Princess X80. Have they just won motor boats?

[petem]

A boat, much more than say a car is about the interior space and not exterior looks alone. I suspect however, that boating for many starts the other way around where the exterior styling is the initial “must have”.

A med boat is all about exterior space. The only time you'll be inside is when you're in bed.

In my opinion, even in a post marina like the one I'm in, people aren't that bothered about having the latest thing. It's all about having fun and chilling out.

 

[Portofino]

A boat, much more than say a car is about the interior space and not exterior looks alone. I suspect however, that boating for many starts the other way around where the exterior styling is the initial “must have”.


Considering it logically, when form clearly follows function here, i’m actually quite surprised we haven’t seen styling along these lines before now.

Not a “ must have “ as such but I think it would eat you up the Panamera fuglyness factor .
Deep down no matter what polite mates and family say .

In the Med , Thailand and Caribbean as mentioned the wind in your hair airflow is great .
You can do all the aforementioned move from driving to eating @ table to sitting to sun lounging on this .
Its only 3 mins worth a watch . but it typical of a Italian 80 odd FB .
Like the Porsche point H makes sitting inside touch the switches the leather of the dash the other details from the seat .
This SL is a nice piece of kit .
It’s a few steps above PY iterations quality wise
Its got the glass etc but it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye as well .
From 2016 not wanting to start new vs used debate but one of these instead of a new X80 ……surly so .

 

[julians]

I’m also mindful of Cigarette style boats. Fine in the US or possibly even the Med where they turn heads and win admiring glances.

I'm not sure these kind of boats do turn heads in the med - or at least not for the reasons you might think they would.

You dont see many cigarette style boats in majorca, because they're a bit of a one trick pony - going very fast from a to b. Once you get to b, then what do you do , they're awful to sit on for the day, as there is no space. They're pretty antisocial in terms of noise too. They're very much like an enormous noisy jetski in that regard.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

I appreciate there is a difference in type of boat, however I try to sell the place Gosport will never compete on sunshine alone. But I think it’s more than that. British boaters are a more practical lot interested in boring things like the toilet or how the cooker converts into a card table. We are almost apologetic if we turn up in a place with the biggest boat.

Of course that sunny boating open top design does lend its self to sleek lines. The V class sports boats from Princess have always been their sexiest looking. Height is a passion killer when it comes to boat design in the same way rear seats ( with head room ) are to car design.

I’m also mindful of Cigarette style boats. Fine in the US or possibly even the Med where they turn heads and win admiring glances. Here in the UK we just wonder where they will get petrol and then contemplate the cost of a tank full before shaking our heads at the noise as it pootles through the 6 knot speed limit. Don’t even start me on their limited toilet provision…..

I could live with this post but I could not, having been sucked in boating since a very young age. I know how boating design evolved not because I studied it (you can't) because I lived it, and I wanted to live it.

But in reality X-series including, and all other Princess models (and Sunseeker and Fairline), they have nothing British about them since a couple decades, with the exception that they are made in UK.
Even designers in these boats today are Italian since a few years. You Brits have a clever designer i.e Tony Castro, but he works for a Polish Galeon, and he is also very Italian inspired to what has become a standard design.

So I can't understand what you mean by Practical British boating. Nearly everything today in boats was invented in Italy. The only thing Italian do not have bragging rights is the sportfish sector, the rest has been dominated by there vision, including in recent years also explorer yachts which they have changed not little in the last ten years.
A practical British boat design wise is a Broom, or a Fairline 36 Turbo, what is left about that.... A couple small brands like Hanse.

 

[Portofino]

I'm not sure these kind of boats do turn heads in the med - or at least not for the reasons you might think they would.

You dont see many cigarette style boats in majorca, because they're a bit of a one trick pony - going very fast from a to b. Once you get to b, then what do you do , they're awful to sit on for the day, as there is no space. They're pretty antisocial in terms of noise too. They're very much like an enormous noisy jetski in that regard.

Agree .
They not fugly though are they ?

Careful let’s not mention the “ i“ word .
While drifting into the open air med boating scene .You will get into trouble .

 

[andy59]

As if by special request

 

[Portofino]

I could live with this post but I could not, having been sucked in boating since a very young age. I know how boating design evolved not because I studied it (you can't) because I lived it, and I wanted to live it.

But in reality X-series including, and all other Princess models (and Sunseeker and Fairline), they have nothing British about them since a couple decades, with the exception that they are made in UK.
Even designers in these boats today are Italian since a few years. You Brits have a clever designer i.e Tony Castro, but he works for a Polish Galeon, and he is also very Italian inspired to what has become a standard design.

So I can't understand what you mean by Practical British boating. Nearly everything today in boats was invented in Italy. The only thing Italian do not have bragging rights is the sportfish sector, the rest has been dominated by there vision, including in recent years also explorer yachts which they have changed not little in the last ten years.
A practical British boat design wise is a Broom, or a Fairline 36 Turbo, what is left about that.... A couple small brands like Hanse.

Young girl chewing bubble gum, making balloon and popping it with...

 

[petem]

For once, I agree with Porto. I'd have a San Lorenzo over a Sunseeker or Princess any day of the week.

To my eye, even the older ones like the SL82 still look fantastic.

 

[Portofino]

Tender storage !
Where is it on the hi lo ? Did I miss where it’s stored ?

No garage = another incremental move to fuglyness .
Guess it sits on the hi lo ?
Proper big boats keep it garaged and crew cantilever it out and away. No SY plonks the tender on a hi lo at the stern despite what Nick says in his vid . The tender thing is a let down serious let down . It’s got a giant FB esq feel not a mini SY feel .

Just boarding is easier with a clear neat stern .

 

[MapisM]

I have never been boating in the Med and I wonder if that‘s why my views are so different to some on here. Is the Med more of a parade, a beauty pageant or possibly a show of financial muscle?
My boating revolves round the practicalities of being well cared for on our travels.

As someone who have been boating in the Med for 30+ years, with the last dozen spent living aboard for 6 months/year if not more, I feel entitled to answer your question.
And my personal answer is yes, the Med - particularly some parts of it - is indeed a bit of a parade, for many boaters.
The parade game does NOT necessary imply timeless elegance or fine taste, though. Flashy/showy are the terms that pop to mind, instead.
And in this respect, I would consider these X boats as brilliant, for any boater whose main aim is getting noticed.
Which pretty sure was included in the brief given to Pininfarina - otherwise, why on earth would Princess have chosen them?
Now, how long it will take before this design will be seen as dated rather than innovative, that's what will be more interesting to see, and I already said where my money would be.
Though maybe I'm biased by having seen how much other vulgar designs lasted, like for instance Guilty of Rizzardi, or Signature of Rodriguez.
Here in Italy we have form when it comes to design, including the poorer one, you know...

Regardless, I smile at the idea that someone might consider these boats for their practicality alone.
Not to mention as long distance cruisers of the same ilk as Nordies or Flemings, a comparison which frankly is beyond a joke.
Apropos, there's also quite a few of these boats in the Med, mind.
But for none of their owners the "look at how much money I've got" component is even remotely as relevant as it's bound to be for anyone forking out millions to buy these X things, methinks.

 

[Fire99]

It's ok but it does look like someone sandwiched three boats (reducing in size) on top of each other.. It's a hard design to love.

 

[doug748]

I saw a boat going out of Plymouth for trials yesterday, looking very much like this one:




My wife asked how much it would cost and I said: " 'Probly two or three million quid" I have got a feeling I was out by a good factor. Does anyone know?


I notice he was accompanied by a ModPlod launch and a Rib, which I have never seen before, so they obviously looking after their investment.



.

 

[ari]

As if by special request

That looks fantastic! I don't mean the styling necessarily (It's not the prettiest boat I've ever seen, but I certainly don't mind it), but the interior and the deck layout! That is as close to superyacht (tri deck, wheelhouse, main deck master, main deck day heads, galley with direct access to deck, up to 5 crew) as you're ever going to get in 80ft surely?

I think it will be like the Porsche Cayenne when that first came out, a lot of fans (many of whom will never buy a new one) will decry it, whilst actual buyers will quietly form an orderly queue because it's exactly what they want.

 

[Fire99]

I saw a boat going out of Plymouth for trials yesterday, looking very much like this one:

View attachment 129640


My wife asked how much it would cost and I said: " 'Probly two or three million quid" I have got a feeling I was out by a good factor. Does anyone know?


I notice he was accompanied by a ModPlod launch and a Rib, which I have never seen before, so they obviously looking after their investment.



.

Looks quite impressive from this angle. Almost like a watch where you can see the mechanical movement working..

 

[henryf]

In the Med , Thailand and Caribbean as mentioned the wind in your hair airflow is great .
You can do all the aforementioned move from driving to eating @ table to sitting to sun lounging on this .

It’s a few steps above PY iterations quality wise

I'm going to call you out on that. Why is it "a few steps above a Princess? I'm really suspicious of boats that sport triple or even quadruple engines. to me that smacks of a design which was found to be under powered so they chucked another lump in there with all the associated maintenance and reliability issues. I would also worry a bit about fouling on multiple IPS pods as the season progressed.

Thailand can get very hot and the sun can be fierce. The Bimini / hard top on the boat you linked to in the video looks very small. I wouldn't want to be helming from up top all day. There is nothing like the protection as provided for on the X80.

Styling wise I've always thought Sanlorenzos look like 1970's plywood boats. A sort of deep hull with a low bit on top and a small windscreen. The interior looked very square and not very comforting. That boat in the video didn't look like it brought anything new to the party, it was just a variation on a flybridge theme. At 85 - 90 feet clearly it's big and so doesn't have to work very hard with it's inside real estate but it didn't shout volume, space and luxury to me. I've never been on one so I may well be way off the mark, I'm only commenting on a quick peek at the video. But I would very much question you quality comment.

I would much rather be servicing a Princess than a multi engine install Sanlorenzo.

 

[henryf]

Tender storage !
Where is it on the hi lo ? Did I miss where it’s stored ?

No garage = another incremental move to fuglyness .
Guess it sits on the hi lo ?
Proper big boats keep it garaged and crew cantilever it out and away. No SY plonks the tender on a hi lo at the stern despite what Nick says in his vid . The tender thing is a let down serious let down . It’s got a giant FB esq feel not a mini SY feel .

Just boarding is easier with a clear neat stern .

You have options which include a garage if required. Personally I wouldn't as I love the beach club / crew mess option.

edited to say the X80 may not have a beach club / crew mess / tender storage option. I think that's limited to the X95. The X80 isn't a superyacht despite many of it's features. It's "only" an 80 foot flybridge. There are owner skippers at that length on here.

 

[henryf]

I could live with this post but I could not, having been sucked in boating since a very young age. I know how boating design evolved not because I studied it (you can't) because I lived it, and I wanted to live it.

But in reality X-series including, and all other Princess models (and Sunseeker and Fairline), they have nothing British about them since a couple decades, with the exception that they are made in UK.......

I don't have the encyclopaedic knowledge of boat design enjoyed by some of the posters on here. I just know what works and what doesn't. Whilst Princess may well use external style houses to invigorate and add energy let's not forget they still have a team of in house designers based in Plymouth. They still make plywood mock ups to walk round and evaluate in Plymouth. They don't just rely on computer screens.

 

[henryf]

So I can't understand what you mean by Practical British boating. Nearly everything today in boats was invented in Italy.

British boaters tend to focus on the practical elements, the boring stuff like what toilet it's got rather than the shiny surface finishes.

One of the great appeals of Princess for me is how usable they are. When comparing the Sunseeker Manhattan 55 to the Princess F55 which we ended up buying I was struck by the fact that no one had actually tried to use the Sunseeker in anger, or if they had the designers had vetoed any concessions to mooring cleats, hand holds, side deck width and so on.

Even with the more cutting edge Princess designs they are still first and foremost a boat to be used in anger by real people.

 

[Portofino]

I'm going to call you out on that. Why is it "a few steps above a Princess? I'm really suspicious of boats that sport triple or even quadruple engines. to me that smacks of a design which was found to be under powered so they chucked another lump in there with all the associated maintenance and reliability issues. I would also worry a bit about fouling on multiple IPS pods as the season progressed.

Thailand can get very hot and the sun can be fierce. The Bimini / hard top on the boat you linked to in the video looks very small. I wouldn't want to be helming from up top all day. There is nothing like the protection as provided for on the X80.

Styling wise I've always thought Sanlorenzos look like 1970's plywood boats. A sort of deep hull with a low bit on top and a small windscreen. The interior looked very square and not very comforting. That boat in the video didn't look like it brought anything new to the party, it was just a variation on a flybridge theme. At 85 - 90 feet clearly it's big and so doesn't have to work very hard with it's inside real estate but it didn't shout volume, space and luxury to me. I've never been on one so I may well be way off the mark, I'm only commenting on a quick peek at the video. But I would very much question you quality comment.

I would much rather be servicing a Princess than a multi engine install Sanlorenzo.

Sx range of San Lorenzo are the IPS .They market them as “cross over “
I share your reluctance to IPS but I think with SX they tout longer range and then there’s the joystick for newbies with parking .Plus the bigger downstairs cabins with the smaller rear wards engine room .

They do a 76 as well this is ^^^ is 88 .
Note the rear massive beach club .Those rear flying buttresses are actual cranes they park there and form the style blend into the superstructure.

Anyhow it’s got the enc upper wheel house which have fully retracting glass for the wind in the hair experience.So in Thailand you could air con that fwd bit keeping the glass up fwiw .
Saloon glass trendy goes floor to ceiling with bulkwark cut outs for vis .

Having been on SL s inc SX and PY yachts at Genoa the SL is a few steps up quality wise imho .

The Vid I linked boat classic SL 88 has conventional shafts + big MANs .Just parrying your use of upstairs space .I may be wrong but you seemed a bit surprised as well as delighted with the drive - sit at table - sit on sofa + TV - sun lounging thing ? In the X80 .
They all ( typical large Italian FB ) do it .
There are many others , just used SL88 to illustrate it does everything the x 80 does imho in a pretty hull to boot .

 

[Momac]

I saw a boat going out of Plymouth for trials yesterday, looking very much like this one:




My wife asked how much it would cost and I said: " 'Probly two or three million quid" I have got a feeling I was out by a good factor. Does anyone know?


I notice he was accompanied by a ModPlod launch and a Rib, which I have never seen before, so they obviously looking after their investment.



.