Sunseeker history

Sunseeker was founded in 1969 by Robert Braithwaite in Poole, growing out of Poole Powerboats, a distributor of sports boats. The Sovereign 17 and 20, launched in the early 1970s, established the brand's reputation for performance; racing boat designer Don Shead joined shortly after, leading Sunseeker into the Mediterranean market with the Offshore 28 and the name change to Sunseeker International. The Predator 80 in the mid-1990s marked the entry into the superyacht segment, followed by the Sunseeker 105 in 2001. The 2008 financial crisis forced a restructuring and FL Partners acquisition in 2010. In 2013, Dalian Wanda Group acquired a 91.8% stake for approximately £320 million. In March 2026, a consortium led by KCP Holdings acquired Sunseeker through a debt purchase; Andrés Rubio was appointed CEO.

Production and facilities

Sunseeker operates eight production facilities in Poole and a deep-water site in Hythe, Hampshire, used for the construction of the largest hulls. Each yacht is built largely by hand across both production and semi-custom models. Clients commissioning yachts over 100 feet are offered a fully custom service. The yard employs approximately 2,600 specialist craftspeople and exports over 150 yachts per year.

Sunseeker model range

Sunseeker's current range spans six families from 11 to 49 metres: the Performance Range of high-speed open yachts, the Predator Range of enclosed mid-size performance yachts, the classic flybridge Yacht Series topped by the 131 Yacht, the Sport Yacht Series of sportsbridge models, the Manhattan Series of spacious mid-size flybridge yachts, and the Ocean Series — introduced in 2022 and named by gross tonnage — with the Ocean 156 and Ocean 182.

Design and features

Sunseeker motor yachts are immediately recognisable by their low, aggressive profiles and consistent fit-and-finish standard across the range. The brand has featured in four James Bond films, reinforcing its visibility in markets where British design carries weight. Resale values are stable relative to the production yacht segment, and the custom programme for larger hulls allows meaningful personalisation without the lead times of a full custom shipyard.