Tell me about your Princess V40

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raysargood

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Just a few hours ago I posted a thread requesting information from any Sunseeker Camargue 44 owners. For all my hard work I have found out that our sister mag MBM has pipped us at the post by featuring the model in their current used boat report.

So bringing next months choice forward...

Can I now ask any Princess V40 owners to step forward - this is your chance to have your say. Whether it be pride, praise or predujice I want to know the very best & the very worst experiences you have to offer.

Again any information and assistance is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Ray
MBY
 
Errr...think thye pipped you on this one as well /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The Princess V39/V40 gets a slot in the 'Buying a Boat with £100k' section in Januarys MBM!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Or is this a wind up?? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Thanks Jerbro

I am looking to get right under the skin of this one. Have there been any problems? please let me know (pm maybe).

Or...
Do you know of any charter V40's with huge hours or any stories of great sea keeping in adverse conditions etc.

If anyone else wishes to voice their opinion (positive or negative) please do so - this is for 'Instant Expert' in April's issue of MBY - I would love to involve the forum's knowledge as much as possible.

Cheers

Ray
 
Hi Julie,

I will be making comparisons of the various model changes throughout the production run while also trying to find out numbers of each engine or layout configuration & so on.

I am open to suggestion so please let me know if I am missing anything in these used boat reports. Let me know what you - as readers - would like to see.

Ray
MBY
 
you asked,

how does the material used on the upholstery stand up to wear.
Is there anything like a classic coloured interior that does not date.
how easy is it to get the bits for that model if they have changed the spec/parts on it.
Is an area prone to damp ie around windows back of cupboards.
are they dry boats to use in a head sea.
Are the cleats usable rather than decorative.
Does one bit get prone to more bumps than the rest, ie stick on bathing platforms they used, to " bring out a new model" it being 1 foot longer or shorted than the previous model.
it the helm control in a usable position, ie not fishing around your knees to turn something on or leaning over a back sore making angels to read the displays.
I could go on.

one for the boys

Has one engine type/make or model been more reliable than another or have they changed some bit on it to make it more reliable,
 
Thanks Julie,

More of the same please.....

I do cover much of what you say when conducting sea trials, studying previous boat reports, talking to past & present owners and so on. I talk to charter skippers and aftersales departments, sales managers and surveyors and although some of my sources may be a little biased I would like to think that we compile as full a picture as currently possible.
But I want to know more...... more of what you want to read and more of what you want know.

Cheers

Ray
MBY
 
Think your trouble is, us experienced folk want some thing completely different from a boat than the average buyer. Most folk dont go anywhere anyway, so long as it floats and looks the part, they dont really care. Ferinctance the newish thing about back door entery, is ok for the med. Long as your not going anywhere , so have no dinghy in the way. Totally useless with my alongside berth and dinghy on the back. Most nearly every one except us, never uses bog, shower or cooker. So I'd get rid of them. I dont do the sun bathing thingy, so get rid of that as well. The sloppy back arses are impractible. Try going from on boat to another in a raft!!

Tell folk. They do not actually have to get up at six am to go back to the Solent from Weymouth. Ten or eleven will do.

Get Eberspatcher to make a system that actually works most of the time, not just now and then and at a cost of £££ per year just to keep it going. Engines that dont fall off. Gear boxes that dont break or come adrift from prop shafts. Shall I go on!!
 
Hi Ray,

Here goes....+ve and -ve in a nutshell - I'm trying to be objective...

-ve

Undersized anchor supplied (10kg).
Inefficient routing of soil pipe from heads coupled with manual pump is a recipe for disaster!
Standard Princess supplied camper canopy looks odd (too square).
Access to port engine impeller is a nightmare! (but not as bad at Targa 43 according to engineer). Check yours is serviced as its easy for the engineer to 'forget'.
Genuine Princess parts can be expensive/difficult to acquire - OK if easy for Princess after-sales team to get (they're very helpful and will bend over backwards). If they need to go back to Felix engineering (who actually make the V40/42), they are reluctant to pull people off production activities and will quote accordingly to discourage you - however alternatives can be found.

+ve

It looks great - even now. Not dated (IMHO).
Perfect split of deck space and accommodation.
Well designed and engineered.
Excellent access to the engines & huge engine bay (but note comment on port impellor).
Deck rails go along way to stern at full height (contrast to Sunseeker type).
Fantastic handling at all speeds, even close quarters (shafts not in tunnels give excellent side-ways capabilities when berthing).
Will travel well at any 'attitude' - bows-up to stay dry, or bows down to cut through fast.
Seems to maintain top-speed regardless of loading (within limits I've experienced anyway).
Abundance of practical cleats and rails.
Clean & non-fussy interior (not too much bling).
A place for everything and everything in its place.

All comments relate to the shaft-drive version and are IMHO.
 
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