Sunseeker Camargue 55

[Byff]

Hello folks, first time poster.

I've loved boating from a young age but only recently been in a financial position to actually purchase and run a boat. The plan is to stay in the Med, probably berth in Palma before scooting around but that will probably change depending on where we actually buy a boat. It'll be mostly used in one location for a few months before moving on.

I've been looking at the Camargue 55's as I think the layout suits our needs perfectly. Good cabin space, three cabins for 6 berths, the garage for a jetski, nice open area's for the wife to get her sun fix, and a bimini top so I have shade. I'm not too fussed about the (apparently) horrendous fuel consumption, it's living space is more important then performance.

Looking around, I've noticed the layout changed to a much nicer S-shaped lounge around '95-'96 but looking at adverts, I've noticed quite a few are misleading. Is picture stealing rife in the boat world? For instance, there's a pic of someones hat on the settee in two seperate adverts for different year boats in different locations.

Is there anyone with any information on the camargues? I would love to find original layouts, years, engine options etc as I read they were built with Detroits, but a lot are listed with MAN's etc etc, so would this be an engine change or were they an option? There is also differences with internal layouts, two cabins or three (I originally thought the two cabin layout was the 51, but I've since noticed other changes which helps tell them apart).

Anyone with experience of these boats or could offer an alternative?

 

[Stu_McQ]

Hi, just quickly, how do you post messages? ��

 

[petem]

Is picture stealing rife in the boat world?

Yes, ask the broker for recent photos of the actual boat. If he can't provide them then that's a bad sign.

 

[MrB]

Hi, just quickly, how do you post messages? ��

The same way you posted this one but when you are new it can take a few days for it to show, the mods need to check you are not a troll/selling stuff etc. Post what you need to, it will show and you can then freely reply as you want to.

 

[Stu_McQ]

Ah right, I just couldn’t see an option to post a new message
Thanks!

 

[Byff]

For a 20yr old boat, I think the Sunseeker still looks fantastic. I've looked around and I can't see anything that compares unless you go bigger/expensive. Surely someone must have owned one?

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

55 Camargue.
Avoid mk.1s which had some structural issues. Mk.2 (95 to 97) with cherry and different garage still looks nice and try to find the ones with the GMs or MTU 765hp.

Sunseeker of the time also had gelcoat crazing problems so be mindful of that. For 10-20k more I think you can also get one of the old Princess V55.

 

[Grubble]

Have you actually looked into the cost/availability of berths in the Med for a 55' boat?

To buy a big enough berth in Mallorca would cost you around €500,000+ for a 20 year lease, or you might be able to rent one for around €35,000 p.a.

Visitor rates are usually higher - others on here I'm sure will have more accurate figures, but buying the boat is the cheap part.

 

[Byff]

That's great advice, thank you, It's definitely the mk2 that I want and at that age, I'd probably avoid anything still on original engines unless heavily discounted.

I've also looked at the Portofino 53 replacement, but I'd need a lottery win The Princess V55 is a good shout too.

 

[Byff]

Have you actually looked into the cost/availability of berths in the Med for a 55' boat?

Yeah, very quickly realised that buying the boat is the cheap part. Let's face it - if something was easy, everyone would do it. I love working out how to do something that looks like only a millionaire could do but on a modest budget. I will figure it out.

I have another thread running for advice on my plans here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?501489-Grand-Med-tour-how-practical

 

[petem]

Have you actually looked into the cost/availability of berths in the Med for a 55' boat?

To buy a big enough berth in Mallorca would cost you around €500,000+ for a 20 year lease, or you might be able to rent one for around €35,000 p.a.

Visitor rates are usually higher - others on here I'm sure will have more accurate figures, but buying the boat is the cheap part.

15m berths are available in Sant Carles for €3900 p.a. (inc water and electricity). A mornings cruise gets you to Palma.

Eeekkk, I'm beginning to sound like Hurricane / Jez!

 

[jrudge]

A 55ft depending on the metres on the papers will be e20-e25k in Palma. Finding a perm berth will be possible but tricky.

I do winter berths for October - may for e1500 a month (58 foot boat ) then book Palma for a June and September (e2500pm) and am out July and August. This save a chunk of change as long as you are out July August.

Palma is not expensive in the summer as no one wants to be there. Summer e2500 pm. To give you an idea Cala dor is some e5000

Most marinas are relatively similar prices for perm berths with the exception of portals and Adriano which are roughly 50% more expensive.

re the boat drive a hard bargain. 20 year old 55 feet boats will cost in maintenance and refurb.

 

[Grubble]

15m berths are available in Sant Carles for €3900 p.a. (inc water and electricity). A mornings cruise gets you to Palma.

Eeekkk, I'm beginning to sound like Hurricane / Jez!

That's certainly value for money, but am I right in thinking its over a 100 miles to Palma, so a 200+ mile round trip? I'm not going to bother working out how much diesel that is for a 55' boat.

 

[Byff]

Don't get too hung up on Palma, I was just using that as a base point purely due to our holiday there at the end of the month. The plan is to move around - short trips but often using places with a decent cheap flight airport.

When it's getting used, a marina would be nice, but not essential. I really just need somewhere for it to go while we return home for a month or two.

I'm so wet behind the ears, I don't know how anything works yet but I'm learning - at the moment, the camargue 55 1996+ seems to fit the bill for now.

 

[Tranona]

.

When it's getting used, a marina would be nice, but not essential. I really just need somewhere for it to go while we return home for a month or two.

There are few alternatives to a marina, particularly if you want to leave it somewhere secure. One alternative is to haul it out when you are not using it but suspect that the number of places you can haul a boat like that is small and the cost probably little different from renting a marina berth.

 

[Grubble]

Sant Carles certainly sounds like a bit of a bargain to use as a home base for your boat and then go cruising.

I know some forum members enjoy anchoring over night, but I like waking up with the certainty you are still in the same place as the night before.

 

[Whitelighter]

15m berths are available in Sant Carles for €3900 p.a. (inc water and electricity). A mornings cruise gets you to Palma.

Eeekkk, I'm beginning to sound like Hurricane / Jez!

Well you saved me the trouble of posting

 

[Whitelighter]

That's certainly value for money, but am I right in thinking its over a 100 miles to Palma, so a 200+ mile round trip? I'm not going to bother working out how much diesel that is for a 55' boat.

Depends how fast you go. For my 52ft Ferretti it’s about 700l at 8.5knts, 2,000l at 22knts.

 

[Portofino]

Depends how fast you go. For my 52ft Ferretti it’s about 700l at 8.5knts, 2,000l at 22knts.

Crikey
Take me 3 x 180L/h @27/28 knots ,call it 540 L - done in 3 hrs
Or @ 8 knots 34 L/ r so call it 10-11 hrs ( would not do that btw ) less than 375 L

In a 14m boat .

Your 2000 to my 540 —- does not add up @ cruise on the plane .

 

[MapisM]

Your 2000 to my 540 —- does not add up @ cruise on the plane .

My understanding is that WL was referring to the 200Nm return trip, and if so his 2000 compares with your 1080 (=540*2).
Still a bit high actually, but most americans would argue that it's a price worth paying to cruise with the "sound of freedom" background, as they call the GM sound...