Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Anyone have any opinions or know much about Sunseekers? I sold my 35 Formula about a year ago when we were expecting a baby. I miss boating and have a buddy selling his 1997 41' Sunseeker Tomahawk. I think I could get a good deal on it. It seems like a boat I could have fun with and still stay on it with the wife and baby.

Any opinions on them? They seem pretty rare in the US. I can't find much about the boat. I greatly appreciate it.

Brent

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Sunseeker is more widly know for their cruisers/yachys/sedans than the performance line. My favorite is the entire Preadator series. Norton Anderson has a Sunseeker, Im sure he'll chime in on this in the AM.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

It's more of a cruiser than a performance boat. Great for a family and the Tomahawk, even though 10 years old, still looks great IMO.

However, they are wide and heavy. I don't think you can trailer one legally. Because of the weight and the fact that they are more family-oriented, they make more sense with diesels. If the one you're talking about is fitted with 454s, it's not going to be fast.

Other than that, the hull design by Don Shead is fine. It's a safe and comfortable hull which will handle rough stuff quite well. However, it's not built like a true offshore powerboat. If you are tempted to repower and make it faster or have fun in the rough, be ready to pay the bills. Elements of the interior will come loose, gelcoat will definitely crack. In general, the finish looks fantastic and very luxurious on whatever meets the eye but underneath, while not bad, it's very average.

Don't get me wrong, I love Sunseekers and they are great boats, with a very clever design and use of space. But you must not confuse it with a true performance boat.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

you dont think you could get the job done with a Sonic or an AT???.......you only have one kid!!!

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Thanks for the opinions guys. Keep 'em coming.

This Sunseeker has the 502 MPIs. So, I am guessing 50ish is about it. I'm sure it drinks gas too. I'd prefer diesels. The wife never liked to go fast and with the kiddo she'll like it even less. So, speed is not a big issue.

Build quality is what I am most concerned about. I have heard Sunseekers were some of the best. But, there is not much info. out there on them. All I know is it's british and they "claim" to be the Rolls Royce of boats.

I have thought about looking for a performance boat with some head room. We would actually be staying on this boat for the weekends. So, I am thinking a Sonic, AT, etc. is just going to give me more head room and not necessarily a lot of amenities for over-nighting.

We only have one kid now. But, the wife wants more. I want a Cigarette. She's going to get it her way. So, the Sunseeker (or something like it) is a good compromise I think. My dad has a 400SS Formula and we enjoy it. Although when I am on it I do miss the speed.

I was going to wait another year or so to start looking. The Sunseeker belongs to a friend / business associate and I know I could get a good deal on it.

Thank you,

B

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Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

With 502s, you're probably looking at around 50. And if that is not a problem, they are great family boats that offer a lot of weekend space and volume without looking like a shoebox on water.

However, they are definitely not a Rolls-Royce. On the yacht market, Sunseekers are regarded as average quality yachts with very modern and hip styling and clever use of space but no serious professional is ever going to tell you that they are up there in terms of quality. It is not even a matter of fit and finish which are good, it's a question of materials and fittings that are used which are flimsy at times. This is why they generally do not age very well if they are not impeccably looked after. They have a reputation of being yachts that offer a lot of outside appeal for the money but less substance than some other, less hip competitors.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

That is exactly what I have heard as well.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Thanks guys. I'm glad I asked. This boat is a '97 so I would be concerned about how it ages. It is a pretty cool looking boat.

Would the Sunseeker quality not be on par with Formula?

When speaking about the materials quality what would be the biggest areas of concern? Hull construction?, Rigging?

Anything in aprticular to look out for? I'm going to go out in the boat next weekend.

Thanks again,

B

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

i rode in a 48 with tripple 502s, Very nice Boat!

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Whats wrong with a fountain or formula performance cruiser?

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Pretty nice looking boats. Here's one on boattrader that looks pretty clean.

http://www.boattraderonline.com/adde....html?85513602

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

The Formula is better.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

The advantage of looking at a 97 Sunseeker is that you can see from a mile away whether it's been looked after or not. Sunseeker's gelcoat is not the best out there and is quite porous and prone to cracking. If on a 97 you find original gel which is still white and shiny and without cracks, you are almost certainly looking at a boat which has been dry-stored and never abused. Which in turn means that structurally and mechanically it should be OK.

I've seen rotten bulkheads on Sunseekers younger than 97 but rather than go into that stuff, I can only advise you to get a survey. Which may not be easy as you're looking to do a deal with your friend/associate and at a good price. So it's a tricky situation to behave like you're dealing with a stranger and insist on a full survey. You know what they say about doing business with friends and family...

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

40 MAGNUM...



http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/5/...?1159299570000

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

About eight years ago my brother bought his first Sunseeker, a 1990 43 Thunderhawk fitted with two brand new 502 Mpi´s. It had been tied up in a legal battle for seven years after a friend of the first owner came off the plane too quickly and waterlocked both motors in its first season. It was like new and cost my brother 50 thousand (GB) pounds. It ran 55 mph when the bottom was clean and was a great experience. tons of nice details and looks that could kill. It was bright red. He ran it on the Med between St Tropez and Monaco. He looked after it and sold it for 67 thousand pounds, four years later! The bug had bitten him and he bought a one year old 48 Superhawk with three Yanmar 300 hp diesels directly from Sunseeker. It runs about the same speed but uses less fuel doing so!
A Sunseeker doesn´t drive anything like as sporty as it looks. The Toma- Thunder- Super- hawk and Apaches are however the nearest to being an offshore boat. The Don Shead designed hulls have alot of offshore character to them - if you look at most of them you will see that the chines are very narrow in relation to the width of the deck. They are deep V, and some are avaiable with Arnesons.
They are great boats, but are made for a different sort of boating than a Formula (for example, a well built offshore boat with a windshield) can offer you.
A friend had an Aronow for many years and traded it for a 56 Predator and loved it, too. But for different reasons.
Sunseeker is probably comparable with Aston Martin. Good looking, very british, fast enough but don´t hammer it for too long. Drive it like an english gentleman

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Very well said, Wild Card. Sunseekers are express cruisers at heart and even though their looks suggest more, one should stick to using them as express cruisers. If you go out to play with a Sunseeker like you would with a Formula, you will break it.

My experience with Sunseeker started with the 34 XPS which was the first generation of these hulls. It was 31 Portofino - 34 XPS - 39 Cobra in mid 80s, then it was 37 Tomahawk - 43 Thunderhawk in late 80s/beginning of 90s, then 41 Tomahawk - 45 Apache - 50 Superhawk in late 90s and finally XS2000 - 34/40 Superhawk - 48/50 Superhawk that we know today and which are available with Trimax surface drives.

These particular boats in Sunseeker's lineup age quite well in terms of design. The only thing that looks dated on a 43 Thunderhawk is the radar arch which is too square and oversized by today's standards. But I've seen a beautifully refitted and repowered 1990 Thunderhawk on which the arch was taken off and the boat looks better than many current designs.

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Wild.....nicely said! I have been in just about every nook and crany of my Apache 45, and it sure seems well built and made with quality materials to me SuperT. Much better than average and different since it's European. I've got he triple gas 502MAG's and it is a 1994. I've had a great time working and updating this boat and like any other boat, there is always a list of things to do. It's both my project boaty and it's my condo in Newport Beach!

If you get a great deal on hte boat......your family will have a great time. It's cool to have a boat that isn't like everyone else's. I might just have the only Apache 45 in SoCal.....but not sure. I have never seen another one myself.

Here's my thread on updating......haven't updated it lately, but we love the boat! :D

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=68946

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Let me guess since Jeffrey is at the wheel it is out of gas? :D:D

Re: Sunseeker Tomahawk
 

Great stuff guys. Thanks for all the opinions. I am supposed to go check it out next weekend. I hope I will still be able to do it. It is frozen in Texas right now.

BTW that link above is the Sunseeker I'm looking at. He kept is rack stored indoors.


B