Best 50 Foot Boat

Nigelpickin said:
if we deconstruct the 100 hours per year usage assumption then the whole conversation is just a distraction.
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Well, this is a good point indeed.
Sadly, in our hobby we get used to be ripped off in so many ways that whenever we look at one single item, its cost is rarely critical in the grand scheme.

I might be also a tad biased against VP, coming to think of it.
In fact, back in the days, I made the mistake of buying not one, but two VP outdrive powered boats, both with those DP black painted alu props which were disposable junk.
Eventually, I went straight to the factory who used to build them for VP, hoping to purchase two normally (rather than outrageously) overpriced pairs, for a change.
The chap I met politely declined, because he explained me that after some jerk bragged on the web to have bought his props from them (naming names), they were threatened by VP to be sued for breaching exclusivity or something like that.
But what is interesting is that I took the opportunity to ask him why their props lasted so much less than any other alu props I came across before (Yam and Merc).
And he explained me that they already suggested VP to build them according to their normal factory specs (whose alloy material and painting process was much more durable) at no additional cost, because building them with lower quality didn't grant cost reductions anyway.
But VP declined, and asked them to keep building the things as poorly as they always did, based on VP specs.
No prize for guessing why, when they could make 70% margins just by shifting boxes... :ambivalence:

So, nowadays, when I talk with my friends with IPS boats of their maintenance bills, for some reason this old story keeps popping on my mind...
A leopard can't change its spots, obviously.
 
PowerYachtBlog said:
I have not worked the cruise nos, but for a 15 meter if correct they are laughable indeed.
Sometimes these reviewers do a single tank or a twin tank goes x2 again. But even my 10 meter Gobbi with 230 has a 250 nm range without reserve (200 nm with R).

I am skeptical about those nos but it can happen when a craft is under powered as I have seen it a few times before.

According to the data on the website and 5.8 liter per mile fuel consumption at 22 knots (that is very high indeed and close to that of a Ferretti 53 which weight about 27 t which if I remember well is around 6.5 per mile at about 26 knots) range is 275 nm (1600 / 5.8). So the nos on BoatTest.com are not correct. I think they did the calculation on one tank!

https://www.absoluteyachts.com/en/absolute_model/50fly/
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Slightly off-topic but I found some noticable differences between the figures of boattest.com and MBY on the Princess 52:

boattest.com: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc8S5yYr_RY
MAN R6-800
2100 rpm - 25.7 kts - 254 lph

MBY test June 2013
Cat C12 - 715
2100 rpm - 26.6 kts - 190 lph

Either the Cats are that much more efficient or one of the two is wrong.
 
There has to be a mistake also in this case.
Fuel burn aside, both engines are rated for 2300rpm max, so it doesn't make any sense that the less powerful can spin a longer prop, as the rpm/speed numbers imply.
 
MapisM said:
There has to be a mistake also in this case.
Fuel burn aside, both engines are rated for 2300rpm max, so it doesn't make any sense that the less powerful can spin a longer prop, as the rpm/speed numbers imply.
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Or the Man engine boat was not propped correctly. Which I think is the case. BoatTest.com needs to review its Technical department as YBW forum is catching them on the errors.
It is also strange that the above is favoring an American engine maker, and the other (Absolute 50) was a wrong nos versus an Italian boat builder.
Coincidentally both of these are not big advertisers of BoatTest.com
I smell a mice ;)
 
Is possible that the magazines get the boats too early, before they are fine tuned (or rely on their feedback to adjust things)
 
Well - where I'm from - shallowness is a high value. Partners here are always looking for something else - better body? Better bank account? LOL
 
Thanks for all the thoughts so far. I can say a few things are becoming true to me. 1) If you are marina hopping or casual causing, IPS is a non-issue. I share the concern of the cost of maintenance of IPS. 2) Shaft drive is pretty bullet-proof. 55' and above that's all Princess offers. (I suppose 500'+ cruise ships with electric pods are okay LOL) 3) I"m looking forward to seeing the new Prestige 520 and directly comparing to the Absolute Nav 52. From a practical standpoint they are a great value. And dealers literally offer 10% off the first time they shake your hand - a lot more wiggle room there if you have a pocket full of cash!

I think the Prestige or Navetta are pretty easy choices. If I'm drunk I can see spending the money on the Princess. If I just paid my taxes a used Prestige 500 is always a good value.

I"m kind of stuck in my head until I can see the Prestige 520. And I'm hoping for some updates on the Navetta 52. Their new 48 addresses some issues on the 52 - hard top, darker woods etc. The big fight at home is, and I'm not kidding, the dogs and our nephews. The protected side decks on the Navetta are extremely practical. Many other side decks are treacherous.

I've been on many brands. You can tell the Princess is outstanding on just about any level. Boat in the 1 MM price area all have their short-cuts. Considering the price difference, they are all pretty tolerable. A extensive inspection of a few boats and sea trials should help close the deal.

In my head I think the Nuvetta 52 and Prestige 520 are my short list. And like I said, if I lose my mind in a moment of weakness I'll jump on a Princess.

I can "see" the obvious great things on the Nuvetta and Prestige. Anyone have any real-world pluses or minuses on those brands?

Thanks for everyone's input !!!!!
 
If you like the new Princess 55, I tihnk this should be compared with the likes of the new models Ferretti 550 (possibly my preferred choices), new Azimut 55, Fairline 53 Squadron (a lot of variable options in this one), and Sunseeker 52 Manhattan. If you want IPS I would look at the Absolute 56 as well. Sunseeker has the IPS options as well if I remember well.

If the Absolute 52 Navetta is your favorite choice I would also have a look at the Azimut 53 Magellano, and if you want to spend a bit less there is is also the Cranchi T53.
These three are the Med inspired new generation breed of explorer inspired yachts.
 
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