henryf
Well-Known Member
Having blagged my way through a review of the 82 Yacht I'm on far more familiar ground walking around the new Princess 52. I was looking forward to my first viewing of the replacement to our current boat, one of the last of the Mk 3 Princess 50 flybridges. So far we have been very happy with the P50, you get a hell of a lot of boat for your 50 feet. The killer feature is of course the full width owners cabin. The fact the rest of the boat feels full sized rather than squeezed is amazing, that there is a separate dining and lounge area a miracle. There are a couple of compromises, the stairs are quite steep without the landing of the P54 and the third cabin is bunks, all be it well proportioned. Other than that pretty much everything we could ask for.
So what were Princess' plans for our boat then? Well the most obvious thing was to move the galley from it's resting place at the bottom of the stairs and pop it front and centre stage just inside the patio doors. At this point let me say we are based in the UK and use our boat as a family cruiser. We spend from a weekend to a couple of weeks aboard. We also charter her out either on a day basis to larger groups or over a few days to smaller numbers.
Off plan I wasn't convinced but I came aboard with an open mind. I was also intrigued to see what benefit removing the galley from down below brought.
The debate on galley up / galley down will run for ever. Galley down means you can keep the mess out of sight, grab an early morning coffee in just your underpants and you generally have a lot more storage. Head height cupboards go out of the window with galley up and more often than not so does the full height and sized fridge freezer. Galley up means less running up and down stairs to the dining room table, even more so the flybridge. Although to be fair the flybridge comes with it's own grille, sink and refrigeration.
Princess is not the only builder to locate the galley by the patio doors. Fairline do the same on the Squadron 50. I'm not a big fan of that boat for a number of reasons and I also dislike the P52. I've heard all the arguments about how moving the saloon forward means people walking along the high quayside of Southern France can't see you lounging on the settee. Except I don't cruise in the South of France and call me mad but sacrificing half the upper internal space is a hell of a price to pay. As for those huge, and they are huge, glass walls in the saloon I apologise in advance to those moored close by in the morning when they see me get up to make a brew. Just forward the therapist's invoice to Princess Motoryachts Plymouth
The open space opposite the Galley is useless. The undersized kitchen can throw out a breakfast (just) but the counter top isn't big enough to eat off if you pop in a couple of bar stools. You could sit in the cockpit but weren't we just commenting on the French plebs above you on the quayside. A bit of their flob in my coco pops would really ruin my day. Whilst throwing a drinks party you could set up stall in the kitchen to act as barman, but unfortunately the drinks fridge and ice maker are on the opposite side. So possibly not.
On our P50 we have a small free standing coffee table in the sitting area where we watch telly, the dining area obviously has a fixed table. On the P52 you only have one seating area so if you want to lounge and watch a bit of television you have to clear the table close it up then lower it. You can't move it. There is a settee opposite the dining table but as the television is behind you the laws of evolution work against you. I haven't come across anyone with eyes in the back of their head.
Ok, so I'm not enamoured by the upstairs but what about down below? Well the good news is you get shallower stairs and a cracking landing.
The third cabin is twin beds rather than bunk beds, the bathrooms might be slightly smaller or am I just being bitchy? The master cabin has been tweaked to give a flatter floor, the hump above the bed has also been vastly reduced so no chance of bumping your head in the middle of the night. There is a sitting area by the port side window, which along with the starboard one has grown and lost the mullions. A huge picture window. If I'm totally honest the settee is slightly useless given there is a bloody huge bed to lounge on if you want to read a book. If you're using it to cover that slightly awkward moment before getting down to business with a new partner then could I suggest brushing up on your technique and doing a bit more groundwork in the sitting area before heading downstairs. Oh, I forgot you lost the settee in the sitting room in favour of the galley. Ah well. On the P50 we have clothes storage in place of settee so I should look better in the bar compared to your clothes that have been on for a couple of days. You might not need to use the bedroom sofa after all
Up top on the flybridge things have changed quite a lot as well. Not unlike the Fairline 50 there is a funny sun bed to the side of the helm position. Someone's been looking at brochure shots too long. My lot want to sit up when underway and it's too small for serious chill out sun bathing. The flybridge table is huge with masses of seating. One thing I did notice was that both flybridge and lower helm position are on the starboard side. The predominant entry point through the transom makes port side to alongside mooring preferable. The flybridge steps have also swapped to the starboard side making an awkward journey back on yourself, around the cockpit table and out through the port side transom gate.
To be fair there is an option of opening the starboard transom gate but you have to step over the crew cabin entrance. Assuming you have a tender on the bathing platform the starboard transom gate will be useless so it's back to excusing yourself and walking round the cockpit table to get into the galley or off the boat.
Finally the crew cabin.
Not bad given the size limitations but with one caveat. Most crew cabins get used to store gear in lieu of a lazarette but there is a problem. The stairs are aligned fore-aft and you have to do a twist at the bottom to get into the crew cabin. There is a massive moulding on your left shoulder as you negotiate the turn - you'll find it on the way out with your head. This makes it impossible to get things in or out.
I have no doubt the boat is well screwed together and will perform to perfection as the P50 does but for me I'm afraid it's of the list. We may not be the intended market for the boat but however we use the P50 I'm not convinced our usage is so different to anyone else. That early morning coffee or cup of tea is the same who ever you are. Relaxing in front of the telly is the same in England, France or even China and internal space is a valuable commodity the world over.
I'm a huge Princess fan, I'm really glad we bought the P50 and the P42 before that. I love the fact that Princess don't rush out and try to re-invent the wheel but on this occasion I think they've gone too far too quickly and taken their eye off the ball. Regardless of your galley up/down preference there are some fundamental design flaws on this boat to the point where I wonder who designed it.
Henry
So what were Princess' plans for our boat then? Well the most obvious thing was to move the galley from it's resting place at the bottom of the stairs and pop it front and centre stage just inside the patio doors. At this point let me say we are based in the UK and use our boat as a family cruiser. We spend from a weekend to a couple of weeks aboard. We also charter her out either on a day basis to larger groups or over a few days to smaller numbers.
Off plan I wasn't convinced but I came aboard with an open mind. I was also intrigued to see what benefit removing the galley from down below brought.
The debate on galley up / galley down will run for ever. Galley down means you can keep the mess out of sight, grab an early morning coffee in just your underpants and you generally have a lot more storage. Head height cupboards go out of the window with galley up and more often than not so does the full height and sized fridge freezer. Galley up means less running up and down stairs to the dining room table, even more so the flybridge. Although to be fair the flybridge comes with it's own grille, sink and refrigeration.
Princess is not the only builder to locate the galley by the patio doors. Fairline do the same on the Squadron 50. I'm not a big fan of that boat for a number of reasons and I also dislike the P52. I've heard all the arguments about how moving the saloon forward means people walking along the high quayside of Southern France can't see you lounging on the settee. Except I don't cruise in the South of France and call me mad but sacrificing half the upper internal space is a hell of a price to pay. As for those huge, and they are huge, glass walls in the saloon I apologise in advance to those moored close by in the morning when they see me get up to make a brew. Just forward the therapist's invoice to Princess Motoryachts Plymouth
The open space opposite the Galley is useless. The undersized kitchen can throw out a breakfast (just) but the counter top isn't big enough to eat off if you pop in a couple of bar stools. You could sit in the cockpit but weren't we just commenting on the French plebs above you on the quayside. A bit of their flob in my coco pops would really ruin my day. Whilst throwing a drinks party you could set up stall in the kitchen to act as barman, but unfortunately the drinks fridge and ice maker are on the opposite side. So possibly not.
On our P50 we have a small free standing coffee table in the sitting area where we watch telly, the dining area obviously has a fixed table. On the P52 you only have one seating area so if you want to lounge and watch a bit of television you have to clear the table close it up then lower it. You can't move it. There is a settee opposite the dining table but as the television is behind you the laws of evolution work against you. I haven't come across anyone with eyes in the back of their head.
Ok, so I'm not enamoured by the upstairs but what about down below? Well the good news is you get shallower stairs and a cracking landing.
The third cabin is twin beds rather than bunk beds, the bathrooms might be slightly smaller or am I just being bitchy? The master cabin has been tweaked to give a flatter floor, the hump above the bed has also been vastly reduced so no chance of bumping your head in the middle of the night. There is a sitting area by the port side window, which along with the starboard one has grown and lost the mullions. A huge picture window. If I'm totally honest the settee is slightly useless given there is a bloody huge bed to lounge on if you want to read a book. If you're using it to cover that slightly awkward moment before getting down to business with a new partner then could I suggest brushing up on your technique and doing a bit more groundwork in the sitting area before heading downstairs. Oh, I forgot you lost the settee in the sitting room in favour of the galley. Ah well. On the P50 we have clothes storage in place of settee so I should look better in the bar compared to your clothes that have been on for a couple of days. You might not need to use the bedroom sofa after all
Up top on the flybridge things have changed quite a lot as well. Not unlike the Fairline 50 there is a funny sun bed to the side of the helm position. Someone's been looking at brochure shots too long. My lot want to sit up when underway and it's too small for serious chill out sun bathing. The flybridge table is huge with masses of seating. One thing I did notice was that both flybridge and lower helm position are on the starboard side. The predominant entry point through the transom makes port side to alongside mooring preferable. The flybridge steps have also swapped to the starboard side making an awkward journey back on yourself, around the cockpit table and out through the port side transom gate.
To be fair there is an option of opening the starboard transom gate but you have to step over the crew cabin entrance. Assuming you have a tender on the bathing platform the starboard transom gate will be useless so it's back to excusing yourself and walking round the cockpit table to get into the galley or off the boat.
Finally the crew cabin.
Not bad given the size limitations but with one caveat. Most crew cabins get used to store gear in lieu of a lazarette but there is a problem. The stairs are aligned fore-aft and you have to do a twist at the bottom to get into the crew cabin. There is a massive moulding on your left shoulder as you negotiate the turn - you'll find it on the way out with your head. This makes it impossible to get things in or out.
I have no doubt the boat is well screwed together and will perform to perfection as the P50 does but for me I'm afraid it's of the list. We may not be the intended market for the boat but however we use the P50 I'm not convinced our usage is so different to anyone else. That early morning coffee or cup of tea is the same who ever you are. Relaxing in front of the telly is the same in England, France or even China and internal space is a valuable commodity the world over.
I'm a huge Princess fan, I'm really glad we bought the P50 and the P42 before that. I love the fact that Princess don't rush out and try to re-invent the wheel but on this occasion I think they've gone too far too quickly and taken their eye off the ball. Regardless of your galley up/down preference there are some fundamental design flaws on this boat to the point where I wonder who designed it.
Henry
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