Great Machines: Boats - Sunseeker Portofino 35

Robert Farago

06/02/2003

Once boaters gain an affinity for a manufacturer’s products, only major temptation—or total calamity—can alter their allegiance. Sunseeker knows this. Loyal customers have helped the company expand its range from the small speedboats of the late 1960s to today’s lineup of yachts, cruisers, and sportboats. But during this logical evolution, something important got lost along the way: an entry-level Sunseeker cruiser.

“Dealers kept clamoring for a launchpad into the brand,” says Sunseeker Managing Director Robert Braithwaite. “I told them to sell used boats. When the supply dried up, we finally decided to build a smaller boat that still embodies Sunseeker’s traditional values.”

Fans of the brand will not mistake the Portofino 35 for anything else. Naval architect Ewen Foster has given her the classic Sunseeker “S” profile, complete with rakish half-moon windows and oblong portholes. The rest of the 35’s design represents Foster’s struggle with the art of compromise. “In the old days, we’d just do a performance hull and fit in the rest,” Foster explains. “Now, we hit it from three directions at once: hull, interior, and engineering.”

Driving the boat’s 272-hp twin diesels into a head sea, I pushed the new hull a good five knots beyond her official maximum of 35 knots. The Sunseeker’s handling wasn’t razor sharp, but the helm was never less than responsive. Perhaps more crucially, the Portofino 35 negotiated a lumpy English Channel with confident ease. Owners will have little reason to fear changing conditions during longer voyages.
Whether they will take up the challenge is another matter. The 35’s master stateroom, shower room, and aft double berth offer enough space for a family with 2.4 kids. Just. More realistically, the salon’s excellent headroom and the spacious upper deck make the 35 a perfect party boat or a weekend cruiser. The only serious omission is the lack of offshore air conditioning—which Sunseeker will fit for an additional $5,000.

And perfectly fitted it will be. The Portofino 35’s construction reflects Sunseeker’s traditional commitment to quality. From the gentle click of the cabinet doors to the stainless steel double clamps securing the vital hoses, the boat’s engineering and assembly reflect truly fanatical fit and finish. The 35 is both well contructed and built to last.

It may be hard to think of a $400,000 craft as a starter boat, but the Portofino 35 is the first Sunseeker cruiser below the half-million-dollar mark in over five years. For boaters experimenting with cruising or looking for a less conspicuous financial commitment to the Sunseeker brand, the Portofino 35 is a much-welcome return to Sunseeker’s roots.

Sunseeker, +44 1202.381.111, www.sunseeker.com

Sunseeker Portofino 35
•Model: Portofino 35
•Price as Tested: $397,750
•Length O.A.: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
•Length Hull: 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
•Length Waterline: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
•Max Beam: 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in)
•Displacement half Load: 9000 kg (19,800 lb)
•Draught: 0.95m (3 ft 1 in)
•Fuel Capacity: 800 l (211 gal)
•Water Capacity: 250 l (66 gal)
•Installable Power: 272 to 300hp
•Max Speed: 35 knots
•Berths: 4
•Approved to Carry: 10
•CE Design Category: B