If ever there were an aptly named yacht, it’s the Sunseeker Predator 75. At rest, it has the purposeful look of a raptor straight from Jurassic Park. A striking midnight-gray hull and rakish lines only add to this effect.
As the sound of turbos spooled up on the optional 1,900 hp MAN V-12s (1,550s are standard), I couldn’t wait to see what this yacht could do. Sunseeker’s captain grabbed a handful of throttles and shoved them to the pins. We shot out of the inlet at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as though we had launched from a slingshot. The Predator 75 with this engine package is capable of 40 knots in decent conditions, which we didn’t have; the Gulf Stream was delivering an endless chain of 3- and 4-footers, so the best we saw was 33 knots. But the yacht seemed as though it had seen prey on the horizon, and it shrugged off the square-edged seas with impunity.
Then I realized that Sunseekers are built on the edge of the English Channel, whose seas the Gulf Stream can’t touch for being just plain ugly. The yacht was leveraging its hull form’s 20-degree transom deadrise and fine entry to slice and dice our way through. The captain used the windshield wipers only once, after a particularly big hole in the ocean.
Also notable is that the Predator 75 is more than just quick and seaworthy. It is luxurious and well laid out for entertaining and cruising. Guests can step aboard the hydraulic swim platform, pass the transom garage that conceals a Williams SportJet 395, and ascend gentle stairs to each side. The cockpit fairly shouts entertaining, with a sun pad and a wraparound settee with a high-low table for alfresco dining. Opposite are an electric barbecue, fridge and ice maker, so nobody has to use the galley to prepare grilled delicacies or access cold beverages.
The door from the cockpit to the salon is a surprise: It slides easily to starboard and then, poof, the door and window above it slide down electrically, creating a huge dayboat nonstop from the helm to the transom. Need more fresh air? Open the six-panel sunroof for a salty breeze. The entire interior feels open, in this case with a silver-oak interior and whitewashed oak soles, making for a modern look with easy cleanup.
Another carbon-fiber high-low table is inside the salon, wrapped by a settee to create an entertainment area with a 55-inch pop-up TV opposite. Another settee wraps around next to the helm, allowing guests a view of the action as well as spectacular 360-degree views through the oversize windows lining the salon.
The skipper has a pair of stitched Italian leather, fully adjustable electric seats abaft a black dash with 16-inch Garmin monitors. A pantograph door gives quick access to the side deck. The Sunseeker Predator 75 that I got aboard had Side-Power bow and stern thrusters, and Side-Power stabilizer fins. Running beam-to-seas with the fins on, the Predator 75 was rock-solid. Even Aunt Edna wouldn’t be bothered by the motion.
A galley is at the base of the stairs from the salon, with a four-burner Miele cooktop, a Vitrifrigo home-size fridge and two freezer drawers. Nearby is a 33-bottle wine chiller. I admit that I’m not a fan of galley-down layouts, but in this case, Sunseeker left the galley open to the windshield above, creating an airy and bright atrium effect. An L-shaped dinette is just forward of the galley, in a spot that would serve nicely for morning coffee and croissants before heading out.
The Predator 75 that I got aboard had the three-stateroom layout, which is nice. Owners can trade away the dinette by the galley if they want to add a fourth guest stateroom. On this three-stateroom setup, the owner’s space spans the full 17-foot-8-inch beam and has hullside windows to create a voluminous feel. The berth is nearly king-size with full walk-around real estate. A lounge to port invites savoring a spy novel, while a bureau to starboard includes a tidy vanity with a hidden stool. The owners also have a walk-in closet, twin nightstands with drawers, and an en suite head with a stall shower.
Forward, the VIP stateroom has an island queen-plus berth, a private head with a shower, and a vanity with a stool. Between these two staterooms is a guest stateroom with twin berths that slide together into a double. This stateroom has direct access to the day head, also equipped with a stall shower.
A twin-berth crew cabin is accessed from the transom and has its own head and shower. This can also be a great place for teenagers who want to play music.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the foredeck of the Predator 75, which begs for entertaining at anchor. It has a sun pad and alfresco dining around a U-shaped settee with a table that seats eight. Access to the bow is via wide side decks made even more secure with high coamings topped by sturdy, welded rails.
The Sunseeker Predator 75 is a yacht designed for maximum entertaining inside and out. And like a true predator, it has enough speed to run down anything on the horizon.
Tailored-Fit Tender
The Williams SportJet 395 and the Sunseeker Predator 75’s tender garage are designed to go together. This 12-foot-8-inch RIB can carry five passengers on 40-knot adventures. Powered by a 90 hp Rotax Ace engine, the tender has a towing post for water toys. The bow has automatic deflation and inflation to let it slide into the tender garage.
Big Iron
When introduced for the luxury yacht market, MAN’s V12-1900 was the most powerful high-speed four-stroke diesel in the world. Its compact size is thanks to a redesign of the injection and cooling systems from the company’s truck-bus series MAN V-12. The turbocharger has an air intercooler, and the engine is noted for quick throttle response and Environmental Protection Agency Tier 3 emissions quality.
Take the next step: sunseeker.com
