Big Boat Promises to be Big Break for Local Boat Manufacturer

Algonac, Michigan: Building a 43-foot long boat with all the comforts of home is a feat accomplished by many boat builders. Building one that moves over the water at more than 90 miles per hour is a feat that very few boat builders have ever achieved.

Sunsation, a local builder of world-class offshore powerboats tested the first of their new 43-foot model, named the F-4 on the Fourth of July and the results were stunning, even to the designers. The boat, powered by stock twin MerCruiser 600 hp engines, topped out at 92 mph on its maiden voyage.

"We expected the boat to run in the mid 80's" said company president, and part of the design team, Wayne Schaldenbrand, "But when we saw the GPS hit 90 and we were still accelerating, I knew that we really had accomplished something special."

Joe Schaldenbrand, the company's CFO, says that the research and development costs on the boat approached $1,000,000 when all was said and done. "I was starting to feel like we had bet the farm on this project," said Joe, " But now that we have put it in the water and it has performed beyond our expectations, it was all worth it. This boat is going to put our company at the front of the pack!" The F-4 took more than two years to develop.

The F-4 has all the amenities of home, including a galley with a microwave, fridge, sink, etc., and a full bathroom facilities, both with over 6 feet of headroom-unheard of in the offshore powerboat arena.

After the run, Wayne Schaldenbrand declared the model fit for production. "There are no modifications necessary, we hit a grand slam with this one."

According to Joe, the company has orders for the boat extending past the end of the year. "The demand for this boat was incredible before it ran. People had a lot of faith in us. Now that it is proven, I'm sure that the demand will really pick up."