Newbie Princess Advice Required

[BMWR1200]

I have a princess 33 1979 no flybridge single perkings 72hp. I would like to know is it possible to optain a flybridge or indeed to get one manufactured to my need i.e to extend to the rear of the transum. Im based in Ireland but could travel to the uk if necessary, also is ther anybody that specialises in refurbishing princesses in general, Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[jfm]

I have a princess 33 1979 no flybridge single perkings 72hp. I would like to know is it possible to optain a flybridge or indeed to get one manufactured to my need i.e to extend to the rear of the transum. Im based in Ireland but could travel to the uk if necessary, also is ther anybody that specialises in refurbishing princesses in general, Any help would be much appreciated.

The moulds will have been destryed a long time ago so you would need to have one custom moulded. Perfectly possible, and losts of companies do custom moulding. But it is labour intensive and therefore expensive. The very cheapest you would do this to a high quality, when you also include extra steering and throttle gear, instruments, stainless steel ladder and railings, windscreen, seats, radar mast, alloy box section support structure (maybe) etc, would be €25k and you could spend double that at a high-end shipyard. Remember, everything has to be custom made

Then you maybe need new canvas work, and so on

You'd also add 500kg so need to consider if the engine can deal with that. New prop maybe needed to change down a gear so to speak.

Better to buy a new boat?

Good luck anyway

 

[oldgit]

almost certainly going to be cheaper to sell your boat and buy one with a fly already fitted.The only real problem would be finding one with a engine that small ,most would have a had 250hp and up.
These details may be of interest.All copied from a MBM publication.

 

[Bajansailor]

I would agree that it would probably be better in the long run to look around for a boat already fitted with a flying bridge.

Here is some more archive info, from an old catalogue I have (from the mists of time, even before fax machines were invented!) :

 

[Kipper]

Does that really say £15,850 what would that buy you then.

 

[PaulGooch]

Does that really say £15,850 what would that buy you then.

That was about an average house price, according to a Google search. We almost bought our first house in 1979, a 3 bed semi in need of a refurb, for £2000.

 

[BMWR1200]

Thanks for your advice. I may have to reconsider my options. Do you think that it might be difficult to sell my boat at the moment or would I be able to trade in for a flybridge model. Would there be much difference in price?

 

[PaulGooch]

Thanks for your advice. I may have to reconsider my options. Do you think that it might be difficult to sell my boat at the moment or would I be able to trade in for a flybridge model. Would there be much difference in price?

Best bet would be to put it up for sale. You can then buy whatever you want with the money. It'll sell as well now as it will at any time.

 

[PCUK]

Contrary to all the doom and gloom. It is perfectly possible to have a custom flybridge moulded to your spec'. The price will depend on how complex you want the design. If it is all basically flat panels then the cost will be less than £1000 for the basic moulding. Extending the steering will cost about £500 and less for the engine controls.

A more sensible overall cost for whole project would be less than £5,000.

I'm based in Devon and will do the job for you.

 

[capsco]

Thanks for your advice. I may have to reconsider my options. Do you think that it might be difficult to sell my boat at the moment or would I be able to trade in for a flybridge model. Would there be much difference in price?

If your Princess 33 is a single engine, I would expect it is an ex hire boat, is this the case? if so you may be looking at quite a lot of cash to swap for a fly bridge model.

 

[Jim@sea]

I bought a brand new (or so I thought) Princess 33 in 1979 and it cost me £29000. (One of the biggest mistakes I have ever made) They were made by Marine Projects and if you had one that had the twin 80 Mermaids they were underpowered. The old advert which says "up to 13kts" is a blatant "False description"
I had previously had a 26ft Cabin Cruiser 2XVolvo 130's, and where I cruised I would frequently go from Hollyhead to Liverpool and punching against tides of around 8kts speed is essential. So when I bought the Princess I found I could not get it above 10kts that and having been sold a demonstrator which I had looked at and refused, stating that I wanted the next new one straight out of the factory, was instrumental in me starting an action to return the boat and get a refund under the Trades Description Laws. Nice layout but I should have bought the bigger engines one.

 

[capsco]

I bought a brand new (or so I thought) Princess 33 in 1979 and it cost me £29000. (One of the biggest mistakes I have ever made) They were made by Marine Projects and if you had one that had the twin 80 Mermaids they were underpowered. The old advert which says "up to 13kts" is a blatant "False description"
I had previously had a 26ft Cabin Cruiser 2XVolvo 130's, and where I cruised I would frequently go from Hollyhead to Liverpool and punching against tides of around 8kts speed is essential. So when I bought the Princess I found I could not get it above 10kts that and having been sold a demonstrator which I had looked at and refused, stating that I wanted the next new one straight out of the factory, was instrumental in me starting an action to return the boat and get a refund under the Trades Description Laws. Nice layout but I should have bought the bigger engines one.

Many years ago, I had an early MK1 Princess 33 with twin 80hp Mermaids, it performed as you describe but, with a little tweaking of the props it then did 13/14 knots no problem.

 

[oldgit]

My 33 with 2 x 145 hp AQ40-d on outdrives once managed about 17 knots.