Manhattan 44

A radical design in her era, the dramatic styling of the Manhattan 44 makes her a standout yacht in any harbor. Where some will see great beauty in her curvaceous lines, however, others may consider the 44 to be over-styled in the extreme. Few, however, will deny the standard of finish—Sunseeker does a first-rate job. Built on a deep-V hull with propeller tunnels, the Manhattan’s two-stateroom interior is arranged with the galley down and the master stateroom forward. The high-gloss cherry joinery is, as always, impressive, and visibility from the lower helm is very good. Circular lounge seating on the flybridge will accommodate a small crowd, and the cockpit—shaded by a flybridge overhang—is large enough for comfortable after-hours entertaining. On the downside, the side decks are narrow, and the limited fuel capacity reduces the cruising range to less than 200 miles. The engine room, under the cockpit, is well arranged and fairly easy to access—a pleasant surprise since the engine rooms of most European yachts are very small. A modest performer with twin 375hp V-drive Cats, the Manhattan 44 will cruise at 22–23 knots (high 20s top).