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Sunseeker Predator 65 review: Purist’s choice handles like a motorbike

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Sunseeker’s newest hardtop coupé – the 32nd model to bear the Predator name – faces stiff competition, not least from its year-old near-identical sportsfly twin sister. Both are fabulous. But which one to choose?

The new-for-2022 Sunseeker Predator 65 seems, on the face of it, to be a Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht without its fabulous SkyHelm. So why bother building it?

Because, as terrific as the Sport Yacht’s supercar-style raised helm and sunpad undoubtedly are, that sportsfly option is not for everyone. Sunseeker says there is a loyal Predator following out there that wants an even purer profile.

But it’s not only about losing the visual clutter of seat backs and wind deflector from the coachroof to make those super-cool lines even more svelte.

It’s also about catering to different needs. For instance, those with young families may want an even safer, single-level environment where they can keep an eye on everyone, and those of a certain age may prefer to dispense with the extra stairs and the low-slung driving position.

What the Sunseeker Predator 65 owner gets instead of that upper deck is a huge sliding carbon fibre and glass sunroof, which means a proper open yacht vibe on the main deck when it’s open and extra light in the main saloon when not.

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An opening roof may not sound much in itself, but it delivers a very different onboard experience. When fully open, inside becomes outside. And there’s plenty of other outdoor spaces too at both ends of those flush walkaround side-decks, given this model has an LOA of just over 67ft (20.5m).

Up front there’s a large foredeck terrace, made all the better when at rest with the poled bimini protection in place. Note how it sits within the superstructure. No deck paths here. The idea is to not break the continuous black ‘eyebrow’ that sweeps forward from the coachroof, down the windshield mullions and out onto the foredeck – we get that.

And it does make the area within more contained and perhaps that little bit safer for young children – we get that too. But the flip-side is those 18in-high coamings can end up being trip hazards if you are not careful stepping over them.

The foredeck lounge with its unusual side coamings

Toy storage

The cockpit can be configured several ways, but all options retain the stern sunpad that overhangs the transom and tops off the garage. Supposedly 1.5 times wider than the present Sunseeker Predator 74 ’s, the tender garage can take up to a Williams 345 Sportjet as well as a couple of SUPs , Seabobs or maybe a folding electric bike or two.

If the decking option has been ticked on the options sheet, that toy cave, along with the hydraulic platform and stern steps to either side, becomes your beach club. The most popular cockpit option includes a C-shaped dinette that creates seating around three sides of the square.

Our test boat had that and it does make what can often be a dead zone on some boats so much more inviting. The only real downside to this is it means losing the ability to orbit the main deck easily. Getting from cockpit to port side deck quickly means either clambering over the furniture or going the long way round via the bathing platform or the foredeck.

The tender garage can fit a Williams 345 and a couple of inflatable SUPs or folding bikes

The alternative is to just have a conventional transom sofa and table, plus the choice of several modules either side of the aft-deck doors. A pair of bar stools to port is the standard offering. They help transform the aft galley countertop into a small bar thanks to a drop-down electric window.

The Sunseeker Predator 65’s standard main deck layout provides an aft galley, amidships lounge and two-seat helm offset to starboard. Apart from sharing the worktop with the aft cockpit, one of the best aspects of the galley is the way the glazing runs between the counter-top and overhead cupboards.

If you are spending any time there preparing meals, you will feel more connected to the world beyond when you have that extra view of the sea. Amidships, flanked by full-height picture windows to either side, the standard lounge area combines a booth sofa and leaved table to port and a two-seat sofa to starboard.

The galley is ideally placed to serve both the cockpit and the saloon

However, an alternative layout loses that ‘galley up’ and sees the lounge sofas to port stretch all the way back to the aft deck doors. This is made possible by the inclusion of a small galley module on the lower deck.

Our test boat had a contemporary feel throughout, majoring on dark satin-sheen eucalyptus veneers and whitened oak soles to create visual contrast. But there are various alternatives.

Sunseeker’s interiors have found a new level of detail over the past few years. You can’t help but notice this when you realise how much you’re stroking surfaces as you walk through the boat – carbon fibre, leathers, polished stainless steel. The designers call them ‘touch points’, but they’re what the rest of us soak up as luxury.

The Predator’s huge glass and carbon fibre sunroof lets light flood in even when it’s closed

The helm ergonomics are impressive. We love the all-leather designer helm seats, which come from Italian automotive manufacturer, Aras. Views forward and to the sides don’t come much better whether seated or standing. The windscreen is vast, supposedly one of the biggest single panes Sunseeker has ever fitted.

Two Garmin touchscreen MFDs configured with Volvo Penta’s Glass Cockpit software sit in their own moulded console up above all the other gadgetry, but the real eye grabbers lie just below them in the centre of the console, a pair of small round digital displays set within moulded alcoves and highlighted with chunky stainless steel bezels.

They match the smart car-style air vents on each end of the dash panel and are a great example of what we mean by elevated detailing.

Twin touchscreen MFDs also have a control panel within reach of the seat

Their vibrant displays show essential driver info precisely where you want it – stuff like fuel burn, speed and rudder angle. It’s a simple scroll-through menu system that works a bit like BMW’s iDrive.  You choose which two pieces of info you want to show by twisting a knob at your right elbow one way or the other.

It sits out of the way below the drop-down window and in line with other important stuff such as the joystick, the throttles and the Sleipner thruster toggles, plus the MFD switch panel – for when you don’t want to move out of your seat to operate the ‘touchscreen’ displays or, if already standing, the sea-states are less than ideal for placing your finger precisely on the glass.

Engine options

In theory there are two propulsion options – either twin Volvo Penta D13-900/IPS1200 or D13-1000/IPS1350s – but thus far none of the 20 or so Sport Yacht 65s that have been delivered have been specified with the smaller engines, and Sunseeker Predator 65 sales for the next year-plus are following suit.

Sunseeker knows its customers don’t always dance to the same tune and predicts demand for the Predator and Sport will be 50/50

With those bigger engines, the top speed is 35 knots give or take depending on load. If one does eventually get built with the less powerful engines, expect it to top out nearer 30 knots.

With capacity for 3,500 litres of fuel aboard, the eco-range at 7.5 knots is around 875nm including a 20% reserve.  A fast cruise of 23 knots @ 2,000rpm should still give a range of around 260nm. Avoid hanging around the 12-knot to 16-knot hump, though, where the litres-per-mile numbers are least efficient.

Predators usually handle well and this Sunseeker Predator 65 is awesome. Wind the wheel hard one way or the other at 35 knots and it answers beautifully. You heel into the turns like you’re on a motorbike.

The maximum heel angle is probably only 25-30° or so – we didn’t try to measure it – but when you’re doing the steering it feels like 45°. Great fun. The joystick incidentally is not only great for the slow stuff, but also works a treat in the cruise when you can twist it to make small heading adjustments or surprisingly rapid turns.

Interceptors provide the necessary trim input but you rarely need to adjust them manually as the Trim-Assist mode does such a good job of it. Although those sleek, sporty lines may not look like it, this is a CAT A design, so will take most coastal cruising conditions in its stride.

But as with any fast boat when the waves get tall enough – and during our test we had a stiff Force 3/4 breeze to contend with in Poole Bay – you need to be mindful that 2,000 horses will happily gallop a 38-tonne carriage like this right off the top of them.

The hull can take it comfortably enough but your passengers won’t thank you for pushing it this hard. Access to the lower deck is via a centre-line staircase that drops down beneath the windshield. At the bottom you’re greeted by a small lobby, made to appear larger by a massive floor to deckhead mirror set at roughly 45 degrees.

It’s a neat idea, although at one point I turned to reply to a question and jumped at the proximity of my own twin!

Three or four cabins?

The standard layout comprises three ensuite cabins plus a day-head. The owner’s cabin is amidships and suitably plush for a model that is likely to weigh in at around the £3 million mark once VAT and extras have been added.

The full-beam owner’s cabin feels suitably luxurious thanks to its size and extensive detailing

With a good-size bathroom to starboard, it has a large forward-facing bed with low cabinetry and vanity area to starboard and to port the choice of either a chaise longue or breakfast booth for two.

The latter’s table, with its gorgeously rolled edges, is another of those details that you just have to caress. And yes, those big hull windows will deliver truly breathtaking views once you have found the right anchorage.

The ensuite VIP in the bow is suitably inviting too, although of course its vistas are not quite so splendid. The twin-bed guest cabin sits between them to starboard.

The forward VIP cabin

There are several options for the area opposite this, which comes as a utility space in standard guise. Our test boat had this adapted for bed linen storage with a washer-dryer. This is also where the cooking facilities would be in the galley down layout.

Other alternatives include a lower lounge or, more decadently, an extended owner’s cabin with the door moved forward to create an enhanced study-cum-vanity space.

We’re told European owners are more likely to opt for the latter. The final option is to specify it as a fourth single-bunk cabin, ideal for an older child. The day-head is right next door but does not include a shower.

This area can be fitted out as an office or utility space

There’s also just enough space behind the owner’s suite for a compact optional crew cabin for one with a transverse bed and heads but no shower. Access is via a concealed hatch and ladder in the furniture to starboard of the aft-deck doors.

Owner-drivers may prefer to run with the standard dump-locker alternative here, although when it comes to reselling it’s worth bearing in mind that buyer interest in Europe is likely to be higher with a crew provision.

The one area where things can feel a little tight is in the engineroom. Space above the big Volvo D13s and IPS pods is restricted by the slope of the garage sole, a compromise most owners will be willing to make for the benefit of such a big tender garage, but a compromise nevertheless.

The crew cabin has its own heads but no shower compartment

Sunseeker Predator 65: Our verdict

Sunseeker is not being daft offering two similar versions of the same boat. It knows its customers and knows they don’t all dance to the same tune, which is why it confidently predicts demand for the Sunseeker Predator 65 and 65 Sport Yacht will be broadly 50/50.

So which way should you go? When Jack Haines tested the Sunseeker 65 Sports Yacht last year he raved about the unique appeal of the Skyhelm’s supercar-like driving experience, describing it as the icing on the cake of a boat that has it all.

So if you’re now asking why anyone would consider buying the Predator version without that magical upper helm, I understand. I held that exact same view until I sea trialled the Sunseeker Predator 65 myself.

Now if it were my call, I’d go the Predator route, and not because I have young children or dodgy knees but just because I prefer the purity of a true single-level hard top sportscruiser with a big sunroof that provides the feel of an open boat without the weight and hassle of an extra deck.

Whatever your preference, you can’t really lose. Either way you will be buying a comfortable and stylish home from home that can carve confidently along at 35 knots one minute and a few minutes later be lying peacefully at anchor, surrounded by water toys , turquoise shallows and broad family smiles. It’s what marketing types like to call a win-win situation.

Sunseeker Predator 65 specifications

LOA: 67ft 2in (20.50m) Beam: 16ft 8in (5.10m) Draught (full load): 5ft 3in (1.60m) Displacement: 37.8 tonnes Fuel capacity: 3,500 litres Water capacity: 800 litres Test engines: Twin 1,00hp Volvo Penta IPS1350 Top speed on test: 35 knots Range: 430nm @ 10 knots / 280nm @ 20 knots Fuel consumption: 72lph @ 10 knots / 200lph @ 20 knots Noise: 58 d(B)A @ 10 knots / 63 d(B)A @ 20 knots RCD category: A for 18 people Design: Sunseeker Starting price: £2.18 million (ex. VAT) Price as tested : £3,070,374 (inc. VAT)

First published in the August 2022 issue of MBY.

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Sunseeker Predator 65 Review (2021 Edition)

In a world where sportsbridges are booming in popularity, does a more traditional sportscruiser such as the Sunseeker Predator 65 still have a place? Read our in-depth test and review to find out 

Do people still want big sportscruisers? Sunseeker certainly thinks so having introduced the Predator 65 about 18 months after the arrival of the boat upon which it is based, the 65 Sport Yacht.

The boats are identical except that the Sport Yacht has a dinky sportsbridge which is home to Sky Helm and arguably the finest driving setup of any boat in this category. The Predator goes without the upper deck but in its favour is a truly gigantic glass sunroof which pulls back to create a staggeringly large aperture that instantly transforms the boat into an open sportscruiser. It's powered by Volvo Penta IPS (1200 or 1350) and has an impressive array of deck and interior configurations for a production boat of this size. Let's see what else it has to offer, starting with what it's like to drive. 

Sunseeker Predator 65 Key Facts

• LOA 67.257ft
• Model Year 2021
• Max Speed 35 knots
• Status In Production
• Yacht Type Sports Yacht
• Use Type Cruising

Test & Review Video

YachtBuyer Score

In this article:

Our Verdict

Rivals to consider.

• Specification

Our Scores Explained

Performance & Handling

Around the marina.

With either Volvo Penta's IPS1200 or IPS1350 on the menu, joystick control comes as standard on the Predator 65 so guiding the boat around a marina is simple if you're used to this type of system. The boat doesn't have too much windage and the view from the lower helm, thanks to all the glass in the superstructure, is very good, though the additional control station in the cockpit will be useful if you more stern-to regularly. A proportional bow thruster adds that extra bit of control over the bow, which is always welcome even with the joystick doing the majority of the work.

Having a side door at the helm would make it easier for the person driving to help with crew duties if needed but there is at least an electric window so they can easily communicate with the crew out on deck. Life on deck for those on crew duties is pretty good. The side decks are wide and easy to navigate and between the anchor locker, tender garage and crew space there is enough space to swallow the boat's fenders, though they're not the easiest spaces to access. The guardrails are a little low towards the cockpit but they rise as you move forward to add to the feeling of security up front.

The popular extended seating option in the cockpit improves the area dramatically as an entertaining area but it does block off access from the cockpit to the port side deck so you have to go down onto the bathing platform and around or climb over the seats. 

The Predator's sister ship, the 65 Sport Yacht, has a driving experience like no other thanks to its innovative Sky Helm but even though the sportscruiser doesn't have the theatre of that feature, dynamically it is just as sweet. This is an IPS boat that has been tuned for driver engagement and it treads the line perfectly between refinement and agility. Turn that multi-function wheel hard from lock to lock and the boat dips its shoulders towards the water with relish and it changes direction with remarkable tenacity. 

Conversely, if you just want to sit and cruise the 65 will happily do so. At 25 knots we recorded sound readings of just 66 decibels, which is pretty remarkable considering there is 2,000hp churning away below deck. This is a side of the big Predator really appeals.  It's a tremendous grand tourer that is easy to drive, quiet at cruise and relatively efficient with a range of nearly 400nm @ 23 knots thanks to a fuel capacity of 3,500 litres. We topped out at a two-way average of 33 knots. 

It's available with IPS1200 or the 1350s we had on test but we don't think Sunseeker has built one of these or a Sport Yacht with the smaller motors. It doesn't make much sense to go for them given they're the same block as the 1350s, only slightly less expensive and working harder to keep the boat in that 25-knot cruising sweetspot. 

Conditions were pretty gentle for our test with just the wake of passing traffic to test the 65's hull but we tested the 65 Sport Yacht in more trying conditions and it stood up to them well. There is a wonderful atrium effect created above the companionway down to the lower deck but it does enhance the sound of the water rushing beneath the hull at speed, which goes to highlight just how quiet the engines are. 

Our Test Speed & Range Data

• 200nm 200nm 400nm 400nm 600nm 600nm 800nm 800nm 1000nm 1000nm
• 900 nm @ 12.1 knots eco
• 394 nm @ 23.1 knots cruise
• 300 nm @ 33.1 knots max

Sunseeker Predator 65 version 2021. *Data collected by Yacht Buyer during testing. View Full Test Results

Design & Build

Sunseeker launched the Sport Yacht 65 first and then created the twin-deck Predator 65 sportscruiser off the same platform so, from the roof down, the boats are absolutely identical. Despite the Predator coming later, it's almost an even 50/50 split between sales of the sportscruiser and the sportsbridge, which may come as a surprise given that the boats are the same price. 

On the face of it, it doesn't make much sense to pay the same amount for a boat that has fewer decks but when you enter the saloon of the Predator it all falls into place. Yes, the space is the same but the much larger sunroof makes all the difference. The Sport Yacht has a sunroof but it's not on this scale. The Predator's is enormous and it's made up of a framework of six heavily tinted panes of glass, which allow natural light to fill the space when the roof is closed but repel a fair bit of heat.

It's the single-level living aspect that holds such appeal. You don't lose guests up to the flybridge so the cockpit and saloon become the heart of the boat where everybody congregates both at rest and when moving along. 

Another remarkable thing about the 65 is how many layout options Sunseeker has baked into a production boat. The design team clearly thought long and hard about the requests they were likely to get from customers and catered for as many of them as possible. Want the galley down? They can do it. Four cabins? No problem. Extended owner's cabin? Come this way. We'll delve into these in more detail but it's safe to say there is an arrangement to meet most needs. 

The interior looks and feels absolutely lovely, especially the smoked eucalyptus timbers which have a subtle almost tiger print grain-matched pattern that pops up all over the boat. For the £21,341 they cost extra, they should look the part, however. Quality in general appears very good. Engine room access is via a hatch at the aft end of the port side deck and though space around the engines is restricted by the bulky presence of the tender garage moulding, the installation is very good and working on major items such as the generator and Seakeeper (if fitted) is easy enough. The tender garage does create compromises in the engine room but there are plenty of benefits, as we'll see later in the review. 

Interior Accommodation

The galley-up layout has been the most popular of the boats sold so far and it's easy to see why. It's a good size and comfortably spans the space between the cockpit and the internal dinette, its handy return creates the perfect server and adds some handy extra storage space. At the aft end, the window drops (very slowly) down into the deck to blur the lines even further between saloon and cockpit and it works well. If you treasure more seating and privacy on a crewed boat (rare at this size, but not unheard of in certain markets) then the galley down layout is a useful option. It's much smaller, as it takes the spot on the lower deck where the owner's study is, but it does create a huge amount of seating in the saloon. 

The upper galley is big and has masses of storage space, induction cooking, a dishwasher and a domestic fridge/freezer on the starboard side with an optional (and large) wine fridge tucked next to it. The Princess V65 has seating opposite the gallery and further forward in the saloon whereas the Sunseeker's is all focussed on the central area of the saloon. It's not as easy to serve the dinette from the galley but it does mean that all of the seating is exposed to the fabulous views out of the enormous windows. The dinette table is fully adjustable and easy to expand and adjust with one hand to switch between dining and coffee table height. The TV pops up from behind the smaller sofa on the starboard side. 

The sunroof, of course, is a major talking point and it's a rather spectacular structure. Open, the massive aperture douses the dinette and helm position in the sunshine and pulls in great mouthfuls of air when the boat is moving along. It's transformative and totally alters the feel of the boat when it's pulled back. 

On the lower deck, the space outside the owner's cabin on the port side can be specified as an extra cabin with a single berth, a lower dinette, an extension of the owner's suite or it's where the galley is located if you opt to have it on the lower deck. The variety on offer is impressive, best in class, in fact, but the most popular arrangement thus far has been the brilliantly coined 'grand master'. Here, the space becomes a lavish study area with a built-in desk, stool and some beautifully integrated storage. In a world of remote working, this sort of quiet, well-specified workspace will seal the deal for some owners.

The rest of the cabin is just as thoughtfully put together. The bed is big and set at a good height, there's well over 6ft of headroom throughout and the floor is flat, too, so you needn't worry about catching your toe on anything when you make your way to the ensuite in the night. To port, there is seating beneath the hull window with useful drawer storage lined up along the opposite die. The detailing is lovely, from the subtle LED strip lights in the ceiling and above the bedside tables to the stainless steel inserts that add a bit of flourish to the bulkhead behind the bed. It feels classy. 

Guest Cabins 

Whichever layout you opt for, the main guest cabins are unaffected. There is a spacious twin, with an ensuite, on the starboard side and a comfortable VIP with its own bathroom. Privacy amongst the guest cabins is outstanding because not only do they have their own bathrooms but there is also a separate day head, a lavish touch for a boat of this size that means guests don't have to share. Despite this, none of the other spaces feel in the least bit compromised, especially the VIP which has good space to get changed at the end of the bed, a large TV mounted to the bulkhead and a neat bureau/make-up area on the port side. 

The crew cabin is an option (£26,000) and many will see it as surplus to requirements. On a boat of this size and style, it's never going to be huge, especially on a boat with a tender garage. It's accessed via a unit on the starboard side of the cockpit and down a steep ladder. In most cases, the space is probably going to be more useful lined out as storage, which is what you get if you don't opt for the cabin fit-out. Some markets will demand it but most owner-run boats should probably look to save the money and use it for stowing kit. 

Helm Station

It is, first and foremost, a great-looking helm station with a real sense of occasion. A moulded pod dominates the top of the dash and is home to a pair of 16in Garmin MFDs; lower down are the same retro semi-digital dials that we first saw on the 65 Sport Yacht. They add some flair to the dash and you can flick between data such as speed, depth and heading via a BMW iDrive-style controller mounted next to the helm seat. 

Remote control of the instrumentation is excellent. The MFDs are touchscreen but you can also control them via a keypad mounted behind the throttles and through the multi-function steering wheel, which has paddles similar to a car's flappy paddle gearbox, only here they control functions on the screens. Carbon fibre and flashes of the same timber used elsewhere on the boat brighten up the dash itself and it's a very clean design with a handful of buttons for things like the anchor windlass, windows and horn.

The CM8 system, which Sunseeker has been using for a while now, provides digital switching for all of the boat's functions from one screen and there's a dedicated slot for an iPad that can run the same system and controls the boat's AV remotely. 

The backs of the helm seats are a little low but that aside the ergonomics of the position is sound. The seat has a good amount of slide adjustment so you can get close to the helm and with all of those controls placed around the helm seat, you can sit back and flick around the various screens without having to move out of your seat. The Predator has one of the biggest single-piece windscreens of any production boat and even though this creates slightly larger mullions, the view forward is excellent. It's a lovely environment to cover the miles from.

The Predator may only have two decks to play with but the designers have done a great job of making the very most of the space. First and foremost, the garage is there to keep the tender off the deck and it's large enough to swallow a Williams 345 or something of those dimensions. But, with the optional Flextiteek flooring (£7,300) and overhead shower (£2,600) the area can also be used as a water-level living space. Drop the hydraulic bathing platform down, pop a couple of bean bags on deck and you have an area to relax by the water or keep an eye on swimmers. 

The tender recovery system is part of the £131,000 Platinum Med Package (see Our Options & Pick below) and this uses a roller system and electric winch to aid the launch and recovery of the tender. It's a great space that is more than just somewhere to stow the tender and bulky items of kit. 

The standard arrangement in the cockpit is to have a central dinette with access up both sides from the bathing platform and a pair of fixed bar stools facing the galley to create a bar when the window section is dropped down. The more popular option, however, is to have an extended seating arrangement with a bench that snakes around the port side and butts up against the wheelhouse. It blocks off access to the port side deck from the cockpit but the major benefit is the massive boost in seating space and the large dinette table.

You could comfortably sit eight people for lunch around here and there's space for some free-standing chairs opposite if needed. It's a great space that is well protected from the elements and links directly to the large aft sun pad, which can be protected by an optional sun shade that pops out from the overhang. The boarding gate on the starboard side is handy, too, especially if you're alongside a high quay or fuel pontoon. It's the same side as the optional third docking station so the skipper can move the boat into the berth and, if starboard side to, can easily step off and help with lines.

With no top deck, the foredeck area has greater importance aboard a sportscruiser like the Predator 65. It's a good space with a deep sofa stretching out beneath the windscreen that is separated from a double sun pad forward by a walkway that links the two decks. The sun pad has adjustable backrests so it's possible to sit up with some support if you're reading or want to take in the view and there's an optional canopy that sits atop some carbon fibre poles. 

In order to keep the profile of the boat as clean as possible there is a moulding that links the sofa to the sun pad that blocks off the end of the walkway between the two decks, which means you have to step over them to get to the sofa or cross the foredeck. It's not a major issue but just makes moving around this area a bit more difficult than it should be.

Value For Money

The base price for a Predator 65 with IPS1350 is £2,240,000 ex VAT (all prices correct at time of writing), which is about in line with what you'll pay for a Princess V65 and likely to undercut its rivals from Ferretti Group (see Rivals section below). Interestingly, the Predator and Sport Yacht are the same prices, so it only depends on which style you prefer and, of course, how far you delve into the options list.

Our Options & Pick

Some key extras are part of the Platinum Mediterranean package (£131,000) such as the 17.5kW generator upgrade, tropical air-conditioning, passerelle, tender recovery system, aft cockpit shade, 12in spring cleats, winches and the foredeck cushions with tilting backrests. If the boat is going to live in the Med then this pack, along with the £7,000 cockpit docking station are must-haves but if keeping the boat in cooler climes you may want to pick and choose certain items. 

We've covered the crew cabin fit-out, which is probably £25,000 that most people can put towards something else but it's there if you want it.  The £17,000 navigation upgrade to twin 16in Garmin MFDs with the pilot system for IPS, Fantom open array radar, fishfinder and AIS is a good investment, as is the £24,000 Dynamic Positioning System, which holds the boat in place using GPS at the touch of a button. If you're regularly a two-person crew, this is a great addition. 

AV is a personal choice but the Performance AV package (£12,500) adds Samsung smart TVs throughout with a mix of Sonos and Bowers & Wilkins speakers for a top-class audio-visual mix, all of which can be controlled remotely from a smartphone.

The C-shaped cockpit arrangement in place of the standard layout is the one we would go for (£13,600) and the 'grand master', though it's a £15,900 option is too good to miss unless you need the extra sleeping space of the fourth cabin. It's also worth paying the combined £10,000 to deck the tender garage out in Flexiteek and add the overhead shower to create the mini beach club at the stern as it gives you a useful extra outdoor living space. The Seakeeper is a meaty £128,500 option but if you live on anchor a lot of the time it's worth every single penny.

Our test boat was about as highly specified as a Predator 65 can be and came in at £2,838,782 ex VAT.

Do people still want sportscruiers? Sunseeker has been building boats long enough to know what customers are after and the sales figures for the Predator 65 prove that the answer is a resounding yes. Where the 65 Sport Yacht is characterised by its class-best driving experience because it's such a huge amount of fun, the Predator 65 stands out for its refined cruising ability and single-deck focus. There are plenty of people who just don't feel the need for a small flybridge up top and therefore the Predator is the perfect solution; it's hard to explain what a difference the spectacular sunroof makes. Kudos to Sunseeker, too, for providing such a fine array of layout choices for a boat that they churn out in decent numbers. Impressive customisation potential for a production boat is just one of many elements that make the Predator 65 a very appealing prospect. 

Reasons to Buy

• Striking looks
• Layout choices
• Refined cruising capability
• That sunroof!

Things to Consider

• Engine room is a bit tight
• No helm side door
• Small crew cabin

There are some classy competitors in this sector, let's have a look at them.

The Princess V65 is probably the direct rival and it's a smooth operator. It's got a pair of 1,400hp MAN V12 engines on shaft drives (totalling 800hp more than the Sunseeker) and will top out, according to Princess, at 38 knots. It also has a tender garage and crew cabin aft with four guest cabins further forward on the lower deck. It's effortlessly sophisticated on board with a galley aft layout, dinette opposite and the main lounging area forward. The sunroof isn't as large as the Sunseeker's, or as packed with glass, but it does have a side door adjacent to the two-person helm. The four-cabin, three-bathroom works well, especially the position of the large owner's ensuite behind the bed, but it doesn't have anywhere near the layout options of the Sunseeker - but then not much in this sector does. 

The Riva 68 Diable is a sportscruiser in the old school mould. The main deck is open-backed and designed for fun in the sun with the lower deck given over entirely to the galley, dinette and sleeping accommodation. Riva has a rather old-school attitude towards engine options, too, and has opted for power. Twin MAN 1,550hp V12s on shafts, to be specific, which are good for a top speed of 40 knots. Because of that lower deck layout, there is only space for three cabins including a guest twin, VIP and full beam owner's cabin amidships all with their own ensuite bathrooms. Aft, like most boats of this type, there is a garage large enough to swallow a decent tender. The Riva doesn't have the year-round usability or practical edge of the Suneeker but it's a big beautiful machine with unmatched quayside appeal. 

If performance is the key priority then, well, the Pershing 7X is the one for you. This 38-tonne flyer will top 50 knots thanks to its pair of 1,800hp MAN V12s mated to surface drives. It has carbon fibre in its superstructure and despite being bigger in all dimensions than the Sunseeker, weighs about the same and with 3,600 litres of fuel on board will cover over 250nm even at full speed. There's more than just performance in the Pershing's corner because it has quite a unique arrangement board, too. It's available with two or three cabins on the lower deck, the former replaces the twin guest cabin with a big lower dinette. Like the Riva, the 7X has a lower deck galley arrangement, which leaves space for plenty of seating inside the air-conditioned deck saloon. The owner's cabin is full beam amidships but the bed faces aft with the bathroom arranged in the corner. It's not as plush as the Sunseeker's 'grand master' but it does have a more spacious crew cabin.

Specifications & Performance

• Builder Sunseeker
• Range Predator
• Model Predator 65
• Length Overall 67.257ft
• Beam 16.732ft
• Draft 5.249ft
• Yacht Type (Primary) Sports Yacht
• Use Type (Primary) Cruising
• Cruising Speed Max Speed
• Fuel Capacity 925 Gallons
• Fresh Water Capacity 211 Gallons
• Engine Model 2x Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350

Performance Data

Sunseeker Predator 65 version 2021. *Data collected by Yacht Buyer during testing.

Test Engines Twin Volvo Penta D13-IPS1350

• Liters Per Hour
• Liters Per Mile
•   CRUISE

Yacht Load: 0 Litres of water 35 Litres of fuel 4 members of crew air temperature of 25 °C

Sunseeker Predator 65 Layout

The standard main deck arrangement with bar stools and symmetrical access into the cockpit 

Optional extended cockpit seating arrangement

The popular L-shaped seating arrangement adds seating in the cockpit, though it blocks off the port side deck 

Optional port side extended seating to suit lower deck galley

With the galley on the lower deck, the amount of seating in the saloon gets a significant boost 

The standard three-cabin, three-bathroom lower deck arrangement

Optional extended master stateroom with entrance office

The 'grand master' owner's cabin with a private study is a popular option 

Optional lower deck saloon

There is the option to have a lower deck saloon, though this seems surplus to requirements

Optional port single guest cabin

The four-cabin layout includes a single berth to port 

Optional lower deck galley

The galley is much smaller if located on the lower deck 

Jack Haines

Jack is YachtBuyer's Reviews Director. He is a writer, editor and presenter with 15 years’ experience testing over 350 motorboats of all shapes and sizes, from 20ft RIBs to 120ft yachts (and even the Royal Navy Frigate HMS Sutherland ). 

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Sunseeker Predator 65 Reviewed

• By Phil Draper
• December 23, 2022

The Sunseeker Predator 65 is a 35-knot bundle of fun.

Based on the same hull as its sistership, the 65 Sport Yacht , the Predator 65 has an even purer profile. It eliminates features such as the 65 Sport Yacht’s upper deck, extra stairs, and sports-fly setup with a low-slung driving position, and instead offers a sliding carbon-fiber-and-glass sunroof—which means a proper open-yacht vibe on the main deck. There’s also a foredeck terrace and various cockpit furniture choices, along with a swim platform that can combine with the garage to create a beach club. Suffice it to say, during the day, the outdoors is awesome.

The standard cockpit setup includes a conventional transom sofa and a pair of bar stools to port. The stools help transform the aft-galley countertop into a bar, thanks to a drop-down electric window. Alternatively, an L-shaped sofa and bigger table to port can make the cockpit an even comfier alfresco hangout.

In addition to the galley aft, the salon has an amidships lounge and a two-seat helm offset to starboard. Amidships, flanked by full-height picture windows, the standard lounge area combines a booth sofa and an extendable table to port, and a two-seat sofa to starboard. An alternative layout loses the galley up so the lounge sofas to port can stretch all the way to the deck doors aft.

Sunseeker’s interiors have the sort of refinement found in high-quality cars, and that’s rare aboard boats. Take the bridge area, which is beautifully detailed and ergonomically clever. All the usual information is neatly presented on two Garmin touchscreen multifunction displays configured with Volvo Penta’s Glass Cockpit software, but I couldn’t take my eyes off a pair of small, round digital displays beneath them, providing essential driver information. Skippers choose what these round displays show by twisting a knob; speed, fuel state and rudder angle are what I wanted to see.

Belowdecks, the accommodations include a standard three or optional four staterooms, plus a day head. The owners’ space is amidships aft, with a forward-facing king berth, a vanity to starboard, a chaise lounge or breakfast booth for two to port, and a shower room to starboard. The VIP stateroom is in the bow, and a twin-berth en suite guest stateroom is to starboard.

There are four options for the amidships area to port, which is effectively the area outside the owners’ stateroom door. A utility area is standard. The Predator 65 that I got aboard, which was headed for the US East Coast, had this layout, with plenty of linen stowage and space for the washer-dryer. Another option is for this space to become a galley down or a section of an enlarged owners’ stateroom with a study. Or it can be turned into a mini salon or fourth stateroom, albeit with room for just a single bunk.

For power, owners can choose from twin 900 hp Volvo Penta D13-IPS1200s or 1,000 hp D13-IPS1350s. All 65 Sport Yacht and Predator 65 orders to date have included the larger powerplants.

Sunseeker’s Predator boats have enviable handling reputations, and this one doesn’t disappoint. There was a serious breeze for our English Channel jaunt on board, which meant we had to pick our moments for pushing the throttles to their stops. Flat out at just over 2,400 rpm, the Predator 65 hit about 35 knots every time. This was running the yacht at around half-load and with an empty garage.

The eco-cruise range, in theory, could be as high as 1,100 nautical miles at 7.5 knots or 580 nautical miles at 10 knots. But given the need for speed of most Predator 65 buyers, 325 nautical miles at 23 knots is the more interesting calculation.

Personally, I prefer the Predator 65 to the 65 Sport Yacht. As good as the SkyHelm is on the 65 Sport Yacht—and it is very good—I never spend much time in the upstairs driver’s seat. Whereas, with a Predator 65, the roof would only ever close with the setting of the sun. 

Space to Spare

The Predator 65’s tender garage is supposedly 1.5 times wider than the Predator 74’s. It can house a 12-foot jet tender as well as several smaller toys. Fully decked out, it can help transform the stern into a beach club.

Inside Matters

Various light-dark schemes are available for the Predator 65. The boat I got aboard had the most popular combination: a dark, satin-sheen smoked eucalyptus with silver-oak soles. Other veneer choices include earth-gray oak, American black walnut and wenge, all in satin or high-gloss finishes.

Class Glass

The Predator 65’s double-curved, laminated windscreen is reportedly one of the biggest single panes of glass ever installed aboard a Sunseeker model.

Take the next step: sunseeker.com

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Licence to thrill: Test driving the Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht

Sunseeker’s 65 Sport Yacht meshes thoughtful design with performance that will blow back anyone’s hair, says Kevin Koenig

In its heart, Sunseeker has always been a sport-boat company. You can see it in the lines of every model it builds and feel it in your hands when you slam the throttle forward or spin the wheel hard into a tight loop-the-loop. It’s no surprise the British company has fostered such a cosy relationship with the James Bond film franchise – you could hardly catch a super-villain in a trawler, after all.

The builder’s new 65 Sport Yacht is right in line with that storied tradition. Fast, agile and brimming with Anglophile charm, this boat is ably poised to carry Sunseeker into the future by respecting her past.

“Our core function is and always has been rooted in our racing days,” says the company’s technical sales director Ross Donohue. “All our hulls are performance hulls. And we’ve taken what we’ve learned from our tradition and moved forward with it. For example, these days of course we use 3D printers during the design process, so everything runs very clean and true. But our fundamentals are still the same.”

And those fundamentals undeniably make for an exhilarating ride. I sea-trialled the 65 Sport Yacht off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on a calm and hot late afternoon. The 65 has two helms – upper and lower – each interesting in its own right. The lower helm has twin helm seats, upholstered in soft leather with well-disciplined stitching throughout. The captain’s chair is afforded excellent visibility through windows that wrap near-360 degrees and let in lots of natural light.

However, what’s most interesting about the helm is the windshield. “The single piece of glass we do it with, it’s actually a bit of a nightmare [to manufacture],” says Jared Hall, Sunseeker’s new product development manager, with a laugh. “It’s double curved [meaning it curves both laterally and vertically] and made in Italy. You can’t just roll glass into that shape; it has to form under heat sagging. And once the shape is set, the glass is immersed in a heated chemical bath to impart a toughened surface.” But all the effort is worth it. The windshield plays an undeniable role in the 65’s sporty profile, and of course offers unfettered, stanchion-free views.

However, the place to drive this yacht is not down below. You really want to go up top to the boat’s compact but highly usable flybridge. There, you’ll find two more helm seats that represent a real engineering feat.

“When we first started with the early conception of the skyhelm, the seats were very upright,” says Donohue. “At the factory we got the shortest person in the room and the tallest person in the room and made sure they could reach everything. Could they get in and out of the seat comfortably, things like that. Having all those people test it helped us immensely. We discovered the seats were too upright and you had to lift the steering wheel up and away from you to get out. What you see on this model is the seats are more slanted back, with an automotive-racing-seat design. It’s much easier to get in and out, and fits with the sport concept of the boat very well.”

The racing car motif suits the ride. When I dropped the hammer, the 65 Sport Yacht shot up to 34 knots at wide-open throttle and, perhaps more importantly, cruised with confidence-inducing ease and control at 27 knots, while burning 299 litres per hour. She also easily grooved through S-turns and turned hard over in about one and a half boat lengths. The lightweight and strong hull pierced commandingly through the wake  I created by doing doughnuts.

This boat is something of a departure for Sunseeker in her construction, and the decision behind it is paying off. The 65’s hull is vacuum-infused, which is not new territory for the builder. However, for most of its boats below 23 metres, Sunseeker cores its bulkheads with marine ply. Not so here. The 65’s bulkheads are resin-infused, which make for a stronger yet lightweight vessel.

According to Donohue, the weight savings gained through the resin-infusion process also allow for bigger interior spaces, which leads to more layout options. But it’s just one of two major components that make the 65’s interior feel like it belongs on a larger boat.

The other factor is her engine choice. The 65 is available with either twin 900-horsepower Volvo Penta IPS 1200s or twin 1,000-horsepower IPS 1350s, though Hall points out that no one has yet ordered the smaller engines.

“When you look at the engine room, the IPS [integrated propulsion system] allows you to remove all these components,” says Hall, “and that allows you to move the [engine room] bulkhead aft and make more room on the accommodations level. It’s a huge selling point for IPS, being smaller overall. They’re also much quieter than a traditional engine because the exhaust systems are underwater, which makes for a more comfortable ride. The hull itself is designed specifically for IPS – it’s not a crossbreed. The two work very well together, we think.”

The 65 makes hay with the extra interior volume in its living spaces, particularly in the realm of layout options. “There are five layouts on the accommodations level and three more in the cockpit,” says Donohue. “You can have a galley down, a lower saloon, a grand master, etc. If you’re in America, you’re probably going to go for the lower saloon and storage area, whereas in Europe stowage isn’t as important. They may go for the grand master layout there. We find that Americans are big on refrigeration and stowage, whereas Europeans are willing to sacrifice in those areas.”

Sunseeker is in touch with its customer base thanks to a “gate review” process that surveys owners, dealers and others about potential product improvements. A few of the 65 Sport Yacht’s features came about by popular demand. For example, C-shaped seating in the cockpit was changed to something resembling bench-type seating. And the staircase leading from the cockpit to the flybridge was moved from port to starboard on European versions so that it lined up with the passarelle. The staircase was also changed from hydraulic to fixed.

“The more mechanisms we have on the boat, the more customers complain about them over time,” explains Hall. “Usability is king. We want to keep the style and make it look really good but keep it user-friendly. A boat this size isn’t going to be fully crewed all the time so it will be the owner who’s got to use these things – best to keep it simple.”

Simplicity reigns elsewhere, too. At the upper helm, Sunseeker’s designers didn’t like having all the controls on a touchscreen, since it can get wet and slippery. So some of them, including anchor controls, the alarm silencer and navigation lights, are synced to old-school “clunk-clink” switches.

“We have found when you’re motoring along at full speed, you can easily slip and touch the wrong button on a touchscreen,” says Hall.

“Full speed” is the key phrase. Temptation abounds with a yacht this sporty. “The only downside I can think of is that everyone wants to ride it very hard and run flat out continuously,” says Donohue with a chuckle. “It’s just too exciting. It’s the same with a Ferrari – you end up revving the engines endlessly just for the thrill of it.”

And really, isn’t that the whole point?

First published in the August 2022 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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65 Sport Yacht

No element left unchallenged..

12 months of intensive development culminate in the perfect showcase of Sunseeker’s fresh design philosophy. With a sleek exterior profile of carbon fibre and polished stainless steel, the 65 Sport Yacht balances the traditional with hi-tech to place emotion and performance at its heart. The modular layout allows for a variety of specifications and enhancements, with space that adapts seamlessly to all kinds of socialising and adrenaline-seeking. Three cabins – including a full beam master stateroom – accommodate up to six guests in luxurious comfort, with a fully appointed crew cabin located forward of the garage.

Take your Sport Yacht to new heights by carrying the tender on the bathing platform and reconfiguring the vacated space as a dedicated ‘Beach Club’ – with direct sea access, bar, fridge, BBQ, and free-standing seating. The perfect space for those happiest close to the water. With speeds of up to 38 knots, the 65 Sport Yacht cuts an equally impressive figure on the open water. Taken all together, the experience is one of pure adrenaline, akin to driving a high performance convertible supercar and absolutely unique.

NO STONE UNTURNED.

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Brand New 65 Sports Yacht

SUNSEEKER - ALTER EGO. The Predator 65 & 65 Sport Yacht take to the glassy waters of Poole, UK

Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht Overview at the Miami International Boat Show 2022

Discover life on-board the multi award-winning Sunseeker 65 Sport Yacht

Click to view 360 tour, 65 sports yacht - smoked eucalyptus figured high sheen satin finish, 65 sports yacht - earth grey oak low build open grain satin finish, 65 sports yacht - silver oak low build open grain satin finish, 65 sports yacht - wenge satin finish, related yachts for sale.

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65 SPORT YACHT - HELM OVERVIEW

With no introduction necessary, the all-new 65 Sport Yacht joins our expanding range of next-generation yachts with explosive innovation. The SkyHelm™, complete with IPS docking joystick, can be used in an upright position for low-speed manoeuvring or lowered to fall perfectly into outstretched arms when sat low in the bespoke helm seats cossetted by carbon fibre backrests and an integrated centre console.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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VENUE AND OPENING HOURS

MosHome 2024 will be held on April 2-5 at Crocus Expo IEC, Pavilion 2, Floor 3, Halls 10, 11.

Moshome 2024 will be opened:.

2 April 10:00—18:00 3 April 10:00—18:00 4 April 10:00—18:00 5 April 10:00—16:00

Address: Crocus Expo IEC, 65-66 km Moscow City Ring (MKAD), Moscow, Russia, 143 401.

How to get to Crocus Expo:

Travel by public transport: metro station “Myakinino” (Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line), exits to the Exhibition Centre pavilions 1 - 2.

Travel by car: crossing of MKAD (66 km, outer side) and Volokolamskoye Shosse.

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