Princess V40 MkI vs Airon marine 425

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30feet

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Hello to everyone!

I've just signed a presale agreement contract for our Cranchi Zaffiro 34 and already seeking for our next boat.
A 12m sportcruiser on shafts seems ideal right now.

Princess V40 MkI (1996-1999) on V-drives and Airon marine 425 on shafts tick a lot of boxes.
I'm more familiar with the V40 as I have been on board a couple of times and have asked two owners of the V-drive version.

Airon 425 is the question. I haven't been on board one and all information I have is through used boats classifieds.
But from what I have seen and having in mind the brands reputation, is a possible contender.

I believe that there are forumites that are quite familiar with the Italian boat market, so it would be great to hear if anyone has knowledge about the 425 sailing capabilities in a windy sea (F5) and overall quality comparing to the V40.

Thank you!:)
 
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petem said:
Isn't the v40 on outdrives?
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A small number were built with TAMD63P (370HP) on V-drives, the majority were on outdrives and KAD42/44/300.

The thing is that I prefer to have the reliability of V-drives/shafts, as I sail a lot to Lemnos island in the North Aegean sea, where a broken or damaged outdrive cannot be fixed.
And the combination of 12m sportcruiser and shafts is rare to find.
 
30feet said:
A small number were built with TAMD63P (370HP) on V-drives, the majority were on outdrives and KAD42/44/300.

The thing is that I prefer to have the reliability of V-drives/shafts, as I sail a lot to Lemnos island in the North Aegean sea, where a broken or damaged outdrive cannot be fixed.
And the combination of 12m sportcruiser and shafts is rare to find.
Click to expand...
That’s quite a large boat to be on KAD42 or 43’s
That hp drives my S37 nicely but surprised that the V40 doesn’t feel underpowered.
 
30feet said:
A small number were built with TAMD63P (370HP) on V-drives, the majority were on outdrives and KAD42/44/300.

The thing is that I prefer to have the reliability of V-drives/shafts, as I sail a lot to Lemnos island in the North Aegean sea, where a broken or damaged outdrive cannot be fixed.
And the combination of 12m sportcruiser and shafts is rare to find.
Click to expand...
Slightly larger but the Fairline Targa 43 and Pershing 43 are both on shafts.
 
Airon Marine are nice boats. The hull and sea keeping is better to a Princess in every way, as is engine room excess.
The 425 (previously name 398 and then 401) has a great hull, though like the Princess it is in original designed for stern drives.
The difference between the Airon and Princess, is that in the first you feel the custom and hand build construction, while the Princess is a full blown production boat.
For better or worse of the two different type of boat building.

A nice thing with Airon is that each time you have a problem with a boat, you pick the phone and speak to Paolo and his sons straight away.
I have sold 301, 325, 345, 388, 425, and 4300 Airon's and have nothing to say but good things about them.
A client I sold a 325 did over 2000 nautical miles this Summer including a whole round up of Sicily which included the Pelagie Islands. Do not tell him to buy another boat today.
Another client whom I sold his 388 and now bought an Absolute 41, if asked will not stop to say how much better sea capability the 388 had.
 
petem said:
Slightly larger but the Fairline Targa 43 and Pershing 43 are both on shafts.
Click to expand...

Thank you Petem.

Airon's 425 registered length is 11.91m and V40's is 11.86m if I remember correctly.
Targa 43 and Pershing's 43 registered lengths are more than 12m.

That difference equals to a lot more taxation in Greece and I would be glad to avoid it!
 
PowerYachtBlog said:
Airon Marine are nice boats. The hull and sea keeping is better to a Princess in every way, as is engine room excess.
The 425 (previously name 398 and then 401) has a great hull, though like the Princess it is in original designed for stern drives.
The difference between the Airon and Princess, is that in the first you feel the custom and hand build construction, while the Princess is a full blown production boat.
For better or worse of the two different type of boat building.

A nice thing with Airon is that each time you have a problem with a boat, you pick the phone and speak to Paolo and his sons straight away.
I have sold 301, 325, 345, 388, 425, and 4300 Airon's and have nothing to say but good things about them.
A client I sold a 325 did over 2000 nautical miles this Summer including a whole round up of Sicily which included the Pelagie Islands. Do not tell him to buy another boat today.
Another client whom I sold his 388 and now bought an Absolute 41, if asked will not stop to say how much better sea capability the 388 had.
Click to expand...

Thank you PYB.

I apreciate your answer.
If you can please clarify which boat do you consider best concerning
a) hull and structural integrity
b) finish / finire
 
30feet said:
Thank you PYB.

I apreciate your answer.
If you can please clarify which boat do you consider best concerning
a) hull and structural integrity
b) finish / finire
Click to expand...

a) an edge to the Airon
b) an edge to the Princess. But with an Airon you are buying a semi-custom boat, they are all bit different even in the small 325 or 345.
Princess are all the same.
 
A couple more shaft opens under 12 m
Itama. 38 typically with CATs 3208s 11.7 M
Typically ( a white one )
Itama 38

And the Pershing 37 11.3 M .Yanmar 370 s recent or older the CAT 3208 .
Typically Pershing 37

Both good sea boats the Itama 38 is beamier important at under 12 m space wise and arguably better ride .
I,am not biased lads honestly :) .
Great simple trouble fee ingredients for Med inter island hopping .Low ownership costs going Fwds .
 
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Portofino said:
A couple more shaft opens under 12 m
Itama. 38 typically with CATs 3208s 11.7 M
Typically ( a white one )
Itama 38

And the Pershing 37 11.3 M .Yanmar 370 s recent or older the CAT 3208 .
Typically Pershing 37

Both good sea boats the Itama 38 is beamier important at under 12 m space wise and arguably better ride .
I,am not biased lads honestly :) .
Great simple trouble fee ingredients for Med inter island hopping .Low ownership costs going Fwds .
Click to expand...

Hi Portofino,
lovely boats you are proposing!

My thoughts are that Itama is a legendary boat but a bit more of a sportboat than a sportcruiser for my needs, as we stay in the boat for about the whole of August.
Pershings on the other hand, I never liked that you have to climb up two steps from the cockpit and then climb down four to the bathing platform to have a swim.
(allthough I was checking the 39 as she has more space than the 37 and two cabins).

Thank you!
 
I’m not sure what their reputation is like but I was onboard a Cayman 43 during the summer and I was impressed. A lot of wood down below but the finish seemed high.
It was brought in from Italy.
 
Dino said:
I’m not sure what their reputation is like but I was onboard a Cayman 43 during the summer and I was impressed. A lot of wood down below but the finish seemed high.
It was brought in from Italy.
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Hi Dino,

Cayman 43 WA is a very fine looking boat.
Cayman is different than Airon, I believe they build bigger boats than Airon.

It is a pity I have to stick to the 12m limit.
There are so much more interesting boats between 12 and 13 meters of length!
 
Yes Cayman used to be build in Spezia, now they are build a bit further South, by the company which also owns Queens Yachts. Cayman brand was bought by Queens in 2015 (not the moulds).
The old Cayman where strong builds, with a lot of custom finishing and teak.

The companies which are close or related to Airon was Paolos brother Eugenio Molinari Soncor line of sport cruisers to about 40 feet, and Blu Martin.
BM was founded by Airon's at the time Yacht Build Manager and the head of accounts in 2003/4. BM was a huge success selling around 100 units of the 1350, and 1390 models.
 
I am still searching for either Princess V40 or Airon 425, but as I was drifting to various brokerage sites I came across with another model that has a potential: the Raffaelli Shamal 40 / Raffaelli Shamal 40 Evo.
About Raffaelli boats, I have been on a Raffaelli Compass Rose about 12 years ago and I remember that I had a nice feeling about styling, fit and finish but the boat was in a marina, I didn't sail with her at all.

But my knowledge about the Shamal 40 is very limited, so:

Does anyone know how the boat performs in an F5?
Is the boat capable of cruising at 25-28 knots?
Can it keep 22-24 Knots at an F4?
What is the hulls attitude?
What about the fit and finish of the boat?

Should I stick to the V40 and 425 and forget Shamal, or is the boat a serious contender?

I would be greatful if anyone has knowledge about the Shamal40 and can answer!

Thanks!!
 
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