Sunseeker Predator 65 dazzles in sea trials

alt="Sunseeker Predator 65 dazzles in sea trials"/>

Sunseeker debuted the Predator 65 online in February

Sunseeker has launched its Predator 65 and showcased the model hitting 35 knots during sea trials ahead of its world premiere at the Palm Beach International Boat Show (March 24-27).

The British builder staged a digital premiere of the yacht that included an introduction by Sunseeker CEO Andrea Frabetti, whose leadership at Sunseeker has included the launch of the Predator 60 EVO™ in late 2019 and the Predator 55 EVO™ in early 2021. The Predator 74 XPS, an upgrade of the line’s flagship model launched in 2018, was also added last year.

The digital launch of the three-cabin Predator 65 also included spectacular inside-the-boat footage of a sea trial skippered by Sean Robertson, Sunseeker’s Sales and Marketing Director.

Featuring a hull fitted with twin Volvo Penta IPS-1350 engines (an upgrade from the IPS-1200s), the video captured footage from both inside and outside the boat, illustrating full turns at full speed, with a leaning Robertson even looking through the glazed panels in the sunroof to check his surroundings while cornering at 32 knots.

“It’s very easy to control. The whole boat feels alive and you feel absolutely connected to it,” said Robertson, who has worked at the Poole shipyard since 1986. The footage also included a 0-35 knots time trial, with the yacht reaching 15 knots in 10 seconds, 25 knots in 17 seconds and 35 knots in 30 seconds.

“This is 40 tonnes of boat that will accelerate from a dead standstill to 35 knots in 30 seconds. Absolutely incredible,” he added. “It proves what this Predator delivers in terms of driving fun and ability.”

The hull, shared with the 65 Sport Yacht, has a sleek profile featuring a long band of angular tinted glazing pierced by two ‘teeth’, while carbon-fibre, polished stainless steel and teak are also used in the exterior.

In a standard arrangement, the garage is topped by a large sun pad that connects to a cockpit sofa, an adjustable table and a port-side bar unit with matching stools. Portside options in the aft cockpit include a wet bar or an extended J-shaped seating, as featured on the hull in the sea trial. Other options include a crew cabin accessed via a dedicated stairwell in the cockpit.

Sliding doors to starboard and a dropping window portside allow the cockpit to merge with the open-plan interior, which has an aft galley to port complemented by full-height shelving to starboard.

The saloon features C-shaped seating and a flexible table to port, while starboard options behind the helm station include a fixed TV, seating with a retractable TV or extended seating to suit the lower-galley arrangement. The oversized carbon-fibre sunroof above the helm opens more than 2m wide for plenty of natural light and fresh air.

The lower deck features a full-beam master stateroom midships, a forward VIP and a guest cabin to starboard, all with en-suite bathrooms. Portside options include a day head, an open-plan owner’s office linked to the master suite, a single-berth cabin, galley or lounge.

Frabetti said: “The Predator 65 is an exciting proposition for any prospective buyer. With dynamic handling and exceptional performance, the driving experience is peerless while providing spacious living quarters for owners to enjoy extended time on the open water.

“The passion of the in-house Sunseeker design and engineering teams are reflected in the outstanding innovations on board this exciting new model.”