Princes 286 Tips & Tricks (please!)

[martynwhiteley]

Timed the purchase of the P286 really well last week, wow what a weekend (in March) for our first outing!

We didn't venture too far from Burton Waters, so limited to about 4 mph for most of it, but nevertheless it few up a few queries that I need to resolve, as one would expect when acquiring a 24 year old boat, with no 'manual'.

You certainly get a feel for how beamy the 286 is, just getting through the gate into the Fossdyke, but on the whole it seems a very easy-to-handle boat for one without a thruster. However never having had Volvos on any of my previous boats (this one has AQ131B/275 combos) I was surpised how much effort is required to engage reverse. The drives don't seem to suffer the 'dog-clutch' type issue I used to have with an Alpha 1, and engage smoothly enough, but a very firm pull is required on the levers, which can result in an emergency stop if your not careful! Is this typical of this type of Volvo installation?

The next issue concerns the lengthy port engine warm up time, and I wonder if this due to the fact that this engine may be the one used to heat the calorifier. If so, do they usualy have a thermostat to control this to allow the enginer to warm first? However the port engine does take a bit more trial and effort to start, so maybe its not quite in full fettle with ignition or carb etc.

The next observation is that, even at the low river speeds, the legs seem to drop their trim from 0 to about -4 or so, after a few minutes, and do the same again after a reset. I guess some sort of hydraulic issue?

Horn doesn't work - so need to work through the wiring on that. Speed log reads zero, suspect stuck paddle wheel. Depth log did work on Saturday, but not Sunday. Maybe it's religeious? Not sure on that, maybe another bad connection.

There is a pull-cable handle located above the sink in the galley. I was first wondering if this would isolate the calorifier, but then realised it may be a diverter valve for the holding tank. I've not tried to trace it yet, but if anyone can help?

Moving on to the power control panel above the galley - a bit difficult to work out with no manual and some missing labels. If any P286 owners could help with a quick guide of this panel I'd appreciate it.

Can't say I'm over impressed with the configutation of the canopy, and don't find it as easy to deal with on past boats. Any P286 owners managed to improve the canopy design/operation/storage?

I guess that's plenty of queries to seek help on for the moment - looking forward to going through Torksey and being able to go above walking pace!

 

[volvopaul]

The leg trim problem is down to either the rams failing or the trim pump valves as oil is being forced either by the ram seals or the trim pump valves are corroded internally , it's going to cost, but if your only cruising the rivers then I wouldn't bother as trim angle at those speeds will have very little effect on anything.

 

[carlton]

...looking forward to going through Torksey and being able to go above walking pace!

I remember doing that when I bought my first boat at Brayford Pool (a Princess 30S with twin Volvos). The 4 knot limit was doing my 'ead in.

Getting through the lock and onto the Trent felt fantastic. Couldn't believe how fast 8 knots felt...

 

[RIN]

Hi Martyn
We have a P286 so can help with a few items although we have diesels rather than petrols.

The handle just above the sink is the lock for the mini lazerette just forward of the port seat. deceptively big storage compartment.

Not much effort to engage reverse on our boat (although there is quite a lot of travel on the throttle lever to engage reverse - when we first had the boat, I put a mark in the housing to indicate where the levers needed to be moved to) so maybe you have a sticking cable or similar. I am sure someone will be along to suggest possible causes and solutions soon

Our port engine is slow to warm up and never reaches the temperature of the starboard one - we have always assumed it is because of the calorifier

The engines we have are quite heavy so we are a bit by the stern. as a result, we never adjust the trim from -5 - it just slows the boat down.

As far as the canopy goes, we never fully remove it. For the rear canopy (we have the full camper canopy) we take out the side curtains, unpop from the radar arch, unpop from the transom then let the whole assembly still with the poles connected fall back and rest on the transom then tuck the canvas under the seats. The front canopy is a bit higher than a normal 286 canopy and never ever comes off. The plastic bit in front of the helm is just unzipped and furled up.

I had to replace both the horn and the operating relay last year. (the new horn came with a new relay). If you take off the underside of the helm (6 or 8 screws) you can trace the wiring to the relay. Also check the fuse first which sould be labelled.

The log is probably weeded up. You will find it under the berth in the rear cabin. You should be able to lift it out and clean it if you have a lid/cover to put back on it. You will get water coming in so have a friend with you in case of problems or leave it till you come out of the water. Have you tried going at speed to see if that frees it?

As it happens, I have a pic of the control panel from our boat - not sure if it matches yours but it does have labels which might help you - the 12V stuff is to the right, the 240V in the middle with the 240V isolator and polarity checker top left.

Feel free to PM if you need any pages from the manual scanned and sent to you. We have had the boat for nearly ten years and love it to bits. Its very seaworthy and has taken us as far as St Malo and Holland most of the bits in between.

Hope you get as much enjoyment out of yours

Richard

 

[martynwhiteley]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies so far.

Richard, wow! very helpful.

Yes they certainly seem to be a very likeable boat, for good reason, and had plenty of admirers at the marina over the weekend.

The quality of the mouldings and fitings, and the general arrangement of hand holds etc shows a purposeful intent by Princess, and most still look in very good nick after 24 years.

Certainly tons better than my B27 Countess, (albiet more designed for inland use). You could see daylight through the hull it was so thin!.

If you have any useful data on the electricals etc. I could really use that. I'll PM.

Many thanks, Martyn

 

[martynwhiteley]

Photos

Photos of Ocean priincess:-

 

[Momac]

The boat moored next to me at Farndon is a Princess 286 with petrol engines.
It's had a new canopy by Marine and Industrial Covers located at Burton Waters Lincoln which looks an excellent fit - very smart.
By the way it has been through Lincoln and to Boston/The Wash - needed its nav light unbolted and left hanging plus radar dome taken off the arch to clear under the bridges.

 

[MedDreamer]

Great stuff Martyn

Give me a shout if you need crew for the move North

 

[ocgrant]

Very cool boat. I was recently in your shoes also. I started a "remodel" on my 1991 Princess 46 Riviera not to long ago. Being in California with an English boat I had a lot to figure out. This forum has been great for info, as well as the guys at Princess Yachts also. Just got finished with some canvas work, here are my latest photos of the new canvas. Next week doing some tile work in the bathrooms.