Sunseeker vs the field
At 55 to 65 feet an Australian buyer is usually weighing a Sunseeker against a Princess, an Azimut, a Ferretti or a Riviera. Each of those is a serious boat from a serious builder, and the honest comparison is less about which is “best” than about what each one is built to do.
On the published numbers
We are the Sunseeker dealer for Western Australia. We have kept this to published figures and been explicit about where a rival is stronger.
Sunseeker and Azimut figures are from each builder's own specification page. Princess figures are from Princess Yachts Australia, which publishes a shorter spec set.
| Specification | Sunseeker Manhattan 55 | Azimut Fly 53 | Princess F55 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 17.21 m | 16.78 m | 17.6 m |
| Beam | 4.87 m | 4.95 m | not published |
| Draft | 1.37 m | 1.04 m | not published |
| Displacement | 27,000 kg | 28.9 t | not published |
| Engines | Twin MAN i6 800ps or Volvo IPS-950 | 2 × Volvo IPS 950 D11 725 hp | 2 × 900 mhp |
| Top speed | up to 32 knots | up to 31 knots | 31–33 knots |
| Fuel | 2,200 L | 2,400 L | not published |
| Cabins | 3 | 3 + crew | 3 |
| Range | 230 nm @ 21 knots | 281 nm @ 15.1 knots | not published |
The Riviera figures are hull length and dry weight, not LOA, so that this table stays comparable — see the note above.
| Specification | Sunseeker Predator 65 | Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht | Azimut S7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 20.50 m | 17.95 m (hull; 19.82 m LOA) | 21.68 m |
| Beam | 5.10 m | 5.13 m | 5.15 m |
| Draft | 1.6 m | not published | 1.69 m |
| Weight | 37,810 kg | 36,500 kg (dry) | 46 t |
| Engines | Twin Volvo IPS 1200 or IPS 1350 | Twin Volvo D13 IPS 1350, 1,000 hp ea. | 3 × Volvo D13 IPS 1050 800 hp |
| Top speed | up to 35 knots | not published | up to 35 knots |
| Fuel | 3,500 L | 4,500 L | 3,800 L |
| Cabins | 3 standard, 4th optional | sleeps 7 + 1 crew | 4 + crew |
| Range | 750 nm @ 10 knots | not published | 387 nm @ 18.6 knots |
Who builds what, and where
Sunseeker was founded by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite in 1969 and took the Sunseeker International name in 1985. It builds in Poole, Dorset, employs around 2,000 people, and produces roughly 150 boats a year from 55 to 131 feet — 98% of them exported, through more than 100 retail and service locations in 74 countries.
Princess began as Marine Projects in Plymouth in 1965 and marked its 60th anniversary in 2025. Azimut and Ferretti bring the Italian tradition, and the Azimut S7's triple-IPS installation is a genuinely different engineering answer to the same problem.
Riviera is the one to take seriously on home ground. It builds at a 16.8-hectare site at Coomera in Queensland with a 900-strong team, has delivered over 6,300 boats across 45 years, and currently publishes a 7-year limited structural warranty plus 5 years on Volvo Penta systems. That warranty is longer than anything the European builders publish, and for an Australian owner the domestic parts and service network is a real advantage. If proximity to the factory matters most to you, Riviera deserves the shortlist spot.
Australian representation
This is where the field thins out, and it matters more than most buyers expect — a 60-foot boat is only as good as the people who can fix it.
Riviera has the deepest Australian network, with R Marine Perth at Aquarama Marina, East Fremantle covering Western Australia. Princess Yachts Australia runs three offices — Sanctuary Cove, Sydney and Melbourne. Azimut lists a single official Australian dealer, Short Marine at Ferguson's Marina in Mosman, New South Wales. Ferretti Group's official contacts page lists no Australian office at all.
As a rough proxy for how many are actually out here, brand listings on boatsonline.com.au ran Riviera 399, Sunseeker 108, Princess 81, Azimut 58 and Ferretti 24 Australia-wide; in Western Australia specifically, Riviera 63, Sunseeker 11, Princess 9 and Azimut 1. Read that as fleet presence and resale liquidity, not as a quality ranking.
Sunseeker vs Princess
Is Sunseeker or Princess better?
Neither is objectively better — they are close rivals from the same part of the world, founded four years apart, and a buyer usually chooses on layout and feel rather than specification. Sunseeker builds in Poole and produces around 150 boats a year from 55 to 131 feet; Princess builds in Plymouth and marked 60 years in 2025. The practical difference in Australia is dealer coverage: Princess Yachts Australia has three offices on the east coast, while Sunseeker is represented in Western Australia by Motoryachts Australasia at North Fremantle.
Why is the Riviera listed as shorter than its advertised length?
Because Riviera publishes length overall including the swim platform and bowsprit, and separately publishes hull length. On the 58 Sports Motor Yacht that is 19.82 m LOA against 17.95 m hull length — a difference of about 1.9 m. Comparing a Riviera LOA figure against a Sunseeker, Princess or Azimut single length figure overstates the Riviera. Our tables use hull length where the builder publishes it.
Which of these brands has the best Australian support?
Riviera, on network depth — it builds at Coomera in Queensland with a 900-strong team and is represented in Western Australia by R Marine Perth. Princess has three Australian offices, Azimut has one official Australian dealer in New South Wales, and Ferretti Group lists no Australian office. Sunseeker is supported in Western Australia by Motoryachts Australasia, whose service team works from an office attached to the lifting facility at Rous Head Harbour.
How long is the warranty on these yachts?
Riviera is the only one of the five publishing warranty terms openly: currently a 7-year limited structural warranty and a 5-year limited mechanical and electronics warranty on Volvo Penta systems. The European builders do not publish comparable terms on their public sites, so ask each dealer for the warranty schedule in writing before you compare them.
Where can I see a Sunseeker in Perth?
At Motoryachts Australasia, 26 Rous Head Road, North Fremantle WA 6159 — the official Sunseeker dealer for Western Australia, covering the Yacht, Ocean, Performance and Superyacht ranges from 55 to 134 feet. Weekday hours are 7:00am to 4:00pm, with after-hours and weekend viewings by appointment.
Every figure above, and where it came from
Taken from each manufacturer's own current specification pages. Builders revise specifications without notice — check with the relevant dealer before making a decision on a number.
- Sunseeker Manhattan 55 — official specifications
- Sunseeker Predator 65 — official specifications
- Sunseeker — company history
- Princess Yachts Australia — F55
- Azimut Fly 53 — official specifications
- Azimut S7 — official specifications
- Ferretti Yachts 580 — official specifications
- Riviera 58 Sports Motor Yacht — official specifications
Step aboard a Sunseeker
Private viewings at our North Fremantle marina, weekdays 7:00am–4:00pm or by appointment. We will talk you through the rivals as fairly as we have here.