Sunseeker Manhattan 55

• LOA: 17.21 m (56 ft 6 in)
• Beam: 4.87 m (16 ft 0 in)
• Draft: 1.37 m
• Engines: twin MAN i6 800 PS or Volvo Penta IPS-950
• Top speed: up to 32 knots (about 25-knot cruise)
• Guests: up to 6 in 3 cabins
• Range: about 230 nm at 21 knots
• Displacement: about 27,000 kg

The entry Manhattan

The Manhattan 55 opens the Yacht range and sits below the Manhattan 68 as the smaller of Sunseeker's two current flybridge Manhattans. At 17.21 metres it is a boat an owner can handle without permanent crew, yet it delivers the three-deck living that defines the Manhattan idea. Sunseeker crafts it to maximise comfort and cruising performance while offering the abundance of social space usually found on much larger yachts. It is the natural first flybridge for a family stepping up from a sports cruiser.

The Manhattan character has always been about volume and versatility, and the 55 distils that into an accessible package. It gives an owner the raised flybridge, the walk-around decks and the sense of occasion of a proper motor yacht, all on a hull that fits a wider range of berths and budgets. The boat feels bigger than its numbers from the moment you step aboard. It is designed to be the family's home away from home on the water.

Deck spaces and the Beach Club

A distinctive Beach Club sits aft at water level, and it can be specified with barbecue facilities, turning the stern into a genuine outdoor kitchen and swim base. The bathing platform, cockpit and Beach Club flow together so that life aboard runs seamlessly from the saloon to the sea. Up top, the flybridge carries seating, sunpads and a helm that makes driving from the open air a pleasure. It is the deck where owners spend most sunny afternoons.

The foredeck offers additional lounging for anyone seeking a quieter corner, and the side decks stay safe for mooring and handling. Large windows and glazed doors dissolve the line between the cockpit and the saloon, so the whole main deck breathes when the doors slide back. For a 55 foot yacht the outdoor space is remarkable, spread across the aft deck, the flybridge and the Beach Club. Every level is built around gathering people close to the water.

The entry flybridge Manhattan, with a Beach Club and big-boat social space on an owner-driven 17 m hull.

Interior and layout

The open-plan main deck is the heart of the Manhattan 55, with the galley, dining and saloon arranged to feel light and connected. Seamless indoor and outdoor connectivity is a deliberate theme, so the boat entertains as easily at anchor as it cruises. The current Sunseeker interiors palette keeps the mood contemporary, and owners can steer the finish to taste. The lower helm sits forward with a clear view for passage making in poor weather.

Below, the yacht offers three cabins served by two heads, with a full-beam or forward master depending on the layout chosen. The accommodation is arranged to give a couple a proper owner's suite while keeping a VIP and a further cabin for family or guests. Hull windows bring light and a sea view into the lower deck. It is a layout tuned for family cruising, weekends aboard and the occasional longer trip.

Engineering and performance

Power comes from twin MAN inline sixes at 800 PS or twin Volvo Penta IPS-950 pods, for a top speed of up to 32 knots and a comfortable 25 knot cruise. The pod option adds joystick docking that makes an owner-driven yacht simple to berth single-handed. At 21 knots the boat has a working range of around 230 nautical miles, ample for coastal hops between anchorages and harbours. The 55 is designed to be driven and enjoyed by its owner, with no need for professional crew.

The hull is tuned for a balance of comfort and pace, keeping the ride settled at cruise while still offering a genuine turn of speed when wanted. Fuel capacity of 2,200 litres and a generator of 11 to 13.5 kilowatts support days out and nights at anchor with the systems running. Displacement of around 27 tonnes gives the boat a planted, grown-up feel. Everything is scaled so that ownership stays straightforward.

Who it is for

The Manhattan 55 is for the owner who wants a true flybridge yacht with big-boat social spaces and a Beach Club, on a hull they can run themselves. It is the ideal step up from a sports cruiser for a family that has outgrown a single deck. Buyers weighing it against the Manhattan 68 are choosing a more manageable, owner-driven size without leaving the Manhattan world behind.

The appeal is the freedom of running your own flybridge, dropping anchor in a quiet cove and firing up the barbecue in the beach club as the sun goes down. It is a boat that turns ordinary weekends into proper time on the water. For a couple or a young family it offers the full Sunseeker feel at a size that never becomes a chore to own.

Who it is for: The family owner who wants a genuine flybridge yacht with a Beach Club, on a size they can handle themselves.