The Ultima 55 lands in new territory for Sunreef - it's their idea of a luxury day boat, and, true to form, they haven’t followed the crowd.
It’s still a multihull, of course, but with pod drives, a central foil, and a full carbon deck, all wrapped in a shape that's a long way from a tall, bulky cat. The question is, does all this fancy tech actually make a difference to life on board? Let's find out
Test & Review Video
Slow Speed Handling
The foiling tech is quite new, but familiar IPS pods should take the sting out of berthing. It's less usual (but not impossible) to have a bow thruster on a multihull, but you'll feel its absence less with IPS joystick control.
With the pods set that little bit further apart, the turning point is improved and allows the pods to work more effectively, so spin manoeuvres are especially smooth.
Though the helm is quite hemmed in, the view is good, and there's an aft-facing camera, so it's easy to spot your proximity to the pontoon.
At Sea
Out at sea, the Ultima 55 feels fast without even really trying. Acceleration is smooth and linear, and as the speed climbs, you begin to notice the foil coming into play. It’s subtle, but the boat lifts just enough to take some load off the hulls. You feel it most in the ride with a slightly weightless sensation where the boat isn’t being pushed through the water so much as gliding just above it.
Conditions don’t need to be rough for the effect to register. Even on a relatively calm day, the foil helps soften the motion. Combined with the slender hulls and the IPS drives tucked neatly into each side, it makes for a clean, planted feel underway.
Top speed in this spec with the twin Volvo Penta IPS800s is around 36 knots, but the best place for cruising seems to be between 25 and 30. That’s where the hull feels settled, the helm stays light, and fuel burn is more reasonable - around 250 litres an hour at 25 knots, climbing to roughly 360 at 30.
Ease off to 18 or 20 knots and consumption drops again, without much trade-off in comfort. Response is quick without being twitchy. And the noise levels, even inside a fully enclosed wheelhouse, are reasonable. There’s some engine noise, though, and a bit of vibration through the structure when you really push on, which is a bit of a surprise given that the hulls should have less contact with the hull.
The handling is light and smooth, but you get that feeling that the boat is running on tracks, as is often the way with multihulls. Turns are table-top flat and can be quite sharp if you dial in a lot of lock, and, of course, there's no heel like you'd get on a monohull. It's a sensation that takes some getting used to, but it isn't unpleasant.
The Ultima 55 is built around a new hull form developed specifically for this size and speed bracket. It’s a slender twin-hull design, with reverse bows, fine entries and a central fixed foil positioned between the hulls. The foil doesn’t fully lift the boat clear of the water, but it reduces wetted surface area at speed and noticeably improves ride quality. As drag falls away, the hulls track flatter and require less input from the helm.
Each hull carries a Volvo IPS pod drive, and the hull geometry has been optimised around that propulsion. The positioning of the pods, their angle, and the overall draft have all been considered to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency. With the foils assisting at speed and the pods delivering vectored thrust, the boat moves cleanly and holds course well without trim tabs or active stabilisation. The hulls themselves contribute to that inherent stability – they’re wide apart and narrow in section, giving both balance and grip.
Hybrid propulsion is available too. That version adds twin 350kW electric motors and a 220kWh lithium battery bank, installed low in the hulls to protect trim. The system supports electric-only operation at low speeds and hybrid assist at cruise. Combined output pushes well past the standard diesel setup, and charging is fast at 30 to 90% in 45 minutes or less, depending on supply. A diesel generator is also installed for backup and onboard systems.
Construction is full composite, with carbon fibre used in key areas, like the hardtop, structural frames, deck furniture and helm module. Sunreef’s in-house solar panels are integrated directly into the bimini - as an option -supplying up to 5kW of usable energy.
That runs into the hotel load and supports the DC air conditioning system, which uses variable-speed compressors to deliver cooling exactly to where it’s needed. Combined with low-drag silicon bottom paint and careful weight distribution, the whole platform is engineered to reduce running loads and increase efficiency.
Engine Room
Access to the engine room is a two-stage process. First, the aft sunpads lift on gas struts, and that gets you to the storage layer. It’s deep, well finished, and a sensible place to keep fenders, lines, maybe a couple of water toys. But if you’ve filled it, you’ll need to empty it before you get to the engines. That’s the compromise. Once it’s clear, there’s a separate manual hatch that gets you down into the machinery space.
Each Volvo Penta IPS800 engine sits in its own hull, which means good space for each block, but the space itself is pretty tight. Headroom is limited, and the ladder’s steep, so you’re not going to be spending long periods down there. That said, once you’re in, there’s decent access around the engine. Cabling and pipework are properly loomed and bracketed, and the space is cleanly lined throughout.
It’s not an engine room you’ll want to spend much time in, but it works. For regular checks, servicing, or emergency access, it’s functional enough – just maybe don’t overpack the storage on top if you’re planning to get in there often.
The sliding doors into the saloon are curved and nicely finished - it's a lovely bit of detailing that adds a softness to the whole entrance. And even though the boat’s got that low, sleek profile, the headroom in here is surprisingly good.
The tables are your only dining space on this particular boat, but also the spot where you'll lounge around to relax and watch TV. The seats are low enough to lounge at but high enough to eat from, which isn't an easy balance to strike.
There’s a pop-up TV mounted in the forward bulkhead, and the lighting’s been done thoughtfully. Strip LEDs pick out the edges, and carbon trim adds some contrast. The long windows help as they’re shallow, but they run nearly the full length of the saloon, so even seated, you’ve got a nice view out, but a sunroof wouldn’t go amiss.
With this much glass, you do start to feel the heat building up. It’s not a deal-breaker, but on a boat this open to custom spec, you’d think it would be on the table. The structure could take it, and it’d lift the space even further.
Galley
The galley’s split across two sections, set along the port side just forward of the saloon. You’ve got a hob here (though there's no extraction above it) and an oven, though it doesn't feel like a boat where cooking is going to be a priority. Enough to prepare a lunch or throw together some snacks, but that’s about the extent of it. It’s more about making life easy between swims or topping up drinks when the sun goes in.
Storage is there in slimline drawers, built-in lockers, and it's all trimmed to match the rest of the interior, but you can tell the galley’s not the main event.
Owner's Cabin
Head down into the port hull, and you arrive in the owner’s cabin, where the first thing that strikes you is the size of the bathroom. It’s all in one space, not split across corners, and there’s a sense of order to how it’s been laid out. The sink runs along one side, with the shower opposite and the toilet tucked into its own cubicle at the aft end. If you’re on the broader side, it might feel a little tight in places, but there’s decent headroom, a proper rain shower overhead, and a level of finish that makes it feel considered rather than squeezed in.
Amidships, there’s a full-height wardrobe and a small built-in sofa just forward of it - a nice touch that gives you somewhere to sit and get your shoes on, rather than having to clamber awkwardly on and off the bed. There’s more storage forward, some neatly integrated lighting, and the same carbon detailing that runs through the saloon and galley. It all hangs together well.
The bed itself is right up into the bow. It’s offset slightly to make the most of the available width, and there’s enough space to shuffle around one side. You get a proper bedside table, a bulkhead-mounted TV, and a hatch overhead for ventilation or escape, if ever needed. A fixed porthole adds a bit of extra light, and combined with the bright interior scheme, it never feels too closed-in.
VIP Cabin
Over in the starboard hull, the VIP cabin mirrors the owner’s in layout, but with some compromises where the hull also has to accommodate that extra single berth aft. The space is a little shorter overall, but they’ve managed to keep the feel surprisingly open, helped by the pale upholstery and the light coming in through the hull window and overhead hatch.
The layout’s long and narrow, shaped by the beam of the hull, so you get the sink out in the open with the toilet and shower set into their own cubicles on either side. There’s decent headroom through the passage, and in the shower too, which is fitted with a proper door and an overhead rain fixture. It’s not luxurious, but it’s more than serviceable for guests staying aboard a few nights.
Forward, the bed pushes right up into the bow, angled slightly to give one side more clearance. It’s not full walkaround access, but it doesn’t feel cramped either. There’s a bulkhead-mounted TV, some slimline storage, and just enough room to move without climbing over each other.
Extra Cabin
Just aft of the VIP cabin, accessed by lifting the dinette sofa base, there's a small bunk cabin. It’s a single berth set low in the hull with a toilet alongside, finished in carbon fibre no less. If the boat’s being run as a chase or tender, it gives a crew member somewhere to crash for the night. Or somewhere to stash gear if no one’s sleeping in it.
It’s not especially spacious, and the headroom’s limited, plus it’s not a cabin you’d choose for a week aboard at all. There’s a proper door for privacy, ventilation, and lighting, and the finish is consistent with the rest of the boat.
You could probably spec it differently if you wanted more storage and less sleeping space as a utility room, perhaps, or a bigger technical bay. As it stands, it gives you options, and in a boat this size, that’s no bad thing.
You’ve got a pair of carbon-backed, heavily bolstered Besonzoni chairs that are mounted on sliders so you can pull yourself in nice and close. They’re supportive without being too stiff, and you’re not perched awkwardly above the controls.
The throttle and joystick are mounted on a lower console by your right hip, aircraft style. Sit back in the seat, arm resting naturally, and your hand falls straight to those controls. That might sound like a small thing, but after an hour at the wheel, it does make a difference.
Ahead, twin MFDs sit side by side, surrounded by carbon trim and a smattering of backlit toggles. Most of the day-to-day stuff is on screen (charts, engine data, radar), but what stands out is Sunreef’s own boat management interface. It’s cleanly designed, easy to read, and gives you full oversight of everything from battery status to tank levels. It's modern and befitting of such a futuristic boat.
The helm is fully enclosed in this spec, but the screens are wide and low, and the mullions aren’t overly chunky. You can see the corners of the bow, keep an eye on the wake, and stay connected to the waterline without feeling boxed in. There’s a slight echo in here with the doors closed, and you’ll rely heavily on the air con, but for covering ground quickly, it’s a good setup.
The beam’s already generous at just under 5.5m, but with the bulwarks folded down, it suddenly feels enormous. Totally flat, completely open, and with the Sunreef party trick of being modular.
The boat on test had a full lounging space with two big sunpads laid across the back, with ratchet backs so you can sit upright or lie flat. No dining space out here in this spec, which does seem like a bit of a missed trick. If it were mine, I’d probably swap one sunpad out for a dinette. There’s certainly room for it, and Sunreef are open to layout tweaks.
Underneath both pads on strut-lifted lids is deep storage. There's good volume with enough for lines, deck gear, and probably a couple of toys. It also gives access to the engine hatches, so worth bearing in mind how much you load in. If something goes wrong and you need to get to the machinery in a hurry, you don’t want to be unpacking half the boat to do it.
Off to port, there’s a small wet bar. Sink, fridge drawers, decent bit of counter space. No grill on this boat, though you could have one if you wanted, which is again, very much down to spec.
With so much competition in this space, it feels as though Sunreef has missed a trick here. The space is good, but it's not been utilised most effectively, and rivals offer much more flexible living spaces on deck.
Side Decks & Foredeck
The side decks on the Ultima 55 are wide and very flat with no steps and no raised lips. You don’t get any guardrails outboard, but there are sturdy rails set just inside the cabin line. And it feels secure, even when you’re underway. You’ll need to clip fenders to the sockets, though, as there’s no dedicated stowage or fender rail here.
Up front, the bow opens out into another proper lounging space. There’s a big sunpad built into the deck, which is a simple moulded base with sculpted cushions, and a few useful touches like cup holders and pop-up lights for evening sessions. It’s not a deep well or a big social zone, but it’s a comfortable spot to stretch out when the boat’s at rest. And the sheer up here gives a bit of shelter from the wind when you’re underway.
Right forward, the anchor setup is nicely done. There’s a flush deck hatch that lifts to reveal the gear, so nothing is hanging between the hulls as it's all stowed away. Which just looks better than having ground tackle dangling off the bows.
The colour scheme on this boat is all bright white, which makes this hull look very sharp, especially on the water, but there’s a fair bit of glare in direct sun. A few darker surfaces or a sunroof might help tone it down a bit.
There seems to be a wasted opportunity on the wheelhouse roof where there are no solar panels, despite the size and shape of the space. Even a solar panel array would feel at home up here - it’s not a hybrid by default, but the space is there, and the tech clearly exists elsewhere in the range. You can't move for solar panels on most Sunreefs.
You'll pay between €1,900,000 and €2,500,000 ex VAT for the Ultima 55, depending on the engine and drive choice, as well as the on-board specification.
And the on-board specification is where things get interesting because the bespoke nature of Sunreef's designs means you can spec the 55 in almost any way you want. The variety in specifications is wide, ranging from drive types (surface drives are an option) to engines and the number of cabins.
The price feels steep for what you get, but the R&D that goes into designing and engineering a semi-foiling multi-hull with different drive types is extensive (and expensive). You can't help feeling that you can get more boat for the money elsewhere, though.
Our Verdict
The Ultima 55 makes a lot more sense once you understand its purpose. The first one to hit the water in Dubai, which makes perfect sense. It’s a targeted piece of design - this boat is built for warm climates and fast passages. The layout favours enclosed living rather than open-air lounging, the foil and hull form prioritise efficiency over bulk, and the IPS setup means it handles like a much smaller boat when you’re nose-in at the dock. That said, with some reworking of the deck, especially, this could be a much more usable package.
Reasons to Buy
- Stable ride at speed
- Foil improves lift and efficiency
- Custom layout options available
- Great styling
Things to Consider
- No outdoor dining standard
- Noisy at sea
- Ventilation of the wheelhouse
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Rivals to Consider
The Bluegame BG54 is still IPS-driven and lands in a similar size and speed bracket. You get two or three cabins depending on layout, with space for up to six overnight, so fewer berths than the Sunreef, but a bit more flexibility in terms of how the spaces are used. What Bluegame does really well is flow - open-plan decks, a panoramic helm station, and a convertible bow lounge that flips from sunpad to dining table. Performance is in the same ballpark too - around 35 knots flat out, with a comfortable cruise in the high twenties. Range is slightly lower than the Sunreef at similar speeds, and of course you don’t get the foil or the hybrid option, but it’s still an efficient, capable cruiser with a traditional feel and clever deck spaces.
The Wajer 55 HT is a sleeker, more performance-focused machine. It’s about the driving experience with triple IPS drives, a flush cockpit, and a hardtop that cuts a sharp silhouette. Inside, it’s got two cabins and space for four to sleep, but the emphasis is definitely on the day side of day boating. It’s clever though - powered fender system, extendable swim platform, and the finish throughout is very Wajer: slick, solid, beautifully engineered. Performance is slightly ahead of the Ultima on paper at 38 knots at the top end, with a big fuel tank that pushes range closer to 390 nautical miles if you’re careful with the throttle.
The Invictus ST550 comes at it from a different angle again. It’s an enclosed hardtop cruiser with a bit of a superyacht feel – full glazing, high-spec interiors, and some features you don’t often see at this size. You’ve got two big cabins, with the option for a third, and a few layout tweaks depending on how you want to use the middle section – lounge, extra berth, or more galley. Other features include fold-down terraces on either side, a tender garage with a submersible platform. Performance is broadly similar to the Sunreef, with IPS propulsion and speeds in the low- to mid-thirties depending on engine choice.
Considering a new catamaran? Explore Sunreef's entire current range to find the model that best suits your needs, and compare it with alternatives from competitors to ensure you make the perfect choice.
Specifications
- Builder Sunreef Yachts
- Range Ultima Range
- Model Ultima 55
- Length Overall 54' 6"
- Beam 18' 4"
- Draft 2' 11"
- Hull Composite
- Cabins 2
- Berths 4
- Crew 2
- Cruising Speed
- Max Speed
- Fuel Capacity 396 Gallons
- Fresh Water Capacity 79 Gallons
- Engine Model 2x Volvo Penta D8-IPS800
- Engine max range (speed type) 240 (nm)
Sunreef Ultima 55 Layout
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Main Deck
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![Main Deck Sunreef Ultima 55]()
A crane can be used to lift a tender on/off the back deck
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Lower Deck
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Standard 3 cabin layout
![Lower Deck Sunreef Ultima 55]()
The standard arrangement with a small crew cabin to starboard
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Optional 4 cabin layout
![Lower Deck Sunreef Ultima 55]()
You can push the accommodation to four cabins, but that somewhat defies the point of a boat like this
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