Thinking of buying Princess 35

Very Annoyed

Very Annoyed

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I've admired these boats from a young age at the London Boat Show when I was a lad at Earls Court! The shape and looks still gives it the WOW factor IMHO!

Obviously the P35 is getting on a bit now so I need to be a bit careful in what I buy. Made between 84 and 92 I'll be looking to buy a later model if possible with either the Twin Volvo TAMD41 200hp diesels or the twin Cummins 6BTA 250hp diesels if I can find one? What speeds can I expect?
What speed do they get on the plane and what economy can I expect? Direct drive is a must I believe there are one or two kicking about on out drives?

I'm sure that some of you guys must either own one or have owned one? I'm looking for advice on anything and everything that I should be aware of or too look out for. I understand the gearboxes can be a problem on these? Head Gaskets - well its Volvo but are they really bad and at what hours? What about turbo's? Is the steering hydraulic - the reason I ask I just changed my current Cox 27 over to hydraulic from push-pull in fear of it breaking (30yrs old) Just this afternoon I had to rescue somebody who's push-pull steering failed.

What was an extra on these boats i.e Heating, Auto Pilot, Hot water System etc. Were the window frames a problem on the P35 or was that only the P360 ?

If anybody knows of a nice one for sale please post the link

Any advice gentlemen would be massively appreciated!
Regards
 
Very Annoyed said:
I've admired these boats from a young age at the London Boat Show when I was a lad at Earls Court! The shape and looks still gives it the WOW factor IMHO!

Obviously the P35 is getting on a bit now so I need to be a bit careful in what I buy. Made between 84 and 92 I'll be looking to buy a later model if possible with either the Twin Volvo TAMD41 200hp diesels or the twin Cummins 6BTA 250hp diesels if I can find one? What speeds can I expect?
What speed do they get on the plane and what economy can I expect? Direct drive is a must I believe there are one or two kicking about on out drives?

I'm sure that some of you guys must either own one or have owned one? I'm looking for advice on anything and everything that I should be aware of or too look out for. I understand the gearboxes can be a problem on these? Head Gaskets - well its Volvo but are they really bad and at what hours? What about turbo's? Is the steering hydraulic - the reason I ask I just changed my current Cox 27 over to hydraulic from push-pull in fear of it breaking (30yrs old) Just this afternoon I had to rescue somebody who's push-pull steering failed.

What was an extra on these boats i.e Heating, Auto Pilot, Hot water System etc. Were the window frames a problem on the P35 or was that only the P360 ?

If anybody knows of a nice one for sale please post the link

Any advice gentlemen would be massively appreciated!
Regards
Click to expand...

I think oldgit on this forum has recently bought one , you have just about summed up most of the faults ,the Volvo ms4 gearboxes are no longer available however you can fit a zf hurth quite easy should you need one ,I know of a shaft p 35 with mermaid engines with twin disc gearboxes I've looked after for a few years
 
volvopaul said:
I think oldgit on this forum has recently bought one , you have just about summed up most of the faults ,the Volvo ms4 gearboxes are no longer available however you can fit a zf hurth quite easy should you need one ,I know of a shaft p 35 with mermaid engines with twin disc gearboxes I've looked after for a few years
Click to expand...

Thanks Volvopaul! I'm guessing by the name you work on these! How would I know if the gearboxes are starting to fail? What would be the cost of replacing them with the ZF Hurth? At what hours / time scale should these engines be serviced when I'm looking at the service records?

P35 with mermaid's - what size? Are these a direct replacement for the Volvo
 
Im looking at a P35 tomorrow 1989 twin Volvo 200hp. C52k The owner who is also the broker of the Marina tells me that the previous owner (previous to him) used it on a river for many years! Did I read somewhere that the turbos on these boats don't like rivers because it's too slow for them? The the current owners knowledge it hasn't had any engine work the turbo's, gearboxes and head gasket are all original. It has 1100hrs on the clock (40hrs a month from new!) what should I be looking for?
The boat has been out the water for the last year sitting in the Marina. It had new cutlass and shafts 2009 new props 2010

Any advice?
 
Hi
1100 hrs over 28 years is only 3.3hrs per month, i have a 1990 boat with similar hours, while diesels do like to be worked, my last boat with Tamd 42's (230 hp) spent 10 yrs on the rivers with only an occassional run to sea, with no adverse problems
 
Hi
1100 hrs over 28 years is only 3.3hrs per month, i have a 1990 boat with similar hours, while diesels do like to be worked, my last boat with Tamd 42's (230 hp) spent 10 yrs on the rivers with only an occassional run to sea, with no adverse problems
 
Have just purchased a P35 and have either seen or got info on most of the UK boats. Many have been sitting on the market for ages.
There is actually a very optimisticly priced outdrive version on the market at the moment waiting for someone gullible to walk by.
AVOID. :)
There is also one on the East coast which was used as a livaboard, which may be the one you are referring to. It is sitting right outside the brokers portacabin.The owner is also a part time broker in the marina.
Interesting one on Gumtree with the 250hp Cummings for just over £40.K seller is very difficult to contact as he works on a gas / oil rig, boat was located in the Solent possibly moored in IOW.
A nice one in AYR, owner initially refused to accept an offer but changed his mind just little too late.
The chocolate teapot gearboxes do come up for sale secondhand,there is one on ebay for £1500 pounds.
Chum of mine bought one "just in case " for £400.
One tip have look at the front windscreen they can leak ,especially around the windscreen wiper shaft,easy repair and cheap to reseal unless water has got inside the wiper motors.
I was lucky.
We managed to squeeze 22 knots out of mine with actual water and fuel aboard.Doubt it will do much better.
PM me and will tell you what I bid on a couple of the boats plus a Sedan in Penton Hook,will give you a clue as to how low to bid before being thrown out of the office. :)
Probably the first of the spacious comfortable quicker craft and real step up
from the cramped caravan interiors of the previous generation of Princess and Fairline.
 
Last edited:
Very Annoyed said:
Im looking at a P35 tomorrow 1989 twin Volvo 200hp. C52k The owner who is also the broker of the Marina tells me that the previous owner (previous to him) used it on a river for many years! Did I read somewhere that the turbos on these boats don't like rivers because it's too slow for them? The the current owners knowledge it hasn't had any engine work the turbo's, gearboxes and head gasket are all original. It has 1100hrs on the clock (40hrs a month from new!) what should I be looking for?
The boat has been out the water for the last year sitting in the Marina. It had new cutlass and shafts 2009 new props 2010

Any advice?
Click to expand...

You don't know until they start slipping then they need a new cone clutch .

I remember years ago coming across the channel in convoy , I had a Princess 388 with 306 and the P35 had the Cummings 250 , it did go well .
 
Have a copy of the original MBM boat test on a P35 fitted with a pair of Mermaid engines, premium of an extra 3000 + VAT over the 200hp Volvos.
They do comment , having tested both versions, of no noticeable difference in performance between the two power plants.
WOT on both was 24.6 knots and a 0 - 20 knots of 14 secs.
Main whinge was the single pathetic cheap skate bilge pump.
On the water price 80K with £5 quid bilge pump to keep you afloat.
 
Last edited:
Very Annoyed said:
Im looking at a P35 tomorrow 1989 twin Volvo 200hp. C52k The owner who is also the broker of the Marina tells me that the previous owner (previous to him) used it on a river for many years! Did I read somewhere that the turbos on these boats don't like rivers because it's too slow for them? The the current owners knowledge it hasn't had any engine work the turbo's, gearboxes and head gasket are all original. It has 1100hrs on the clock (40hrs a month from new!) what should I be looking for?
The boat has been out the water for the last year sitting in the Marina. It had new cutlass and shafts 2009 new props 2010

Any advice?
Click to expand...

Ex liveaboard boat needs quite a bit of work and not much in the way of nav gear. Good first viewing in terms of looking round the boat as I haven't been aboard one of these in years! Great use of space, trimmed out right will be a cracking boat to own!
 
have a look at the one up here in Loch Lomond.
Could do with an Internal cosmetic touch up, but stunning and fresh water all her days.
She is on the marine sales website.
 
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