Meet the bestselling yacht - Sunseeker Manhattan 55 2021

Introduced for the 2021 model year, the Sunseeker Manhattan 55 replaced the Manhattan 52 and formed part of Sunseeker’s simultaneous five-model launch. Designed by Sunseeker and built in Poole, England, this generation measures 17.21 metres overall with a 4.87-metre beam. It should not be confused with the earlier, 18.35-metre Manhattan 55 carrying the same name. Its exterior combines extensive hull glazing, stainless-steel detailing and carbon-fibre air intakes.

The main deck places the galley aft, next to the cockpit, with a powered lowering window that opens the counter to the outside. Optional stools turn this junction into a cockpit bar. A step forward leads to the saloon’s U-shaped seating and dining area. Below are three cabins sleeping six: a full-beam amidships owner’s suite, a forward double VIP and a twin guest cabin, served by two bathrooms. The optional stern crew compartment can alternatively provide utility space.

Outdoor accommodation extends across the cockpit, foredeck lounge and flybridge. The upper deck has a second helm, dining for six, sunbathing space and a wet bar; shade arrangements include a bimini or an optional fixed hardtop with an opening roof. At the stern, the hydraulic bathing platform works with the optional Beach Club package, which adds a barbecue workstation, overhead shower and folding transom seat. These features vary between individual boats.

The 2021 shaft-drive configuration uses two Volvo Penta D13-800 diesels, producing 1,600 hp in total. Sunseeker quotes approximately 25 knots cruising and 32 knots maximum; Motor Boat & Yachting recorded 32.5 knots during its test. That test reported ranges of 196 nautical miles at 20 knots and 572 nautical miles at 7.8 knots, illustrating the substantial effect of speed on endurance. The yacht carries 2,200 litres of diesel and 600 litres of fresh water.

The hull and superstructure are GRP composite, with a planing hull and a published displacement of approximately 27 tonnes. Equipment documented on examples includes Seakeeper 6 gyro stabilisation, bow and stern thrusters, air conditioning, upgraded generators, hydraulic gangways and navigation packages. Such equipment is not universal standard specification. The lower helm has no direct side-deck door, a practical distinction for owners handling lines themselves.

For this generation, production spans 2021–2026. Launch-period reporting also identified an IPS pod-drive option, so propulsion should be checked against each boat’s build specification rather than inferred from the model name. The subsequent Manhattan 56 introduces revised exterior glazing and a modular cockpit for 2026 while retaining the same principal dimensions. The 55’s owner-operated format, separate guest cabins and multiple open-air seating areas make family coastal cruising its central role.