Yachtsee: luxury triple play with the latest
The Menkes: Rockin’ the boat - 47-foot Sunseeker Portofino
It’s almost impossible to look at Paul and Anne Menke’s boat without wearing sunglasses, what with that expanse of gleaming white hull and their smiles to match.
Theirs is a 47-foot Sunseeker Portofino, and the Boyne City couple just got delivery a few days before the photo shoot. They had custom-ordered the craft from Sunseeker, and traveled twice to the company’s Poole, England, manufacturing facility to see how they build them.
“This isn’t a starter boat,” says Paul. “You really have to own some other boats before you get into this level.”
Just learning to use all the bells and whistles in the electronics department is job enough.
But like with the Tiara, the Volvo joystick technology is found here as well. And with the Sunseeker, it makes the vessel considerably easier to maneuver, even at its lengthy 47 feet.
The two pods on the bottom of the boat are positioned facing the opposite direction of most other boat engines; they work by pulling the boat forward rather than pushing it through the water.
“It has 30 percent improved fuel economy with that technology,” noted Anne. “Plus, you don’t have all that noise. You just drop it into gear and go. There’s very little wake.”
The avid boaters had the first big test of their maritime skills when they drove it up in late May from the Detroit area, where it arrived through their dealer Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, which has a Charlevoix location as well.
Five-foot swells in Lake Huron and rainy, foggy, overcast weather put them to the test – and they all came through swimmingly. The rest of the summer should be a breeze on Summer Love. “We both love the summer and we’ve had a great, loving relationship,” Anne explained. “And we love boating. The name combined it all for us.”
Another key reason for choosing the Sunseeker, the couple noted, was for its accommodating layout; with 11 grandchildren and a party-boating mentality, the Menkes enjoy having the roomy on-board space for family and friends.
“It’s a great activity for families, even if you just have a little runabout,” said Anne. “It’s great to just be able to spend time together, to learn boating safety and enjoy nature.”
More Sunseeker sweetness: Sliding power sunroof over the helm, high-end salon with two seating areas, galley with cooktop and cherry cabinetry; flat panel televisions; bunk room with two twin beds; two full bathrooms, including one combined with the master stateroom; power swim platform that easily raises and lowers to water level; heat and A/C; satellite weather out 120 miles.
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