Princess is not only one of the leading manufacturers of sports boats on the British Isles - if its largest model, a 40 metre yacht, can still be described as such. Behind each of the models, which are all labelled with different letters such as M, X, Y, F, S, V or R, there are also different concepts.
If we take a look at the V-Class, from which our test boat also comes, it ranges from 78 to 40, meaning the respective length in feet.
The V-Class is one of theslightly sportier boats at Princess. There can be more power in the engine compartment below deck, and they are available with either an open or closed hardtop towards the cockpit. To avoid confusion, the boats without a glass door front are labelled "open". This is particularly true when the sunroof is open, when youon the extremely comfortable seating enjoying a drink.
The test boat is "build number 2", which is being presented to the public and is, in terms of the overall finish on the outside and inside as well as all technical and electrical installations, quite simply the best of its kind.excellent and exemplary workmanship. The situation is not much different where guests or the owner stay during the day or at night.
Below deck, the Princess has a saloon with the finest galley as well as two very luxurious cabins
cabins, which are either equipped with their own bathroom like the owner's or with access to the day bathroom.
While our test boatPrincess V 50 Open in the calm waters of Port Adriano harbour on the south-western tip of Mallorca, it looks wild "outside". Although the sun is shining, a long-lasting westerly or south-westerly wind makes for rough seas.
Five Beaufort and waves up to one and a half metres high challenge both boat and tester. But the V-hull of the Princessnot at all impressed. Whether with the speed adjusted or both levers on the table, with or without the trim tabs extended, the hull pulls through the water in all directions. However, the most comfortable speed is 27 knots, as neither the boat nor its occupants are strained.
The shipyard's measurement data also indicate this speed as a cruising speed, as the two IPS-600s each optimally convert their 435 hp at 3300 rpm.
One tank of fuel is then theoretically sufficient for a distance of 220 nm plus 15% reserve. However, this does not fulfil our requirement for the minimum range and means that for long distancesbunker stations must also be included in the planning. Thanks to the IPS, all driving manoeuvres are moderate, as revs and speed determine the curve diameters. In short, this is a sporty family cruiser that does what it should - have fun.
Or as Marketing Director Kiran Jay Haslam puts it: "It's very easy to make something look complicated,But it is very complicated to make something look simple. Apart from electronics, electrics and engines, we manufacture everything ourselves and that's what makes a Princess a Princess". The editor has nothing more to add.
