Seamaster 30, Princess 33 Fly??

pappaecho

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Oct 2004
Messages
1,841
Location
S. Hampshire
Visit site
As I posted last week, as an ex raggie, and looking for 30ft ish boat with two engines on shafts, not petrol, and for use on coastal Solent and similar.

Thanks to the replies last time, but further comments appreciated. What do the forum think about the Seamaster 30 or the Princess 33 Fly?
 
As I posted last week, as an ex raggie, and looking for 30ft ish boat with two engines on shafts, not petrol, and for use on coastal Solent and similar.

Thanks to the replies last time, but further comments appreciated. What do the forum think about the Seamaster 30 or the Princess 33 Fly?

Used to have a P 33 Fly. Did a few thousand miles round Wales, Ireland and Scotland in it. Got to beat the pants off the Sea Master, just cos it's 3 feet longer and the fly is a bonus. Mine had outdrives, a work of the devil.

Like all 70's boats, it was a bit flat bottomed and slammed a bit. So look for stress cracks round the stringers. Easily mended, for the ones that can be seen.

Anyway anything that can survive the Irish sea, must be good.
 
As I posted last week, as an ex raggie, and looking for 30ft ish boat with two engines on shafts, not petrol, and for use on coastal Solent and similar.

Thanks to the replies last time, but further comments appreciated. What do the forum think about the Seamaster 30 or the Princess 33 Fly?

I have no knowledge of the Princess, but had a Seamaster 30 (1973 model).
The twin 4108's right under the cockpit get very noisy over 1500 rpm, and with a displacement hull, you are never really going to achieve more than 8 knots comfortably.
Other than that she was a great boat - solid and easy to manouver.
 
look @ moonraker 36
they dont slam.. dont call them softrider for nothing
and on shaft's
beat the pant's off the other two model's your looking @
loads more interior -ex terior space too....
 
Thoughts on perceived motion.

I have an upstairs to drive from, and no downstairs controls. More motion up there. The P33 will feel a bit more lively in the same sea as the Seamaster if you helm from the fly. Seamaster is big and solid, I have accompanied one to Ramsgate and Burnham including some pretty nasty beam seas along the Kent coast. Quite happy there but its not a natural Solent boat and the engnes will be working hard all the time.
 
The Seamaster 30 planes easily given enough power but being shallow vee gives a rough ride in choppy conditions. The 11ft beam gives her massive accommodation for a 30 footer. The Seamaster 850 has a small flybridge and a medium vee hull. The 30 and 850 are different boats!
 
The Seamaster 30 planes easily given enough power but being shallow vee gives a rough ride in choppy conditions. The 11ft beam gives her massive accommodation for a 30 footer. The Seamaster 850 has a small flybridge and a medium vee hull. The 30 and 850 are different boats!

i thought the seamaster 30 was semi displacement hull.
i must have thought wrong...
seamaster claimed a top speed of 13knt's
 
Last edited:
What do the forum think about the Seamaster 30 or the Princess 33 Fly?[/QUOTE]

To compare
seamaster30.jpg

p33.jpg

IMHO two totally different types of boats.One more suited to upriver and the other quicker and more powerful and suitable for offshore
Having said that,the P33 in this picture was well upriver this weekend !
DSCN5394.jpg
 
Last edited:
Rumour prevails that somewhere there is a serious fruitloop with twin AD41s in a Seamaster 30.

<sounds of panic>
:-)

Now that would be interesting in the solent just for its sleeper appeal, would surprise a few.

Didn't they also do a outdrive flybridge version with twin 165's badged 850, that was good for 25knts. The Seamaster 30 shouldn't be under estimated I know one that was used as a liveaboard and went from Bristol to the Med and not through the canals either. However P33 obviously a superior boat for sea use but more expensive.
 
As I posted last week, as an ex raggie, and looking for 30ft ish boat with two engines on shafts, not petrol, and for use on coastal Solent and similar.

Thanks to the replies last time, but further comments appreciated. What do the forum think about the Seamaster 30 or the Princess 33 Fly?

One thing you're forgotten to tell us, is your budget.
 
Now that would be interesting in the solent just for its sleeper appeal, would surprise a few.

Didn't they also do a outdrive flybridge version with twin 165's badged 850, that was good for 25knts. The Seamaster 30 shouldn't be under estimated I know one that was used as a liveaboard and went from Bristol to the Med and not through the canals either. However P33 obviously a superior boat for sea use but more expensive.




The flybridge outdrive Seamaster was a 950, and you are correct the 30 is surprisingly seakindly, albeit slow.
 

Other threads that may be of interest

Top