Sunrunner 4800

Sunrunner's big new 4800 is all about lifestyle, comfort and space. Oh, yeah, space. To borrow a catchphrase: crikey, she's a big boat. Designed for bronzed Aussies, the flagship Sunrunner is a sportscruiser on steroids - a no-fear milecatcher for wrestling local waters.

Above the waterline are shoulders as broad as Grant Kenny's; below decks is headroom high enough for Glen McGrath; and all over is loads of deck and floor space, especially in key areas like bathrooms.

Principal dimensions are 14.93m (49ft) length overall, 4.29m (14ft 2in) across the beam, and 3.74m (12ft 3in) from keel to windscreen. The terrific hull depth leads to headroom of about 2.08m (6ft 8in) from bow to stern, not to mention a giant engineroom with lots of space for the twin high-tech 635hp QSM11 Cummins engines.

Comfortable accommodation exists for four in two cabins at opposite ends of the boat - each with an ensuite. In the tradition of all good sportscruisers, there are three separate outdoor living areas: the foredeck, aft cockpit and bridgedeck around the helm. And lots of lounges, a fridge, icemaker and a barbie, mate.

Underway, the 4800 struts about with a big-boat air. Whichever way you look at it, this boat is certainly built to go places. You can decamp for days, nights, weekends... even entire weeks on the water. Fuel capacity of 2000lt and mod-cons like a dishwasher will see to that.

DECK DESIGNS
Sunrunner offers two deck plans on its 4800: Aus Deck and Euro Deck. The former is better for entertaining, with an open cockpit arrangement and port and starboard transom doors that let you stroll the decks with a martini while idling around the harbour.

The Aus spec should appeal to the up-and-coming crowd for whom a good day's boating inevitably turns into a big night afloat. On the other hand, the Euro deck - as presented on the demo boat - has more lounges for a stately ride. This Euro version is likely to appeal to experienced boaties who prefer to entertain couples rather than crowds. Both versions will be joined by an enclosed-cabin version with a concertina canvas top or moulded hardtop by the time you read this.

Either way, the 4800 is a lot of boat for $825,000 in base form with twin 480hp Volvo motors, air conditioning, 8kVa genset, bowthruster, electronics and entertaining gear such as LCD televisions. But to show what is possible, the demo boat included a number of options.

The extra seating on the Euro Deck adds $25,300 to the base price; the stainless-steel pack - which includes windscreen frame, bow plates and anchor - costs another $24,035, and there was an optional sternthruster, second icemaker, washer/dryer, auto-control trim tab system and a tender crane to come. As tested, you're looking at $909,755 - but that still compares favourably with imported 48-footers with a lot less space.

TOUR OF DUTY
My tour unearthed a lot of tried-and-tested features that have been inherited from the award-winning 3700, as well as some exciting new enhancements, too. Among the details are double-moulded hatch doors, lots of nice, rounded mouldings, frosted-glass splashbacks, granite benchtops - and did I mention loads of space? Crikey.

At the time of writing, Sunrunner was aiming for Rina certification so it could export its new 4800 into Asia, Europe and other Pacific nations. Construction is all solid GRP, with fully-moulded liners, teak decks and the aforementioned impressive stainless-steel windscreen frame. Wiring is coded.

A significant point to note is that the big boarding platform is more than an appendage. The platform is supported for the most part by boat hull and has sufficient width, buoyancy and strength to carry a RIB or jetski. Hence the aforesaid tender crane for swift deployment of the watertoy.

The boarding platform also has room for a couple of director's chairs or bronzed bodies on a towel. I noted a central grabrail that will come in handy for tying the painter, a wet well for bikini tops and a concealed swim ladder. There were handy recessed corner rails alongside big horn cleats.

A rear padded sunbed with a detachable headrest beckons above a push-button aft garage. A big Italian strut raises the roof to reveal a storage locker for ropes, fenders, fire extinguisher, fishing gear and so on. Three steps lead up to the cockpit proper, past a handheld shower, and through a transom door. A moulded step in the starboard gunwale leads forward.

The foredeck is accessed around non-skid walkways, which must be negotiated foot over foot. They could do with an overboard drain. But full marks for the moulded toe rail, intermediate wire on the bowrail, fender baskets, freshwater deckwash, stainless-steel anchor and windlass concealed under a lid that needs a strut. A flat sunpad on tracks adds another dimension to the 4800.

All the deck fittings seemed nice and solid, and permanent attachments such as the targa arch have a pretty line to them. The designer seems mindful of the boat's ergonomics, and I made no adverse finding in regard to poorly-executed seating or deck mouldings.

LOUNGE LIZARDS
Storage exists in various side and deck hatches, under the lounge bases in lift-out bins, and for drinks in dedicated drinkholders here and there. Add the aft garage and you should be able to stow a trolley-worth of gear without messing the cockpit.

The U-shaped lounge to port can seat six people around a moulded dinette or lunch table. The table had a moulded fiddle rail, but it wasn't double-moulded like the locker doors. On future 4800s, an infill will let you convert this lounge into a daybed. Add full camper covers and you could accommodate another couple in summer.

Step up to the bridgedeck and you will find a second U-shaped lounge to port, capable of seating at least four guests opposite the two-person helm seat. Thus, all up the 4800 with Euro layout can take 12 people out on the town. There are good views and shade thanks to a bimini top leading off the targa arch.

The amenities centre behind the helm seat has a lift-up moulded top on a gas strut or two, blue Corian counters, electric barbie, sink with hot and cold water, 12/240V fridge, icemaker, glass-and-bottle locker and supplied non-breakable tumblers. Nearby is a pull-out garbage bin.

Underfloor is a hatch and offset ladder leading into a big engine room. Many changes will be made to its layout. The aft utility room is home to the genset, 80lt hot-water service and invertor. Air-con units will come back into the engine room proper. I noted good access to fuel filters and strainers.

There was a lot of room around the twin Cummins motors, which were linked to wet exhausts, and the underwater gear is "extra-heavy-duty" for serious offshore cruising. The steering is hydraulic, which reduces the load on the wheel. But power-assisted steering is needed for true sportscruiser handling. More on the drive later.

ROOM WITH A VIEW
A clear sliding companionway door provides light below as well as a view outside from the saloon. The boat has a good spread of hatches for natural ventilation and light, as well as air conditioning and a variety of lighting options. I reckon the hull sides are deep enough to mount superyacht-esque deep oval windows in the saloon. How about it?

Finishes include camel-coloured burbur carpet, caramel-leather lounges, natural red-cherry joinery and matching timber blinds, and salmon-coloured scatter cushions. The boat came with fitted bedding and unbreakable mock crock and glassware.

The saloon is dominated by a huge dinette on an electrically-adjustable pedestal to starboard that, with two tub chairs, can seat six or seven for dinner, drinks or board games. Cherrywood cupboards line the hull sides, along with speakers for the surround-sound system. The entertainment system includes DVD player, CD and 20in LCD TV.

An icemaker is near the steps down and there's a glass locker at the end of the galley return. An additional handrail would assist with moving about the boat in a seaway.

MOVE OVER, JAMIE
You step down to the L-shaped galley on the portside. It is, in some ways, reminiscent of what you will find when buying a modern apartment. There are funky frosted-glass splashbacks, black-ice granite counters, teak flooring and overhead and under-counter cherrywood cupboards. I noted big storage spaces for crockery, provisions and appliances.

Amenities run the gamut from a deep stainless-steel sink in which you can stack plates, to a Miele two-burner cooktop and Samsung combo microwave oven. A half-height fridge lives under the counter. A powerful extractor fan should keep the saloon smelling sweet. Cleanups will also be assisted by a half-sized dishwasher in a drawer.

The aft wing of the galley has room to fit a washer/dryer. The walls are lined with control panels for the generator and 12 and 240V electrical systems. There is a water gauge and invertor panel.

ACCOMMODATION PLAN
Continue past the galley to the port corner and you will find the guest's ensuite-cum-dayhead. Though there's not quite full headroom at its entrance, the really noticeable thing about the Sunrunner 4800 is the size of its two heads. They are huge, with XOS shower stalls, Lectrasan electric loos and some nice European fittings to boot.

The adjoining guest's cabin down two steps requires a slight duck of the noggin to negotiate its entrance. But once inside you will find some serious sleeping room on an offset double bed that looked more queen-sized to me. I noted a flatscreen television at the foot of the bed, separate air-con controls and a hanging locker and drawers.

The pointy end is, one supposes, the intended master stateroom. I say this because the aft cabin won't be affected by water playing on the chines, if that troubles you. The island bed on the centreline up front can be accessed on all sides and it's flanked by his and her hanging lockers with lights as you open the doors, cupboards, and another flatscreen television. As mentioned, the ensuite is a whopper.

The 4800's internal layout could be described as compartmentalised rather than open plan, but from that you get a higher degree of privacy than on many other sportscruisers. Bottom line: the boat should be comfortable for extended holidays with two couples or a couple of rascally kids.

BORN TO RUN
The hull was new from the keel up - designed by an in-house naval architect - with props in semi-tunnels. While the 4800 has massive shoulders and loads of volume, most of its bulk is above the waterline.

Once up and running, the hull presents a fine entry to the water. A flattish run with lots of strakes and big chines provides lift.

The views were excellent over the big windscreen or through them when seated. Wipers with freshwater washers will take care of spray, though I couldn't lift any. The helm bench seat will be shifted on future models and I would like a few more grabs on the passenger side. The white dash could be toned down, too.

Electronics included a Raymarine RL70C GPS, ST60001 autopilot and VHF radio. A remote for the sound system was alongside the bowthruster and optional sternthruster control, Cummins gauges and Benett trim-tab indicators. The electronic Cummins are linked to the switch panel's buttons coded engine sync, Cruise 1 + 2, slow idle and RPM +/-. The electronic shifts also have idle positions 1, 2 and 3.

SLIPPERY SUCKER
The dual shaftdrives and big props, not to mention the thrusters, make this boat a snap to drive. After a few hours I reckon anyone and everyone will be happy behind the wheel. But power-assisted steering would help take the load off the rudders and provide a quicker turn.

The 635hp Cummins QSM11s are nothing if not perky diesel motors. They are also quiet motors in most installations I come across. Future Sunrunner 4800s will be quieter than the demo boat, I'm told.

I recorded a happy cruise at 1600rpm and 18.6kt and a smooth cruise of 20?22kt at 1800rpm depending on wind direction. We nudged 30kt top speed, but bigger props should deliver a few more knots.

This, the first Sunrunner 4800, was assembled at the witching hour for the Sydney International Boat Show. Many of the details have since been changed, which means a thorough analysis wasn't justified. The changes might also mean that the savvy buyer can buy hull number one for a song.

Among the changes on future boats are a new dash with room for big electronics, helm footrest, new upholstery with piping, an improved engine-room door, and the reworking of a lot of internal furniture. So consider this an introduction to a leading local boatbuilder's biggest and bravest new boat.

Like all the Sunrunners that have preceded it, the new 4800 provides a lot of luxury boating for your buck. Crikey, she's a big boat.

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