48 Sunseeker Superhawk Express Cruiser

Source: David Lockwood, Boatpoint Magazine

One date with Sunseeker’s new Superhawk 48 express cruiser and you’ll be back for more… This latest landing from the UK builder was last seen on Sydney Harbour taking tight turns in a single bound and moving faster than a speeding bullet

With models like Tomahawk and Predator you might think you’re on a battleship bound for the Balkans. With names like Manhattan and Carmargue you get the impression you are keeping good company. But it’s not until you turn the keys and plant the throttles of the one called Superhawk that you realise the true meaning of authority.

The Superhawk from UK boatbuilder Sunseeker has not one, or two, but three 230hp turbo-charged Volvo engines with sterndrive units. These give the boat a top speed of more than 50kt. It comes with almost frightening alacrity.

Affected little by wind or waves, the dynamic express cruiser can cover one nautical mile every 1.2 minutes and reel in 25.71m in a second. Thus, Sydney Harbour seems almost too small to unleash the Superhawk, though I did anyway.

The Superhawk is designed more to rocket from port to port. In the Mediterranean, for example, you could fox around the south of France, gad across to Greece, slip down to Spain, and mosey around Morocco in the space of a few weeks.

According to Sunseeker, this is the model which best carries the mantle of the company’s racing heritage. The brochure says: “It is a powerboat that is so staggeringly powerful, and yet at the same time a craft that is so exquisitely beautiful, that heads will turn every time you take her out.”

While I was too busy to notice the heads turning on the shore, I did note that this was most definitely my drive of the year. The Superhawk is an impressive boat in terms of speed, seaworthiness, handling and interior comforts, but at the helm it’s a real honey.

LEAN AND HUNGRY
Weighing just 8900kg with half fuel and water, the 48-foot Superhawk turns like a sportscar and cruises like a missile.

Where it fits in Down Under is obvious… For doing Sydney to Palm Beach, Port Melbourne to Portsea, Maroochydore to Moreton Island… You’ll beat the traffic hands down.

The dozen models from 34-63ft in the Sunseeker range are all designed for fast ocean travel. The hulls are formed from hand-laid fibreglass with woven rovings and unidirectional reinforcement; the topsides are fashioned from a light but strong 12mm-balsa cored material; and a bonded foam girder system reinforces the whole thing.

The Superhawk also has internally-bonded watertight bulkheads, an enclosed fuel tank with automatic fire extinguisher system, automatic bilge pumps, a split charging system for two separate battery banks, a water heater, and excellent sound insulation in the engineroom.

The engineroom hatch, which creates a massive aft sunpad big enough for two or three, or maybe even four, bronzed bodies to recline, lifts on hydraulic struts. Inside, the three engines lie with the centre motor staggered to create room for a genset and air-conditioning unit.

Access to the cockpit from the boarding platform is via a companionway alongside that giant sunpad. The self-draining cockpit, lined with teak on this boat, has seating for six around a unique dinette which retracts back into the coaming. This way, you retain the floor space to entertain at anchor.

Amenities include a fully-moulded wetbar with hot and cold running water, glass holders, waterproof carpet, overhead lights on a targa arch, a teak bathing platform, hot and cold deck shower, storage for fenders and lines, and a sliding cabin door.

The sidedecks are backed by a bowrail. They are wide enough to scamper along from the cockpit, while the foredeck could be used for sunbathing.

The anchor is, of course, lowered by buttons on the dash, and there are stainless cleats amidships for the springer lines or fenders.

DRIVE TIME
The Superhawk’s sophisticated dash and helm set-up suggest performance is in store. The wraparound safety-glass windscreen with stainless frame cuts the wind nicely, and the raked targa arch adds to the go-fast look.

Twin wraparound racing seats with folding bases let you and the co-pilot travel on your feet, leaping from wave to wave in comfort, while the walnut dash bristles with full analogue engine instrumentation.

There is a wood-rimmed steering wheel and MY race controls, an electronic speedlog, depth sounder, VHF radio, trim tab buttons, fuel gauge, compass, horn, windscreen wiper and washer all as standard.

An optional instrument cover and bow thruster had been added to the testboat. The bow thruster makes parking the flighty 48-footer a snap at that tight marina berth, out the front of the harbourside apartment, or alongside a waterfront restaurant somewhere.

If you haven’t already guessed it, driving the Superhawk is a huge buzz.

The lightweight hull jumps out of the blocks and planes almost as quickly as it takes to advance the throttles. Riding high in the water, the boat feels slippery. Yet it holds on remarkably well in tight turns and doesn’t wash off speed.

It doesn’t take too long to discover that you can throw the Superhawk around, almost as though it was an overgrown social skiboat. While it can top 50kt, you feel as though you can stop just as quickly… Or bank the boat around an unexpected obstacle like a Manly ferry should you have to.

COUPLE’S CABIN
Despite its lean profile, the Superhawk is a veritable home away from home. Offering sumptuous living for a couple,the boat contains a generous forward cabin behind a ship-like oval door, with one big head located back towards the companionway where guests can find it.

The main cabin has an island double berth, hanging wardrobe, reading lights, deck hatch, blinds and plush carpet. The choice of fabrics is up to you, with a swatch of suggested combinations covering desert hues, creams, blues and turquoise patterns in a choice of themes from Maritime to Vivache and Thai silk.

Choices also extend to indoor and outdoor carpets, cockpit stripes and hull colours. As to be expected from the British, the joinery is first-rate.

An optional birds-eye maple kit was applied to great effect on the testboat. Richly lacquered, the maple is used for the sideboards flanking the bed, the door frames and the not insubstantial entertainment centre and galley in the saloon. There is also a wonderful U-shaped lounge built around a maple dinette, which is positioned to face a built-in television also set in maple. The television is flanked by separate settees and overhead cabinets.

There are speakers inside and out for the CD player, overhead halogen downlighting, opening portholes and a twin deck hatches.

The galley is close to the companionway on the port side. It’s an exhibition of maple wood whereupon most amenities are tucked away from view. These include a sink, 12V fridge, ceramic cooktop, six-piece dinner setting, crockery storage, and a clever retractable rubbish bin.

Opposite is the head with bump-free benchtops – lapis blue was the chosen colour. There is a wash basin and handheld shower, mirrored vanity unit, toothbrush and glass holder, towel ring and towels, and an optional electric loo with holding tank (to comply with Olympic demands in Sydney).

DRIVE OF THE YEAR
Of course, the Superhawk is not for everyone. The boat measures more than 50-feet overall and has luxury accommodation for just two, all be they very lucky, people. There are three engines to concern yourself with, though they can be driven by one synchronised throttle, and the diesel bills won’t be light.

But with a range of up to 350nm and a possible top speed of 60kt (if you want to specify bigger engines still), this boat is among the best escape machines I’ve come across. From busy Sydney, a quite anchorage is just 40 minutes blast up the coast to Pittwater…

In short, this boat bounds across the tyranny of distance and time. As I said, the Superhawk gets my gong for the drive and ride of the year.

Boat Specifications: 48 Sunseeker Superhawk Express Cruiser

SUNSEEKER 48

Options fitted Shipping tonneau; birds-eye maple doors, galley top, galley unit, storage and TV cabinets; teak cockpit; Lapis blue vanity top; instrument cover; bow thruster, freshwater deck wash; electric toilet with holding tank.

Hull

Material: GRP, balsa-cored deck

Type: Modified deep-vee mono

Deadrise at transom: n/a

Length (overall): 15.28m

Beam: 3.25m

Draft: 0.77m

Displacement: 8.9t (half fuel and water)

Fuel capacity: 1060lt

Water capacity: 220lt

Engines (as tested)

Make/model: Triple Volvo KAD 43DP

Rated hp (ea): 230hp

Type: Turbo and supercharged aftercooled inline six-cylinder diesel

Displacement (ea): 3600cc

Weight (ea): 570kg with leg