While attending the OSS
World Championship Offshore Races last November in Destin,
Florida, I jumped at the opportunity to view the newest offering
from the Algonac, Michigan builder. Hull #2 was sitting nearby
at Captain＊s Choice Boats of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a
six-year Sunsation dealer, celebrating their top sales of
the year award.
Sunsation Powerboats Inc. President and CEO, Wayne Schaldenbrand,
was there to take me for a tour, along with Mitch Caplan and
Gary Laughlin, owner and sales manager respectively of Captain＊s
Choice Boats, and Rick and Derrick Gilchrist, along with brother
Darrell, all of Raleigh, North Carolina, are the brand new
owners of this spectacular F-4.
For a company that is well known and respected for its 28＊
and 32＊ performance boats, jumping to a 43-plus footer in
one leap is enough to elicit a ※wow§ from any boating enthusiast
- but the detailed execution of the F-4 elicited more ※wow＊s§
from me than ever before on a boat test. The most amazing
part was that virtually every feature inspiring a ※wow§ was
a standard equipment item. Sunsation provides a short list
of only six factory options available for the F-4. As you
read along and realize just what is included as standard equipment,
you too will no doubt be thinking, ※wow!§
About six years of note-taking and research by Wayne Schaldenbrand
and Sunsation＊s in-house design and engineering manager, Dave
Moriarty, went into the final execution of the F-4＊s hull.
At 43＊4§ LOA on an 8＊9§ beam, it is long, wide, and deep with
more than six feet of cabin headroom. With 24 degrees of deadrise
and four hull aeration steps, it may not sound out of the
ordinary until you spot what Wayne refers to as the ※laminar
flow interrupters§ on the hull bottom near the bow. Wayne
described the innovation in a few words, summarizing years
of technical development. ※These were developed from our Factory-2
race team to aid handling in corners.§ A noticeable roll-in
of the hull sides toward the transom ※was developed with the
help of Mercury Racing to reduce exhaust rollback and promote
aerodynamic efficiency,§ Wayne added. All hull water breaking
edges are extremely sharp to gain speed and fuel economy.
Sunsation spared no expense building the molds with high tech
ceramics to deliver a blue printed hull and insure good hull
and deck cosmetics.
There is no wood in the F-4＊s stringers and bulkheads. Intense
research went into the hull and deck laminates to increase
the strength while reducing weight. The stringers and bulkheads
are made of a solid composite SAS (Space Age Synthetic); a
high-density foam with fiberglass reinforcement that Wayne
says is as strong as normal plywood coring and half the weight
- but ten times the cost. This system was all pre-engineered
specifically for the F-4 and at this point in time it is the
only Sunsation boat to utilize it. Wayne says it is justifiable
in a boat of this size because of the weight savings, even
at the increased cost.
The hull bottom and deck utilize one inch thick AL600 aircraft
grade coring pre-impregnated with epoxy resins and laid up
with Knytec laminates and A.O.C. (Alpha Owens Corning) resin
before it is all vacuum bagged for the integrity of curing.
The hull sides are built the same way, except the coring is
three-quarter inch AL600. All finished hulls are white, before
they are sent out for custom painting by Mitcher T. Design
and then returned to Sunsation for rigging.
The transom is notched with an additional six-inch setback
to change the hydrodynamic center of gravity 每 as Wayne describes
the concept, ※it makes the water ＆think＊ the boat is shorter
than it is.§ Again, years of thought went into this design
每 ※I experimented with 12 inches and eight inches but found
six inches to be the best.§
For engine applications requiring hull-bottom water pickups,
Sunsation provides a 12-inch lead-in housing molded into the
hull bottom, ten inches in from the transom and four inches
up from the Vee on each side. On this test boat, hull bottom
pickups were not required and so there were stainless steel
caps covering the moldings. If these pickup locations are
required in the future, the stainless steel cover plates can
be easily removed and Sunsation will send the easily installed
pickup attachments.
Up on the deck, right at the bow, a ventilated locker houses
a standard Fortress anchor retained by cam lock cleats to
keep the anchor snugly in place. A bow rail down the center
of the deck aids fender placement while eight pull-up cleats
handle the tie-line chores. Custom Billet step plates with
raised molded rubber inserts are located in the deck around
the cockpit. A stainless steel rub rail adorns the hull-deck
joint.
Back at the transom, a transom shower is standard along with
an stainless ski-tow eye and a concealed retractable boarding
ladder on the large integrated swim platform. If this ladder
is not properly latched in its holster, a proximity sensor
detection system will prevent the starting of the engines.
A manual safety override switch is provided at the helm. The
rear navigation light is electrically retractable. A flap-covered
vent on each side of the transom allows for decompression
of the air in the engine compartment. The vent flaps are designed
to operate at one-half to one psi of air pressure.
The only two factory options on the test boat were part of
the hull. One was the custom paint scheme by Mitcher T., the
Michigan painter that does all of Sunsation＊s work. The other
was the 320 D.A. sanded hull bottom with a graphite speed
coat covering to reduce drag.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
I＊ve seen a lot of impressive engine compartments, and with
all-standard factory equipment, this one ranks near the top.
Each boat is custom color coordinated right down to powder-coated
fittings, clamps, and hardware. The inside of the hull is
even clear coated. An acrylic dress-up kit is standard, as
are etched mirrors throughout, polished and powder-coated
diamond plate is everywhere. Two levels of LED lighting are
effective, useful, and stunning.
Dual aviation-type fuel fillers allow the 235-gallon center
belly tank to be filled from either side of the boat instead
of having to drag a filler hose across the boat. Sea strainers
are equipped with Aeroquip racing quick-disconnect flush systems,
and both fume detector and auto halon systems are standard.
Billet battery boxes are color matched to the custom paint
scheme, as are the motor mounts, and a battery charger/isolator
is standard. The compartment itself is huge, accessible and
allows lots of room within the wide beam to crawl around and
get to any system or piece of equipment with ease.
The custom engine hatch was CAD designed at Sunsation, and
it is a work of art. It is upholstered by McLeod Design Group,
fully mirrored, and accented with LED lights. The hatch is
raised and lowered by two monster stainless steel hydraulic
rams 每 admittedly slow in operation, but necessary given the
sheer size and weight of the hatch. The three-quarter-inch
thick custom polished stainless steel hatch hinges, equipped
with top loaded quick removal hinge pins, ※are a gear head＊s
delight§ quips Wayne. I tend to agree.
COCKPIT
The cockpit of the F-4 is a color-coordinated, feature-filled
oasis of creature comfort and convenience with a ※wow!§ at
every turn of the head. There are two instrument clusters.
One fully equipped and multi-tiered in front of the driver
and the other housing only the most important and interesting
read-outs for the passenger. Sunsation＊s racing experience
dictated that a rear-view mirror be custom-molded into the
dash.
One-quarter-inch thick billet aluminum backs the dash, switch
panels, and angled bezels housing Livorsi Monster gauges.
Throttle and drive controls are of billet aluminum. LED lighting
is utilized throughout all instrumentation and courtesy lighting,
including the visual engine warning alarms. All DC rocker
switches are built to military specs and potted (sealed against
the elements). Lift-to-operate ignition switches with covered
aircraft style starter rockers (as opposed to key-activated
starter switches) are also mil-spec. A Mercury Race View monitor
in a custom billet panel provides key engine and performance
readouts while a molded in Garmin 3206C GPS screen provides
navigation assistance.
All cockpit upholstery and seating is custom-designed and
built by McLeod. Even the two removable 20-quart Igloo coolers
built into the floor are custom-covered by McLeod! McLeod
builds the adjustable electric foot rests as well as the two
high-backed electric helm seats that are as snug and comfortable
and supportive as any I＊ve been in. A standard Kenwood sound
system boasts dual amps, dual sub-woofers and four remotes
nestled in custom billet trim rings.
CABIN
The entire cabin upholstery, including the V-berth, is custom
built by McLeod and simply oozes luxury and comfort. Headroom
and elbowroom abound. Counter tops and accents are of Corian.
Standard equipment includes a flat screen TV with DVD player;
microwave oven and refrigerator; CO2 detector; reverse cycle
air conditioning and heating; fully enclosed head compartment
with sink, toilet with macerator and 20 gallon holding tank.
A 20-gallon pressurized water system feeds this sink plus
a stainless steel sink in the galley countertop. Hot water
is not available. Shore power with an inverter is standard
as is snap-in carpeting.
To me, the neatest ※wow!§ of all is the E-Plex touch-screen
cabin management system located on the passenger bulkhead
as you enter the cabin. Custom programmed for Sunsation and
specifically this boat, the touch screen allows monitoring
and control of all creature comforts on board such as general
and specific lighting levels, heating and A/C functions, audio,
video, monitoring of tank levels and DC and AC electricals.
Now I＊m no computer or modern digital nerd by any stretch
of the imagination, but I found this system to be logical
and extremely easy to decipher and use.
PERFORMANCE
Our test boat was equipped with twin staggered 700 SCi Merc＊s
with NXT dry-sump drives swinging Mercury CNC #6 17 1/2§ X
35, five-bladed props turning inward. These engines are the
mid-range of offerings for the F-4, which start with twin
525s, 600s, then go to twin 850s and 1075s. Speeds are quoted
to be 85 mph with the 525s, while topping out at 120 mph with
1075s. This twin 700 hp version was designed to top out at
an even 100 mph.
Unfortunately, by the time I finished the dryland walkabout
of the F-4 at the dealership, the afternoon was getting late,
and with early sundown at that time of year, a water test
in daylight was out of the question. Wayne offered to supply
the following factory test results for inclusion in this article.
All the more reason for you to try one out for yourself.
During the sea trials for this F-4, Sunsation recorded the
following performance results:
0-30 mph 每 8 seconds
0-40 mph 每 11 seconds
0-50 mph 每 15 seconds
0-60 mph 每 22 seconds
Speed @ 3,000 47 mph
Speed @ 4,000 73 mph
Top speed 100.3 mph
These figures reflect optimum conditions, water conditions
rough chop, 70 degrees, with two people and 1/8 tank of fuel
on board, as measured by the manufacturer.
CONCLUSION
Congratulations to the Gilchrist family on their new purchase
and many thanks to them for allowing me to crawl all over
their new ※baby.§ ※This is our second Sunsation,§ they told
me. ※We have a 32 MCOB (mid-cabin, open bow) now, and we saw
this at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show. We instantly fell in
love and just had to have it, so we came here right after
the show to buy it.§
I＊m disappointed that I didn＊t have a chance to give it a
prolonged workout, but if it runs anywhere near as well as
it looks, it will be a definite winner for Sunsation. If you
want to be ※wowed,§ as I certainly was at every turn during
the inspection of the F-4, then make this boat a must-view
at your earliest opportunity.
VITAL STATS:
SUNSATION F-4
Length: 43＊ 4§
Beam: 8＊ 9§
Weight: 11,500 lbs
Deadrise: 24 degrees
Fuel Capacity: 235 gal
Water Capacity : 20 gal
Waste Capacity: 20 gal
Cabin headroom: 6＊ 6§
Base Price
with Twin 525 Merc＊s $ 498,953
with Twin 600 Merc＊s $ 537,569
with Twin 700 Merc＊s $ 576,984
Price Supplied by
Captain＊s Choice Boats, Fort Walton Beach, Florida www.sunsationboats.com
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