The mid-size flybridge sector requires architectural ingenuity, challenging shipyards to deliver the social infrastructure of a superyacht within a manageable owner-operator hull footprint. Stepping into this arena is the Sunseeker Manhattan 55. While Sunseeker produced an earlier, longer hull under the same nameplate between 2013 and 2016 (the Mk1), this article focuses strictly on the next-generation Mk2 Manhattan 55. Launched in 2021 as the highly anticipated successor to the award-winning Manhattan 52, this modern iteration completely reimagines onboard volume, comfort, and cruising flexibility within a 17.21-metre footprint.
The Mk2 Manhattan 55 features striking exterior curves of glass paired with elegant stainless-steel accents, creating a highly sophisticated profile on the water. Designed for versatility, the yacht offers owners a choice between traditional shaft line propulsion or advanced pod drives to suit their specific cruising preferences.
Key features & layout
Sunseeker's design philosophy for the modern Manhattan 55 centres around continuous flow and premium entertainment amenities.
The Innovative Beach Club: A standout feature on the stern is the well-appointed bathing platform and transom Beach Club. Ideal for entertaining family and friends, this area can be optioned with a built-in barbecue grill, an overhead shower, and fold-down transom seating.
Fluid Main Deck: The interior open-plan saloon relies on an aft-galley configuration. With optional bar stools at the galley counter, the barrier between the inside and the cockpit dissolves completely, creating a single, fluid transition zone for socialising.
Extensive Flybridge: The expansive top deck mirrors the luxury of much larger craft, offering deep-cushioned lounging areas, an upper helm station, and flexible dining layouts.
Accommodation: Moving to the lower deck, the layout features 3 beautifully appointed cabins and 2 en-suites/day heads, comfortably hosting up to six guests overnight.
Find out more about the Sunseeker Manhattan 55 from Sunseeker Yachts.
Critic reviews: pros and cons
By infusing their iconic deep-V heritage with luxury features like the aft bar stools and Beach Club, Sunseeker has ensured that the 2021 generation of the Manhattan 55 delivers the layout flexibility of a much larger vessel.
International boat testers and yachting journalists have put the Sunseeker Manhattan 55 through its paces, highlighting its spatial execution alongside typical size-class engineering compromises.
The Pros
The Beach Club Benchmark: Reviewers writing for Motor Boat & Yachting universally praise the transom layout. They note that integrating the BBQ, fold-down seat, and rainfall shower into the stern platform effectively adds an entirely new outdoor living room right at water level, setting a new class standard.
Flawless Galley Integration: Sea trials documented by YachtBuyer highlight the optional drop-down window and bar-stool arrangement. Testers note that it makes the aft portion of the saloon the definitive social focal point of the boat, effortlessly connecting the chef with guests in the cockpit.
The Cons
No Side Door at the Lower Helm: YachtBuyer identifies the lack of a side deck door beside the lower helm as one of the Manhattan 55's few drawbacks. On an owner operated flybridge yacht, direct access from the helm to the side deck can be useful when coming alongside or working short handed. Without it, the skipper must leave the helm and move aft through the saloon to reach the deck.
Saloon Seating Layout: YachtBuyer also notes the absence of facing sofas in the saloon. The Manhattan 55 instead uses a large U shaped seating area, which provides plenty of accommodation but creates a different social arrangement from rivals such as the Princess F55, which offers opposing saloon seating.
Technical Specifications
The engineering layout balances heavy-duty performance metrics with highly efficient long-range capacities. Measurements are displayed below in both standard UK Imperial and Decimal (Metric) formats:
Length Overall (LOA): 56 ft 6 in / 17.21 m
Hull Beam: 16 ft 0 in / 4.87 m
Draft: 4 ft 6 in / 1.37 m
Displacement: 59,524 lbs / 27,000 kg / 27.0 tonnes
Fuel Capacity: 484 Imp gal / 580 US gal / 2,200 L
Fresh Water Capacity: 132 Imp gal / 158 US gal / 600 L
Black Water Capacity: 33 Imp gal / 39 US gal / 150 L
Accommodation: 3 Cabins / 2 Heads, 6 Guests
Generator Setup: 13.5 kW @ 60 Hz / 11.0 kW @ 50 Hz
Propulsion & Performance Options
Propulsion and performance
Sunseeker currently offers the Manhattan 55 with either twin MAN i6 800PS engines driving conventional shafts, or twin Volvo Penta IPS 950 pod drives. Sunseeker quotes a cruising speed of 25 knots and a maximum speed of up to 32 knots.
Earlier Manhattan 55s were offered with different engine packages. When Motor Boat & Yachting tested the model in 2021, its boat used twin 800hp Volvo Penta D13 engines on shafts, while Volvo Penta IPS1050 pods were also available. Buyers considering a used Manhattan 55 should therefore check the engine specification of the individual boat rather than assuming it matches the current model.
Current engine choice 1, shafts: 2 x MAN i6 800PS
Current engine choice 2, pods: 2 x Volvo Penta IPS 950
Cruising speed: 25 knots
Maximum speed: Up to 32 knots
Range: Sunseeker's current technical specification lists 230 nautical miles at 21 knots. Its general product description separately quotes a range of 250 nautical miles.
References
YachtBuyer Review & Hall of Fame: The Mk2 model was formally evaluated by industry expert Carl Richardson and inducted into the YachtBuyer Hall of Fame. Their testing heavily praised the layout, highlighting the "best-in-class flybridge" and the "superb galley aft layout with cockpit bar". You can read their full, detailed structural notes directly on the YachtBuyer Sunseeker Manhattan 55 Platform.
Motor Boat & Yachting Head-to-Head: Motor Boat & Yachting frequently utilises this specific 2021 model as their class benchmark.
Real-World Owner & Captain Feedback
For raw, unedited community perspectives regarding the engine choice tradeoffs highlighted in the review, you can view the active captain and surveyor debates on the YachtForums Azimut 53 vs Sunseeker 55 Discussion. The community consensus reinforces our analysis, noting a clear preference for the mechanical simplicity of the shaft-driven MAN i6 engine variant over pod alternatives for long-term maintenance.
Note
Sunseeker officially launched the new Manhattan 56 flybridge yacht in January 2026 at the boot Düsseldorf boat show. It serves as a modern evolution and successor in the 50-foot range.
