Sunseeker International is a British company, based in Poole, on the south coast of England. The Sunseeker story begins over thirty years ago and although today’s boats look very different, it’s interesting to see how a distinctive Sunseeker style has evolved, particularly as each new boat has been ahead of its time – pushing design and technology forward, responding to customer’s demands and taking advantage of the latest developments in design and technology.

By the early seventies, Poole Powerboats – the company that was eventually to become Sunseeker – was the distributor of Scandinavian boats in the UK, selling models such as the Coronet, Windy and Draco. Even though only a small business, selling around 88 boats a year, the size of the market then can be measured by the fact that they were soon the biggest UK parts distributor for Volvo Penta. Selling boats of high quality was as important then to Sunseeker as it has always been. But importing boats made by others meant a vital factor was missing – the ability to control their own destiny. There simply were no significant builders of boats for the ‘sports/leisure’ market in the UK in those days, but the company was already learning valuable lessons about the importance of build quality, about the value of aftercare, and many of the issues involved in international marketing.

The tantalising Mediterranean market was an irresistible attraction. And the company knew what was needed: they knew how the boats should perform, and had an eye for what they should look like. But they didn’t believe they possessed the necessary skills to achieve the performance standards they required. A hallmark of Sunseeker’s success has always been its desire to produce the best; and to seek it out from outside the company if necessary. So they approached one of the leading boat designers of the time, Don Shead, for help with the below-the-waterline physics of an advanced hull design.

As Sunseeker developed its first high performance boats, so a complementary style began to be apparent. A range of boats was evolving that shared similar physical characteristics. Angular shapes on the superstructure matched the high decks and steep-chined hulls. This aggressive styling was sympathetic to the performance qualities of the boats, and met the mood of customers of the time. Now you could certainly recognise a Sunseeker at a glance – always believed by Sunseeker to be of fundamental importance in developing a successful brand. What became known as ‘High Performance’ styling can perhaps first be seen in the remarkable XPS 34, which was developed on the same lines as the world s most successful racing boat of the time, designed by Don Shead.

Performance was never any less important, but in the late eighties style became even more so. Sunseeker saw what was happening in the car industry, and began to introduce softer shapes. The ‘High Performance’ styling is typified by this less angular appearance.
The Mustang 20 shows many of these features, with the change in styling of the transom, and with a generally more curved and less angular shape. This was the first of a range of High Performance craft, combining a sleek, lean appearance with good sea keeping qualities. Capable of 50 knots from its single Volvo 275hp outdrive, the Mustang 20 was more than a ski boat, with a well-appointed cabin beneath the foredeck.

A new confidence was surging through Sunseeker, which became apparent in the launch of a number of distinctive boats. With the Portofino 34, Sunseeker introduced the first Offshore Cruiser to benefit from the company’s new in-house lacquering facilities, resulting in an interior décor of high-gloss lacquer, contributing to a feeling of light and openness. A further Sunseeker innovation was the extra versatility afforded by the addition of a hardtop version. By this time, Sunseeker’s own design studio had reached a maturity that led to the creation of the Superhawk 50. The challenge was to build a boat of superyacht quality offering three-cabin accommodation – as well as 50-knot performance.

The expansion of the Sunseeker range continued with the introduction of models in all four ranges: Performance, High Performance, Flybridge and Offshore Cruisers. New High Performance models included the Hawk 30 and 31, the Comanche 40 and the Tomahawk 41. Sunseeker’s racing pedigree was most striking on the versatile Hawk 30 and 31, capable of achieving an outstanding 60 knots. Yet even where out-and-out speed for skiing or week-ending was one of the main considerations, attention was paid to details of comfort, such as providing the innovation of sunloungers that could easily be converted into seats facing the dining table. In a similar way, the 54-knot Tomahawk 41, with the choice of twin or triple outdrive engines, had double reversible sports helm seats

Just when it seemed that Sunseeker had reached the pinnacle of possibilities, the company showed its inability ever to rest on its laurels. Continuing refinements by the design office led to further developments in hull design and the selection of materials, so improving the capabilities of the boats in the range. But perhaps more significant than any technical advances was the vision that enabled the company to look ahead at what might be possible.
 

As the twentieth century drew to a close, Sunseeker continued to make advances in styling. But one of the biggest influences over the design of the range was due to engine technology and the possibilities presented by advanced composite materials and new construction techniques. The futuristic styling of the new Manhattan 44 introduced a Flybridge Motoryacht with a surprising amount of space for its size – space that was liberated by this new approach. The ‘new edge’ appearance of this craft was an indication of a new direction for Sunseeker. The company now employed a team of talented young designers, still working alongside people from Don Shead’s office. It retained the original Sunseeker vision of always striving to create the best possible motoryachts, whatever the skills, techniques or materials necessary.
 

The Year 2001 saw the launch of the 105 Yacht, a staggering 105-foot (32m) motor yacht, with a predicted top speed of 32 knots. Her outstanding capabilities are in large part due to the extensive support systems she carries – and the reliability that is assured by using proven technology in a production yacht. These systems include the advanced use of hydraulics, stabilisers, computer-controlled generators and electrical systems. Innovations that mean the 105 Yacht is safe and reliable – an important consideration on a yacht of which the highest demands will be made. The 105 Yacht also became the first British-built production boat to win two of the world’s most prestigious International Superyacht Design awards.

Sunseeker has always led the way in the design of powerboats, and now builds some of the largest and most luxurious yachts in the world. All Sunseekers now boast race-bred hull designs, and the company has developed new construction techniques to exploit to the full the potential afforded by advanced composite materials and modern, highly efficient drive systems.
The company continues to make substantial investments in the future, through improved plant and machinery; computerised design and manufacturing systems, automated stores facilities, as well as other aids to efficient production. Investments have also been made in training, and in motivating its thousand-strong workforce. As Robert Braithwaite said: “The new shipyards are an investment for the future and an investment for the people we employ 2 as well as an investment for all our distributors worldwide.”