Predator 68, great style and flair

With the Predator 68 , it all starts at the helm. There are two seats to starboard, with the outboard one being for the driver; a matching pair of seats to port is for guests, and all have stowage beneath. To make that ride even more enjoyable, there is a large entertainment space just aft of the helm including a Gaggenau electric grill, sink, stowage cabinet, cool box, integrated ice bucket, Raritan ice maker, and a cutting board with a pair of built-in drink holders. (Additional drink holders can be found at the helm and adjacent seating areas.) Behind the passenger seats to port is a four-seat banquette with stowage compartments beneath the cushions and, across the transom, another seating area with Besenzoni hi-lo table. The decks of the Predator 68 are all teak, including the steps and the swim platform. The platform hydraulically “sinks” about three feet, handy should you decide to carry your tender here instead of in the cavernous garage.

The Predator 68 has a three-stateroom, three-head configuration designed around the saloon and galley—sort of a “great room” concept. The forepeak and the master, which is aft and amidships of the saloon, both have en suite heads, while the twin-berth stateroom, whose entrance door is aft and to starboard of the saloon, utilizes the day head there. I found ample stowage areas in all the quarters for those long trips. For example, the forepeak’s double berth has stowage beneath as well as a drawer in the island base and three cabinets on each side, and there’s a closet to boot. The guest cabin has under-berth stowage and a closet. The master also has stowage beneath the double berth as well as a pair of closets.

The interior finish of the Predator 68 is of beautifully crafted cherry. The saloon’s generous seating area, featuring a sweeping leather couch and hinged-leaf table—closed it’s an intimate dinner for four; open, a banquet for eight—is to starboard. The galley, with long granite countertop, separate undercounter Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, four-burner Bosch electric stovetop, and Miele dishwasher, is to port. There are lots of cabinets and drawer space here.

The combination of performance and luxury works well aboard the Predator 68. She’s exciting to drive, and it easy to see how with all her amenities, this Sunseeker could take her owners and guests around in grand style with real flair. Part of that is courtesy of her racy good looks, and part is the notable woodwork and fine fit and finish found throughout her interior. As far as performance is concerned, the 68 definitely puts on a good show.

“Power and Motor Yacht” BOAT TEST

It was blowing a steady 20 knots out of the northeast off of Florida’s dicey Hillsboro Inlet as I wheeled the Sunseeker Predator 68 through her paces in the four-foot slop with the more-than-occasional six-footer thrown in. My last look at the tachs showed the twin 1,300-hp MAN diesels turning about 1800 rpm, and the Furuno Navnet 1943C screen told me I was doing around 31 mph. A cold front had swept in overnight and taken out the mild, calm weather most of South Florida had been experiencing. I looked east to the Gulf Stream and noticed what appeared to be distinct ripples on the horizon. I hit WX on the VHF and got the following mechanically staccato message: “…with the Gulf Stream experiencing seas of 10 to 12 feet…”

Nevertheless, I had the Predator 68 running quite smoothly considering the conditions we were in and noticed little or no wallowing or pounding as the sleek hull moved through the choppy water. Sure, I was working the wheel hard, but that was to be expected. So far this boat and I were getting along just fine. However, I was on a mostly southerly course, and once I turned the 68 around to see what she could do with the seas on the bow, the situation would probably be a very different one… And it was! From the almost predictable rhythm of that aft quartering sea, I was greeted by liquid turmoil. Now at 31 mph there was a fair amount of pounding, especially when the four-footers became sixes. I did manage, on several occasions, to send copious amounts of ocean across my starboard bow. Throttling down to 1500 rpm, I had the Predator 68 running at about 25 mph (22 knots), much more comfortable. Here there was no pounding, and when one of the waves decided to stand up a little taller, the 68 put her shoulder to it and pushed right on through. Even with these seas, I noticed her quick, precise handling when I brought her about on several maneuvers.

Working the throttles and guiding the Predator 68 through the water resulted in an exciting ride. She was putting on a good show, even in this sea. And that’s just what Sunseeker had in mind with the Predator series: boats that are fast, even in less-than-ideal conditions. Afterwards, on protected waters, I posted an average WOT speed of almost 44 mph (38 knots) at 2300 rpm, a fast-cruise speed of more than 41 mph (36 knots) at 2250 rpm, and a slow-cruise speed of more than 31 mph (27 knots) at 1750 rpm.

While I was having quite the time running the 68 up and down the Pompano Beach coastline, it was time to get her back to the dock. We had three bridges to clear, and hoped to make Sunseeker Florida’s facility in Pompano Beach in about 45 minutes. The wind was still up as we approached the tightly packed marina, and there was a fair amount of current running. However, the Predator 68  answered the helm as quickly astern as she did forward, and with only a few nudges from the bow thruster, Casler had her in with barely a ripple to the boats to either side. Showing her stuff once again, this time in an unpredictable docking situation, the Predator 68 definitely made a good first impression.