Priness 33 engine change

[brx851b]

Hello everyone - new to this site. With retirement looming I am looking at a number of potential 'live aboard' boats with which to cruise the French waterways to the Med. I obviously have a budget so the two models I am really drawn to are the Princess 33 and 37. I recently viewed a very nice 33 which is being offered at the right sort of money but it h s two 125 hp volvo petrol engines on outdrives (the Volvo 740/940 car engines but marinised). The asking price (and ultimately the price I am willing to pay) would allow for a change of engines. I am looking for long distance economy rather than speed but with an adequate reserve of power to get me out of trouble. Can anyone suggest the best option for the 33 and if possible the 37 . Many thanks, John and Lynne

 

[asteven221]

We had a P33 a few years ago and found it to be a good solid boat. We were always interested in moving up to the P37 as we liked the extra space, but ended up with something else. Nevertheless I couldn't really fault the P33 and had many good safe trips around Scotland and Ireland.

Like most owners I suspect, I have a keen interest in finding out everything about the model of boat I own, so I have to say, I can't recall reading or hearing about any P33 with outdrives. My memory might have let let me down however! I think I am safe to say that I certainly have not heard of a P33 with a Volvo 740 car engine in it! The vast majority of P33's were fitted with either Ford Mermaid 80hp diesels on shafts, or 120hp versions of the same engine if installed in a "Y" hull. Invariably it was 180hp Mermaids if installed in a planing hull version. Some planing hull P37's had Volvo's (235hp ?) but they would not have been 740 car engines! Thinking about it, the P33 and P37 pre-dates the Volvo 740/960 by many years does it not? Assuming that's the case then it sounds like a DIY job to me, in which case I would proceed with caution.

Just in case you are unaware, there were two types of hull available on the John Bennet designed P33 and P37. The "Y" hull has a small keel (which is what ours had & 80hp Mermaids) which is good for displacement or semi displacement performance, or the planing hull which was obviously a faster hull. There were also flybridge and non flybridge versions available, however having seen the P33 flybridge, I for one wouldn't fancy spending much time up there. I think the flybridge version were all planing hulls, although I might be mistaken on that.

When we had our P33 I bought any servicing parts from Mermaid Marine in Dorset who I believe made the the engines in the first place. Quite honestly, they were the best marine company I has ever dealt with and even today I would have no hesitation in installing their engines in any boat. Compared to Volvo, the parts were dirt cheap, plentiful and the staff really helpful and gave all the technical assistance you could wish. Obviously I can't say what they are like now as it was a while ago, but I id google them to see if they are still around and it would appear they are. http://www.mermaid-marine.co.uk/

If you need advice on re-engining your boat, you could do a lot worse than checking them out. They will know the P33 and P37 very well and will I am sure give you good advice.

BTW - window leaks can be a pain on these boats so that's worth checking out, although any boat of that age will likely need some tlc, which I am sure you are aware of. I can't think of any specific P33 problems, that ours had or any that I have heard of.

Good luck.

 

[sarabande]

there is a well known and well looked after P35 available from a distinguished forum member. Very tough boat.


Contact "hlb" of the forum for details.

 

[Phill]

My last P33 had a pair of Volvo petrol engines on drives.
They were OHV engines which were marinised versions of the Volvo 144/5 engines. The Drives were Volvo 280's. I had the Y hull and found that configuration ideal for the upper Thames.
As others have said, I'm sure the later OHC engines were not available at the time of the P33.
Lancing Marine will be able to advise you of the cheaper options but may be best to buy one with diesels fitted from new.

 

[rafiki_]

there is a well known and well looked after P35 available from a distinguished forum member. Very tough boat.


Contact "hlb" of the forum for details.

I think MF might have too much air draft for the Franch canals?

 

[carlton]

...I recently viewed a very nice 33 which is being offered at the right sort of money but it h s two 125 hp volvo petrol engines on outdrives (the Volvo 740/940 car engines but marinised). The asking price (and ultimately the price I am willing to pay) would allow for a change of engines. I am looking for long distance economy rather than speed but with an adequate reserve of power to get me out of trouble. Can anyone suggest the best option for the 33 and if possible the 37 . Many thanks, John and Lynne

Hi, and welcome.

Do you know which hull shape your example has? That's quite important if you're looking for stability at low speeds. I had a non-flybridge P33 with the semi-displacement ('Y') hull and it was very stable. With two (after-market) turbo'd Mermaid 80's she cruised at 14, and maxed at 17 knots, averaging just over 2 nautical miles per gallon.

Edit - forgot to mention, the boat was on shafts. I wouldn't want a Y-hull P33 on drives, and I certainly wouldn't want to re-engine one on drives, but it's your call.

 

[oldgit]

Do not pay silly price for 30 year old boat.

Agree with all of above,the P33 is tough old boot of a boat,we owned one for around 8 years.Avoid outdrives if at all possible and petrols like the plague.Dilligent searching should produce a decent diesel P33 for under 30k,recently a half decent early P37 went for well under 30K, I just missed it.
Windows are a niggling pain the acute angle of the foreward facing glass and flexing of the glassfibre surrounds causing the problem,however not a deal breaker.
Simple test is to check for internal staining especially in front cabin.
Good idea to use your nose when first entering cabin,any funny whiffs ?,will tell you volumes regards leaky windows or worse leaking diesel tanks.
Have the freshwater tanks been replaced,originals were galvanised steel,most rotted out years ago,again not a major thing,but real b****d to get at,think...Houdini and angle grinder.

Accomodation long term just about OK for two.We semi permanently converted front cabin V berth,to avoid making up dinette every day.My V hull was used on both river and sea without any problems.
Ps.Unless that petrol boat is very cheap sub 15K the cost and time of conversion simply aint worth the trouble.!
Need to know anything else just ask

 

[miket]

Generalisation

Unless you intend doing the engine change yourself, it is generally cheaper to pay more at the outset and buy a Y hull with the 2 80hp Mermaids.
You will recoup little if any of the money spent on the change.
Not being an engineer I would suggest that the Mermaid will go on for ever, so age not an issue.

 

[apollo]

One on the upper Thames with petrol outdrives converted to LANCING marine diesels on same drives finally sold after 2 years for £12k
As others have said, buy one with diesels as engine change will waste your money.