Princess 32 Question

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Swampyhotdog

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I'm considering buying a Princess 32. (1970's) Are they fair weather cruisers, or are they any good in a big sea?

What do you think about outdrives? Are they reliable? I've heard horror stories about them.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Stu
 
First of all, the P32 was very well built, so for age, she should have faired well.... if looked after. Seem to recall something about waterleaks in windows though...

Next question about seakeeping... rumoured to be good, perhaps a bit wet .... but then again, it all depends upon use. Big seas for you may mean different to me, so all subjective. Plenty of tests around, so search this website and others for test reports. Also depends on engines .... have seen everything from singles, about 60 - 80 Hp, and not managing more than 7 knots in fair weather ... most usually as river cruisers, but have one of these in our marina (lives onboard)... Also large twins both petrol and diesel.... some was delivered with a Volvo six cylinder diesel, labelled as AQAD32 of MD32... some serious reliability issues with these... but loads re-engined with newer engines...

Outdrives.... now there's a interesting question, where I am somewhat reluctant to respond to ... some swear by them, others swear at them... If original (from the 70's, then you need to have a proper look and a mechanic to evaluate the condition...

Same goes for the rest of the boat actually ... get a surveyor to look her over (if she is what you want)... All depends on what you want to use her for.... you need to give us more information to work with here before we can give more subjective opinions... Have fun looking !!
 
Hi There,

Thanks for the reply.

Some more info -

I intend to use the boat as a liveaboard. My Jeanneau 36 is all very well and good, but I'm just gettting sick of having to plan a whole day(s) if I want to go anywhere. Yotties might accuse me of going to the dark side, but hey, don't knock it till you've tried it!

The one I'm looking at has twin Volvo Penta MD 32A 6 cyl 105hp diesels on legs.

What are the reliability issues with thse engines?


As a marine engineer myself , I should be able to handle most problems.

As far as big seas go - we got caught in a F7 between the IOM and Ireland a few years ago in my Dad's Channel Island 22, and we weren't the least bit concerned. Would a Princess 32 take the same sort of beating?

Cheers,

Stu
 
The MD32's were a development by VP in conjunction with Peugeot I think... Alloy heads on the engine, and the cylinder head gasket was/is prone to failure. That combined with the fact that the engines was placed in typically planning hulls, where you needed near the full power of the engines to get up and go, put high stress on the engines causing the failure. I know of owners of engines that blew the top a couple of times a year ... (got rapidly changed to the 40 series engines when they came out) ... but also know of MD32's that are still running sweetly today ... but mostly in displacement hulls, wehre one have not stressed the engines to the same extent. Parts may be a bit difficult to obtain today ... but should still be feasible. Some would tell you to stay well clear of the MD32's, but they can be OK engines, if used carefully and that you are aware of the issues with the head gaskets.... so don't expect to be tearing away reliably at 18 knots with these engines onboard. The legs will then be early 280's I believe, which were good legs, with mechanical trim (power lift I believe)... some have had problems with the locking pin for reverse, but should, if maintained (once a year) bo OK.

Search on the Web for "MD 32" and you should find some more information...

Boat should handle well and I would not worry about that kind of things ... if used sensibly, most boats will handle that kind of things, it is more important of what you expect the boat to do in these kind of circumstances. Most important is that you learn what the boat is doing and that you work with her and the weather, to get to your destination and accept that speed will have to be adjusted according to the weather conditions...
 
Would not even think of it in the same category as any Channel Island model as regards sea keeping.
I would also avoid these engines now, spares will be difficult and will be needed.
 
Thanks for that.

After reading that, maybe I'll steer clear of that boat. I might be a marine engineer, but I don't want to be changing head gaskets all the time!

It makes sense that if the boat is under powered she's going to overwork the engines. I've seen boats in the states with great big Detroits hardly working at all, and giving good fuel ecomony.

I'm really after a boat in that sort of class, maybe a Moonraker or something that I can both live on and do up at the same time.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for that.

After reading that, maybe I'll steer clear of that boat. .............
It makes sense that if the boat is under powered she's going to overwork the engines. I've seen boats in the states with great big Detroits hardly working at all, and giving good fuel ecomony.

I'm really after a boat in that sort of class, maybe a Moonraker or something that I can both live on and do up at the same time.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the right price, you can probably re-engine and have a good boat ...

Also supect that you may get a P33 or perhaps a early P37 for similar price as Moonraker... and get better seakeeping rep & build quality ...

Know what you mean about the DD's ... have two onboard myself ... and are very happy ... heavy, but solidly built.. Personally I went to Italy to buy mine .. where it appears to be 30 - 50% cheaper than the UK for a similar boat .... different marques, but then again in the 70's & 80's the UK builders looked to Italy as wehre they wanted to be ....
 
Yes I agree with a lot that has been said here, I had MD32As on Volvo 290 legs in my boat six years ago, they were reliable enough, but spares were very hard to come by then, so will be very difficult by now! Volvo stopped making spares many years ago and its a matter of doing a lot of hunting around. You may be able to buy an old MD32A engine and use it for stripping down for spares. Outdrives can be a real pain, and I have to say I would not consider them at this sort of age, too many problems.

As for the boats sea keeping, I have never owned one, but have spoken to people who have, The boat is 32 foot long but not very beamy, so this will result in a lot of rolling in a heavy sea. You will notice it very much if you are coming from a yacht with a heavy keel! Try looking at a trawler style vessel instead, the Corvette 32 is a much better boat!

Regards Barry
 
We used to have a P32 with MD32As. They are 106hp Volvo badged Peugot Idenor egines - Boatone used to have a load of info on them on a website. We only ever got about 8-10 knots (14 on one memorable occaision) but the boat was shaking to bits. The biggest fitted were 130hp turbo (volvo) and would give a better speed. I know of one forumite who got caught in some very bad weather crossing the channel and the boat was OK. They have a great sized cockpit but down below could be beter for livaboard IMHO. We loved the boat though.

Big jump in price for a P33 but an entierly diferent boat (next generation).
 
Rough guide on prices.

P32. 13K to 25/28 K
P33 Mk1 25/28K to 40K
Moonraker 40K to 60K
Condition from V.rough petrol to perfect diesel. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
O the shame.......

Cannot stop,just nipping off the my local broker and hoping not be trampled on by hordes of other desperate owners. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Narrow escape.

From the MBY 100 favourite Motor Boats List:
Princess 32

Builder: Marine Projects, Plymouth

Built: 650 between 1970 and 1980

Dimensions: LoA 32ft 3in (9.83m), beam 10ft 0in (3.04m), draught 2ft 9in (0.84m), displacement 4 tons

General: Five-berth river and offshore cruiser with two cabins and open-backed wheelhouse

Power: Single or twin outdrives, diesel or petrol, from
1 x 120 to 2 x 170hp

Price guide: £12,000-£27,000

Surveyor's notes: The first Princess, and the most successful ever, with an assured second-hand market. No specific problems, other than those normally associated with 15/25-year-old craft.
 
Not quite right..

The boat you are refering to was a Senior 31 (never made a 32 that was the later extended Princess), it was a one off boat made specialy for the race and had no superstructure and was also very lightly laid up to save weight, so much so that the boat was actualy named "Translucent" because you could see through the hull!
Not unsurprisingly this didn't work and the boat broke, therefore I don't think you can tarnish all the subsequent boats built in the same mould, 100's of Senior 31's and later modified Marine Projects (Princess 32's) as being of poor build, nearly all of which are still afloat today.
 
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