SURVEYOR SAYS

This is one of several occasions that I have reflected on a Princess yacht in glowing terms. Accepting that the machinery installation is generic (normally Volvo, which can of course be prone to problems whatever the builder), in my opinion, the early Princess/marine Projects mouldings were among the best of the best.

That said, the newer range of vacuum-infused hulls have seen a few teething troubles and in truth the 52 is still too young to make any assumptions about its ultimate longevity. However, with Princess’s proven hull shape, its efficient weight and fuel-saving resin infusion build and amazing design innovations, what’s not to like?

The surveyor needs to be up to speed with the latest build techniques and keep a close eye on the glass and bedding sealant in the superstructure to ensure the bonding is sound and the structure secure.

This also applies to the hull itself as the large owner’s cabin windows are unnervingly close to the waterline and set at the vulnerable fender/pontoon level. The specification of the glass should always be verified with Ce/classification certification (i.e. RINA) construction requirements.

Dare I say that, following 40 years of experience in building in GRP, the Princess range should be near faultless, not forgetting the obvious fact that one of the primary objectives of the surveyor is to look for any signs of accidental damage and repairs.