old boat that has probably deterioated more from lack of use than anything else. The bigger it is, the more things to go wrong.
The engines are the most important and expensive bits. Even after survey you will need to do a thorough service, including changing injectors.
Thorough service of all hydraulics, we changed all hoses from rubber to stainless steel.
The engine room is tight, the only way to get good access is to remove the floor of the garage, (very heavy) but you should do this for survey.
Some or all of the batteries will be US, so check and replace where needed.
All of our aircon cooling pumps (3) have failed and are expensive to replace. Don`t think you can run them on heating only and won`t need the pumps, as they run even when heating, so if not working will trip out that system.
2 x aircon thermostats have been replaced.
Check and service windlass, (also expensive to replace).
Check Genny and service.
Unless all awnings have been replaced recently, they will need renewing.
Having this year run a shaft seal (nearly did a Titanic), I am told that they should be changed every 2/3 years, but I don`t know anyone who does.
For some reason our props were changed from 4 bladed to 5 bladed before we bought. It may have been done to give a better ride at cruising speed, (ie no vibration) but it does mean that we are not very quick on take off, as you have to feed in the revs slowly, otherwise you are putting too much fuel into the engines before the turbos cut in at 1500rpm.
Icemaker, service or replace, about £700 new.
Electrics are good, all 24volt.
No leaks above water through portholes or hatches.
We have leaks into engine room from both rudder shafts, these will be fixed at next haul out.
No problem with hinges or other fittings, very good standard.
The first 55 we saw had big problems with Gel Coat from the radar arch back, looked like it had eroded in the sun somewhere.
These are just important bits & pieces that come to mind now, I will let you know if I think of anything else, (renovations ran into 5 foolscap pages).
By the way, the 55 is very difficult to get on and off when moored side-too. The bathing platform does not extend far enough, so you have to put your toes into the engine air outlets, (bathing platform was extended on the Preditor). The secret is to present the stern to the pontoon with the bows at about 25 degrees away, then step off, and use engines or bowthruster to bring the bows back in. Of course no problem stern too.
On a lighter note, and assuming I have not put you off by now, it is a fantastic boat, sea kindly and great for entertaining.
Best Regards,
David.


<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DavidBunn on 25/08/2004 13:57 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[adarcy]

Re: Just for clarification

<<M.T.U. rev ...and suck up 39 galls per hour at full chunter>>

EACH you mean. Otherwise something is wrong. It seemed very low to me if that was both churning out 767 hp so I looked up a recent test in MBY on Volvo D12-715s and at WOT they drink 59 point something gals/hr. Therefore earlier generation ie non common rail diesels of 10% more power might well drink 78 gals/hr.

Our 375 CATs use about 40 gal/hr flat out (rare though)

If you really only use 39 gal/hr for 1500+ hp I'm not sure I want this new tech stuff when the lotto comes up

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[DavidBunn]

Re: Just for clarification

Yup it must be each. I can just remember seeing a graph on fuel consumption, and it must refer to each engine. Cannot confirm as all handbooks are on the boat. But anyway who wants to go flying around at full chunter all the time. I probably only saw what I wanted to see, otherwise it would spoil all the fun.
If you come across the real figures, please let me know. Otherwise I may prefer to be blissfully unaware.
And yes I know, that I should know this information, but when the fuel guages go south, I head for Gibraltar to fuel up at 25p per litre.
Regards,
David.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sea water is for boating on, not swimming in.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DavidBunn on 25/08/2004 16:41 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[camargue]

Re: Just for clarification

didn't know you could get a 55 with MAN's!! never seen one for sale with them. are you sure they have not been changed?

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[mat]

Dear David,

after about one month it is time to get back to you with some more specific questions, as very kindly offered by you.

I have just surveyed the boat, a 93 Camargue 55 with the V10 820 HP MAN engines, with about 500 hrs each.

The general condition of the boat is ok but for two things that I do not know how serious may be.

First there are quite a few hair cracks, up to 30 - 40 cm in length, along the chimes either in the middle or at the connection between hull and chime.

Second, and maybe more scarry, on the starboard side of the deck around the sides of the hatch opening over the settee as well as around the left side of the windshield pointing outwards there are again thin cracks of a direction perpendicular to the axis of the boat.

My concern is whether these cracks indicate a more serious weakening of the hull in this area maybe due to excessive "banging".

I was wandering whether you have had any similar problems with your boat.

Thanks once more,
Regards
MAT

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