Picking up new boat this weekend

[henryf]

Fingers crossed we should be picking up our new boat this weekend. Ended up with a Princess 42. Did consider the Phantom 40 but just too small compared to our Phantom 42 and also felt Fairline had lost something in terms of quality feel to he interiors, particularly on the Phantom 50 we looked at, (in the end decided 50 feet might be a bit on the large size and we have been very happy with 42 feet up to now!). Considered the Sealine 42/5 but a bit too small in the heads & was prepared to pay a bit more money for a slightly better build quality (still can`t forget the show boat leaking at Southampton last year!).

Have been very impressed with the Princess dealers at Swanwick so far - will post again once everything`s sorted.

Picking up the boat to use for a few weeks then it goes back to have all the bits fitted (a stock boat), such as radar/plotter, generator, heating and thinking about a rather funky crane for the ski as the standard passerelle they fit doesn`t have the same capacity ours on the Phantom has to pop the ski out.

Can`t wait !

Henry

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

congratulations nice boat
IMO you picked the best british build 42 feet flybridge cruiser in the market

 

[Coupe]

Congratulations.

I agree, Princess 42 is the cream of the crop at this size. I would certainly consider one if trading down.

Your current Phantom is also very nice. We have a 50 and it is a great boat.

 

[Coupe]

Just had a shufty at your website.

Say it as it is - I love it. Some nice cars there (drool) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Sneds]

Congrats, beautiful boat, got any pics?

 

[RogerRat]

Well done on your selection, the Princess 42 is a nice one.

I also looked at your website and I still have tears on my cheaks from laughing at that 'momma' in the bit of humour on the Mp3 link to, "Towyardcomplaint"

Brilliant. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Enjoy your boat looking forward to seeing the pictures soon.

 

[Magnum]

Yep, our Princess 42 was a great boat once the mass of quality control issues were sorted. What's she called by the way?

 

[Coupe]

Magnum,

Your psots have me wondering about Princess as you had problems with P42 & P67.

We had no problems with SV2 - are Fairline that good or was I just lucky?

SV2 was built in 2005 - anybody else buy a new Fairline since then?

 

[jfm]

Good choice of boat henry and good luck. Nice pics of the phantom - we used to have a navy hulled 1999 boat too (pic below), so they brought back memories!

 

[cliffdale]

Lovely boat. Weather is looking good for weekend.

 

[jfm]

Our fairline was Feb 2004 and virtually zero build warranty problems with her. And zero problems since (700hours/7000nm). What warranty probs we did have were not fairline's fault imho (things like EVC software glitch, and internal faults on airco unit, for which you cannot really blame fairline, and stupid mistakes by Peters chichester PDI goons)

 

[woodie1000]

Son Vida,

We've had 3 Fairlines in 4/5 years. The build quality was OK on the first two (we had a reasonable length snagging list on both) but the quality seems to have gone up dramatically on the one we took delivery of this year. (Touch wood) we have been extremely pleased and Fairline seem to have taken their game up a bit.

 

[cliffdale]

Good choice of boats here. We are in the 'not quite sure which boat' stage.

We are looking to change to a 40' boat and like the Phantom 40. I also like the P38, slightly older boats but would save a shed load of money.

Sealine have a nice F37 but so far have not made up our minds which one to go for.

 

[Coupe]

Hi JFM,

ditto - only problem (touch wood) was EVC.

Not a manufacturer problem - just ask Nautical (see his reply to Douglas post).

I hear they are launching a new Squaddy 55 in January - we should see pre-launch pics in the comics soon.

Regards,
SV.

 

[henryf]

No photos yet I`m afraid but I`ll post some once we`re all sorted. It feels odd moving away from a Fairline as we`ve had 2 now and been very pleased. The Phantom 42 has been a hard boat to change from because every time we come back aboard after boat shows we think - yep lovely. There isn`t that vast difference you needed to "encourage" you to shell out a bag full of money. In the end I suppose we`ve gone for a new version of what we had, the similarities are scary & you really do have to hunt for differences. At least it won`t take too long to know where everything is!

The other thing we are realising it just how many bits our Fairline had fitted to it (it was a boat show boat originally). When we bought it we just thought "yea- whatever" as the chap was rattling through the bits. I mean how much can a hydraulic thing that lifts your ski out of the water cost? I`m now finding out exactly how much! Still once we`re all sorted I`ll eat the invoice and pretend it never existed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I`m also quite impulsive and have enjoyed being able to buy a stock boat on a relatively short lead time (by the tone of recent postings it seems a lot safer as well).

I think some of the sales staff we`ve seen over the years would do well to remember that although these are very expensive toys people are often impulsive, not everyone plans their purchase months or years in advance so just because someone has only started looking or haven`t go 3 lines of credit & half a dozen RYA courses under their belt don`t dismiss them - when they see the right boat they might just surprise you by getting the cheque book out. Similarly if they seem a bit "all over the place" in terms of the types of boat they are looking at don`t pigeon hole them as time wasters. We looked at dutch steel boats, Nordhavens, sports style boats and loads of different builders. They all have their individual appeal and there was method in our madness for considering each of them. It certainly didn`t mean we were just there for a day out.

Each year at Southampton we stepped onto the Princess boats (incidentally one of the easiest boats to just get and have a wander round without a bank reference) and so they have always been on the radar. At the time I suppose we were technically time wasters as we didn`t buy those years but it just goes to show you. In another 6 or 7 years they might sell us another boat, (don`t you believe it the missus has already earmarked a Princess 50 and I haven`t told her if she aims a little higher at the 54 it comes with a full beam owners cabin!)

Anyway if you see a new 42 around at the weekend looking a bit sparse (go easy with the radar, plotter & genny on the Southampton boat `cos they`re mine), give us a wave /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The summer starts this weekend.

Henry

 

[Magnum]

[ QUOTE ]
Magnum,

Your psots have me wondering about Princess as you had problems with P42 & P67.

We had no problems with SV2 - are Fairline that good or was I just lucky?

SV2 was built in 2005 - anybody else buy a new Fairline since then?

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm curious about this too, especially as I'm thinking about a new Fairline.

Here's a quick summary of issues we had on both new Princess's.

<u>P42</u>

Every single cherry panel scratched or marked upon delivery.
Curtains wouldn't close as made to wrong dimensions.
Master bed mattress type changed due to condensation.
Starboard engine failed in first week.
Fuel leak in engine room.
Heating failed on numerous occassions.
Teak on bathing platform split.
Numerous gel coat defects.
Rivets on covers/boat detached.
That's all I can remember ...

<u>P67</u>
Flybridge, cockpit, bathing platform and side deck teak replaced due to rapid deterioration, splits and knots.
Sliding door to saloon replaced and hull superstructure reinforced due to door jamming and being unusable.
MAN Canbus alarm fault.
Exhaust temp alarm fault.
Generator filled up with water due to installation design fault and was replaced.
Numerous scratched cherry panels.
Numerous gel coat repairs.
Bimini redeigned and replaced due to useless design of original that went baggy and didn't provide shade on half of flybridge table.
Winsdcreen A-pillar trim peeled off.
Roof panels fell off.
Avonite galley surface cracked.
Leak into crew room resulted in bed and woodwork being replaced.
Leather sofas damaged.
Bowtruster failed.
Sternthruster failed.
Numerous other minor faults.
All of this was being handled by Princess Motor Yacht Sales in Mallorca who at best could be described as arrogant, unprofessional and uncaring.

So, yes, we had a few issues /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Coupe]

F me pink - I didn't realise you had that many problems.

No messing about SV2 - she has been trouble free with 180 hrs logged now. EVC is a Volvo thing.

I know there is one fault somewhere but it is so minor I can't rem,ember what it is. I just thought I'd get it sorted before she is re-sold.

Oh, she goes through cabin lights like diesel.

I was thinking of looking at the Skagen 50 at SIBS but I am very much afraid of moving to trouble - look at what happened to Gludy

 

[Coupe]

Henry,

Despite what is written above (major thread drift) I still think that the P42 is the nicest boat in the class IMHO.

Just make sure she is problem free before you make that final payment.

All the best for the weekend.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Lovely boat, the Princess 42 - as others have said, the current best in class. Did you p/x your Phantom 42?

Having sold the T37 at the beginning of the season, we'd like to get into a flybridge; I love the Princess 42 but it's beyond my budget; coincidentally a late Phantom 42 does look like a good alternative; not being the current style of Phantoms seems to ease the s/h values as well. I keep trying to make time to get to Port Solent to look at the one on brokerage there...

Anyway - good luck with the new boat. We'll take care at SIBS!

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nick_H]

Well done, and good choice, one of the best in the Princess range.