fixed but with a sliding section in
it. It’s far more sophisticated, gains
glass panels that let light in when
closed and results in an even better-
looking boat, but you do lose a little
of that open boat vibe.
Beneath it, the cockpit remained
unchanged. The bench seat next to
the helm means that four people can
sit abreast behind the windscreen
and enjoy the view forward while
the large dinette behind is catered
for by a wet bar opposite. Aft is a
vast sunpad that tops another great
feature of this boat.TENDER TOUCH
At the proverbial touch of a button,
a huge section of the transom and
bathing platform rises to reveal a large
garage with a central roller system big
enough to house a Williams Turbojet- It was a key element of Chris
Watkins’ decision to upgrade his
Sunseeker Camargue 55 to the newer
Portofino 53. “The garage system
works really well, we don’t need to
deflate the tubes of the tender and it
runs freely so we don’t have to heave
it out – we just lower it into the water
with the garage winch. It gives us an
extra dimension to the boat as the
Williams is large and powerful enough
to waterski behind or go exploring in.”
Chris keeps his boat in Alicante
and holidays aboard with his family,
typically taking the boat along the
coast or across to Ibiza. Fitted with
Model Sunseeker Portofino 53
Type Sportscruiser
In build 2003-2009
Designer Sunseeker International
Hull type Planing
RCD category B
Current value From £200,000
LOA 56ft 11in (17.35m)
Beam 15ft 1in (4.60m)
Draught 4ft 0in (1.23m)
Displacement 19.3 tonnes
Fuel capacity 405 gallons
(1,840 litres)
Water capacity 88 gallons
(400 litres)
Performance 32 knots with Volvo
Penta D12-715 diesel engines
Cruising range 240 miles at
25 knots with 20% reserveMY TAKE A friend of mine has just bought
one of these and I have to admit that I’m more
than a little bit jealous. It’s got the looks, the
performance, the space and the build quality of a modern
Sunseeker but at a fraction of the price of a new one. HugoTo protect this boat with Coppercoat
multi-season antifoul would cost
£2,160 inc VAT. For a quote
on any other boat call
01258 861059 or visit
http://www.coppercoat.comMAN 800hp engines like Nigel’s
boat, Chris also sees a mid-30-
knot top speed and cites a couple
of interesting advantages over his
previous Camargue. “It’s surprisingly
economical. We normally cruise
at about 20 knots which is just
1,800rpm and we can get to theBalearics and home without
refuelling. Another key difference
with this boat is just how accessible
the engines are. It was a struggle
to even get into the engineroom
of the Camargue but there’s masses
of space in this boat. You feel like
you could put a deckServicing (inc labour & VAT)
Volvo Penta D12-715 £3,865.86
Replacement parts (inc VAT)
Drive belt £55.27
Impeller £141.60
Oil filter £62.04
(for three per engine)
Fuel filter £73.46
Coolant pump £925.20THE COSTS
DATA FILE
I BOUGHT ONE
Dorian Griffith is a man used
to high performance – he runs
the Blastoff raceboat team and
holds the UIM Marathon Class
C World Speed Record with his
38ft Fountain raceboat. It’s why
he craves the extra performance
of his surface drive Predator 55,
which he uses with his family
and to support the raceboat
at events. Nigel Brown runs
a Portofino 53 with his fiancée
Lorraine, keeping it close to
his home in Poole, whereas
Chris Watkins keeps his boat in
Alicante, using it for less frequent
but longer breaks with his family.BOAT MASTER USEDBOATThere’s plenty of
space for partying
in the open cockpitThe tender
garage is a key
selling point of
the Portofi no 53