Princess or Ferretti , what boat would you choose?

[MapisM]

One concern, stepping from the deck on the bathing platform with the diving gear on, is not easy, some steps / modifs are needed

Naaah... I understand your concern, because it's not obvious in the pics, but from the extended cockpit to the swim platform there is a fully opening transom door. Absolutely perfect for diving.
Just look at this pic, near the passerelle:

 

[Nick_H]

Bart, surely you want the RIB in the water whenever you have divers in (in case anyone gets into trouble and needs picking up quickly), so you wouldn't have a clash with the RIB being in the way of divers getting back on the main boat. In other respects, the benefits of a hi-lo platform seem great for diving, as you can lower it fully, then just swim up to it and take all your heavy kit off with the water supporting the weight. The platform would also be a big selling point for the family for general swimming/paddling/lounging. My next med boat will definitely have a hi-lo platform.

 

[Renegade_Master]

You could buy my Princess 560 maybe a bit small for you as you are looking at 60ft , but she does have three double cabins, plus 2 berth crew cabin plus...............rod holders in the sides . Ex charter previously coded.

 

[Hurricane]

Pics of an old P65
Sorry only had internal pics

This is the mid cabin - not full beam

Utility room - can be used as an extra cabin - that makes 4 cabins plus crews (I think)

Living areas - saloon etc

Huge galley

Cockpit

And the best I can do of the bathing platform - but there is a dinghy on it in this pic

And here's a sequence showing our 67's crane in use - the Walker Bay is 3.4m

Hope that helps

 

[jfm]

Nice pics hurricane.
That's the newer 65, replacement to the 66 that Bart has been looking at. AFAIK those newer 65s will cost €600k minimum, unless there is a great deal somewhere. Remember one sank in sea water in UK about 5 years ago, and was fixed up, so beware history when buying. I have a pic of it sunk somewhere

Here is layout plan - the utility room does make it 5 cabins as you say

And here is the big platform, not up/down, and flybridge dinghy. I don't think you'll get anything more than 4m tender on this boat

 

[oceandrive]

Yes just like the pic I posted, the rolling tender chocks can go either way.

 

[Hurricane]

Remember one sank in sea water in UK about 5 years ago, and was fixed up, so beware history when buying. I have a pic of it sunk somewhere

Those were the pics of the one that sunk - after she had been restored.
We didnt go specifically to see the boat - I was interested in a SQ62 at the time but was shows the Princess as well.

Only been to the bottom once Sir - the salesman said.

 

[BartW]

And here's a sequence showing our 67's crane in use - the Walker Bay is 3.4m

Thank you for the nice pics, and taking time to post them, apreciate !

do you feel the boat healing to SB side when lifting the tender along the boat ?
would you say: "you just notice,"
or
"using the crane does realy move the boat "

what's the weight of this Walkerbay ?

 

[BartW]

Yes just like the pic I posted, the rolling tender chocks can go either way.

Hey Oceandrive,
reading my posts you probably noticed that a SS predator is not my patch,
these are really nice boats, but not for me, (its all about taste, etc..)

also the tender garage I don't like,
prefer more space for utility room or crew cabin..

otoh the idea of the tender on rails, and lifting platform, never thought about this, and because of you and jfm's insisting, will look closely on that,
but still doubts placing such a modern mechanism, on an older boat (?)

thanks for posting !

 

[Hurricane]

Thank you for the nice pics, and taking time to post them, apreciate !

do you feel the boat healing to SB side when lifting the tender along the boat ?
would you say: "you just notice,"
or
"using the crane does realy move the boat "

No you dont notice it really - there's only a small heal.
Actually, I think the boat COULD take a heavier dinghy but IIRC the max that the crane can lift safely is 350kgs (very much from memory though - I could look it up if you like - its probably in the manual)

what's the weight of this Walkerbay ?

Our WB has a 40 HP Yam which is about 90 ish Kg - the bare boat is less than 100 kg - so I should think the whole thing is just over 200 kgs
Less than two thirds the weight of a JetRib which I believe is what the system is designed for.

 

[BartW]

No you dont notice it really - there's only a small heal.

thats good news, so there is some headroom for more weight

the max that the crane can lift safely is 350kgs (very much from memory though - I could look it up if you like - its probably in the manual)

yes its 350kg, confirmed by Andymac and Jfm here above

 

[Hurricane]

When we bought the Princess, I wanted to put a 4m Ribeye up top.
I even played with Photoshop to see what it would look like.
The guys ar Princess talked me out of it but that doesnt mean that it wouldnt have worked.
In fact, I'm happy that they did - the WB does most of what we want of a dinghy.

Anyway IMO a 4m would fit - I wouldnt put anything bigger up there myself unless it had sails

 

[BartW]

I wouldnt put anything bigger up there myself unless it had sails

recovering divers with a lazer, thats an idea

but I have a solution now, as a SIB, similar to my old Zodiac Futura MarkIII, 4.7m, 50Hp short leg evenrude would fit I think, (less then 300kg)
or even a slightly heavyer RIB.

the tender on the FB is still my preferred option

 

[BartW]

The dinghy extension deck you see on 'Seaport Princess' carries a 4 metre hypalon RIB with alloy V hull and a 50 hp Honda.

Callum, do you know the weight on these Alloy hull ribs,
how do they compare to GRP ? weight ?
I discovered these Alloy hull ribs a few years back in Palau Micronesia
apparantly popular around the pacific, and down under,
never seen one in Europe

 

[BartW]

Hatteras is what immediately sprung to my mind, reading your post.
Look at this one, just as an example.

bad news MapisM, its a no go here at home for the Hatteras,
they don't like all that wood on the deck
and when they saw the furniture inside the saloon, you don't want to know their reaction
thats a boat for old people they say, as if I was still 45 yo

I'm really sorry, its such a shame

 

[BartW]

Having owned 2 Princesses and 2 Ferrettis, I've got an opinion on this.

Thank you for your opinion Mike, and your invitation on your boat,
will leave that untill this summer somewhere in Croatia.


There is a F185 for sale in Belgium, we will have a look at that one to see the general layout and finish, but it is a rather old version, with the Galley downstairs.
http://www.navi-sell.com/ProductDetail.aspx?id=238


In fact you describe in détail the impression I have from these Ferretti's,
slightly better then Princess,
also the V-drive MTU engines I prefer them above lower powered MAN or Cat's
The behaviour on a F185 seems to be fantastic http://www.nautica.it/boatshow/ferretti/185eng.htm


but I have to admid that the accomodation of a P65 suits us slightly better.

 

[MapisM]

bad news MapisM, its a no go here at home for the Hatteras, they don't like all that wood on the deck and when they saw the furniture inside the saloon, you don't want to know their reaction
thats a boat for old people they say, as if I was still 45 yo

ROTFL, they don't know what they'll miss!

Re.the RIB, just in case you don't already know them, the Prestige Ranger are by far the ones which are better suited for diving.
With their catamaran hull, they offer:
- MUCH higher space and payload, for any given length, compared to monohulls;
- a very low weight of the rib itself;
- better performances for any given power, so you can fit smaller engines, hence further reducing weight;
- better stability when stationary, which is particularly nice for diving.

The pic below shows the 4.5 metres (also available in 4.0 and 4.75).
Now, find any 5m RIB anywhere near this space, if you can! Detailed specs here.

 

[BartW]

Re.the RIB, just in case you don't already know them, the Prestige Ranger are by far the ones which are better suited for diving.

indeed.
I have never ever seen one of these,
they look a bit strange, but are perfect for my application,
would perfectly fit on the Fb of a F185 or P65

thanks for the good advice !!

 

[BartW]

8 People + ... Thinking a bit out of the Box here... The wide body should give plenty of living space....

http://www.parisibroker.com/scheda.asp?scheda=1864

Hi Alf, thanks for you sugestion,
it has only 3+1 cabin, (prefer 4+1)
and a little low on power
and a radar arch on the rear of the FB, prefer to have space for the tender in that area,
so not really on top of the list,

but have been thinking about your boat, a boat with a lot more "character"
will post some more examples "character boats" when I find time, might give some inspiration for the search

thanks again

 

[Divemaster1]

http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/MjA2MTQ3NH5OR0VTMTA=-Cantieri-di-Pisa-Pegasus-24.html