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Manhattan 68 vs Galeon 640

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Yoni1982, Jun 19, 2022.

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  1. Yoni1982

    Yoni1982 New Member

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    I've narrowed it down to these two models. We would be using these as weekend boats along with trips to the Bahamas from South Florida. Would love to hear your thoughts and pro/cons of each.
  2. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I love these small Sunseekers. There are two on my dock here in Miami and it is so much fun to watch owners trying to board them from a fixed finger pier at low tide. Very entertaining! There is no way to safely get on or off. especially women. Lots of fun to watch.

    WTH did Sunseeker not install a boarding side gate to make it safe? Looking at the galeon it doesn’t look any better.

    forget the style, forget the flat screens and the drink holders… pay are attention to what matters.
    Capt Ralph and unsinker like this.
  3. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Not much left in Sunseekers and Galeons, if you forget all that... :)
  4. Yoni1982

    Yoni1982 New Member

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    So neither? What then for a 60-70 ft flybridge? Build quality, hull quality, layout, finishes, entertainment space and residual values are top factors.
  5. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Build and hull quality aren't even relevant, in the design of modern fast(ish) flybridge boats.
    Low build costs and a flashy appearance are, instead. In this order of importance!
    And the differences between one builder and another are only marginal - as well as residuals.
    So, for your other factors like layout/finish/spaces, just pick whatever impress you most!
  6. PremierPOWER

    PremierPOWER New Member

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    Very happy with our Schaeffer 660. Also considered the Galeon 640 but the difference in overall quality and fit/ finish was very apparent. Also wanted a boat built to category A standards.
  7. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I've run a lot of Sunseekers over the years, they're all a great sea boat. Build quality is good to very good, they have their share of issues as most yachts, but I'd put them above Princess.......and they're definately a step above Galleon, but the Galleon I ran was a good seaboat.....A 55' I think it was.
  8. Yoni1982

    Yoni1982 New Member

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    Being fairly new to boating, could you please describe how Sunseekers are a step above Galeons? Would love to get some specifics as to why. Thanks much in advance.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Hull strength, ride/performance, better hardware, better quality all of the way around.
  10. German Yachting

    German Yachting Senior Member

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    The new version of the Fairline Squadron 68?
  11. Yoni1982

    Yoni1982 New Member

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    I've looked at the Squadron 68 as well. Any thoughts/experiences on the Schaefer 660?
  12. Scott Felstad

    Scott Felstad New Member

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    Wouldn't buy a 66 Sunseeker. Know of 2 2018 Sunseeker 66 that have caught fire. Both totaled and one sunk recently between the Bahamas and Miami. Beware.....
  13. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I ran a 2019 66' Sunseeker from Fort Lauderdale through the Exumas 4 times in all kinds of weather. I was at 27 knots cruise with 5-7's off my beam in the gulf stream. I also ran that boat from Ft. Lauderdale to Rio Dulce to Guatamala and back. It was a VERY good sea boat.
  14. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    Most of the British hulls are pretty good. Fairline, Sunseeker and Princess, their biggest market is in the Med. Deliveries from the UK have to go around the Bay of Biscay, often a really rough crossing at times, to get there.

    The new smaller yachts, sub-55', all have folding masts and screens for going by road trailer. The Euro yachts are built in the Med area and rarely venture into the Atlantic.

    Med.jpg
  15. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Out of many UK built boats delivered to the Med I'm aware of, only one (a Princess 67, for the records) was actually delivered on her own bottom by the owner. That's pretty much an exception, rather than the norm - most boats are loaded on a ship.
  16. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Good to know that at least one 66 did NOT catch fire, phew! o_O
  17. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    A mate was delivery captain for Sunseeker for years and did the trips all summer. He also skippered a Pred in the Caribbean in the winter.
  18. mapism

    mapism Senior Member

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    Do you mean new boats delivered from Poole to Mallorca or whatever?
    And then sell them with one hundred hours clocked, if not more?
    I don't think so.
  19. Scott Felstad

    Scott Felstad New Member

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    no doubt about it. terrifying.
  20. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Scott. You've made your point. Two Sunseekers have had fires. Saying they've "caught fire" is only really the case for one. One had a fire aboard and had about $100,000 damage per the broker who has it listed. The other burned completely. Totally different situations and likely different causes if all the facts were known.

    Now, boat fires are disturbing and when any brand has multiple fires it calls for due diligence. However, I do not know of any brand of boats not to have fires. Like house fires, they're most frequently caused by electrical and galley fires. The electrical are most often caused by modifications made by owners, mechanics and others. Very rarely are they factory problems. Even so, we highly recommend a full survey before taking delivery of any new or used boat and that includes checking electrical. I've seen batteries, inverters and chargers installed inappropriately and dangerously. Propane tanks are also a frequent source of fire on boats.

    Has Sunseeker had more than their share? I can't honestly answer that yes or no because the data simply isn't available. On the one we have on order we will make sure extra attention is paid to the electric.

    While I have and will criticize some of Sunseeker's business practices and not overly fond of their ownership, I've also been to their factory in Poole and was very impressed by the quality and the control. Just so Mapism can know, I've also made brief visits to two of Sanlorenzo's three factories and been impressed, although they're much smaller facilities. Our now semi-retired chief engineer visited their third factory.

    Your warnings are heard, but we don't know the cause of either fire you point out at this point, although rumors have been heard on both. While boat fires are more common than any of us wish, those attributable to the builders (and I'm including all builders in this) are extremely rare.
    jsherid1 likes this.