Sunseeker Camargue 55

[Byff]

just to check Im thinkning of the right boat is this the style of Sunseeker you are talking about?

That's the style.

Just to check, this is the style Itama your talking about?

That swimming platform looks bolted on to me Sorry for offending the Itama Gods, I may be struck down at any moment.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

That swimming platform looks bolted on to me Sorry for offending the Itama Gods, I may be struck down at any moment.[/QUOTE]

Its a different style of boat, conservative and traditional and yes the platform is bolted on but has much more space to the Sunseeker.
Itama just wants to look like a traditional open, no heavy super structure and a stern which looks like a stern not the entry to a Villa.
They are not for everyone which I think no boat is. In 2 meters plus of wave height I would prefer the Itama to any Sunseeker and most other modern looking yacht.

 

[Portofino]

Beauty of this forum the inexperienced ask adivice and the experienced attempt to help .
You can take a horse to water but you can,t make it drink .
I,am thinking 911 ,s -
They “look like some sort of squashed blown up VW beetle “
“ rear seats an after thought “

Prefer a Ford Sierra Cosworth ,

Ok

I started with a Sunseeker , bounced about all over the place in “ waves “

Bathing platform s are bolted on ( not incorporated into the hull - ride characteristics )
This means the BP,s are LARGE —— you. will be spending a lot time on or in the sea cooling off or carrying various “ toys “ -
Passerelle s are centred , they are tender cranes too .
As simple as a wheel barrow to maintain and zero intrusion into any living accommodation.
Say hello to €10 to €20k bill to replace a letter box / cassette type on a 20y old SUNY .
A Itama 54 will actually have 4 cabins
3 fwd of the engines and 1 at the transom - all doubles .
They did a 56 too buts that’s even bigger
Look @ a 46 - ( 3 cabins in the rear ) some with Arnesons for 40+ knot cruise
Your Sunny Cam 55 is Ok ish in the lookers stakes for a Med boat , but people just stop stand and stare at the Itama and even circle gawping at anchorages , - last year two blokes asked me “is it for sale - I want it “
While wife and I just sat in the marina .
Did not happen with the suny .

All those that MapisM listed are also great Med open type boats over the U.K. stuff .
Pershing another brand for mid 50,s

 

[MapisM]

Just to check, this is the style Itama your talking about?

Not exactly.
That's a great boat ruined by someone who thought it was a good idea to stick a rollbar on her.
The one below is a better example of how an Itama 54 should look like.

Ref. the swim platform, of course it's bolted on, but calling it an afterthought is more than enough to make Amati spin in his grave.
In fact, there's much more than just the wish to keep a traditional look as PYB mentioned, behind that choice.
Itamas (as well as some other boats you dismissed) were not designed to just look, but to actually BE fast in real world conditions.
In other words, they were boats designed to withstand abuses.
And in this respect, the strongest hull structure you can get is by moulding it in one piece, with both the sides and the stern closed up to the joint with the superstructure, also moulded in one piece, becoming concurrent to the overall hull strength.
The reverse raked stern with no openings is a child of this thinking, first and foremost. And the overhanging swim platform is just the inevitable consequence.

See, the design of pleasure boats has always kept in high consideration the appeal of the final product.
But Amati and his generation of boat designers used to start from the most logical engineering choices, and then did their best to build something nice around them.
Through the years, this principle evolved (S/skr ain't the only builder which went this route of course, though it's surely one of the most representative) and reversed, so to speak: a beautiful design became the starting point, to which the engineering needs had to be adapted. :ambivalence:

All that said, I'm NOT the Deacon of Itama church which WL mentioned in his post, of course.
From my part (and I suppose also from the true Itama Deacon, which you might have identified in the meantime ), if you prefer a boat nowhere near as strong and capable to handle rough seas, and with a swim platform which might look nicer but is actually a practical joke, who am I to argue? :encouragement:

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Mapis that is the Itama 60 a further development of the 56. That roll-bar was an option on the 60. TBH it does not look bad having seen a couple live with it IMO.
The 60 was also available with hard top, they build a couple of these as well. I also like the hard top of the 60 and adds a degree of practicality.

The roll bar only looks good on the 60 though, i have seen a couple of 46/50 after marketed which have really been spoiled with it IMO.

 

[MapisM]

Well, every day is a school day!
I'm not sure to like that rollbar even if it was a factory option, but if you say that it's acceptable in flesh, I take your word for it.
Btw, I also didn't notice that the previous pic actually showed a 60, but now that you mentioned it, the differences are indeed noticeable. :encouragement:

 

[kashurst]

I'm on boat 6 and 18 years in motor boats.
all boats are a trade off against design/speed/furnishings/engines/ride etc etc but some things are much more important than others - unfortunately they usually not obvious until you get a lumpy ride. (which you will eventually - the med is not often completely flat)

ride and handling - the flatter the bottom the faster it will go, but when it gets a bit lumpy you will regret it. If the boat slams coming off waves it gets very wearing and passengers won't like it much, and the cupboard doors will burst open, ceiling panels drop down and other undesirable stuff. Hulls with a deeper V generally ride well. Some people really like Itamas, other makes are available that have a good V section and integral bathing platforms.

structural integrity - if the boat creaks and groans and rattles, it gets annoying and disconcerting if it gets rough and the passengers don't like it. Some makes of boat have the integrity of a yoghurt pot. In this regard older boats can be quite a lot better. Once you get more experienced you will end up in bigger waves- which is great fun running on top of the peaks and climbing through the troughs, but that's when you find out the quality of your boat

access to the engines and mechanical bits and pieces - the easier it is to get at the more likely it is that someone will have maintained it properly. (not just spray painted it green to look good). If you are looking at older boats good access is essential because sooner or later you will have to fix something. The easier it is to get at the quicker (and cheaper) it will be to sort it properly.

 

[Byff]

Beauty of this forum the inexperienced ask adivice and the experienced attempt to help .
You can take a horse to water but you can,t make it drink .
I,am thinking 911 ,s -
They “look like some sort of squashed blown up VW beetle “
“ rear seats an after thought “

Prefer a Ford Sierra Cosworth

That is a perfect analogy that I can equate too. Ask any racing driver what car has been engineered to be fast, reliable and assured round a race track and they'll say a 911. Witness the amount of RS3's lined up waiting to go round the Nurburgring, there is no doubt, they are the best you can get.

But, sorry to have to say this, I just don't like 911's either

Now that I've offended everyone, me and my Sunseeker will go and hide in this hole

 

[Portofino]

No offence
It’s just a pity like cars you can,t simply turn up and “ test drive “ boats .
Or loan one for a week end .

Good luck in your search :encouragement:looking forward to hearing about it .

 

[Whitelighter]

You've not offended me

I wouldn't buy an Itama either - the speed would make my nose bleed.

Me and my tank are quite happy at about 18 knts

 

[MapisM]

Now that I've offended everyone, me and my Sunseeker will go and hide in this hole

LOL, you are underestimating the average skin thickness of forumites.
You must try MUCH harder before anyone will even slightly begin to feel remotely offended...
All the best for your search, and if you will feel like posting some pics and get some other silly advices and/or criticisms, we would be happy to comply! :encouragement:

 

[Byff]

I'll be in Palma at the end of the month which should give me more opportunity to actually see these boats in the flesh. All comments have been noted and I feel a lot more confident I'll be asking the right questions and looking at the important stuff - not just how pretty it is.