Superhawk 34 vs. Superhawk 40

Rokkomelon

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Hello fellow boaters,

I'm on the brink of repurchasing a Sunseeker Superhawk—a model I thoroughly enjoyed a decade ago. After switching to a Chris Craft Corsair, my family and I find ourselves constantly reminiscing about the Superhawk's exceptional capabilities. We're considering upgrading to either a Superhawk 34 or 40 and would love your insights on these options.

Context:We plan to use the boat in the Mediterranean, specifically in the south of Spain. Our boating style includes enjoying ample space and time on the water, coupled with a preference for a capable, fast vessel that can handle slightly rough conditions.

Option 1: Superhawk 40

  • Year: 2000
  • Engines: Newly retrofitted twin Volvo Penta D4-300 engines (2023), 10 hours on them
  • Condition: Requires extensive restoration including new dash, modern navigation equipment, teak, upholstery, and likely internal fixtures like the toilet. No bow thruster or generator noted.
  • Engine Compartment: Appears disorganized and unfinished, which may reflect the overall state of the retrofit.
  • Price: $130,000
Concerns: The boat is essentially a project. The previous owner halted the restoration, possibly due to financial constraints, raising questions about the quality of the engine installation and general fittings.

Option 2: Superhawk 34 (similar to our previous model)

  • Year: 1999
  • Engines: Original KAD 44 engines with a full service history and 1100 hours each
  • Condition: Well-maintained with several upgrades including a new generator, bow thruster, modern Garmin navigation, new upholstery, and updated interior fixtures.
  • Engine Compartment: Neat, clean, and well-organized, reflecting the meticulous maintenance of the boat.
  • Price: $100,000
Comparison Needs:

  1. Fuel Economy: Given the Superhawk 40's newer, common-rail D4 engines, would the fuel efficiency be significantly better than the KAD 44 engines of the Superhawk 34?
  2. Engine Reliability: Are there any known issues with the older KAD series engines, particularly in terms of maintenance and longevity compared to the newer D4 engines?
  3. Installation Concerns: Should the installation concerns of the D4 engines in the Superhawk 40 be a red flag?
I appreciate any advice, especially from those familiar with these models or similar experiences. Our decision hinges on balancing immediate usability with long-term maintenance and operational costs.

Thank you in advance for your insights!
 

Pennpromo

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22 Jul 2009
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Hello fellow boaters,

I'm on the brink of repurchasing a Sunseeker Superhawk—a model I thoroughly enjoyed a decade ago. After switching to a Chris Craft Corsair, my family and I find ourselves constantly reminiscing about the Superhawk's exceptional capabilities. We're considering upgrading to either a Superhawk 34 or 40 and would love your insights on these options.

Context:We plan to use the boat in the Mediterranean, specifically in the south of Spain. Our boating style includes enjoying ample space and time on the water, coupled with a preference for a capable, fast vessel that can handle slightly rough conditions.

Option 1: Superhawk 40

  • Year: 2000
  • Engines: Newly retrofitted twin Volvo Penta D4-300 engines (2023), 10 hours on them
  • Condition: Requires extensive restoration including new dash, modern navigation equipment, teak, upholstery, and likely internal fixtures like the toilet. No bow thruster or generator noted.
  • Engine Compartment: Appears disorganized and unfinished, which may reflect the overall state of the retrofit.
  • Price: $130,000
Concerns: The boat is essentially a project. The previous owner halted the restoration, possibly due to financial constraints, raising questions about the quality of the engine installation and general fittings.

Option 2: Superhawk 34 (similar to our previous model)

  • Year: 1999
  • Engines: Original KAD 44 engines with a full service history and 1100 hours each
  • Condition: Well-maintained with several upgrades including a new generator, bow thruster, modern Garmin navigation, new upholstery, and updated interior fixtures.
  • Engine Compartment: Neat, clean, and well-organized, reflecting the meticulous maintenance of the boat.
  • Price: $100,000
Comparison Needs:

  1. Fuel Economy: Given the Superhawk 40's newer, common-rail D4 engines, would the fuel efficiency be significantly better than the KAD 44 engines of the Superhawk 34?
  2. Engine Reliability: Are there any known issues with the older KAD series engines, particularly in terms of maintenance and longevity compared to the newer D4 engines?
  3. Installation Concerns: Should the installation concerns of the D4 engines in the Superhawk 40 be a red flag?
I appreciate any advice, especially from those familiar with these models or similar experiences. Our decision hinges on balancing immediate usability with long-term maintenance and operational costs.

Thank you in advance for your insights!
Having recently sold my Superhawk 34 I share your thoughts: they are just stunning boats. It’s such a shame that they no longer appear to be economic to build similar craft. I had KAD 300s in mine and it was a genuine 50MPH boat with a clean bottom and 6 people aboard. Regarding your dilemma; I would go on your first impression of each boat. It sounds as though the 34 has been looked after whilst the 40 has just had money thrown at it?
In terms of handing there’s little between them. As I recall the 2000 onwards had slightly different helm bolster seats and a few other benefits, (like a dark painted dash surround), otherwise there were few model changes as the years went on.
There may be the benefit, on the 40, of the longer overhead lockers , rather than the hammock like side shelves on earlier boats? Also consider thinks like upholstery and cover condition on both boats as these combined could cost £10K to replace.
KAD engine when looked after will run on and on and I wouldn’t have thought that the economy between either engine should be a consideration.
Ultimately if you want a project, that sounds like you will need to spanned say another £20K on go for the 40. If you want a turn key go for the 34.
Either way you will have fun!
 

ari

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As you probably know, they're basically the same boat, the 40 has a longer bathing platform to allow for the fitment of Arneson surface drives with bigger engines as an option.

Personally, the newer D4 engines would be a big draw for me. Otherwise you're talking about 1/4 century old engines that went out of production two decades ago. However I'd be very reluctant to take on such a project - whatever you think it will cost and however long you think it will take, it always ends up at least double! Can't beat a well loved, well maintained boat so out of these two, I'd probably opt for the 34 and go boating rather than fixing.

Regarding whether you should be concerned about the fitment of newer D series engines, there have been a couple of Superhawks re-engined with these already, and maybe more. I only know about these because they've been on YouTube.


 

kashurst

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I would go for the Superhawk 34 with the KAD 44s.
It has been looked after and in good condition overall.
The KAD engines when set up correctly are very good and easy to look after. The heat exchangers are all made out of decent quality materials. The valves need checking every 200 hours which for most people isnt very often. And it isn't difficult, it just takes a while.
The turbos don't last for ever so unless there is evidence of recent replacement budget for new ones about £800 each plus fitting.

The D4s are technically a better engine, but fuel economy wise I doubt you would be able to measure a significant advantage. The rest of that boat doesn't sound too clever and you may well find a lot of bodges.
 

petem

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I would go for the Superhawk 34 with the KAD 44s.
It has been looked after and in good condition overall.
The KAD engines when set up correctly are very good and easy to look after. The heat exchangers are all made out of decent quality materials. The valves need checking every 200 hours which for most people isnt very often. And it isn't difficult, it just takes a while.
The turbos don't last for ever so unless there is evidence of recent replacement budget for new ones about £800 each plus fitting.

The D4s are technically a better engine, but fuel economy wise I doubt you would be able to measure a significant advantage. The rest of that boat doesn't sound too clever and you may well find a lot of bodges.
I'd do the same. Sorting out somebody elses bodges could easily turn into a frustrating money pit.
 

mnts

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are the D4s actually new & under warranty, or just rebuilt.
if rebuilt, then need to check about who did it and what parts have been used.
 

Rokkomelon

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Hello fellow captians,

Thank you all for the great many replies, I am truly grateful for all your insights. It seems the safest option is indeed to go with the Superhawk 34 with the older KAD series engines, some people pointed out that the newer D4 engines should be more reliable, which is undoubtedly a fact, but the fitment of the newer engines looks to be a properly shoddy job and since the owner seems to have run out of money to properly restore his boat, I doubt the electrics will be much to speak of.

Not wanting to either redo the fitment of the engines and all the necessary ancillaries or bob up and down in the middle of the Mediterranean with a boat that won't start properly, I think the best decision is to go for the Superhawk 34 and have the reliability of a factory engine install with updated electronics done properly.

Some people asked me about the new D4 engines that were fit to the Superhawk 40; according to the advert they were new engines, of the latest generation, dated to 2023. I presume they would be under warranty having been manufactured in November of 2023 but I don't think that Volvo Penta has their warranty apply to the fitment of the engines and the placement of the engine electronics, which is the part I'm most worried about. I know the block - being new - is most likely to be problem-free but I don't find myself in the mood to fix up another person's electronic hell by throwing a ton of money at it and spending my hands covered in muck day in and day out. Does anybody know if the Volvo Penta warranty only covers the block or does it also cover the ancillary systems and the fitment of the engine?

Anyways, a huge thanks to all of you for your insight, and I hope to be cruising the Mediterranean soon in 'The World is Not Enough' style.
 

petem

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Hello fellow captians,

Thank you all for the great many replies, I am truly grateful for all your insights. It seems the safest option is indeed to go with the Superhawk 34 with the older KAD series engines, some people pointed out that the newer D4 engines should be more reliable, which is undoubtedly a fact, but the fitment of the newer engines looks to be a properly shoddy job and since the owner seems to have run out of money to properly restore his boat, I doubt the electrics will be much to speak of.

Not wanting to either redo the fitment of the engines and all the necessary ancillaries or bob up and down in the middle of the Mediterranean with a boat that won't start properly, I think the best decision is to go for the Superhawk 34 and have the reliability of a factory engine install with updated electronics done properly.

Some people asked me about the new D4 engines that were fit to the Superhawk 40; according to the advert they were new engines, of the latest generation, dated to 2023. I presume they would be under warranty having been manufactured in November of 2023 but I don't think that Volvo Penta has their warranty apply to the fitment of the engines and the placement of the engine electronics, which is the part I'm most worried about. I know the block - being new - is most likely to be problem-free but I don't find myself in the mood to fix up another person's electronic hell by throwing a ton of money at it and spending my hands covered in muck day in and day out. Does anybody know if the Volvo Penta warranty only covers the block or does it also cover the ancillary systems and the fitment of the engine?

Anyways, a huge thanks to all of you for your insight, and I hope to be cruising the Mediterranean soon in 'The World is Not Enough' style.
It's not the block being newer that would be a benefit (the KAD block will last for thousands of hours and can be rebuilt relatively cheaply). It's the ancillaries that are the unreliable bits. If you've got the budget then it's not a bad idea to pull the engines out (providing the engines fit through the hatches this is not a bug job) and get all of the bolt on parts checked and refurbished / replaced as required. I think @kashurst already mentioned turbos and exhaust risers. Oil coolers and the rest of the cooling system are also worth checking. You can also clean / detail the engine bay and re-paint the engines.
 
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