Sunseeker Mustique

[EME]

First of all many thanks to everyone who responded to my post re a Sunseeker Portofino 400 earlier this week. The eventual outcome was that the broker - who will remain nameless purely because I might swear in print about them , decided that contrary to everything he had previously said that he had made a written commitment to another buyer to purchase the boat but thought he might have 'gone elsewhere' but now anted to complete the purchase. Moral - be very careful when buying a S/seeker in Golfe Juan.
As a result of viewing this boat my wife has decided that her original love affair with the Comanche 40 is finished as she wants more room. Ouch.

She has seen a Mustique 42 for sale.....can anyone advise on it as a model in terms of performance / issues etc....

Again Many Thanks

We MAY have a boat by the end of the decade.

 

[Guest]

Re: Sunseeker etc

Tee hee. This'll cost you a fortune. Soon, you may find that there are much better deals to be had for buying a new one. Seriously. Some of them are almost cheaper new, especially if you get nice cheap euroland finance. Or praps just slappit on the mortgage? Also, if you buy one a bit bigger than 42, with 3 cabins instead of 2 cabins then there'll be more room for you, the kids AND visitors - with their own cabin. Much nicer, and after all it's perfect for sharing and the kids can bring a friend, and/or so can you. And anyway, on a 42, where will the dinghy go hmm? You should really have a dinghy garage, otherwise the back end will look a mess with dangly davits. And you need a dinghy, to get ashore in the bay of cannes for lunch, or to bumble around villefranche at anchor, and the 42 means you have to muck about, inflating and attaching outboards etc. Indeed, since a 42 is not quite big enuf to live on for a few weeks, but a bit *too* big for dayboating, praps not bother buying a house/flat (or sellit if you have) and just have a boat. Now, that really does up the budget, no? And think of the saving on not paying french habitation tax too, hmm? And forget all that driving to and from the boat up and down the blimmin hills thru Cannes and Golfe Juan queue queue? Based in a boat you cd be anywhere from Golfe J to St Tropez inside an hour. All those places you hardly ever visit these days becuz it's hours and hours by car. No more pool cleaning for you - just jump in the sea! Mind you, if you do go to St Tropez....then the boat will need to be at least 21metres long, otherwise they won't let you book a berth in advance, which is why all those with boats under this size are always pleading on the vhf channel 9, whereas all the massive boats ring up and book ahead no prob. Also more space for bigger boats, cos they're more likely to be out and about on charter, unlike the lickle ones. And the big ones have dishwashers and washing machines. Of course, at this level, it might be a jolly good idea to hold off for this season and wait until next season, which itself makes things somewhat better, because you won't have to pay fees for this winter's berthing, see? etc etc.

 

[EME]

Re: Sunseeker etc

Thanks ( I think) , I guess that's whatI feel like ,,,,,,but No I'm not going any bigger..........nor am I going to buy new........this was supposed to be fun.

2 cabins is it ...PERIOD....she'll want to bring her mother next. As she is immune to anything other than criticsm of everything ( she is French).......that's a non-starter. No I'm not going to live on it , no I'm not going to mortgage the flat.

What is the boat like apart from the lack of space for a dinghy? So what

Take Care

 

[Guest]

Re: Sunseeker etc

All depends what (and who) you want it for really. I bought a thunderhawk 43 in the Med 2 years ago, brought it to the west of scotland and use it throughout the year. There's enough room for 2 adults + 2 kids, goes like stink and the dinghy (Avon redstart) lies across the transon nicely. Fun is the key, if you want one then go for it. There's plenty of time for sense and 'caravanning' when you're older. Good luck!

P.S. I bought through Ancasta with no problems.

KL

 

[stewart]

I've just been through a very similar exercise, first boat, bought a couple weeks ago, to keep in the med etc. Like you I looked at lots of different boats and came to the conclusion that it had to be a Sunseeker and had to be roomy (i.e. 40' plus with two cabins). My shortlist was the Mustique and a Camargue 46, both similar sorts of price (125k - 150k). In the end I just happened to find a nice Camargue and bought that but the Mustique also has a very good reputation is is in demand, and so they tend to go quite quickly when they're adverised. Having tried both I would have been equally happy with either.

I know there is a Mustique for sale at Sunseeker Sales in Poole which is having lots of work done and should be completed next month which might be a nice boat when it's finished, and you'll even get chance to choose colours for carpets and camper covers if you're quick. If you want to look at a Camargue I know that there is a very nice one in Lisbon for £110k but no aircon - let me know if you want the brokers details. Also, the Martinique 39 is a nice boat and almost as roomy as the Mustique for less money.

The Comanche doesn't have a great reputation and is somewhat harder to resell (so I've heard). I think that those wothout two cabins (Thunderhawk, Apache, Comanche etc) are harder to resell when the time comes and are probably more likely to suffer from depreciation. The only other one I was nearly tempted by, and would be much newer, is the Pricess V40 but I wanted the sunbed at the back.

 

[c_j]

Why Sunsqueeker?

Unfortunately the good lady was refused entry to a SS at one of the boat shows and therefore that particular avenue of pleasure has been cut off, so we have to slum it in a Princess V40s which by the way will do 40 knts (well nearly).

But can any one tell me what the big attraction is with Sunseeker? The ones I have seen seem to be short on accomodation and the second hand ones seem to date and are apparently even more expensive to look after.

CJ

 

[martin]

Re: Sunseeker etc

I have to agree with C_J on this (especially having just bought a Princess...) I looked at the sunseeker carmarque 44 it didn't suit family or cruisin at all. Especially with wierd rear cabin accessed through its own little hatch..(suposedly crew but really ...crew on a 40 fter!! it would be like having a driver for your mini..) and the other cabins accessed through the saloon were titchy compare with the V40.

I think the whole sunseeker thing is a kind of marketing/life style thing. If you absolutely must be part of the "sunseeker" set then fine. But roomy is not something I think they aspire to in any of there sports boats design.

I may be wrong but I get the impression that they are all about "performance" and one lesson I have learnt recently is that the only person who enjoys performance on a boat full of people is the driver..the rest of the crew just wish you would slow down and make it a comfortable journey so that everyone can enjoy it.

My advise is go for comfort not speed....unfortunately that seems to rule sunseeker out.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I looked at several Mustiques 2 years ago as well as a couple of Portofino 400's. I didnt end up buying either but I can understand the interest in the 400 as it has reasonable accomodation and a modern interior.
However, the Mustique is a 'proper' boat in that it is mid-engined shaftdrive rather than rear engined sterndrive. Without going into a long diatribe about the advantages of either type, a shaftdrive boat will generally be more sea-kindly, easier to manoeuvre at slow speed and require less maintenance. A few 400's did have shaft drives through V-boxes but I understand these were a bit of a dog
Most Sunseeker hulls have a deeper V than other makes; this gives a softer ride at sea but the trade-off is less accomodation inside. The Mustique has a rather poky forward cabin and very cramped saloon seating. Personally, I would accept this trade off but 'er indoors would'nt!
I believe the Mustique was built with 3 engine choices, Cat 3208, Volvo 72A and a few with big GM Detroit's. These particular Cat engines have a very good reputation for reliabilty and are definitely the ones to go for; they should give the boat a top speed of 30knots or a bit more
Another problem I found with Sunseekers is the big variation in condition. Some have been thrashed and trashed, some chartered and neglected and some looked after. I found Mustiques ranging in price from £135k to £185k and the lower priced ones were not necessarily the worst so dont pay silly money
I did look at one Mustique at Sunseeker in Poole and I wonder whether it's the same one thats 'in the workshop' at the moment. It was up for £185k and it had a jet ski lifting system instead of a bathing platform; I may be wrong but I think Sunseeker had difficulty shifting this boat because of this and it just may be they are refitting a bathing platform. If I'm right and you're interested, again dont pay top dollar as the boats been sitting in their yard for ages and they'll be desparate to get rid of it.
Good hunting!

 

[emilios]

Re: Why Sunsqueeker?

In response to c_j comments/question about Sunseeker, I would say you face the following options: buy an American "boat", buy a river barge, buy a caravan, or stay in a hotel. If, on the other hand, you enjoy life in the sea, like travelling or like having the ability and potential to travel in almost any sea conditions in safety and comfort, then I'm afraid Sunseeker is the way to go. They enjoy the best service in the industry, used ones hold their resale values, they are of very high quality, extremely reliable and seaworthy and last, offer their owners a "Pride of Ownership" unmatched by anyone.

Having owned a Martinique for the last five years, I am definitely buying Sunseeker when I upgrade. I do not get impressed at Boat Shows. The more I travel on other boats (any make/size/price you care to mention) the more confident and proud I am in owning a Sunseeker.