Princess 45

[Pugwash Chris]

I am looking at buying a pre 1990 princess 45 as my first boat does anyone have any advise on these boats?

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I bought a 2001 P45 earlier this year. I have been boating for many years and am a Commercial RYA powerboat Instructor. This was my first venture into Motor boating with a boat of this size. I used to think I was a bit of a purist and did not think using bow and stern thrusters very seamanlike!! Whilst I find it straight forward to bring the P45 alongside just on engines most of the time, having the thrusters and being able to move her sideways, hold her close to the pontoon so the crew can easily and calmly step off to put lines on unhurried even in a breeze is a joy and fills my crew with confidence as well. Stepping up from a 6.8m RIB to a P45 has been quite straight forward as much of the same thinking and seamanship transfers. It is just the fear that ‘if I get it wrong with the P45’ the potential damage to P45 or other vessels will be substantial! I find if you have some training and go as slow as you can the P45 is responsive and will go where you want it. Even at RYA PBII level the mantra in the marina is ‘speed is you enemy’, plan your approach, prepare fenders and lines well in advance, brief the crew if you have one (I regularly bring mine in singlehanded), and enjoy the thrill of successfully getting her alongside safely. Don’t be put off when it goes wrong, because it will, just pull away, reset and go again.
Good luck and happy P45 boating.

 

[harvey38]

I bought a 2001 P45 earlier this year. I have been boating for many years and am a Commercial RYA powerboat Instructor. This was my first venture into Motor boating with a boat of this size. I used to think I was a bit of a purist and did not think using bow and stern thrusters very seamanlike!! Whilst I find it straight forward to bring the P45 alongside just on engines most of the time, having the thrusters and being able to move her sideways, hold her close to the pontoon so the crew can easily and calmly step off to put lines on unhurried even in a breeze is a joy and fills my crew with confidence as well. Stepping up from a 6.8m RIB to a P45 has been quite straight forward as much of the same thinking and seamanship transfers. It is just the fear that ‘if I get it wrong with the P45’ the potential damage to P45 or other vessels will be substantial! I find if you have some training and go as slow as you can the P45 is responsive and will go where you want it. Even at RYA PBII level the mantra in the marina is ‘speed is you enemy’, plan your approach, prepare fenders and lines well in advance, brief the crew if you have one (I regularly bring mine in singlehanded), and enjoy the thrill of successfully getting her alongside safely. Don’t be put off when it goes wrong, because it will, just pull away, reset and go again.
Good luck and happy P45 boating.

Welcome to the forum, you are responding to a 19 year old thread.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge though

 

[Pugwash Chris]

Oh right!!! Thanks.

 

[Seastoke]

Oh right!!! Thanks.

Made me smile , we have all done it , welcome and we need more contribution on the forum and with you experience would be welcome.

 

[Hurricane]

Oh right!!! Thanks.

Yep - welcome
Great choice of boat.
I moved from dinghies to motorboats - jumped straight into a 51 foot Flybridge.
We now have a Princess 67 that we have owned since new (15 years ago).
Enjoy

 

[John100156]

I have a 2002 P45 with Cat 3126 engines, bow and stern thruster. The boat handles really well in close quarters and at sea, so go for it.

If you are not familiar with this size of boat, just get a couple of days on-board tuition, you will soon learn she does what she's told - unlike SWMBO!

 

[Nigel52]

First started boating at 14 on GP14s, then whilst in the RN raced Bosun dinghy’s and a Nicholson 55. Also qualified as small boat skipper. At 25 bought my first boat a Fletcher 14 sports boat then a 16’ day boat. At 29 yr a Westerly Centaur 26’ ,a Konsort, Fulmar, Swedish Yacht and finally a Westerly Oceanlord 41’ which we sailed regularly to Northern Spain. At 64yrs moved to a RIB then a Rhea 23 day boat. At 69yr moved to my current boat QS905 Weekend and was a bit surprised with windage on a light boat with single outdrive. I decided to get a days training just on mooring etc and reversing into a tight marina berth. My instructor who trains Dorset Marine Police, SBS etc was excellent and felt I was more than confident but I appreciated someone appraising me. Over the summer age 71 I decided to do a PB2 despite multiple RYA and Naval course certifications to again double check my skills and update any weaknesses. I was nearly three times the age of most others but completed the two day course in circa 4 hours. The moral of this is that boats are expensive and dangerous and handled inappropriately can cause massive damage. However, good you think you are when you are older you have to make sure you get the manoeuvre right first time and think about the manoeuvre and what could go wrong.