Best Motorboat Brands — From RIBs to Superyachts

The motorboat market is broader than the sailboat market — it spans everything from 4-metre RIBs to 90-metre superyachts, and the brands that dominate one segment may not even compete in another. This guide covers the six most important motorboat manufacturers for buyers in the 30-foot to 80-foot range, where most of the used market activity happens.

Why brand matters when buying a motorboat

Motorboat brands matter for the same reasons sailboat brands do — build quality, resale value, parts availability — but with an added dimension: style. Motorboats are more visually distinctive than sailboats, and the brand you choose says something about how you use the boat. A Sunseeker Predator says "speed and style." A Princess flybridge says "comfort and cruising range." A Fairline says "British quality without the Italian premium."

Brand also determines the hull type. Some brands specialise in planing hulls (fast, light, sporty), others in semi-displacement hulls (efficient cruising at 20-25 knots), and a few in full-displacement trawler hulls (slow, economical, long-range). The hull type is the single most important factor in how the boat performs — more important than the engine or the brand name.

1. Sunseeker — British performance and style

Sunseeker is the most famous British motorboat brand, based in Poole, Dorset. Founded in 1969, Sunseeker built its reputation on sporty, fast motor yachts with aggressive styling — the kind of boats that appear in James Bond films. The Predator range is the performance line; the Manhattan range is the flybridge cruiser line; the San Remo and Ocean range cover larger yachts.

Sunseekers are planing hull boats. They are designed to go fast — 30 knots is normal, 40+ is common on the larger models with big engine packages. The trade-off is fuel consumption: a Sunseeker Predator 74 burning 200 litres per hour at cruise is not unusual. These are boats for people who want to get there quickly and look good doing it.

What Sunseeker does well

• Styling: Sunseeker's design language is instantly recognisable — low profile, aggressive lines, large glazing. If you want a boat that turns heads, this is the brand.
• Performance: The Predator range is genuinely fast. The hulls are designed for speed, and the engine packages are generously sized.
• Brand recognition: Sunseeker is one of the few motorboat brands that non-boaters have heard of. This helps with resale.
• Interior quality: The interiors are well-finished with premium materials, contemporary styling, and good natural light.

Price range (used, approximate)

Best for: Buyers who want a fast, stylish motor yacht with strong brand recognition. Ideal for day-boating, coastal cruising, and entertaining. Not the choice for long-range cruising or fuel-efficient passagemaking.

Browse used Sunseeker motorboats on Owning.

2. Princess — British flybridge cruising at its finest

Princess Yachts is another British brand, based in Plymouth, Devon. Founded in 1965, Princess is Sunseeker's main rival but takes a different approach. Where Sunseeker is sporty and aggressive, Princess is refined and cruising-oriented. The flybridge range (V series, Y series) is the core of the brand — comfortable, seaworthy boats designed for extended cruising.

Princess hulls are designed by Bernard Olesinski and are among the best-riding hulls in the production motorboat world. They handle rough water exceptionally well — a Princess V58 in a Force 5 chop is a noticeably more comfortable place to be than many competitors. The interiors are elegant without being flashy, with a focus on quality materials and practical layouts.

What Princess does well

• Seakeeping: The Olesinski hulls are superb in rough water. If you boat in the English Channel, the Atlantic, or any exposed water, this matters.
• Flybridge design: Princess flybridges are well-designed with good visibility, comfortable seating, and sensible helm layouts.
• Build quality: Princess builds to a high standard. The fiberglass work, the joinery, and the systems installation are all above average for the segment.
• Cruising range: The larger models (Y85, Y95) have the fuel capacity and hull efficiency for serious coastal cruising.

Price range (used, approximate)

Best for: Buyers who prioritise comfort, seaworthiness, and cruising range over raw speed. The default choice for extended coastal cruising in the Mediterranean, Channel, or Atlantic. A Princess is a more grown-up boat than a Sunseeker — less flashy, more capable.

Browse used Princess motorboats on Owning.

3. Fairline — British quality, understated elegance

Fairline Yachts is based in Oundle, Northamptonshire. Founded in 1967, Fairline has had a turbulent history — the company went into administration in 2015 and was revived by new owners in 2016 — but the brand retains a loyal following and a reputation for solid British build quality. Fairline is the understated alternative to Sunseeker and Princess: less flashy, less expensive, but well-built and well-engineered.

The Squadron range is the flybridge line; the Phantom range is the sport cruiser line. The Targa range (now discontinued but common on the used market) was the hard-top sport cruiser line. Fairlines are known for their practical layouts, good storage, and sensible engineering — the kind of boat where everything just works.

What Fairline does well

• Value: Fairlines are typically 10-20% cheaper than the equivalent Sunseeker or Princess. You get a similar quality boat for less money, with less brand premium.
• Practicality: Fairline layouts are well-thought-out for real-world use. Good storage, sensible galley layouts, practical cockpit arrangements.
• Build quality: The post-2016 boats are built to a high standard. The older boats (pre-2015) are also well-built but need careful inspection due to the company's history.

Best for: Buyers who want British build quality without paying the Sunseeker or Princess premium. A good choice for practical, no-nonsense boaters who value function over fashion.

Browse used Fairline motorboats on Owning.

4. Pershing — Italian speed and design

Pershing is an Italian brand, part of the Ferretti Group. Founded in 1985 in Mondaino, Italy, Pershing builds high-performance sport yachts that are the Italian equivalent of Sunseeker's Predator range — but with a distinctly Italian design sensibility. Think aggressive lines, large sunpads, open cockpits, and top speeds that can exceed 45 knots.

Pershings are for people who want the fastest, most dramatic boat in the marina. The hulls are planing and optimised for speed, the engine packages are powerful (often with surface drives for maximum efficiency at high speed), and the styling is unmistakably Italian — low, wide, and aggressive.

What Pershing does well

• Speed: Pershings are among the fastest production motor yachts available. The larger models with Arneson surface drives can hit 45+ knots.
• Italian design: The styling is dramatic and modern. If you want a boat that looks like it belongs in Monaco, this is it.
• Open-cockpit layout: Pershings are designed for Mediterranean day-boating — large open cockpits, big sunpads, easy water access.

Best for: Mediterranean day-boaters who want speed and style. Not ideal for long-range cruising or rough-water passagemaking. The boat for someone who wants to cross from Monaco to Saint-Tropez in 90 minutes and look spectacular arriving.

Browse used Pershing motorboats on Owning.

5. Azimut — Italian luxury and volume

Azimut Yachts is part of the Azimut|Benetti Group, one of the largest yacht building groups in the world. Founded in 1969 in Avigliana, Italy, Azimut is the volume luxury brand of the motor yacht world — they build more yachts in the 40-80 foot range than any other Italian manufacturer. The range is enormous: the V series (Magellano), the S series (sport), the F series (flybridge), and the Grande series (large yachts).

Azimuts are known for their interior space and luxury. The flybridge models in particular offer exceptional living space for the length — more interior volume than a comparable Princess or Sunseeker. The styling is contemporary Italian: light woods, large windows, open-plan layouts.

What Azimut does well

• Interior volume: Azimuts are roomy. If living space is your priority, an Azimut flybridge offers more square metres per foot of LOA than most competitors.
• Luxury finish: The interiors are well-appointed with premium materials, good lighting, and contemporary design.
• Range of models: Azimut offers a model for every size and style — from the 42-foot Verve to the 100-foot Grande.
• Dealer network: As part of a large group, Azimut has an extensive dealer and service network across the Mediterranean and beyond.

Price range (used, approximate)

Best for: Buyers who want maximum interior space and luxury in a flybridge motor yacht. The default Italian choice for Mediterranean cruising. A good option for families and those who entertain on board.

Browse used Azimut motorboats on Owning.

6. Sealine — accessible British cruising

Sealine is a British brand with a long history — founded in 1978 in Kidderminster, the company went through several ownership changes (including a period under the Brunswick Group and then HanseYachts) before being revived in its current form. Sealine is the entry-level British brand: well-built, practical motorboats at a more accessible price point than Sunseeker, Princess, or Fairline.

The current range includes the S series (sport coupe) and C series (flybridge cruiser). On the used market, the older F series (flybridge) and SC series (sport coupe) are common and represent good value. Sealines are not as fast or as luxurious as the premium brands, but they are solid, practical boats that do the job without the premium price tag.

What Sealine does well

• Affordability: Sealines are among the most affordable British motorboats on the used market. A Sealine F42 can be €100,000+ cheaper than a Princess V42 of the same age.
• Practical layouts: Sealine interiors are sensible and well-proportioned. Good headroom, practical galleys, comfortable cabins.
• Availability: There are many Sealines on the used market, which means good choice and competitive pricing.

Best for: First-time motorboat buyers and budget-conscious cruisers who want a British-built boat without the premium price. A stepping stone brand — many buyers start with a Sealine and trade up to a Fairline or Princess later.

Browse used Sealine motorboats on Owning.

How to choose between motorboat brands

The bottom line

The motorboat market offers more variety than the sailboat market, and the brand you choose should match how you actually use the boat. If you day-boat in the Mediterranean and want speed, a Pershing or Sunseeker Predator is the right call. If you cruise long distances with the family and want comfort, a Princess or Azimut flybridge is better. If you are on a budget, a Sealine or Fairline gives you British build quality without the premium. The key is to be honest about your usage — the number of buyers who buy a fast sport cruiser and then discover they actually wanted a comfortable flybridge is significant. Choose the brand that fits your real plans, not your aspirational ones.