Considering new Princess V42

Whatever you do, dont wait til SBS, or you will probably find JTB glued to the cockpit floor, and surrounded by punters who assume he is a salesman ;) He might know the boats better than the salesman though, so you can appreciate the mistake.
 
I actually want to wait until after the SBS. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm (simplistically) assuming that they will be even more eager then to sell a stock boat as it's the end of the season.
 
Alwaysbyboat said:
I actually want to wait until after the SBS. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm (simplistically) assuming that they will be even more eager then to sell a stock boat as it's the end of the season.
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Nope. Definitely not good tactics. I'd buy purely on the numbers. If they are long on stock boats now (hint!) then now is a good time. If there's lots of rain on the first weekend of SIBS, then the Monday and Tuesday are good days for buying. The problem with waiting until after SIBS is that they get busy tidying up the deals from SIBS, and then before you know it they are in the run up to LIBS, it's quite a short window. Right now is the dead spot. But like I say, I'd buy on the numbers.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
The fuel figures were true readings from the EVC display, admittedly there was no tender or gear onboard, half tanks and just the 10 girls in bikinis!
 
Alwaysbyboat said:
Thanks Jimmy. I'll have the sea trial on Tuesday so will see what they propose (apart from a coffee).
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Which one are you sea trialling, or have you already arranged to have a go at both? Is your broker taking you, or will there be a skipper as well (there usually is with Princess)?

Doing a sea trial from Swanwick is really good, because you've got 25 mins at 6kts in the river just to get used to what's going on, before you get down to the sea and you have a bit of a blast about, see how the boat trims, what you think about noise, helm position, all that - and then 25 mins back up the river to gather your thoughts.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I'm going to sea trial the V42 and P42. It will be with a skipper from Swanwick. I really look forward to it. They proposed a sea trial of the V45 as well, but I'm not sure we'll have enough time. I have to say the Princess people are very helpful and nice to deal with. I spoke to guys from Fairline and Sunseeker before, and it's just not same calibre of people.
 
Alwaysbyboat said:
I'm going to sea trial the V42 and P42. It will be with a skipper from Swanwick. I really look forward to it. They proposed a sea trial of the V45 as well, but I'm not sure we'll have enough time. I have to say the Princess people are very helpful and nice to deal with. I spoke to guys from Fairline and Sunseeker before, and it's just not same calibre of people.
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Oh wow, so the P42 is still in the frame? Completely properly different animals, I'll be interested to hear your opinions afterwards. But if you are considering the V45 you really should try it as well, it's a big spend and worth taking the extra couple of hours if you can.

It's been mentioned here before, but it's worth repeating that Princess after-sales service is also very good, run by a chap called Peter Harwood who is just outstanding.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I thought you'd prefer the V42 as you explained before?
P42 is still in the frame as err....second half likes her. I agree the P42 is entirely different: different concept, different purpose, different seakeeping...
I'll try to get out in the V45 as well. I agree that it is an important decision. I never would buy a boat without a sea trial.
 
Alwaysbyboat said:
I thought you'd prefer the V42 as you explained before?
P42 is still in the frame as err....second half likes her. I agree the P42 is entirely different: different concept, different purpose, different seakeeping...
I'll try to get out in the V45 as well. I agree that it is an important decision. I never would buy a boat without a sea trial.
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For me? Yep, the V42HT. But it's your boat, not mine - and your shortlist (from your posts before) seems to be the V42HT, the V45 and the P42. So if the opportunity is there to try them all, then why not? Back to back with the V42HT would be favourite.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I owned an older V42 (2000) and the first first produced V45 (previous to that a Fairline)
Pm me if you would like some independent unbiased opinion
Regards
Timbad
 
Firstly congratulations. Having bought a couple of new boats from Swanwick I would have absolutely no qualms in recommending them and can guarantee the aftersales to be every bit as good as the sales attention. For me that is critical, a boat is a leisure purchase and so you want things to be as hassle free as possible.

I would also echo Jimmy's sentiments about now being a wise time to buy. Wait until after Southampton and you might find you are not the only person in the market. We bought the P42 around this time. If you get a sense they are keen to sell a V42/45 it is probably more to do with the success of the V39 than any failing on the part of the 42 or 45. The 39 is great value and may have attracted potential customers away from the larger brothers, use that to your advantage and get a bigger boat for your money.

I am a massive fan of the P42. Pound for pound I think it is as good as a smaller flybridge gets. Ours was a 2007 boat and when I saw it at the weekend it still looked brand new. For the UK we feel a flybridge works best but it is incredibly subjective. I know Jimmy feels the exact opposite so there is no right and wrong. The cockpit on the flybridge works extremely well during the winter or when it rains. The covers are quick and easy to install or remove. You also get a useful lazarette space which takes a generator and more. I also like shaft drives. The stern gear / drive train on our P42 cost a grand total of nothing to keep running over a period of nearly 5 years. Actually tell a lie, we must have changed the gearbox oil at some point?

We use the boat as a grand tourer rather than a day sports boat and so appreciate the extra living space of the P42. It is also enjoys amazing all round visibility from the lower helm and was the first flybridge I felt truly comfortable skippering from down below. Obviously with sports boats the helm position enjoys visibility almost equal to that on top of the flybridge.

I struggled with the concept of buying new when we bought the P42 but as you are probably finding out dealers are a lot more realistic with their numbers than most private sellers and all brokers (who's hands are tied). Couple that with known expenditure for the foreseeable future and the beauty of being able to hand over any problems to someone else without concern for the bill, it swayed it for us.

Ultimately the final descision will come down to you guys but which ever route you settle on none are a bad choice.

All the best and let us know how you get on. I'm quite excited for you :)

Henry
 
Thank you for your contribution Henry - that was very useful.
My journey so far has actually been an interesting one. I have a sailing background but want to move into motor boating for a variety of reasons. I contacted Princess intially for the new V39 (and a few other brands as well). I then spoke to them several times, and they invited my to their Open Door weekend, where they showed my the V42, V45 and P42. My wife loved the P42, the kids like everything from a jetski to a 98M...
I personally prefer the sportcruiser type, and really liked the V42. However, I completely understand what you say about the P42. Our idea is to keep the boat for 1 or 2 seasons in Swanwick and then move her to the Med. So she will be used for coastal cruising and touring. Therefore you're right that the P42 would be an excellent choice.
However, the V42 is so nice....

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions so far. This forum is really helpful for someone like me, and I'd be more than happy to contribute as well as soon as I've signed on the dotted line.
 
No problem.

We are UK boaters as I like the fact it only takes an hour and a half to get to the boat door to door so we "nick" loads of short weekend breaks on it as well as more extended trips. I also like the fact it is close by when getting jobs done. Quite a few people seem to experience distance / service issues when keeping boats overseas.

We might ship out to Thailand one day but that is a few years off.........

Henry :)
 
Henry, just out of interest: what was the fuel consumption like on the P42? I know it depends on load, sea condition etc but just a ballpark figure.
Many thanks!
 
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