Princess 30DS

[Salty Sealine]

Hi, I am considering what my next boat will be, as i sold my Shetland Hobby last year, and am thinking it might be a 30DS.

There do not seem to be any boats for sale anywhere near the Thames and so I was wondering if someone would let me look at thier boat, so I can decide if it is the right boat for me.

Thanks

 

[byron]

Ring John Blake he has had his for yonks and cruised extensively in it. 07802710933

 

[oldgit]

Hi,Rupert and welcome to the forum,just cannot believe that there are no 30DS around,must be one the the most popular 30ft modern cruisers around.
Have you looked on
Boatshop
or
boatsand outboards
Also useful info on the Princess Heritage website.
Bit of further info from a book by Alex McMullen available from the MBM bookshop.

 

[Brayman]

What's yours then Fred?????

 

[oldgit]

Mine is the positively ancient grandaddy of the 30DS,the Princess 33.
Totally different hull designed by Mr Bennett.
The 30DS is much more modern in interior trim and with use of interior space .

 

[Salty Sealine]

There are about 15 boats that I have found so far for sale (Topsham, Jersy, Ireland, on the Severn Windermere, Norfolk, etc), but none near me.

I have seen the Princess Heritage pages, but really want to see a 30DS in the flesh, without having to spend a day going to look at one miles away.

 

[Brayman]

[ QUOTE ]
Ring John Blake he has had his for yonks and cruised extensively in it. 07802710933

[/ QUOTE ]

If you go and look at Blakey's you might need to clean it first. Not that I've seen it this year yet /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[oldgit]

There is one for sale at Allington Marina near Maidstone,might be bit closer to you.
Only other comment,would be that stuff for sale on the Thames appears to be priced 10/15% more than similar stuff elsewhere,this could be due to having valid BSS but still seems a bit of a swizz. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Salty Sealine]

Thank you for your help and I will call Mr Blake. Do you know where he moors his boat?

At some stage I would like to take the boat on to the tidal parts of the Thames and maybe even coastal. Whats the minimum hp would you recommend?

Also is a 30DS too much for one person, with regards to going through locks?

 

[Brayman]

His boat is moored at Moulsford a mile or so above Cleeve Lock, near the Beatle & Wedge.

 

[oldgit]

Would not have thought the boat would be much of a problem single handed.
If you intend going the other side of Teddington,the bigger engine options would be best.
We went to see several boats,one had the two 60hp on shafts option,which was a bit too slow(max 12 knots,which prob means 9/10)).
My personal advice would be twin diesels of some sort and avoid any outdrive boats like the plague epecially if they have the Volvo 270 or 280 outdrive versions.

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]

My personal advice would be twin diesels of some sort and avoid any outdrive boats like the plague epecially if they have the Volvo 270 or 280 outdrive versions.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just want to underline the above.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
one had the two 60hp on shafts option,which was a bit too slow(max 12 knots,which prob means 9/10)).
>>>

Will be fine for popping down the Tideway to town, but you would need to think about longer distances. Having said that, less fuel...

 

[Phill]

[ QUOTE ]
My personal advice would be twin diesels of some sort and avoid any outdrive boats like the plague epecially if they have the Volvo 270 or 280 outdrive versions.

[/ QUOTE ]

My previous boat had a 270 and I never had a problem in the years I owned it.
My current boat has a pair of 280's that are 31 years old.
I removed them and had them overhauled 3 years ago. They were in good order internally and the total bill was around £1000. That was with me removing and refitting them.
I think these outdrives are fine for river use if they are well maintained and checked on a regular basis.
Of course my favourite trick is raising the bankside leg and sliding into a very shallow mooring.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rr_123]

[ QUOTE ]
my favourite trick is raising the bankside leg
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very useful tip, especially for males. I learned it from a dog...

 

[miket]

John does indeed have a 30 DS but, bless him, he is a superb fellow and excellent engineer but cleaning is not high on his list.
If you do see it do not take your other half unless she is very broad minded!! It could put her off for life.

 

[GrowingLad]

Sorry for slight thread hijack.

Do you mind if I ask you chaps why you are concerned about 270/280's. It's quite possible I'll have to replace my 100 and I was looking to see if I can find one of the above to replace it.

I'd be interested to here your views.

Regards,
Simon.

 

[byron]

[ QUOTE ]
Sorry for slight thread hijack.

Do you mind if I ask you chaps why you are concerned about 270/280's. It's quite possible I'll have to replace my 100 and I was looking to see if I can find one of the above to replace it.

I'd be interested to here your views.

Regards,
Simon.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think people are anti out drives in particular, the just feel that the Princess DS is better suited to shaft drive. At least that is how I see it.

 

[GrowingLad]

ah, okay. Thanks for the reply.

 

[oldgit]

Bi annual grief......

All 270/280 series legs will have by now been dangling over the back of some boat in a very hostile enviroment for the best part of 30 years.Although a simple idea it is all the bits and pieces that go to make the thing do its job,that fail.
The propellor shaft seals,the gearshift seals,the exhaust hose,the driveshaft hose,the gearchange cable seal,the washing machine motor attacted to the spindle thingy which makes the leg go up and down etc etc.
The first owners will of course have the bod round from Vivlo to sort it and maybe the next one as well and the bloke after that will have an independant and after that the subsquent owner will do-it-themselves(if your lucky) but the bloke after that buys a pig in a poke cannot afford to sort it and then.......the boat is back on the market.
If you buy a secondhand leg and completely refurb,assuming the internals are not U/S, allow around £500 DIY to make it oil/watertight and serviceable or you could get one of the specialists to do for around £8-900.
Watch out for duff lift mechanisms,worse case with my hydraulic 280T could be £2000 pounds PER leg,washing machine motor version on 270 is somewhat less.