Tamar
Well-Known Member
Guy next door is selling his, I may be interested at the right price. It's pretty tired and the engines are original I think, Perkins 4108 50 hp
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance
Princess 33 mk 1
- Thread starter Tamar
- Start date
Greg2
Well-Known Member
Not bad boats that I have always liked the look of. Our first boat was a Princess 32 and at the time a 33 was what we aspired to.
We know someone in the business who had one sitting in his yard for years that was left by the owner so they ultimately acquired it and did a bit of a re-furb and it is a tidy boat. Shaft driven version definitely the one to go for - it it has outdrives then buyer beware as they will be getting on a bit.
Copied this from the Princess Heritage page - no mention of Perkins but noting that the entry for the P32 doesn’t show the engines (originals) we had fitted it doesn’t mean they weren't an option.
PRINCESS 33
We know someone in the business who had one sitting in his yard for years that was left by the owner so they ultimately acquired it and did a bit of a re-furb and it is a tidy boat. Shaft driven version definitely the one to go for - it it has outdrives then buyer beware as they will be getting on a bit.
Copied this from the Princess Heritage page - no mention of Perkins but noting that the entry for the P32 doesn’t show the engines (originals) we had fitted it doesn’t mean they weren't an option.
PRINCESS 33
- Year Started: 1975
- Year Finished: 1980
- Length Overall (Inc Pulpit): 33 ft 0in / 10.00m
- Beam: 11ft 3in / 3.4m
- Draft: 3ft 0in 0.9m
- Approx. Displacement: 5.2 tonnes
- Height Above Waterline to top of GRP radar arch: 12ft 10in / 3.92m
- Height Above Waterline to Top of Fixed Structure (Excluding radar arch and light mast): 10ft 6in / 3.21m
- Usual Engines Fitted: Option 1 Twin Volvo 130hp diesels on shafts/sterndrives
- Usual Engines Fitted: Option 2 Twin Mermaid 80hp diesels on shafts
- Usual Engines Fitted: Option 3 Twin Volvo 145/280 (145hp petrols) on sterndrives
volvopaul
Well-Known Member
There were some built for hire fleets , I’d say the 4108 Perkins boat could have been a fleet boat at one time .
Engine option 4, twin 140 mermaid turbo 4s
Engine option 4, twin 140 mermaid turbo 4s
QBhoy
Well-Known Member
Most of these were used as hire boats I’d say. Had a hard life. But sturdy things for build obviously.
Id also suggest that most any I’ve ever seen have sat most or all of their life in fresh water canals with little opportunity to lift out each year for winter and to dry out. Perhaps a bit bad of me to generalise like this…and perhaps this one is an exception to the usual. But if I’m right, the big thing to watch out for is osmosis. It’s just almost a given that boats as I’ve described above, will be riddled with osmosis. Will be picked up in any survey and the first thing the surveyor will check. Not too much of an issue if you are getting her cheap or don’t care about possible issues selling on in future, but osmosis found in a hull…will almost perish a vast value from a boat and often put any potential buyer off the idea of buying her.
Just thought I’d mention. Apologies for being a little pessimistic Perhaps.
Id also suggest that most any I’ve ever seen have sat most or all of their life in fresh water canals with little opportunity to lift out each year for winter and to dry out. Perhaps a bit bad of me to generalise like this…and perhaps this one is an exception to the usual. But if I’m right, the big thing to watch out for is osmosis. It’s just almost a given that boats as I’ve described above, will be riddled with osmosis. Will be picked up in any survey and the first thing the surveyor will check. Not too much of an issue if you are getting her cheap or don’t care about possible issues selling on in future, but osmosis found in a hull…will almost perish a vast value from a boat and often put any potential buyer off the idea of buying her.
Just thought I’d mention. Apologies for being a little pessimistic Perhaps.
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
I have a copy of the Builders catalogue from the late 70's - here they mention that the cost of a new boat with twin 80 hp diesels was GBP 15,850.
Some pals in Norway have one (also with 80 hp diesels on shafts), and they are very happy with her.
Some pals in Norway have one (also with 80 hp diesels on shafts), and they are very happy with her.
Greg2
Well-Known Member
I don’t recall seeing osmosis being discussed on here for some considerable time. It used to be a bit of a recurring topic and an oft quoted phrase was that ‘no boat ever sunk because of osmosis.’ A bit simplistic I know but it illustrates a point.
Most on here are seagoing types and wouldn’t like to see much in the way of blisters on the hull but on inland waterways it is almost a fact of life with older boats and when going through the sales process osmosis is anticipated on a survey. Our P32 wasn’t too bad when we bought it but when we sold there were some notable blisters on the transom. The buyer didn’t bat an eyelid.
Not necessarily disagreeing but offering a different perspective ?
.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Its the little things that will mount up in a refurb ?
Mark 1.
Doubt there is a boat out there of this age that does not have a blister or two.
80HP - 125 HP, (very late flys had 165 HP,) was the usual engine of choice with some initial owners specifing Ford units, private owners usually going for at least 80HP.
Small Perkins would suggest commercial use and hard life as marine bumper car.
Went to look at an ex hire boat in Norfolk, the not so hidden hull damage was impressive with cracks around ribs from impacts etc.
Things to watch for start .
All the front facing windows were notorious for leaking especially those in front cabin, side windows nearly as bad, unless a previous owner had them refurbed or replaced. Aluminium frames corrode making them impossible to dismantle and remove glass , the canvas runners simply rot away.
Once they start to leak , no amount of silcone will slow things down and the interior goes into soggy decline very quickly.
Both the galvanished water tanks hidden under the side decks leak on the welded seams and are a pig to replace.
Needs to be super cheap, a Flybridge P37 with a apir 180HP fords capable of moving under its own steam , recently sold down here for 17K as did a Broom European for about the same money.
A pair of VP 125HP 40A on outdrives struggled to get 13/14 knots on my boat, a pair of 50hp would give glacial progress ie. hopeless in tidal waters.
Mark 1.
Doubt there is a boat out there of this age that does not have a blister or two.
80HP - 125 HP, (very late flys had 165 HP,) was the usual engine of choice with some initial owners specifing Ford units, private owners usually going for at least 80HP.
Small Perkins would suggest commercial use and hard life as marine bumper car.
Went to look at an ex hire boat in Norfolk, the not so hidden hull damage was impressive with cracks around ribs from impacts etc.
Things to watch for start .
All the front facing windows were notorious for leaking especially those in front cabin, side windows nearly as bad, unless a previous owner had them refurbed or replaced. Aluminium frames corrode making them impossible to dismantle and remove glass , the canvas runners simply rot away.
Once they start to leak , no amount of silcone will slow things down and the interior goes into soggy decline very quickly.
Both the galvanished water tanks hidden under the side decks leak on the welded seams and are a pig to replace.
Needs to be super cheap, a Flybridge P37 with a apir 180HP fords capable of moving under its own steam , recently sold down here for 17K as did a Broom European for about the same money.
A pair of VP 125HP 40A on outdrives struggled to get 13/14 knots on my boat, a pair of 50hp would give glacial progress ie. hopeless in tidal waters.
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Tamar
Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the advice, plenty to think about. I'm not too worried about speed as we just want it for a weekend caravan mainly.
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
25k
oldgit
Well-Known Member
.................for a really nice one ready to go one in excellent condtion, boat just across pontoon from me at this price......... offers invited.
Same owner for 25 years.
Personally would go for a 30DS, 900 built , better hull , better use of interior space and all round more modern boat for similar money to 33.
Loads around with smaller engine options as well.