84 Sunseeker 2009

Source: Power & Motoryacht Magazine

Since the days of Lord Nelson the British have had what might be called a bit of an attitude about the ability of their ships to rule the waves. Sunseeker has carefully nurtured that notion while at the same time producing boats that are so Italian, one might wonder if perhaps they were built in Viareggio, the land of lovers not fighters. It is an interesting juxtaposition that Sunseeker has been able to pull off, and none of their boats demonstrate this melding of British grit and determination with Italian style and grace as well as the company’s Predator 84. Sunseeker modestly says that its boats “In many ways reflect the qualities of their owners—drive, stamina and a thinly disguised sense of power.” Very thinly disguised, we’d say by the looks of the Predator 84.

Key Features

• Garage for optional tender and jet ski
• Fixed bathing platform
• Hot and cold swim shower
• Wetbar with ice maker, cool chest and sink with hot and cold water
• Ceramic griddle in cockpit
• Radar/chartplotter with GPS
• Autopilot
• Power-assisted steering
• Electronic speed log, depth sounder and VHF radio
• Trim tabs
• Hydraulic bow thruster (30-hp)
• Hydraulic stern thruster (30-hp)
• Flatscreen TVs in all guest cabins (excluding crew)
• Surround sound system for deck saloon and aft master stateroom
• All cabin air-conditioner

The Sunseeker Predator 84 is a sexy beast. Seen here in a bit of a benign state, it will travel up to 42 knots, says the builder. Note the size of the people on the flying bridge.

Hyperbolic marketing-speak aside; the Predators are, in fact, well-endowed under the hood. The Predator 84 is available either with conventional twin-shaft props or with twin Arneson surface drives. According to the company, the standard prop version will do up to 35 knots. With the Arnesons and the manliest engines, the 84 will do up to 42 knots. That’s not bad for a boat that weighs over 131,000 lbs. (59,700 kg.)

Command central allows guests to share the thrill of driving fast (although you might consider losing the coffee when the driver winds it up). Scotty, bring her to warp speed.

Going 42 knots in a boat this size is more fun than the average person should have, but as the marketers say, it’s not for the faint-hearted. It’s also not for those who are terribly concerned about running costs. The specs Sunseeker publishes list fuel capacity as 1,981 gallons. Cruising speed with the Arnesons is listed as “up to 30 knots,” and range “up to 300 nautical miles.” That works out to something like 5.9 gallons per mile, which gives you some idea of how much power it takes to rule the waves in the Predator 84.

Did we say that this Sunseeker is not for everybody?

Sunseekers are well-constructed, meticulously finished and yes; they are sexy as hell. It has been a winning combination for the Poole, England boat builder.

No one would ever call a Sunseeker dowdy. The Predator 84’s saloon is as contemporary as the tony salons of Torino.

The 84 will accommodate up to eight guests in four cabins each with an en suite head, as they should be in this class of vessel. She also ships a crew of three – captain, mate and stew, would be our choice. As with any yacht this size, owners have plenty of input into décor, but you’d never see the Predator 84 done up teak.

The formal dining space is fully integrated with the saloon. The hardtop retracts revealing a skylight. Note the table for al fresco dining on the aft deck. We like the hardwood saloon sole instead of the carpet over plywood that you often find in boats of this size.

The owner’s full-beam suite is a study in contemporary décor. We like the proportions that the builder has selected for the four cabins, making sure that the guests’ living spaces are not gobbled up by a voracious owner’s cabin.

The master bath continues the theme of style with simplicity and practicality. Note the large shower stall, lacquered cabinets and decorative anthurium, another example of the Predator’s thinly disguised power.

Guests don’t have it so bad either. We like the vanity/desk with chair/stool, something rarely seen even on an 84-footer in a guest stateroom. Note, more anthurium.

Guests? Well, ensconced in one of the two ensuite twins, they won’t have it so bad either, particularly with an en suite head.

Part of the appeal of a yacht like the Predator 84 is having fun in the sun. The boat has plenty of outdoor space to lounge and bake. The aft deck has a dining/cocktails table and the foredeck has a settee and additional deck space, but at 40 knots, you might want to leave the drinks behind. If you’re the kind of guy who, like they say, has “drive, stamina and a thinly disguised sense of power,” you’d feel right at home with this power palace afloat.

A “garage” is a feature generally found on larger yachts. The Predator 84 has space to keep its tender and toys off the decks and ready to rumble.

The Predator 84 has all the flash of an Italian sport yacht, with all the elegance of, well, an Italian sport yacht. Temper all of that panache with a strong dose of John Bull reliability and you have a winning combination.

The galley on the Predator 84 is down below in the crew quarters, as preferred on European boats. Note crew cabin in the background.

We like the accommodations layout of the Predator 84. Note that the master stateroom has a walk-in closet with a side for his and her, with drawers in between. This is a good use of space instead of a full beam bath. Note on the main deck the formal dining table seats eight and there is still a huge area of the cocktail table and conversation pit. Crew quarters and the galley is accessed by the stairs in the aft part of the saloon by the concave stainless steel sliding doors opening to the aft deck. This arrangement can be modified any way you want; as you will notice in the pictures, there is an optional layout.

Count them – there are three eating venues on this 84’ boat: at the settee on the foredeck, on the large aft deck, and in the formal dinning area in the cabin. There are two bunny pads, one forward and one aft. A helm is optional on the flying bridge.

So, what does all of this elegance, speed and anthurium cost? It all depends on which engines, drive systems and other options you put on the boat. As we have noted, when you are moving this much weight around you need lots of horses. Further, Arneson drives do not come cheap. The MSRP price of a new Sunseeker Predator 84 can run anywhere from $4.6 to $5.6 million. But once you have one, you’ll never look back.

Boat Specifications: 84 Sunseeker 2009