Bill Ando
04/01/2005
Sunseeker’s first Predator 108 has found a suitable home in
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, a resort area centrally located on the Mexican Riviera, 100
miles north of Acapulco. With inviting exterior spaces and a voluminous
interior, hull #1, called M3, personifies the open designation and will turn
more than a few heads as she plies the waters off Ixtapa’s islands.
Currently the flagship of the Sunseeker fleet, she was developed with the
encouragement of her owner, who had purchased a 63-foot Predator two decades ago
and now wanted something larger than his 100-foot Azimut Jumbo. Coming from a
large, boat-loving family, his choice of vessel contrasts with that of his
younger brother, who has a Sunseeker Manhattan 64 flybridge motor yacht. Their
father, meanwhile, is considering buying a 125-foot yacht.
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The Predator 108 is a high-performance machine. Available drive options rely on MTU engines and include a twin-shaft propeller configuration for a top speed of 32 knots, or a trio of 2,000-hp 16 valve engines coupled to Arneson surface-piercing drives for a top speed of 42 knots. M3’s owner chose the heftier propulsion package. The yacht carries 2,904 gallons of fuel, and at a respectable 25 knots can cruise for 500 nautical miles.
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Her hull design is a collaboration between veteran
Sunseeker naval architect Don Shead and the Sunseeker design team. The
satin-finish American cherry interior is by Sunseeker’s in-house team, headed by
Stuart Jones. He says M3’s interior is typical of most Predators, whose owners
usually request a contemporary yet classic look. (Click image to enlarge)Her exterior “Sunseeker angles” undeniably define her pedigree. Alfresco on-deck accoutrements are plentiful. A transom settee is placed forward of the sun lounge that accommodates additional sun worshipers. An awning extends from the coach roof, providing shade for the L-shaped lounge and a teak table to port, opposite the granite-topped wet bar.
The mirrored curved sliding doors visually extend the deck by reflecting the view astern and also provide privacy within the salon. Nineteen-inch-wide walk-around decks keep the stainless steel rails close at hand for secure passage to and from the bow. The foredeck offers ample space for anchoring chores and seven individually adjustable sun lounges. Three face aft, the remainder forward, on opposite ends of a circular spa tub.
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An exceptionally high overhead and patterned teak floor add interest to the main
salon. Stairs to the lower-deck accommodation are discreetly located just inside
the sliding glass doors. Photograph courtesy of Sunseeker. (Click image to enlarge)The transom garage is wired for a dive compressor and can store a personal watercraft or four-meter tender, which alternatively can be carried on the large swim platform.
Inside the sliders, the salon, dining area and bar share a large interior space. With the overhead measuring 10 feet off the deck at its highest point, the powerful view forward to the windshield is interrupted only by four Besenzoni pilot seats, mounted by twos on the bridge, two steps above the main deck. The three-panel, tempered-glass windshield, narrow mullions, wide side windows and elevated sight line aft through the sliders provide excellent all-around visibility. Light from four panels in the aft overhead and from the 100-square-foot sliding hardtop bounces off every surface. The hardtop slider also provides starry night dining when opened. The open architecture doesn’t create any unwanted acoustics. Readings in the salon while running at 23 knots are a conversational 65 dB; increasing the speed to 37 knots brings the level up to only 72 dB.
Apparently altering the laws of physics, the designers have angled the windscreen so that it deflects air over the sunroof. Open the aft sliders, and still the internal atmosphere remains undisturbed, even at 32 knots.
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The teak-and-holly sole departs from the traditional teak planks butted end to end. Each plank’s end is separated by four-inch squares of teak, creating a pleasant mosaic effect and adding another subtle element to the overall ambiance.
The galley is down, and together with a pair of twin crew cabins, provides a buffer between the master suite and the engine room. The unobtrusive stairway is just inside the sliders, so serving the aft deck is as convenient as serving the dining area just abaft the helm.
The owner has a large family and the 108 delivered the right combination of living spaces. At the base of the wide stairway is a lower salon/office. Although this area also can be located within the master suite, the owner chose to move the bulkhead aft and use it as a common area.
The master suite features a queen-size bed and an ensuite bath, where stainless steel washbowls make a contemporary contrast to the classic appeal of black granite and cherry. Here and in the lower salon, large vertical port lights to port and starboard provide generous views and deliver copious amounts of daylight. The rest of the family is accommodated in a VIP stateroom and two twin cabins, located forward off a central hallway.
Contact Sunseeker at 44 (0) 1202 494039. www.sunseeker.com
| Yacht Name: | M3 |
| Yacht Type: | Motor Yacht |
| Draft: | 3' 10" (1.17m) |
| LOA (Actual length): | 108' (32.92m) |
| LWL (Length of water line): | 79' 10" (24.33m) |
| Displacement: | 83.8 (half load) tons |
| Power: | 3x 2,000-hp MTU W/ Arneson Drives |
| Range: | 500 nm @ 25 kts |
| Beam: | 20' 8" (6.30m) |