Princess 37

muckypup

muckypup

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Looking at Princess 37 (Y hull, semi-displacement hull version) and heard the following...

"Avoid the Y hull form, as these were designed exclusively for river use. Apparently they are not true semi displacement because of the larger than average keel, which apparently is too large for the flatted aft section to lift with average engines. "

Anyone know how true this is? One of my criteria is a good seakeeping boat, but if this is true then maybe I should look elsewhere?

Steve
 
We looked at the P37 in the 70's and were about to buy when VAT shot up to 25% on luxuries so we bought a second hand Ocean 37 instead - much nicer in my view.

The Y form P37 was only then available with 2 x 120 Mermaids which were really not up to pushing it along outside displacement speeds, particularly when loaded. Friends bought the "planing" version with 2 X 180 Fords which was good for about 17/18 knots but we managed 15 in more comfort on the Ocean.

For a hull designed for a total of 240 horses, would think it would struggle to make much over 12 knots - just digging a big hole for the stern and not much else.

All IMHO, of course.

Mike
 
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So we bought a second hand Ocean 37 instead - much nicer in my view.

[/ QUOTE ]

So what is the seakeeping like on an ocean 37? Is she ok on the open water? I have sort of shied away from them upto now as they look like broads cruisers...

Steve
 
Dont think your going to find majic sea keeping with any 70's boat. The P33/ 37 will be ok, just not wonderfull. I'd go for the planing hulls though. If your looking for a good sea boat, you've got to be looking P35 or simillar of the later 80's. .
 
Not looking for magic, looking for safe, solid & dependable. I'd go for a full displacement except for the fact they don't have the option to go faster when required.

Steve
 
Hi

We owned a Y shaped 37 for four years until January this year, went to Holland twice and Bruges one year as well.

Excellent Sea Boat, and also handled very well when manouvering (as my mantelpiece will concur due to all the BoatHandling trophies I won with it over the years)

The only downer (if it is?) is that top speed was only 12knots. However it was very frugal on fuel eg 3 week trip to Bruges and back on £100 fuel.

In a years time when diesel doubles in price, that may be a bonus?

The Mermaid 120s were excellent engines and easily and cheaply serviced.

Our reason for selling was we were toying with changing to sail, we even went on a flotilla holiday.

We then decided to go back to motorboating and would have bought another 37 if I could have found one at the time. We now have a Broom 37 which has a very similar hull under the water.

As to prices, we sold ours for £45K and I would think that is about the right price for one.

Good luck

Mike
 
There were a few 37 Y hulls fitted with twin 80 Mermaids same as the 33s, these were also good for 12 knots, good seakeeping but as others have said, if you need speed you need V hull and 180 or 210 engines.
 
With great disrespect, what a load of ....... rubbish!!
The P37 with 2 x 120 hp Mermaids was an excellent boat with good seakeeping. At these speeds it was really a full displacement boat and the Y hull was designed that way. That is why they brought out the planing hull version with bigger engines.
As for the Ocean 37 being a typical Broads cruiser!!! Wash your mouth out with soap!! The Broom Ocean 37 and later Crown, were excellent sea boats and I have a large number of friends who have cruised between Holland and Brittany to prove it.
They may be built on the Broads but so are all Brooms, including the current 530 which must weigh in around 15 tons and does 30 knots and will leave your average similar sized Princess or Fairline floundering when it turns rough.
 
Bollox. I used to have a P33. Listen to what I said. It cruised the whole of the Irish sea, many times. In its day the P33/37 were excelent boats, built like brick sh*t houses. But no comparison to the more modern P35/40 ETC. Dont take my word for it. Look at the MBM MBY reports from the time. They were gob smacked at there ability. Course others have copied since.

The P35/ 37 as with other mobo's of the time, were not particularly good in following seas. Also to make them plane with the engines of the day, they were much shallower V's so slammed a bit, well a bit more than that!
 
As others have said - the Ocean 37 was an excellent sea boat - we regularly cruised from Medway to Holland and providing you kept the speed and hence the bow up she shouldered the seas aside.

Also regularly crewed a Broom 37 - again good sea boat.

Just need to be sure about the engines. Most had horizontal 6354 Perkins as standard and I understand parts are becoming more difficult.

As for the qualities of the 1970's boat generally, Spectrum Too was designed by Cox and Haswell and built in 73 and she, too is an excellent sea boat despite being a planing hull rather than SD. Any Fairey of the 60's and early 70's was pretty handy, too.
 
Here's ours out of the water, think its a deep vee although I don't have any measurements.
Its a 1972 boat with a very wide beam, just a gnats under 15'.

Lift_007.sized.jpg


Lift_003.jpg
 
Re: Hooray for the 1970\'s

That's a very nice deep vee you have there. They don't build 'em like that anymore. We are not so deep so save a bit on the antifouling...

Is that taken at Cuxton? What are their lift out facilities like? Chatham are rubbish as they use a crane which requires a staff of about 4 to hold the boat on ropes whilst it dangles in the air if it's windy.

We are looking for somewhere to be lifted next year for a couple of weeks whilst we do the necessary.

Sorry - gone off thread a bit here.
 
Re: Hooray for the 1970\'s

Would guess thats why its not very quick!
Taken at Port Medway, next door to us. Came out and went in on time and found them nice to deal with. Less expensive than most too!
Cuxton may also be available to you as ours is too wide to be lifted there.
 
Re: Hooray for the 1970\'s

[ QUOTE ]
That's a very nice deep vee you have there. They don't build 'em like that anymore.

[/ QUOTE ]
that's not deep ... this is.... and that was in the 80's....

Stern.jpg
 
Re: Hooray for the 1970\'s

[ QUOTE ]
Get out of it, ........

[/ QUOTE ]
OK .... will shut up then as this is drifting too much.... BTW how's that tank of yours then .... equally flat ?? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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