The Sunreef Ultima 55 is a hybrid foiling catamaran that represents an exciting departure for the Polish builder.
By Kevin Koenig
Gdansk, Poland, is no stranger to revolution. The city lies on the country’s Baltic coast and has been cloaked in strategic and symbolic significance for centuries. It was here where the first shots of World War II were fired (back when Gdansk was called The Free City of Danzig, which is the coolest name any city has ever had), and it was also here where Lech Walesa’s Solidarity movement struck the first decisive blow against Communist rule in Eastern Europe in the 1980s. All of this to say it is fitting that Sunreef Yachts, which calls the city home, is not afraid to shake things up while keeping a keen eye on the future.
Sunreef Ultima 55 at a Glance
- Type: Hybrid foiling luxury dayboat catamaran
- Length: 55’8”
- Top Speed: 38 knots
- Cruise Speed: 25-30 knots
- Range: 180-240 nautical miles
- Propulsion: Volvo Penta IPS + electric hybrid system
- Key Feature: Hydrofoil-assisted performance
- Builder: Sunreef Yachts (Poland)
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A New Direction for Sunreef Yachts
The Ultima 55 is perhaps the perfect example of this ethos. Sunreef has long been known for making volume-forward catamarans that are as adept at hosting large parties at the dock as they are at making long voyages to far-flung locales. It is perhaps best known for its popular 80- and 100-foot models, which are proper megayachts when one considers how large a catamaran that size actually is.
This Ultima 55 is different than that—much different. She is the first in an envisioned lineup that will also contain a 44, 66, 77, 88, and 111. The Ultima series will have a number of hallmarks that make it distinct from Sunreef’s sail and power yachts. For one, the boats will all be hybrid-powered. They will also have comparatively narrower beams and more performance-oriented hulls. Top speeds in the 45-knot range are in the conversation. And perhaps most key, they will have foils. These yachts will be targeted at the ever-burgeoning dayboat market, providing a new spoke in the wheel for one of the world’s top catamaran builders.
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Design and Layout: A Sporty Take on Catamaran Living
One thing that is immediately evident when stepping aboard the Ultima 55 is her creative use of space. This is no accident; it was a main focus of Sunreef’s in-house design team as it set about dreaming up this vessel. The boat’s 18-foot-4-inch beam is plenty wide, but Sunreef has added flip-down terraces—de rigueur for dayboats these days—which fold out to create an open cockpit that is truly expansive.
Furniture is modular here and highly customizable. The boat I boarded at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival had twin sunpads plunked in the middle of the deck. It wasn’t my favorite arrangement as there was no alfresco dining table, which I think is requisite for a dayboat. I’d rather see one sunpad and settee with a high-low folding table, which I think would be a more ergonomic and efficient use of the space. A grill would be a good idea, too—this boat ostensibly is all about fun in the sun, after all.
The boat in Cannes had large stowage compartments beneath the sunpads, which would be excellent for water toys like Seabobs as well as snorkeling gear. There was also a hatch leading to the engine room compartment here. A sink and refrigerator were forward and to starboard, while there were additional refrigerated drawers underneath the sunpads as well. One small seat forward and to port would be a nice place to sit underway if you felt like being outside but not getting bashed by the wind.
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Wide decks lead forward to the bow. There are no guard rails here, which help keep the boat’s profile sleek. But there are handholds running along the top of the superstructure, which do help add a layer of security when you are traversing decks. One thing I did notice that I would like to see changed on future models is that the superstructure top felt like wasted space. I’d love to see a little sportbridge there, or even some extra sunpads or maybe some solar panels.
Regardless, the Ultima takes full advantage of its beaminess in the bow, where sunpads could easily fit four or five adults. Forward of that is a cleverly tucked away anchor locker. The anchor drops neatly in between the hulls, meaning the boat maintains its clean exterior aesthetic even on the hook. The boat’s lines are actually quite notable. This isn’t your typical boxy catamaran. Instead, the profile is sleek and low-slung and nearly indiscernible from a monohull when viewed from the side. Knife-like hullside windows run parallel to an aggressively forward-raked superstructure to create a boat that looks like it is racing somewhere important even when it is standing still.
Interior: Minimalist, Modern, and Weekend-Ready
The yacht’s interior also maintains a clean, almost space-age aesthetic and is replete with shiny white surfaces offset by carbon-fiber accents. Entering the salon, one is met with twin, adjustable-height tables to each side matched with minimalistic L-shaped settees. A pop-up television forward and to starboard provides entertainment. (Though really, who watches TV on a boat? Should be illegal.) A small galley forward of that feels a bit perfunctory, but there is a usable cooktop and some more refrigeration should cooking duties arise.
Each hull on the 55 houses a stateroom, or perhaps more accurately, a cabin, as they are rather small. The Ultima is certainly usable for overnights or even weekends, but I think these areas will likely be used more for naps considering this model’s strong dayboat sensibilities. Each cabin is ensuite, though the portside owner’s cabin has a much larger head, as the guest head abuts a captain’s cabin aft. It’s rare to say, but the owner’s head really is a standout on this boat, as it takes up nearly half the hull, earning high marks both for spaciousness and privacy.
Back upstairs at the helm the captain is in for a treat. Twin Besenzoni captain’s chairs with slick-looking carbon-fiber backs mean a captain and mate can man the boat simultaneously or just keep up a lively conversation during a cruise. Windows completely surround the helm, and though they aren’t overly large, they are placed at the perfect height for the captain to have excellent lines of sight. Most of the controls are located to starboard of the captain’s chair, creating an ergonomic setup while running the boat. Twin MFDs also allow the captain to keep an eye on all the Ultima’s vitals while running.
Performance and Engine Options
The Ultima 55 can be fitted with two 600-horsepower Volvo Penta D8-IPS800 pod drives. The maximum speed with those engines is 38 knots, where she burns about 66 gallons of diesel per hour. At a medium-fast cruise of 25 knots, she burns 40 gph with a range of 240 nautical miles, about the distance from Palm Beach to the Exumas.
The yacht also comes with an environmentally friendly hybrid-engine package that matches the twin 600-horsepower Volvo Penta D8s with twin 350 kW electric engines. With this power package, the boat can hit a rollicking 38 knots on the pins while cruising between 25 and 30 knots. Range numbers with the hybrid units are similar to the diesels, coming in at 180 to 240 nautical miles depending on how hard you choose to run the boat. The electric engines can also go from zero percent to a 90 percent charge in just 45 minutes.
Hybrid Power and Foiling Technology Explained
The boat’s ride is soft and responsive, and it benefits from a hydrofoil system installed on the bottom of the hulls. This system not only helps provide a cleaner ride in chop, but also aids with the boat’s speed and efficiency numbers by lifting it partially up out of the water, thereby reducing the amount of friction. This is not an orthodox hull by any measure, but it points to Sunreef’s appetite for forward-thinking design.
With the Sunreef Ultima 55, you get a boat that is a bold step in a new direction for Sunreef. Long one of the world’s very best builders of big catamarans, the company has decided not to rest on its laurels, and instead try something different. And after giving the model a thorough tour, I would say the brand has most definitely succeeded. Chalk it up to one more revolution coming out of Gdansk.
Sunreef Ultima 55 FAQs
How fast is the Sunreef Ultima 55?
The Sunreef Ultima 55 reaches a top speed of 38 knots with twin Volvo Penta IPS engines.
Is the Sunreef Ultima 55 a foiling catamaran?
Yes, it features a hydrofoil system that improves efficiency, ride comfort, and performance.
What is the range of the Sunreef Ultima 55?
The range is approximately 180 to 240 nautical miles depending on speed and propulsion mode.
Is the Sunreef Ultima 55 hybrid?
Yes, it offers a hybrid propulsion system combining diesel engines with electric motors.
