Inside SOTW Mag: Sun-Stoppable—Sunsation Turns 40

Many years ago, I was talking with the late Paul Fiore, founder of Hustler Powerboats (and father of the late Outerlimits founder Mike Fiore), about single- engine offshore-style performance boats. When I asked him which offerings he liked, he said, “Sunsation has a really nice 25-footer.”

Deeply rooted in Michigan, Sunsation Powerboats evolved from 16-foot boats with outboards to sterndrive-powered sportboats to luxury performance center consoles with multiple 400- and 450-hp outboard engines—and it shows no signs of slowing down.

When told of this conversation, Joe and Wayne Schaldenbrand, the founders and co-owners of Sunsation Powerboats, were rather flabbergasted.

“I had talked to Paul a few times, but I had no idea he knew anything about our boats,” Joe Schaldenbrand said.

Deeply rooted in Michigan, Sunsation Powerboats evolved from 16-foot boats with outboards to sterndrive-powered sportboats to luxury performance center consoles with multiple 400- and 450-hp outboard engines—and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Apparently Fiore wasn’t the only one. Sunsation is celebrating 40 years in business so that means quite a few people have liked its performance sportboats and center consoles. Sunsation is based in Algonac, Mich., and in addition to the Schaldenbrand brothers, Kyle Miller, who has been with the company for decades, is an owner. Mark Waddington, the co-owner of Performance Boat Center in Osage Beach, Mo., recently invested as a partner as well. It’s safe to say that things are looking up for Sunsation Powerboats.

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