kcrane
Well-Known Member
Here are some pictures of the new V52 from the show at Swanwick.
Think V62 that has been through a hot wash and you have the V52. It's designed largely as a 2 cabin boat. The forecabin has plenty of room, and the scissor action beds work well. The full beam master has full standing headroom (well, for me anyway) and would compare very well with other 50ft'ish full beams. The exterior saloon doors are solid affairs, they don't look too much like patio doors and fold out of the way. Generally the boat has an open spacious feel.
Downsides? A third cabin would be a bit of a squeeze, the other two cabins haven't been compromised (good if you want two cabins) so space for a third is tight. I'm not sure why I'd need three seating areas for 6 people (lower saloon, upper saloon, aft deck). SWMBO thought the finish was average and not up to their regular standard (the V62 and V56 were better), it being hull #1 being the obvious explanation. She also picked up that visibility from the helm was restricted by three support pillars and for anyone less than 6ft, the top of the screen was at eyeline height. It was fitted with Cat engines, the controls were too far back and too low to be 'at hand' when berthing.
Not a Princess-only issue and I know I'm not up-to-date fashion-wise but the square edged light wood lacks two things for me. First it doesn't feel boatie, it feels like a city apartment. It also looks easier to make and so looks cheaper. Our Broadblue cat had nicely finished square edged light oak furniture, and that was a fraction of the price. I wonder if matched grain gloss cherry and curved, fiddled, satin finished mahogany are out of fashion or are they too expensive, so builders install squared-off matt oak instead? Just my opinion, I know at least a couple of people who think the opposite.
It was interesting to find they are still marketing the V53 (now V56 with added platform) and charging more for it than the newer V52. I suspect the D13 engine option is part of the attempt to position the V53 as being a powerful 56ft boat in-between the V52 and V62.
It was great to meet a bunch of forumites, jimmy_the_builder acting as an excellent social secretary!
Think V62 that has been through a hot wash and you have the V52. It's designed largely as a 2 cabin boat. The forecabin has plenty of room, and the scissor action beds work well. The full beam master has full standing headroom (well, for me anyway) and would compare very well with other 50ft'ish full beams. The exterior saloon doors are solid affairs, they don't look too much like patio doors and fold out of the way. Generally the boat has an open spacious feel.
Downsides? A third cabin would be a bit of a squeeze, the other two cabins haven't been compromised (good if you want two cabins) so space for a third is tight. I'm not sure why I'd need three seating areas for 6 people (lower saloon, upper saloon, aft deck). SWMBO thought the finish was average and not up to their regular standard (the V62 and V56 were better), it being hull #1 being the obvious explanation. She also picked up that visibility from the helm was restricted by three support pillars and for anyone less than 6ft, the top of the screen was at eyeline height. It was fitted with Cat engines, the controls were too far back and too low to be 'at hand' when berthing.
Not a Princess-only issue and I know I'm not up-to-date fashion-wise but the square edged light wood lacks two things for me. First it doesn't feel boatie, it feels like a city apartment. It also looks easier to make and so looks cheaper. Our Broadblue cat had nicely finished square edged light oak furniture, and that was a fraction of the price. I wonder if matched grain gloss cherry and curved, fiddled, satin finished mahogany are out of fashion or are they too expensive, so builders install squared-off matt oak instead? Just my opinion, I know at least a couple of people who think the opposite.
It was interesting to find they are still marketing the V53 (now V56 with added platform) and charging more for it than the newer V52. I suspect the D13 engine option is part of the attempt to position the V53 as being a powerful 56ft boat in-between the V52 and V62.
It was great to meet a bunch of forumites, jimmy_the_builder acting as an excellent social secretary!
