New build Princess F55 flybridge

[rafiki_]

exactly

you can blame my parents and family growing up who rammed down my throat "if its not italian its not good" that has made me quite aggressively anti italian to the point i haven't even been back to see my family since my cousins wedding in 2002

I had an Azimut 39 until recently. I bought this when I was looking for a Princess. Never regretted it for a moment. Build quality is impressive. You can see the family pedigree with their range, beyond 100 feet. For styling, albeit a subjective view, I love Ali’s, and look forward to my next one. Friends have Princess’s, Sealine and Fairlines. All fantastic boats, but I am drawn back to Azimut.
I‘m looking forward to seeing JFM’s new San Lorenzo next year. We had a good crawl over a smaller version at Das Boot. Some great features and truly impressive build quality.

 

[rafiki_]

You know you’re always welcome on the bathing platform….

I will take my DM’s off first.

 

[MapisM]

In my own little world I'd be quietly proud as they walked up to the Princess F55.

And rightly so.
Just to get rid of any doubts, I think that the protagonist of this thread is a great boat, and I'm sure you'll enjoy her a lot - as well as all your guests will.
And the very same goes for whenever you will move to a X80, or a Y95, or any other Princess.

My previous question wasn't meant to say that the Y95 is an ugly boat - far from that.
I was just following your suggestion that customization/MTM was the only reason behind jfm choice, because I think there's much more than that, and not only in terms of style.
Which I think can also be read between the lines of his post confirming that MTM for him was indeed an important factor.
TonyR123, who owns a Princess, really nailed it when he defined SL "a level up again".
I couldn't have found a better definition if I tried all day long!

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Urgh. NOW I understand why you don't like Italian boats!
Then again, Italian builders can easily outclass Brits also in a quest for the ugliest boat design, when they really try hard.
If you like the X95, pretty sure you must love this well known outstanding effort of Rizzardi...
Bound to raise more than one eyebrow wherever you go, if that's what you look for in a boat!

There is a big difference here though.
Unlike the X95 m/y Guilt was a request from a client, who wanted a Jeff Koons designed yacht.
Rizzardi/Posillipo just obliged and did the project basing it on the Technema 105 platform.
She is a one off, not representing nor Rizzardi and Posillipo as a brand, beside the capability to customize beyond any imagination.

The real Technema 105 was a nice machine.

 

[MapisM]

Yeah, I know the story PYB, but Guilty was just perfect for balancing the X95 ugliness!

I could have used RC as another example, the 40+ meters built by Baglietto for Cavalli, with her shimmering purple hull, as another example...

 

[Martxer]

Urgh. NOW I understand why you don't like Italian boats!
Then again, Italian builders can easily outclass Brits also in a quest for the ugliest boat design, when they really try hard.
If you like the X95, pretty sure you must love this well known outstanding effort of Rizzardi...
Bound to raise more than one eyebrow wherever you go, if that's what you look for in a boat!

Wow looks like it’s built from Lego

 

[TonyR123]

...TonyR123, who owns a Princess...

Technically I dont own one yet, it is on order and arrives early July. I spent years looking and it is the right boat for me - size, layout, quality, price - which ultimately is all that matters

 

[MapisM]

If you already mentioned that, I missed it. Which model?
Anyway, all the very best, and looking forward to another comparably interesting thread, whatever the model!

 

[TonyR123]

Princess v55. To replace my current boat, that of a Prestige 500. Doubt my build thread will be as interesting as Henrys or JFMs though. Although I think I have done more "bespoking" than Henry.

 

[MapisM]

Doubt my build thread will be as interesting as Henrys or JFMs though.

Why? Build threads are always interesting, regardless of the boat!
Besides, personally I always liked the Princess V series in general, and even if I've yet to see one in flesh, the 55 looks like one of the best.
And I'm sure you'll appreciate the change from Prestige, not because they are bad boats, but Prin is (in your own words) "a level up".

How come you didn't go for a flybridge, if you don't mind me asking?
I like hardtop boats in many ways, but it's somewhat unusual to go for them after experiencing a f/b.
The other way round is somewhat more common, in my experience.

 

[TonyR123]

Flybridge to hardtop:
Wont go in to too much detail (as henrys build thread) but just how we use the boat and what we wanted from new boat. Portuguese seating, large aft eating area downstairs, kitchen to be more open, more sunbed space than we have currently, etc, ect . Flybridge all we use for now is driving/helming (which I 'could' miss) and sunbeds (which as now aft and larger on v55 we wont miss). Lots of other reasons but will list another time.

I am not pro/anti flybridge and really went with an open mind (looked at day boats to flybridge) and loads of manufacturers (princess, sunseeker, fairline, bluegame, pardo, etc), sizing from 45ft to 70ft (decided to keep our current berth and hence discounted anything above 55ft). Ultimately the v55 had more positives than negatives.

In defence of the Prestige - all the mentioned manufacturers could be considered to be a "level up", however I think I still would have made the same decision 6 years ago when buying the Prestige and have no regrets - IPS has been faultless.

 

[benjenbav]

Flybridge to hardtop:
Wont go in to too much detail (as henrys build thread) but just how we use the boat and what we wanted from new boat. Portuguese seating, large aft eating area downstairs, kitchen to be more open, more sunbed space than we have currently, etc, ect . Flybridge all we use for now is driving/helming (which I 'could' miss) and sunbeds (which as now aft and larger on v55 we wont miss). Lots of other reasons but will list another time.

I am not pro/anti flybridge and really went with an open mind (looked at day boats to flybridge) and loads of manufacturers (princess, sunseeker, fairline, bluegame, pardo, etc), sizing from 45ft to 70ft (decided to keep our current berth and hence discounted anything above 55ft). Ultimately the v55 had more positives than negatives.

In defence of the Prestige - all the mentioned manufacturers could be considered to be a "level up", however I think I still would have made the same decision 6 years ago when buying the Prestige and have no regrets - IPS has been faultless.

What works for you and yours is the most important thing.

I’d agree with MapisM that your build/bespoking/purchase thread would be most welcome especially with the magic ingredients of pix, pix and more pix.

 

[henryf]

There’s a V55 in East Cowes that looks gorgeous every time we pop in there. It kept me going last season as we were waiting for the F55 to go into production.

 

[Portofino]

What works for you and yours is the most important thing.

I’d agree with MapisM that your build/bespoking/purchase thread would be most welcome especially with the magic ingredients of pix, pix and more pix.

+1 .

 

[henryf]

Back down on the boat and starting to do some familiarisation runs. First things first the bed - oh yes. The mattress is great it's a thing called a Vispring. I did some homework and apparently they were fitted to the titanic. Good in the sense that someone thought them of high enough quality, bad in the sense that the Titanic sunk. We will stay clear of icebergs.

Its a big bed as well, 6 foot 6 long (1.98m to our metric cousins) and 5 foot 3 inches wide (1.6m) so a generous King size. I'll be honest and say that it feels like being in a posh hotel rather than on a boat. The old P50 was nice but this just feels spacious and everything you touch gives pleasure.

The power sockets and USB chargers each side of the bed are tucked under the bed side units, I'd been warned about this already and it isn't an issue for us, I just wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been told.

Another cool little feature is the fact that the wardrobe lighting is PIR activated rather than switch operated so no risk of leaving a wardrobe door open and wasting battery power.

 

[henryf]

@jfm mentioned that the particular model of Planus toilet fitted had a problem with the seat not staying up if mounted flush to the wall. He spotted that there was a wooden spacer fitted and he's absolutely right. I hadn't noticed because they've made a nice job of it and I just assumed it was part of the boat. Just in case anyone was wondering....

 

[henryf]

We had a gentle potter from Portsmouth over to Cowes and I spooled the Gyro up all excited to see it in action but there was a problem. Turning the gyro on seems to have made the sea all flat

Ok so you can tell if you look carefully but it's working at 1 degree of roll so I think we need to schedule another day to comment on that. On the plus side I did manage, eventually, to get the Garmin to locate cowes and steer me in. You can also break off auto pilot, avoid the thing that needs avoiding and then either rejoin your original route or re calculate the XTE. It was a bit strange not having to constantly give permission for course alterations as I'm used to at each waypoint.

There's a lot of glass with a lot of virtual buttons, I just need to work out what needs displaying when. It seems a bit weird being able to display anything you want anywhere. I'm used to each screen doing a particular job. You will have to forgive me but the 10 year old equipment I'm used to did the job and so didn't need changing.

 

[benjenbav]

It’s a bit harsh, having to take your gorgeous new boat out on a day when the sun’s shining and the sea is calm.

 

[henryf]

It’s a bit harsh, having to take your gorgeous new boat out on a day when the sun’s shining and the sea is calm.

Hey listen, I take that hit for the troops when need be.

I’ve got to be at anchor tomorrow. Loaded up the Waitrose “best ever” steak pie in advance.

Slightly off topic ate at The Garden on Cowes High street for lunch and this evening. What a great kitchen.

A slight technical glitch on the pudding photo. I’d eaten most of my tiramisu……

 

[jrudge]

The gyro is revolutionary. It is now on every single time we leave the dock. Underway are displacement speeds it does make a difference but it is not perfect.

The nice thing is when you slow up to anchor you don’t roll about which is really noticeable if it is off.

You soon get used to a boat that does not roll and when it is off ( usually after a rapid departure from the dock ) it is quite disconcerting and difficult to remember you have boated without one for decades !

Do bear in mind you will hit the generator oil change interval very rapidly and will need mid season oil changes.