131 Motor Yacht
The Sunseeker Predator 56 is a 53-foot performance cruiser that was produced by UK-based yacht-building firm Sunseeker between the years of 1999 and 2003. This sleek and sporty yacht at first glance has a look that harks back to the racing boats of old, and features low-slung lounge seating, luxury finishes throughout and a profile that is so sharp you could almost cut yourself just looking at it. And this vessel doesn’t merely look like a star but performs like one out on the water, with thrilling acceleration and sportscar-like agility still impressing more than two decades after the Predator 56’s initial launch. Though no longer in production at the Sunseeker boatyard in Poole, England, this is a sportscruiser that remains in high demand on the used and charter markets, and is a classic example of why Sunseeker Yachts continue to be one of the most adored boating brands around.
At the stern of this Sunseeker Yacht, you will find an extended, fully hydraulic bathing platform that is not only ideal for setting off on warm-water swims but can be used to store an outboard-powered water tender. Also located back here are a set of Glendinning cablemasters and a Besenzoni passarelle for easy entry and exit. Side steps then lead up to the fully open-air cockpit, where nothing but a radar arch, a Venturi windscreen, and of course an optional Bimini cover, separate you from the elements. There is a leather transom sofa that extends all the way up the starboard side of the cockpit to the helm, with seating room for up to eight guests. An extending cocktail table and a port-side wet-bar console with an icemaker and a grill are also to be found on the washed teak main deck, along with a forward wingchair and a loveseat at the helm. The ergonomically styled dashboard aboard the Predator 56 abounds with all the gadgets and throttles needed for weekend exploring, including Raymarine radar, chart-plotter and autopilot, Shipmate VHF, thruster controls and a leather-and-teak lined hydraulic steering wheel.
A sealed companionway door leads down to the lower deck, where high-gloss cherry and lacquered teak surfaces are completented by plush carpeting, leather furnishings, stainless steel joinery and recessed lighting for a sophisticated and timeless atmosphere. A serpentine sofa snakes around the starboard side of the salon, and is paired with an angular coffee table that sits across from the open galley. The galley features a two-zone hob, a combination oven, a full-height, American-style fridge-freezer tower, a molded sink and plenty of storage. There is room for up to four overnight guests down here, across an en-suite double stateroom to the bow and a full-beam owner’s stateroom with a queen-sized bed, an armchair, a work desk, side cabinets and a bathroom with granite or Avonite surfaces and a shower cubicle.
A pair of MAN V8 800MHP shaft-drive diesel engines propel the Sunseeker Predator 56 to top speeds of around 34 knots, with cruising speeds of 26 knots proving comfortable and consistent. A semi-displacement modified v-hull offers superb balance in a range of conditions, while reverse chines ensure a smooth and soft ride.
