Princess V39/40

D

Dave1966

Active Member
Joined
5 Jul 2020
Messages
44
Visit site
I‘ve looked at 3 or 4 in the UK in the past week or so.

They all leaked to differing extents from the sliding canopy.

all the brokers just shrugged and said they all do.

I love the boat but £450k when you know it leaks is a worry

anyone else had any experience please?
 
I saw some 09/10 Princess 42's on behalf of a client a couple or so years ago, and it also leaked from the coach-roof forward screen windows and side windows.
Some veeneer was stained because of this. Of the three I saw all had this problem. To fix complete especially on the forward screen was a high cost as you had to remove it re-gasket and reseal .
 
PowerYachtBlog said:
I saw some 09/10 Princess 42's on behalf of a client a couple or so years ago, and it also leaked from the coach-roof forward screen windows and side windows.
Some veeneer was stained because of this. Of the three I saw all had this problem. To fix complete especially on the forward screen was a high cost as you had to remove it re-gasket and reseal .
Click to expand...
This was happening next to me just today! Princess V45. (Sorry for the totally rubbish forum software rotating a perfect good pic for no reason )
Looks like the roof drain runs inside the A pillar. It has been removed for sealing inside. Took a lot of brute force to get it off.
D827911A-10A4-4605-A5B6-8455A9B97744.jpeg
 
Yes it’s strange. Every V39/40 seemed wet in the cockpit. Right up to a virtually new 2018. I couldn’t see where it was getting in but it just seems to be accepted. There is definitely a gap between the cover that rolls back and the boat itself, Every boat had a few cloths scattered around to deal with it
 
I have a 2014 model year V39 and have never had a problem with the roof leaking. Although I do make sure the A pillar drain holes are kept clear. The teak in the cockpit does look damp first thing in the morning this time of year? I assume this is due to the slight gap in the soft top when closed.
 
Maybe I’ve been unlucky with the 3 I’ve seen. I really love the boat but at £450k I’d like it dry like yours ?? On all the ones I saw there was lying water, not dampness, under the starboard seat cushions. On another there was actually water dripping out of the top starboard light fitting. 2 of them had wet patches when you looked up at the folding roof.
 
I just watched this video by James Barke on the V39. He mentions the crap mechanism to slide the roof back. Not sure if it relates to leaks, but there is clearly some room for improvement on those roofs.
At the very end of the video he mentions that the price evoluted from 280k in 2012 to around 600k now. They only make 12 V40s per year nowadays….perhaps there is a Covid effect in there, but it sounds to me they have screwed the price up and minimize production to optimize margin and shift focus to bigger stuff.
 
I think you’re dead right and it’d drive me nuts. I just sold my Broom 39kl with a view to getting a V39/40 for a bit of a change. I still love the boat but I’m afraid the soft top which ironically is what attracted me in the first place just doesn’t work for me. The 3 I’ve seen you can see daylight between where the soft top meets boats frame and I imagine a bit of wind and rain is when it comes in. I spoke to the guys at Hamble and they suggested I get some sort of snap on cover made up for when the boat wasn’t used to cover the whole soft top area. I don’t really think I want to pay £450k for a boat and have to do that. I know all boats are a compromise but that seems too much. As I said before I may have just been unlucky in what I’ve seen because they’re very popular and nobody seems that concerned.
 
Dave1966 said:
I‘ve looked at 3 or 4 in the UK in the past week or so.

They all leaked to differing extents from the sliding canopy.

all the brokers just shrugged and said they all do.

I love the boat but £450k when you know it leaks is a worry

anyone else had any experience please?
Click to expand...
If its a design fault , wht didnt the owners get Prinny to correct it.
 
seastoke said:
If its a design fault , wht didnt the owners get Prinny to correct it.
Click to expand...
Kind of agree but Princess have a responsibility to ensure that customers with their boats are happy (then they come back for more)
I can’t believe that this was unknown at Princess at some level but either they don’t have a culture where these problems are escalated to a level where a solution can be found or the company focus is on new and bigger models to new and bigger customers.
 
DavidJ said:
Kind of agree but Princess have a responsibility to ensure that customers with their boats are happy (then they come back for more)
I can’t believe that this was unknown at Princess at some level but either they don’t have a culture where these problems are escalated to a level where a solution can be found or the company focus is on new and bigger models to new and bigger customers.
Click to expand...
The water drys up quickly in the med and probably gone when owner arrives.
 
For that budget ,you have to be mad to water that can damage your investment, we went to the Thames to look at a rodman 39 water leaking in from window screen somewhere . I asked the broker about it he replies a bit of silicone will cure that , my answer why don’t you get off your arse and apply some oh and goodbye.
 
Dave1966 said:
I think you’re dead right and it’d drive me nuts. I just sold my Broom 39kl with a view to getting a V39/40 for a bit of a change. I still love the boat but I’m afraid the soft top which ironically is what attracted me in the first place just doesn’t work for me. The 3 I’ve seen you can see daylight between where the soft top meets boats frame and I imagine a bit of wind and rain is when it comes in. I spoke to the guys at Hamble and they suggested I get some sort of snap on cover made up for when the boat wasn’t used to cover the whole soft top area. I don’t really think I want to pay £450k for a boat and have to do that. I know all boats are a compromise but that seems too much. As I said before I may have just been unlucky in what I’ve seen because they’re very popular and nobody seems that concerned.
Click to expand...
CHI said:
I have a 2014 model year V39 and have never had a problem with the roof leaking. Although I do make sure the A pillar drain holes are kept clear. The teak in the cockpit does look damp first thing in the morning this time of year? I assume this is due to the slight gap in the soft top when closed.
Click to expand...
we have a 2011 V45 and completely agree. Very important to ensure the A pillar drain holes are clear of debris but also unrestricted by any windscreen covering. We’ve had situations when the mesh windscreen cover has been on and has restricted the drain outlet enough that the water has backed up and overflowed from the roof channels. But an easy fix!!!
 
I must be really lucky with mine :). I saw the video clip by boats.co.uk regarding the V39 and have never had a roof cable fail as yet (Fingers crossed). Although I might look into how to replace in case I need to do in the future :).
 
CHI said:
I must be really lucky with mine :). I saw the video clip by boats.co.uk regarding the V39 and have never had a roof cable fail as yet (Fingers crossed). Although I might look into how to replace in case I need to do in the future :).
Click to expand...
Just remember (if you're not aware) that sliding roof / cables require annual maintenance / servicing. They're not 'fit and forget'.
 
Thanks for info Petem . However i do regularly clean the tracks and apply PTFE grease to the track, runners and cables as recommended.

Is there anything else I should be doing?

:)
 
Meet The Owner : Princess V42

Mark and his family are enthusiastic boaters who really use their Princess V42 boat. This is their story.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top