Princess strives for higher things. The V48 Open, which we drove on the Mediterranean in the sunny south, is proof of this. Noble materials, the best workmanship and the technical and electrical installations impress at first glance. Only one or two grab handles have been sacrificed for the sake of design.
In terms of type and appearance, the V48 Open can be categorised as a sporty, slightly oversized day cruiser. An Open, in other words. The size provides space for two cabins and the option of a third. Two toilet/shower compartments and two adjustable individual seats for the skipper and others are standard.
Volvo Penta's Inboard Performance System (IPS) provides the propulsion. Installed in a twin pack, the IPS 600 delivers an impressive 870 hp. On the V48 Open, this is enough for speeds just above the 31-kn mark. For economical cruising, the shipyard recommends speeds between 3000-3200 rpm. But the diesels don't have to rev that high. According to our measurements, 2400 rpm is enough to cruise economically at 16 knots. This means that one tank of fuel is enough for a non-stop journey of 250 nm, plus reserve. If you are travelling faster, the range at full throttle shrinks to around 210 nm. If you want to go further, you have to travel as a displacer.
Although this doesn't suit the character of the boat at all, it saves a lot of fuel. If you mean well with the man at the petrol pump, you can accelerate quickly and glide along without obstructing your view. The only thing that makes the whole thing opaque is the reflections in the windscreen. If you don't want to glide blindly round a roundabout, the driver has to bend down or open the sunroof. The electronics of the IPS determine how tightly the "corners" are turned by automatically adjusting the "steering angle" of the pod drives to the speed.
At slow speed, you use the joystick to manoeuvre the boat in the desired direction or to turn it on the spot. Of course, you can also manoeuvre without the stick if one gear is engaged forwards and the other backwards, but it's better with the stick. In the absence of wind and waves, all we can say about the rough water section is that the hull makes a good impression when crossing its own waves, indicating that it can also handle larger calibres.
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