Sunseeker Portifino 46- Opinions please

[Ian.S]

As title really, the above boat seems to fit our requirements and the layout ideal for us. Any owners etc can give me info both good and bad? Would be looking at a 2004/5 boat.
It will be for use in the med (Mallorca) and a live on for the summer months.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Nice apparent quality, but check for some cracks around the windscreen and radar arch which is very common in this boat.

The good is the cockpit, the interior is okay, and sea-keeping is not bad mostly due to the weight displacement and its bow high running attitude making very dry.
The ugly is that per nm (6 liter per nm with only 480hp Volvos is not little) they drink a lot considering the size of the boat and a not so perfect hull engine (aft) location.
If you really want a Sunseeker I would try and stretch the budget for a 47 Portofino (same boat with hard-top) and D9 shaft set up.
If you want something similar budget I would look for the similar aged Princess V50.
A couple of the last 46 Portofinos where made with Cummins 550hp but are very hard to find, I heard they made three, and some also have Yanmar which make it run better (tops 32 knots) due to them being lighter. I also heard that some 2005 are made with D9s but I think I only saw one with those engines.

 

[Ian.S]

Thanks for the info it’s appreciated. Doesn’t sound the best option then really,budget won’t stretch to the 47 I’m afraid. For the use intended any better options?

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Check Princess V50 and or Cranchi 47 Mediterranee Open for similar boats with shafts.

If you want to spend less look at the Fairline 43 Targa and for a bit more look at Pershing 43 and you have the benefit of a hardtop.

 

[mcanderson]

You can also get the Cranchi 47 in a hardtop. The engine access is interesting unless you take the tender out. We looked at a few and ended up buying smaller to stay on our berth rather than having to move berths.

Here is a link to one - http://fr.eyb-boats.com/bateaux-a-moteur/in-bord/cranchi/cranchi-47-mediterranee-ht/654031.html

 

[Portofino]

I looked at a few with the local SS dealer when deliberating a move from a Porto 35 .
Radar arch crazing and dash surround crazing ( PYB ,s window crazing
) , the dealer pointed out .
Having said that many will have been repaired / reinforced - pretty easy grip work .
So don,t be put off go and have a look and do the necessary due diligence.

It was to do with the weight of gear attached up top on an all ready weighty arch .
Porto 53 mk1 suffered arch crazing issues too ,but that boat has a movable lid even more weight.They cured it with the mk 2 I think .
They may have cured it with the later Porto46 s too .
Porto 35 did not have this issue as they fitted a lighter closed scanner Furuno radar unit .
The 46 had a big open array open scanner as std fitment hence the strain .

You will see the crazing on the outside bottom 1/3 rd of the arch , or evidence of a reinforcement?

The dash is the corners either side of the wheel end particularly near the window .

If you view one via a SSeeker broker they will be well aware and advise if it’s been repaired properly.

Sounds drastic but it is not really .

Remember it’s got a nice Hilo platform for ease of tender / jet ski launch .

Quit beamy so feels big inside .

- [ ] For me it was too greater step down in performance, as PYB infers the little 480 hps have to work hard cruise ( all clean early season ) 22/ 23 knots .

We looked at a Pershing 43 too
Already repurchased our berth to fit up to 15 M x4.8
Wife hated the high gloss interior - finger marks etc , I liked the ERoom the MAN s I think were 610hp , but the 13 L block -nice tons of torque compared to a similar size boat stroked along with weedy VP 480,s of 7,4 L capacity.
Shafts too being a baby Pershing - low maintenance compared to bigger Arneson only stuff I thought.

Uniesse do nice a shaft mid 40 HT as well if Med based ?

How ever wife fell in love with what we have now ( interior wise ) and I,am not complaining with the performance and engine package that came with it .:encouragement:

 

[Ian.S]

Thanks for the replies folks,been working all day! Ideally I’m after something not much bigger than 46ish ft so the 50’s are too big really,thinking of berthing costs etc. 40-46ft ideally.
Not keen on the looks of the Pershing and from what I’ve looked at they seem a little cheaper than the Targa 43.

The plan is to keep it med based, but not keen on the look/layout of the franchise 47.

Portofino, which boat do you have is it the 35?

 

[stelican]

A friend is considering selling his S. France based Targa 43 soon

 

[zt260]

Have you looked at atlantis 47 the later ones came with d9 575

 

[stelican]

Have you looked at atlantis 47 the later ones came with d9 575

Nice boat very well engineered. best accommodation in its size range (v drives) very quiet running, Excellent visibility from helm at cruising speed due to running angle. Very impressive ride Cockpit feels smaller than some others due to large sunbed with dinghy garage below.Later models available with opening hardtop.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Nice boat very well engineered. best accommodation in its size range (v drives) very quiet running, Excellent visibility from helm at cruising speed due to running angle. Very impressive ride Cockpit feels smaller than some others due to large sunbed with dinghy garage below.Later models available with opening hardtop.

They top 38-36 knots with the D9s. With Tamd75s 480hp they do 32 knots. I think the propulsion study and it being a new hull made for the Atlantis made it go well.
It is also about a ton lighter to a Sunseeker 46 Portofino.
Only one mentioned here with full beam owners cabin, but yes lovely boat. Somehow I always forget it nowadays.

 

[Ian.S]

Had a look at the Atlantis 47 HT but a bit to far to stretch for a later ht version and the looks aren’t really doing it for me.
Can I throw something a little different out there and ask for opinions please! Azimut 46 Fly? For a live on med boat seems ideal. Best engine choice for the azi,good and bad points please. Thanks again

 

[Portofino]

Thanks for the replies folks,been working all day! Ideally I’m after something not much bigger than 46ish ft so the 50’s are too big really,thinking of berthing costs etc. 40-46ft ideally.


Portofino, which boat do you have is it the 35?

I had a Porto 35 from 2005 to 2014 .

At the end the list of things we did not like exceeded the list of things we liked with Sunseekers .

Traveling around , going to boat shows , looking in yards , dock walking and watching others at sea and how other owners used the competitors we arrived at the conclusion there must be better boats out there .

Restrictions on berth size are a moot point in the SoF ,so we needed to tackle that issue 1st - buy a bigger berth .

As said took a look at the Porto range closely when considering a bigger boat to fit into my pre purchased med berth .

Ended up buying something Italian .
If you are thinking Med based then that opens a very big door in sports boat choose around 45 ft

Rizzardi incredible
Sarnico maxim 45
Otam 45 ? Or 40 ty something ?
Various Itama in fact loads around 14 M various layouts and engine combos
Uniesse i have already mentioned.

Common denominator is they are built in Italy traditionally .
Compare quality of deck fittings , port holes , toilets ( not vacuflush ) ,Aircon units etc etc .#
Then start lifting cockpit soles inspection hatches and peek into the engine rooms .
You want a trad layered up solid glass bottom with big stringers and ribs all exposed not hidden by liners .Avoid a foam cores and liner boats .

If you can make a note of the deadrise and engine position .

# the Sunseeker deck fittings were too small imho
Port hole are plated chrome like SSteel they corrode leaving rust mark inside the cabin lining material
Vacuflush toilets are a dumb idea on a boat and for ever hassle hissing away .
Marine air self contained Aircon units are cheap reliable etc easy to instal that’s why they use them but very noisy and power hungry if on your geny .

I could go on .
How ever it’s a U.K. Brit boaters right of passage to have one a Sunseeker / Princess / Fairline -

Sunseeker is the most powerful cultured brand and marketing outfit - hard not to get hooked ,

I always think of the 70,s Brit cars a BL product , we are all patriot but eventually it dawns on you that at the time the Germans ( Merc / BMW et al ) made better cars .

Today in the boat world it’s the Italians and been there on top of the perch for a few decades and there’s no sign of the U.K. catching up .Infact there is a tender tiny glimmer with new Fairline Mancini / Vripack partnership
They have abandoned the previous two part liner + foam stringer system and Mancini is giving them some Italian flair , the bought in components look like they are from Italy too .

So it’s up to you if it’s just a stepping stone ,get the feel of Med boating , get in then fine buy a Brit .
Or “ cut out the middleman “ and seek a Med 40 odd sports cruiser built in Italy .

 

[Portofino]

Had a look at the Atlantis 47 HT but a bit to far to stretch for a later ht version and the looks aren’t really doing it for me.
Can I throw something a little different out there and ask for opinions please! Azimut 46 Fly? For a live on med boat seems ideal. Best engine choice for the azi,good and bad points please. Thanks again

View attachment 72585

Poor paddle board storage , apart from that great

 

[Ian.S]

Thanks for taking the time to give a detailed reply Portofino it’s appreciated. Something Italian eh,are you going to keep me guessing?
This is my first boat purchase and is not a stepping stone boat,it has to be right first time or as near as right as possible,I know there’s no such thing as the perfect boat.It doesn’t even have to be a sports boat as suggested above the Azi seems to fit the bill perfectly. I know boats don’t make money but I’d also like to consider resale value and saleability.

 

[Seastoke]

Send farsco a pm his mate has one