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A 2018 Sunseeker 76 Yacht in tidy condition closed in March 2026 at $2,150,000 against an original 2018 sterling delivery equivalent of $3,400,000. The equivalent 2018 Princess Y78 closed for $1,980,000 against an equivalent $3,300,000 delivery. That is a 63 percent retention on the Sunseeker against 60 percent on the Princess at year 8. The gap is 3 percentage points, or $66,000 on the example. Over a portfolio of 22 verified transactions in the 18m to 35m band, the average Sunseeker premium runs 4 to 7 points across the curve.
That is a small enough premium that the rest of the decision matters as much as the residual value. Princess delivers a noticeably better factory finish, a more current galley layout, and a stronger UK dealer-network refit program in 2026. Sunseeker holds value better, has stronger Mediterranean and Middle East brand recognition, and runs the secondary used network more actively. The two builders are closer than either marketing department will admit. This page compares them on resale, build, layout, and operating profile for buyers between $800K and $4M asking price.
What we are comparing
We are comparing yachts in the 55-foot to 116-foot range (roughly 17m to 35m), built between 2014 and 2022, sold or surveyed for sale between January 2024 and April 2026. Sample size is 47 verified transactions (26 Sunseeker, 21 Princess). Asking and closing on most deals are confidential, so we present bands.
We are not comparing the smaller Sunseeker Predator or Princess V-class day-boat ranges. Those are different products and the resale curve runs differently. We are also not comparing the Sunseeker 100+ Yacht, the 116, or the new Ocean range above 90 feet against equivalent Princess 95+ or Y95, because the sample of $4M+ used closings is thin and the segment overlaps with Italian and Dutch builders rather than just UK competition.
Resale value retention by year
The curves for both builders are typical of the production motor yacht market. Steep depreciation in years 1 to 3, flatter through years 4 to 8, then a slow decline that becomes steeper again at year 12 to 15 as the first major refit hits.
| Year from delivery | Sunseeker retention | Princess retention | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 80 to 88% | 75 to 83% | 5pp |
| 4 | 70 to 78% | 65 to 73% | 5pp |
| 6 | 65 to 72% | 60 to 67% | 5pp |
| 8 | 60 to 68% | 55 to 63% | 5pp |
| 10 | 52 to 60% | 48 to 56% | 4pp |
| 12 | 45 to 53% | 40 to 48% | 5pp |
| 15 | 35 to 42% | 30 to 38% | 5pp |
The five-point gap is consistent across the curve. The drivers are the same drivers that explain the Feadship vs Lürssen gap a tier above, scaled to this segment. Sunseeker has a larger international dealer footprint, a longer-established brand in the secondary market, and a more active charter program at the smaller end (24m to 30m). Princess has a stronger UK and Northern European brand and a more current-feeling factory build, which advantages it in the new market but penalizes it slightly in the used market where age perception is everything.
The data point to watch. The 4 to 7 point Sunseeker premium narrows in years where Princess has had a recent design refresh. The current 2024 to 2026 Y-class Princess updates have closed the gap on like-for-like comparisons by roughly 1.5 points in our last quarter of data. If Princess maintains the refresh cadence, the resale gap may close further over the next 24 months.
Build quality, as it shows up at year 6 and year 10
Both builders are at the upper end of the volume production segment. Neither is at the tier of Italian custom builders (Sanlorenzo, Benetti production), Dutch semi-custom (Heesen lower end), or German engineering builders. Both are competently engineered, built to production tolerances, and finished to a level that ages predictably with maintenance.
The differences show up after year 6.
Hull and topsides. Sunseeker hulls in the 2014 to 2018 range show some gel coat fade in Mediterranean and Middle East climates by year 6. Princess hulls show the same in the same conditions. The Sunseeker paint system on the topsides above the rubrail tends to chalk slightly earlier than Princess. Princess painted topsides hold gloss longer.
Interior wood and veneer. Princess interiors in 2018 to 2022 use slightly thinner veneers than Sunseeker on comparable models. The Princess interiors look fresher off the production line. The Sunseeker interiors hold up better at year 8 to 10, particularly in galleys and heads where moisture is constant.
Galley and appliance integration. Princess wins. The 2020-and-later Princess Y-class galleys are notably better thought through, with stronger appliance choices, more usable storage, and better lighting. Sunseeker galleys are functional but have not had the same generational update.
Hydraulic and electrical systems. Roughly even. Both builders use top-tier components (Volvo Penta, MAN, MTU in larger sizes, Garmin and Raymarine electronics,). Component-level service intervals run similarly. The wiring loom quality has historically favored Princess but has improved on Sunseeker post-2020.
Sound and vibration. Sunseeker slightly quieter at cruise on like-for-like LOA in the 24m to 30m range. Princess slightly quieter at anchor. The differences are small. Both are inferior to Italian semi-custom equivalents (Pershing,) in this metric.
Refit cost at year 10
A 10-year refit on a 76-foot to 92-foot motor yacht runs in similar bands for both builders. The scope-by-scope breakdown:
| Refit element | Sunseeker typical 10-yr | Princess typical 10-yr | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull paint and topsides | $80K to $140K | $70K to $130K | Princess marginally cheaper |
| Engine service and main systems | $120K to $200K | $115K to $195K | Comparable |
| Generator service or replace | $40K to $90K | $40K to $85K | Comparable |
| Interior refresh (soft goods, galley appliances, head fixtures) | $90K to $170K | $80K to $150K | Princess uses more refresh-friendly materials |
| Electronics replace | $60K to $110K | $55K to $105K | Comparable |
| AC system service or replace | $30K to $70K | $30K to $65K | Comparable |
| Tender and tender lift | $25K to $50K | $25K to $50K | Same |
| Total typical 10-yr refit | $445K to $830K | $415K to $780K | Princess runs 5 to 8% cheaper |
The Princess refit cost advantage is small but real. The cumulative cost over 10 years of ownership tilts the math closer to even on a portfolio basis. A buyer holding for 5 years from year 5 to year 10 will see the Sunseeker premium and the Princess refit advantage roughly cancel.
Used market liquidity
Sunseeker sells faster in the Mediterranean. A correctly priced 24m Sunseeker in Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Mallorca, or Marbella will close in 4 to 9 months. The buyer pool is large and the inventory turnover is high.
Princess sells faster in the UK and Northern European markets. A correctly priced 24m Princess in Plymouth, the Solent, or the Balearic dealer network will close in 4 to 9 months as well, with the buyer pool concentrated in UK and Benelux owners.
The geographic split matters more than the brand alone. A Sunseeker for sale in Hamburg may sit longer than a Princess in the same berth. A Princess for sale in Bodrum may sit longer than a Sunseeker in the same marina. Selling time is location-times-brand, not brand alone.
The decision matrix
| Buyer profile | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-time owner, Mediterranean base | Sunseeker | Stronger dealer support and resale in the Med |
| First-time owner, UK or Northern Europe base | Princess | Local dealer network, easier service |
| Owner with charter program intent | Sunseeker | More charter operators familiar with the brand |
| Owner with private-use only | Princess | Better factory build, newer interior generation |
| Owner prioritizing 5-year carry cost | Princess | Lower refit, smaller resale gap at year 5 |
| Owner prioritizing 10+ year carry cost | Sunseeker | Resale floor holds slightly better |
| Buyer who wants the newest-feeling interior | Princess | Y-class 2022+ interiors are a generation ahead |
| Buyer who plans Middle East relocation | Sunseeker | Stronger brand awareness in the Gulf market |
Where each builder underperforms the marketing
Sunseeker. The 2014 to 2017 build years have a generation of hulls that have seen frequent ownership turnover and inconsistent maintenance. The same model year in two different ownership histories can vary by 8 to 15 percent on closing price. The brand premium does not save a poorly maintained boat. A 2016 Sunseeker 76 in a chartered fleet with 1,800 engine hours is a different yacht from a private-use 2016 Sunseeker 76 with 600 hours, regardless of model year. Survey accordingly.
Princess. The 2018 to 2020 model years had several reported wiring loom issues on the M-class, which were addressed under warranty but have left a residue in the used market. Yachts in this generation should be surveyed with specific attention to behind-the-helm electrical access. The Princess dealer network can usually confirm whether the work was done.
The honest answer on this comparison
For most buyers in the 18m to 35m segment, the choice between Sunseeker and Princess is the choice between two competent UK production builders with overlapping strengths. The 4 to 7 point resale gap matters at portfolio scale and does not matter at single-boat scale. The buying decision should be made on layout fit, dealer location, and condition of the specific boat rather than on brand-level retention curves.
If we were buying personally in 2026, in the Mediterranean, for private use with occasional charter offsets:
For a 24m to 28m purchase, we would take the 2020-or-newer Princess Y-class. The galley, the layout, and the factory build justify the lower retention. The five-point resale gap is acceptable.
For a 28m to 35m purchase, we would take the Sunseeker 86 or 95 Yacht in the 2018-to-2020 vintage with a documented maintenance history. The brand premium pays off at this LOA and the Mediterranean dealer support is denser.
Where to spend the money
Current inventory in both ranges is updated monthly on our Buy index. For a buyer with a broker, both builders are widely represented on the major brokerages. Our Burgess review, Fraser review, and Northrop Johnson review pages compare the top-end firms. Sunseeker has its own brokerage network through the Sunseeker brand. Princess is more diffuse across general yacht brokerages.
For first-time buyers, see how to buy a yacht and buyer's broker vs central agent. For pre-owned considerations, new vs pre-owned yacht covers the trade-off in detail.
Sources and methodology
The transaction sample is drawn from verified brokerage records, central agent confirmations on background, and survey reports shared by buyers post-closing between January 2024 and April 2026. Sterling-to-USD conversions are at the contemporaneous exchange rate at the closing date, not at current spot. Refit cost data is from project budgets shared by owners and yards, normalized to a 24m to 30m yacht equivalent.
Full methodology on our methodology page. Corrections to [email protected].