With just a low slim stainless-steel windscreen
header rail in front of you, the sensation at the
helm is that of an open boatensuite master cabin in the bow
ahead of a huge saloon. Further aft,
the main guest cabin to starboard has
two single berths and ensuite access
to the day heads. The third cabin
is on the port side with crossover
beds. Interestingly, there was room
for a washing machine in this cabin,
which was a useful option when new
and you’d think would make a simple
retrofit job now, but it’s not quite
that simple. “You can’t physically get
a washing machine through the door,”
says David Jones. “When specified
new, the factory fitted it in build. We
have done one retrofit of a washing
machine but it had to be dismantled,
taken into the cabin piece by piece
and reassembled – a big job!”
A far more popular option was the
hardtop over the cockpit; in fact, it’s
rare to find a boat without one. Whenthe Portofino 53 was launched,
hardtops were still a novelty below
60ft and the one initially fitted to this
model is quite unusual. Rather than
a roof with a sliding section in it like
a sunroof on a car, the entire roof
section cantilevers back! It’s a little
more agricultural than more modern
systems but it does have the very
real advantage that you’re left with
what feels like a far larger aperture.OPEN BOAT VIBE
With just a low, slim stainless-steel
windscreen header rail in front of you
and that big aperture overhead, the
sensation at the helm is that of an
open boat (although in truth, the roof
doesn’t move that far back). In 2006,
the entire hardtop moulding and
mechanism was changed to a more
modern design in which the roof isThe ‘new’ generation of Sunseeker hulls introduced around
this period are reasonably bulletproof so osmosis-related
problems are very unlikely but gelcoat stress cracking
along the sprayrails is always a possibility. Cosmetic
gelcoat stress cracking in the cockpit and around the deck areas
are also common. Despite this, Sunseeker make one of the best
gelcoats in the business and the dark blue gel will always restore well.
Good maintenance on a boat of this age and specification is always
the key so check the operation and condition of the various hydraulic
packs fitted in the lazarette for the garage door, hardtop, passerelle and
trim tabs. (A full pre-purchase survey should cover all of these points.)
The Volvo D12 engine on shafts option is a good one as these are
relatively uncomplicated tough engines with reasonable spares and repair
costs, but rear crankcase seal leaks and turbocharger problems are not
unknown. High-specification creature comforts such as the vacuum toilets
can be troublesome (worn seals) and any original navigation gear such
as the VDO instruments may need replacing. Otherwise, the interiors
wear well whilst the opening hardtop concept is a must for all climates,
not forgetting the bonus of the amazing tender garage facility.Tony McGrail, Yacht Surveyor
Tel: +44 (0)7711 329314. Web: http://www.superyachtsurveys.comMKI SUNROOF
This is the later sunroof model but the
earlier cantilever style had occasional
issues with the cams getting out of
sync, causing it to twist and jam. They
should be long since sorted out, but
worth ensuring that it runs smoothly.
Aluminium parts of the mechanism can
occasionally prove troublesome tooVOLVO PENTA D12 ENGINES
Rear crankcase seal leaks
and turbocharger problems
are not unknownINTERIOR WOODWORK
Some boats of this era had
lacquer issues with interior
woodwork causing it to discolour.
Check for milkiness in the finishHYDRAULICS
Check that the garage
door, passerelle and roof
all operate smoothlySURVEYOR SAYS
USEDBOAT BOAT MASTER