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On the
main deck, the saloon offers two lounge areas. The after one has facing
settees on either side of a sliding glass window wall, so the saloon can
be kept in climate-controlled comfort or opened to the aft deck, forming
a big indoor/outdoor entertainment center. The second lounge is forward
to port, where a large, comfortable, U-shape settee wraps around a beautifully
finished lacquered wood dining table. Interior furnishings and joinery
are offered in a variety of textures and finishes.
Even
the lower-deck galley offers versatility. Because the 56 is large enough
that some owners may wish to have crew onboard while other owners may
not, Sunseeker offers two options. Space adjoining the galley can be fitted
as a small crew space with a single berth and separate head, or it can
be used to enlarge the galley and provide additional stowage and a laundry.
Directly
above the galley, the main helm station has been designed to maximize
driving comfort. The wood-trimmed wheel and burl-walnut dash echo the
style of a luxury sports car, with a full cluster of instruments in easy
view. Large side windows and a full glass door aft provide excellent sight
lines in all directions from the Besenzoni helm seat; its six-way power
adjustment will let anyone find a comfortable driving position. At the
base of the helm station, alongside steps to the lower deck, is a full
a.c./d.c. panel, always in view behind a tinted glass door. Switches are
color-coded and clearly labeled, and all the instruments are easy-to-read
analog-style meters.
When
you’re wowed out and ready to relax, you’ll appreciate the
master stateroom’s large centerline berth, accessible from three
sides and with a large stowage space beneath. Side ports and an overhead
hatch make the space light and airy. Headroom is 6'4" minimum, so
even a big guy like me (I’m 6'2") has plenty of room to move
around. I especially liked the fact that the shower in the master head
has a little extra elbow room.
One
of my favorite features on the 56 is the hydraulic swim platform. At the
touch of a button, the entire platform lowers to water level, or a few
inches below, so bathers can easily swim on and off without having to
climb a ladder. The platform is large enough to accommodate a PWC or small
tender, in which case the platform lift capability will greatly simplify
watertoy launch and retrieval.
Whether
you have swimmers or groceries coming aboard, you’ll appreciate
the centerline transom door. With the swim platform in the raised position,
it makes it easy to board from dockside. From the teak-covered aft deck,
glass doors lead into the saloon, teak stairs lead up to the flying bridge,
and wide side decks lead forward to sunpads on the foredeck. To keep things
shipshape, Sunseeker provides hidden stowage for docklines and fenders
so they won’t clutter the stylish exterior.
Clutter
is also lacking in the engine room, which you access through a hatch in
the aft deck. Forward there’s six-foot headroom and easy access
to all critical items. Cooling-water intakes are on centerline, in full
view, and clear labeling of valves, switches, and equipment takes the
guesswork out of operation and maintenance. The engines are mounted atop
stout longitudinal stringers that tie into transverse structural bulkheads.
They transfer load to the hull bottom, a beefy single-skin laminate with
multiaxial fiber reinforcement, and hull sides, decks, and superstructure,
which are balsa-cored sandwich panels with multiaxial fiber in the skins.
By the
end of the day, I realized that the wow power of the Manhattan 56 was
more than just a passing glance. Look a little deeper and you’ll
see this boat is just as impressive beneath her lovely skin. No wonder
so many Sunseeker owners are saying, “Wow, I want one now!”
Sunseeker
USA (954) 984-2911. Fax: (954) 984-2913.
George
L. Petrie is a professor of naval architecture at the University of New
Orleans and provides maritime consulting services. His Web site is www.maritimeanalysis.com.
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