Sunseeker Portofino 400

[Tezza79]

We are currently looking to upgrade our Fairline Targa 33, We had been looking at the earlier Targa 38/39s but recently viewed a Sunseeker Portofino 400 and fell in love with it.
Does anyone have any knowlege of this model Sunseeker? We have looked online but info is limited.
The one we viewed has twin Cummins mercruiser 320hp diesels on bravo drives, the broker says 29knots top speed but this seems low for 640hp in a 40ft sports cruiser.

 

[Jerbro]

Does this help? sunseeker 40 any good?

I had the Portofino 34 hardtop and always wanted a 400… but ended up getting a Princess V40 on shafts (to me it looked slightly more modern)… the 400 is a beamy and heavy boat (solid build) so would likely explain performance.. in my opinion the sunseekers at the time were more solidly built than the princess’s.

 

[Jerbro]

Does this help? sunseeker 40 any good?

I had the Portofino 34 hardtop and always wanted a 400… but ended up getting a Princess V40 on shafts (to me it looked slightly more modern)… the 400 is a beamy and heavy boat (solid build) so would likely explain performance.. in my opinion the sunseekers at the time were more solidly built than the princess’s.

Just noticed in the thread I link to, it may mention the one you’re looking at!!

 

[Bouba]

We are currently looking to upgrade our Fairline Targa 33, We had been looking at the earlier Targa 38/39s but recently viewed a Sunseeker Portofino 400 and fell in love with it.
Does anyone have any knowlege of this model Sunseeker? We have looked online but info is limited.
The one we viewed has twin Cummins mercruiser 320hp diesels on bravo drives, the broker says 29knots top speed but this seems low for 640hp in a 40ft sports cruiser.

When Cummins tied up with Mercruiser they produced the 4.2 ...then they split and the engine became a bit of an orphan. I’ve heard good things about this engine....and not so good things. Do your research

 

[Tezza79]

Does this help? sunseeker 40 any good?

I had the Portofino 34 hardtop and always wanted a 400… but ended up getting a Princess V40 on shafts (to me it looked slightly more modern)… the 400 is a beamy and heavy boat (solid build) so would likely explain performance.. in my opinion the sunseekers at the time were more solidly built than the princess’s.

Thanks for the link, sounds like with the smaller 24hp engines on drives they were underpowered, I suppose I really need to sea trial it to feel the performance with the 320hps.
We really like the Princess V40 but they would be at the top end of budget and at the moment I cant find any for sale here in the UK.

 

[Tezza79]

When Cummins tied up with Mercruiser they produced the 4.2 ...then they split and the engine became a bit of an orphan. I’ve heard good things about this engine....and not so good things. Do your research

I have read a few horror stories about the 4.2, corrosion issues seem the most common complaint, I think there were a few fixes available through the years.
I know some parts are redily available but some of the bits used to marinise the block are a bit harder to come by.
Initially they look to be in good condition and started instantly with no smoke unlike my Volvos which smoke like hell until they are under load.
If we decide to put an offer in on this boat I will be going over the engines very thoroughly.

 

[Jerbro]

Thanks for the link, sounds like with the smaller 24hp engines on drives they were underpowered, I suppose I really need to sea trial it to feel the performance with the 320hps.
We really like the Princess V40 but they would be at the top end of budget and at the moment I cant find any for sale here in the UK.

I wanted the 400 on shafts… the v40 based on my experience was a “flimsy” build.. thinner gelcoat and hull lay-up, poorly made inner cabinets where the gloss/epoxy coating split, separation of some hull stringers that needed rebonding… the Port side engine was subject to cooling pump failures as mechanics couldn’t reach it for servicing (TAMD63P shaft version… can’t speak for outdrive version).

 

[Tezza79]

I wanted the 400 on shafts… the v40 based on my experience was a “flimsy” build.. thinner gelcoat and hull lay-up, poorly made inner cabinets where the gloss/epoxy coating split, separation of some hull stringers that needed rebonding… the Port side engine was subject to cooling pump failures as mechanics couldn’t reach it for servicing (TAMD63P shaft version… can’t speak for outdrive version).

Thats all helpful to know thanks, one of the things drawing us to the 400 is the heavy solid build, we do tend to get out in conditions that punish the boat so want something that we have confidence in.
Our Targa has had too many things fall to bits in heavy seas, The helm seat ripping out of its mounts was one that sticks in the mind as not being fun..
I also love the engine bay in the 400, plenty of room all the way around both engines.
Ive not seen a shaft one for sale, I do know they did make them with v drives also.

 

[Jerbro]

Thats all helpful to know thanks, one of the things drawing us to the 400 is the heavy solid build, we do tend to get out in conditions that punish the boat so want something that we have confidence in.
Our Targa has had too many things fall to bits in heavy seas, The helm seat ripping out of its mounts was one that sticks in the mind as not being fun..
I also love the engine bay in the 400, plenty of room all the way around both engines.
Ive not seen a shaft one for sale, I do know they did make them with v drives also.

I think this was the trip that separated the hull stringers..

 

[jointventureII]

I have read a few horror stories about the 4.2, corrosion issues seem the most common complaint, I think there were a few fixes available through the years.
I know some parts are redily available but some of the bits used to marinise the block are a bit harder to come by.
Initially they look to be in good condition and started instantly with no smoke unlike my Volvos which smoke like hell until they are under load.
If we decide to put an offer in on this boat I will be going over the engines very thoroughly.

I've had one for 4 years. The only issues I've had are:

-Stalling due to fuel system blockage (no fault of the engine, more the 50 year old fuel tank)
-a small piece of metal that was welded inside the air filter frame (why it was there in the first place I'm not sure) broke off and ended up in the turbo, destroying it.

It's been a great engine, smoke free, starts up within 3 seconds even if it's been left for months. If you need parts you can get them in abundance, Mercruiser still do them and so do VM Motori.

Cue it seizing on me tomorrow!

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Both Sunseeker 400 Portofino and Princess V40 (first generation) were available with both sterndrive and V-drive shafts.
A bit hard to find with the later as it was a costly option.
The 400 Portofino was mostly made with the Kad42s Volvo 230hp. which did about 29/30 knots new. Will probably do a knot more with shafts, but consumption will go from around 3.5 litres per nautical mile to 5 lpnm.
The Portofino 400 was a medium success compared to the V40, I think about thirty were made in a very short production run between 1996 to 97/98, and then Sunseeker introduced the 44 Camargue in 1998 and the model was discontinued.
The Sunseeker was a nice boat, and its cockpit with the single level deck and larger dinette is much better to that of the V40 and the Targa 39 with a step to raise the deck for the more head-room in the midships cabin. With this Sunseeker worked for a larger L-shaped dinette which uses the most of its space to the length.
The V40 on the other hand has a timeless design and is IMO a nicer boat which stood the test of time so well. She is still a pretty looking design.
I still think she is a still very pretty boat, V42 same boat with very minor changes was produced till 2005 mk.1 (Mk.ii with different windscreen 06 to 08, hard-top mk.iii based on the V45 hull is different V42).

I think if I wanted to stay on stern drives, I would still say a clean Targa 39 (timeless looks and one of the all best time looking Targa's IMO) would be first in my list of British sport cruisers.
Also not to forget a clean Targa 39 does about 31/32 knots with Kad42s, and cruises at 24/25 knots a nice 3100 rpm. Would need 200/300 rpm more for the other two.
On shafts of an older vintage but also a very nice is the 92 to 94 Targa 41. Probably better then the above cause is a boat designed with shafts in mind.

 

[XPS]

There were just over 90 x 400 Portofino's built from 1994 to late 1997, a swap was made to mainly shaft drive after mid 95' due to performance with some growth etc....

 

[Rickard]

I would stay away from any boat that size/weight with I/O´s. Both engines and outdrives has a lot less life to give compared to a shaft driven boat with low rpm´s Penta TAMD or Cats
For an approximately 25 year old boat with I/O´s you need to expect to overhaul engines and outdrives (unless it has low hours)

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

There were just over 90 x 400 Portofino's built from 1994 to late 1997, a swap was made to mainly shaft drive after mid 95' due to performance with some growth etc....

This is so wrong, and the numbers are much less to that. I would say not more then forty.
400 Portofino came out in 96, as a replacement to the 39 Martinique produced 94 and 95.
Both stern drive and V-drive version came out in the same year, with stern drive Volvo 230 was the standard, and V-drive with Cats 3126 355hp and Volvo T63s 370hp as optional.

 

[XPS]

This is so wrong, and the numbers are much less to that. I would say not more then forty.
400 Portofino came out in 96, as a replacement to the 39 Martinique produced 94 and 95.
Both stern drive and V-drive version came out in the same year, with stern drive Volvo 230 was the standard, and V-drive with Cats 3126 355hp and Volvo T63s 370hp as optional.

Don’t want to cause a disagreement but I physically tested and delivered a good number of these amongst other models and can assure you my numbers are correct. And there was a gap between outdrive model launch (first) and then shaft drive a season later.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

No gap. I also had a friend at Southampton boat show of 1995 (Sep) who was shown the 375 Portofino, which launched in that show, and was shown drawings and invited to test the 400 some weeks after the show, as they were finishing hull one, in order to debut her at the London boat show of 1996 (January).
Yes it is probably correct that the first one was made with stern-drive, but the shaft drive option was offered in the model. If you find a 1996 Sunseeker brochure you find it offered with both.

 

[XPS]

Okay as I said don’t want to cause a disagreement. Maybe should have disclosed that have an unfair advantage. I would just say look at all the 95 model year boats for sale hence we did not launch at Jan 96… She was built all the way through with main production until a 98 model year (Sept 97) and we then built a few off line non production into 99.
As well as the I/O and shaft options there was also a few built with Mercruiser Diesels @270hp and we also offered two petrol options again I/O predominantly for USA market but a few stayed in Europe. Split of the 92 boat were 55 I/O and 34 shaft.

 

[Jerbro]

Okay as I said don’t want to cause a disagreement. Maybe should have disclosed that have an unfair advantage. I would just say look at all the 95 model year boats for sale hence we did not launch at Jan 96… She was built all the way through with main production until a 98 model year (Sept 97) and we then built a few off line non production into 99.
As well as the I/O and shaft options there was also a few built with Mercruiser Diesels @270hp and we also offered two petrol options again I/O predominantly for USA market but a few stayed in Europe. Split of the 92 boat were 55 I/O and 34 shaft.

Do you know how many Portofino 34 hard tops were built? I’ve only ever seen the one, but was told they made 6?

 

[XPS]

I can check tomorrow in the records, but imagine it may even be a few more than 6

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Okay as I said don’t want to cause a disagreement. Maybe should have disclosed that have an unfair advantage. I would just say look at all the 95 model year boats for sale hence we did not launch at Jan 96… She was built all the way through with main production until a 98 model year (Sept 97) and we then built a few off line non production into 99.
As well as the I/O and shaft options there was also a few built with Mercruiser Diesels @270hp and we also offered two petrol options again I/O predominantly for USA market but a few stayed in Europe. Split of the 92 boat were 55 I/O and 34 shaft.

I said presented to the public at the Jan boat show. They might had one ready for South 95 but the owner did not want to show her in a boat show. What do I know... I am sure you might know more then me.
Currently there is one for sale on YW with four different brokers in Spain, I actually do not remember seeing a 95 400 Portofino for sale.
I said the boat was presented in Jan 1996, and I would imagine that some units probably where launched in 1995.

I am sure you can say numbers more then me, and I am sure those are correct, but I am surprised so many where build as I never saw so much of them, both in Med marinas and brokerage market.
We had a new one come in Malta in 1996 with shafts (red hull) of an English bloke who upgraded from his previous 40 Comanche, who then traded it for a white 48 Manhattan a couple years later I think around 98.