Princess 32 Question

Hi
Still plenty of them around and good build quality. As to sea keeping. As far as I've heard and seen they are a bit roly poly inked into the waves. very narrow hull, but have a central keel usually.

Few things to watch out for...
Most I've seen have spent all their lives in inland river and lochs. Just watch out for osmosis. Only a lucky few have been lifted out every year for winter.
With regards to the engines. As mentioned they come from new with small petrol engines, larger petrol engines and also straight 6 VP diesels. Half the ones I've seen have been re engined with marinised transit or Peugeot engines mated to the original VP drives....usually 270SPs or the pre version, I believe ?
Watch out for the terrible VP 4 cylinder petrol engines. Whoever decided these were a good idea for a boat needs shot ! Timing belt problems etc are common.
As for the drives. Those drives are famous for trim system failures (if fitted) and most don't lift any more. Also famous for the reverse locking mechanism failing. Easily identified by the drive shooting up when going astern. Comically, it's fairly common to see the admiral hanging out over the transom with the scrubbing brush pushed down hard on top of the drive when going astern. Cheap skates will have cable tied the drive down to stop this...have a look for this.
Great looking boats which have stood the test of time and bags of room onboard...although I always thought most of the cockpit space was wasted and a little bare of features.
All the best.
 
And obviously make sure it is a princess 32. Some chancers try and pass off the senior 31/32 off as a P32....same hull I believe, but not the real deal.
 
Forgot to mention...
With regards to the drives...I think later models will have a 270sp and earlier will have can't remember...an AQ something. Don't know. Anyway, the earlier models had electric trim tilt and later 270/280 had hydraulic.
 
hi just came across your comment about the princess 32. i have just bought one with twin desil engines and have troble finding out what model they are would you of were the serial numbers are
 
I was thinking of buying one of these a few years ago, I had already had experience of Volvo Outdrive Legs in the mid 1970's when having bought a brand new boat a year before, one of the outdrive legs had suffered (invisible) damage and I always remember the Volvo engineer saying "I have managed to save your leg"
(I then bought a New Princess 33 on shaft)
However I did like the ability with Outdrive Legs of being able to dry out on a beach.
So when I was recently considering buying a Princess 32 my criteria was that I would throw money at the outdrive legs and have both overhauled or buy two reconditioned ones so that when I was using the boat the legs would be up to it.
However it seemed that every boat I considered had already had the outdrives done up making the price of the boat dearer.
I would not hesitate to buy an outdrive boat but would want peace of mind in renewing the legs.
 
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