princess 33

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canveyrover

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Hi all
I have just got my self a Princess 33 with twin 4 cylinder turbo mermades 160 hp on shafts .Firstley she has potterd about on the Thames for the last 7 years.Engines have just been serviced gave the fuel tank a dose of Marine 16 just incase of any bug new diesel filters fitted.I am about to take her down the Thames to the Roach at the end of the month.Not knowing the engines can any one give me any tips like what is a good crusing speed for theses engines any thing i should be awar of how dose the 33 handel a sea .what is likley to be her top end speed.Any advice would be gratfully taken .I have done this trip many times in my old Princess 32 on outdrives with 75 hp volvos
 
canveyrover said:
Hi all
I have just got my self a Princess 33 with twin 4 cylinder turbo mermades 160 hp on shafts .Firstley she has potterd about on the Thames for the last 7 years.Engines have just been serviced gave the fuel tank a dose of Marine 16 just incase of any bug new diesel filters fitted.I am about to take her down the Thames to the Roach at the end of the month.Not knowing the engines can any one give me any tips like what is a good crusing speed for theses engines any thing i should be awar of how dose the 33 handel a sea .what is likley to be her top end speed.Any advice would be gratfully taken .I have done this trip many times in my old Princess 32 on outdrives with 75 hp volvos
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Firstly I'm lead to believe the engines are 140 HP.

Does the boat have the Y hull or the V planing hull? The top speed makes a big difference on hill shape.
 
canveyrover said:
HI you may be correct but it says on the brokers decripton 160 hp i just had a re look the boat is a 1980 with a y hull.
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In that Y hull usually 2 x 80Hp 4 pot Mermaids or similar Volvos.. ?
My old P33 (V Hull) had 2 x 130 HP Volvos on outdrives. On one amazing good day with no fuel,no water,no usual junk and fresh out of the slings after an anti foul reached 16 knots.Under normal loads 12 -14 knots was the max.
Suspect your beast is going to max out at 12knots with comfortable cruise at 6 to 8 knots..
The 33 is wider than the 32 so should roll a lot less.
That run, is of course best done by coming through Richmond as soon as it lifts,punch the tide for an hour or so,you will have to go slow anyway due to rowers etc, and then use the 2 -3 knot ebb to get you home much faster.
We have a couple of P33 with small engines in our club which have gone all over Europe.
 
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Hi thankyou for your reply yes thay are 130 turbo mermades i just got the full spek y hull, what ever its going to be a big improvmant on my old 32 with 75 hp Volvos
 
canveyrover said:
Hi thankyou for your reply yes thay are 130 turbo mermades i just got the full spek y hull, what ever its going to be a big improvmant on my old 32 with 75 hp Volvos
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Worth keeping an eye on those forecabin windows.They tend to (def will :)) be a bit leaky.They will need sorting .
Hopefully the original galvanised freshwater tanks will have been replaced by now.
A major task to get them out.
Had to cut mine into small sections with grinder to extract.Replaced with plastic tanks which were just flexy enough to squeeze in using a modicum of brute force.
Very suprised at the power from those 4 cylinders, 6 pots are usually needed ..
 
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Sounds like you probably have total 160hp, i.e 2 x 80hp 4 cylinder Mermaids.
Brokers details are infamously inaccurate, I doubt there is an upgrade that could get 160hp out of them.
Anyway you will find out on the trip down, be interested to hear about it they are great old boats those Princesses.
 
If the boat has been on a river for the last seven years there may be an accumulation of crud in the tanks which get stirred up when the boat gets tossed around on the sea. I suggest you fit all new filters before venturing out and have spares to hand just in case.
I bought a boat which had also been on the river and had crud in the tank which has been a challenge to sort out.
 
Ours had 2 x 80hp Mermaids with a Y hull. These are Fords incidentally. I have fond memories of what for us was a great boat. We did our first crossing from the Clyde in Scotland to Bangor in Ireland which at the time felt as if we had crossed an ocean. Very solid GRP construction and yes the front windows are likely to have a leak, but easily sorted.

The last time I looked, there were a lot of threads on the P33 so plenty of information easily available.

I am sure you will have great fun. Good luck.
 
Hello canveyrover,
we own a P33 MKI Sedan with 2x80hp Ford Mermaids and Y-hull, built 1980. Our cruising area is the Baltic Sea between northern Germany and southern Denmark. I am happy to exchange information and experience with you. Please feel free to come back to me.
Rgds
Juergen
 
Hi owners of P33. I've just bought a 1977 on shafts. New fuel and water tanks and windows fine at the moment. How will those Mermaid engines serve me?
 
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