Nick_H
Well-Known Member
I don't know if anyone's interested but we spent Saturday looking at different flybridges in the 50-58 foot range and a couple or so years old, for eventual use in the Med, and our thoughts were as follows:
2004 Princess 57 - Beautiful boat, and I think the saloon, sunken galley, dinette and internal staircase makes it look much more imposing internally than say a new P54. You don't get the full beam cabin from the 54 of course, but you do get an island berth in the mid master-cabin and proper shower cubicles instead of the horrible round sliding enclosures that always jam. The lack of a full beam cabin also means the boat is lower and sleeker, and would have a bit less windage. Concern here is re-sale as there is a new P58 and the 54 to consider as "competition"
2003 Squadron 58 - for me not as nice inside as the Princess, the very dark wood looks slightly more old fashioned, and it doesn't have seating both sides of the saloon. The galley doesn't feel as spacious either, and the mid cabin double is far less grand, in fact the front cabin is the master. On the other hand the boat looks fantastic from the outside, and the flybridge layout is much better than the Princess, which is a big factor for the med
2002 Squadron 55 - a smaller version of the 58 but with virtually identical layout, but we were really put off by the cabins. On a luxury 55 foot flybridge I would at least expect to be able to put my guests up in a double bed. Also it has the round sliding shower doors which not surprisingly were broken. Shame we weren't so keen, cos this was a reposession so would have been a nice price.
2005 Princess 50 - the boat that impresed me most out of all of 'em. Two spacious double cabins with island berths and a bunk room for kids, big comfy seating both sides of saloon, decent size galley and a very useable fybridge. Three cabin boats at this size normally mean the galley encroaches on the saloon, but doesn't seem to on the P50.
Azimut 50 - probably the nicest decor, with a lighter satin finish cherry, though the blue helm may not be to everyone's liking. Really comfy seating, but this was a two cabin and you lose a fair bit of saloon space to the third cabin. The sharks fin styling is personal choice, but may date quicker.
Aicon 56 - nice looking boat and very nicely built interior, but the boat is designed around the cabin accommodation (which is superb) and as a result the saloon seating is just too small, and looks more like a bus stop. Also no workspace at all in the galley.
Anyone think of other boats we should have looked at, we discounted the Manhattan 56 as its too long for the berth we're getting, the Manhattan 50 'cos they're mighty pricey for the size of them, and the Azimut 55 as the saloon seating is too cramped.
2004 Princess 57 - Beautiful boat, and I think the saloon, sunken galley, dinette and internal staircase makes it look much more imposing internally than say a new P54. You don't get the full beam cabin from the 54 of course, but you do get an island berth in the mid master-cabin and proper shower cubicles instead of the horrible round sliding enclosures that always jam. The lack of a full beam cabin also means the boat is lower and sleeker, and would have a bit less windage. Concern here is re-sale as there is a new P58 and the 54 to consider as "competition"
2003 Squadron 58 - for me not as nice inside as the Princess, the very dark wood looks slightly more old fashioned, and it doesn't have seating both sides of the saloon. The galley doesn't feel as spacious either, and the mid cabin double is far less grand, in fact the front cabin is the master. On the other hand the boat looks fantastic from the outside, and the flybridge layout is much better than the Princess, which is a big factor for the med
2002 Squadron 55 - a smaller version of the 58 but with virtually identical layout, but we were really put off by the cabins. On a luxury 55 foot flybridge I would at least expect to be able to put my guests up in a double bed. Also it has the round sliding shower doors which not surprisingly were broken. Shame we weren't so keen, cos this was a reposession so would have been a nice price.
2005 Princess 50 - the boat that impresed me most out of all of 'em. Two spacious double cabins with island berths and a bunk room for kids, big comfy seating both sides of saloon, decent size galley and a very useable fybridge. Three cabin boats at this size normally mean the galley encroaches on the saloon, but doesn't seem to on the P50.
Azimut 50 - probably the nicest decor, with a lighter satin finish cherry, though the blue helm may not be to everyone's liking. Really comfy seating, but this was a two cabin and you lose a fair bit of saloon space to the third cabin. The sharks fin styling is personal choice, but may date quicker.
Aicon 56 - nice looking boat and very nicely built interior, but the boat is designed around the cabin accommodation (which is superb) and as a result the saloon seating is just too small, and looks more like a bus stop. Also no workspace at all in the galley.
Anyone think of other boats we should have looked at, we discounted the Manhattan 56 as its too long for the berth we're getting, the Manhattan 50 'cos they're mighty pricey for the size of them, and the Azimut 55 as the saloon seating is too cramped.
