Superhawk 55
- LOA: 17.13 m (56 ft 2 in)
- Beam: 4.93 m (16 ft 2 in)
- Draft: 1.43 m (4 ft 8 in)
- Engines: twin Volvo Penta IPS 950, 2 x 725PS
- Top speed: up to 38 knots
- Fuel capacity: 1,800 litres
- Cabins: 2, both en-suite
- Displacement 26,100 kg, world debut boot Dusseldorf 2023
A racing name brought back at full size
The Superhawk name carries weight at Sunseeker. Don Shead's original Superhawks of the late 1990s were low, fast open sportsboats, and the Superhawk 34 earned lasting fame through its appearance in the Bond film The World Is Not Enough. The 55 is the first model to wear the badge in roughly a decade, and at 17.13 metres it is the largest yet. It sits in the Performance group as the open-air counterpoint to the enclosed Predator 55.
That pairing is deliberate. The Superhawk and Predator 55 share a hull and drivetrain, so Sunseeker can offer one platform in two moods. The Superhawk keeps the roof off and the sides low, chasing the open cruising feel that made the earlier boats memorable. It reads as a sun-seeking day yacht with genuine cruising manners rather than a stripped-out raceboat.
Low sides and a walkaround deck
The Superhawk 55 is built around the open-air experience. The single-level deck runs as a walkaround, with low bulwarks that keep sightlines clear and let the breeze through. A large sunbathing area and a social cockpit dominate the layout above deck, shaded when needed by a canopy rather than a fixed hardtop. The styling is cleaner and less aggressive than Shead's wedge-shaped originals, in keeping with the current Sunseeker line.
Details reward a closer look. The transom opens to a bathing platform that extends the usable deck at anchor, and the helm sits behind a wraparound screen that gives shelter under way. Deep hull glazing brings daylight below without breaking the sporting profile. Displacement is quoted at 26,100 kilograms, which is substantial for an open boat of this length and speaks to how solidly it is built.
The largest Superhawk yet, an open cruiser reviving a name last seen a decade ago.
Two cabins beneath an open deck
Accommodation is arranged for a couple who cruise by day and stay aboard by night. The Superhawk 55 has two cabins, each with its own en-suite, which keeps the emphasis on quality rather than berth count. The lower deck is finished to the same standard as Sunseeker's enclosed models, with pale surfaces and generous glazing offsetting the compact footprint. This is a boat that treats the deck as the main living space and the cabins as a comfortable retreat.
Because the Superhawk gives its volume to the open deck, the interior is intimate by design. Fuel capacity of 1,800 litres and a fresh-water tank of 430 litres support weekend cruising rather than long passages. The galley and heads are sized for two couples at most. Owners trading up from a smaller open boat will find the accommodation a clear step forward without pretending to be a flybridge cruiser.
IPS drive and up to 38 knots
The Superhawk 55 runs twin Volvo Penta IPS 950 pods, each a D11 diesel of 725PS, matched to a hull shaped specifically for pod propulsion. Sunseeker quotes a top speed of up to 38 knots, a touch higher than the enclosed Predator 55 on the same platform. Independent testers have suggested the figure is conservative in cool water at half load, hinting at 40 knots in the right conditions. The pods bring joystick docking and the calm low-speed control that IPS is known for.
The engineering choices serve the open-cruiser brief. Pod drives sit well aft and free up deck volume, which suits a boat that lives outdoors. They also reduce noise and vibration at a fast cruise, so conversation on the open deck stays easy. For a builder whose Superhawk heritage was all about pace, the modern boat trades a little outright speed for far better manners.
For the sun-seeker who wants the roof off
The Superhawk 55 is for the owner who cruises in warm latitudes and wants nothing between them and the sky. It rewards Mediterranean and similar conditions, where an open deck is an asset rather than a compromise. Against open cruisers from the Italian yards, it offers a storied name, British build quality and the practicality of IPS. The shared platform means a buyer weighs it directly against the enclosed Predator 55.
As a revival the 55 also does brand work for Sunseeker, keeping a famous name in the current catalogue. It appeals to buyers with an eye on heritage as much as on the spec sheet. Resale should benefit from the recognition the Superhawk name still carries. For most shoppers the choice comes down to climate and how often they expect the roof to stay open.
Design
- Exterior: Sunseeker Design / Don Shead (heritage performance hull)
- Interior: Sunseeker
- Naval architecture: Sunseeker / Don Shead
Who it is for: For the warm-water owner who wants an open walkaround day yacht with real cruising comfort and a heritage badge.