PRINCESS V50
BUILT 2002 PRICE £155,000
Whilst unashamedly a sportscruiser, the Princess V50 focuses on the latter – it is all about volume. It’s a foot wider than Fairline’s equivalent Targa 48 of the same era for example, and taller too. As a result there is a huge amounts of space for a boat of this size and style, both inside and out. But it’s no floating caravan – it works on the water just as well as it works in the marina.
INTERIOR
Despite being so much physically larger inside than the original Targa 48, Princess opted to give the V50 a two-cabin layout rather than the Fairline’s three. The result is elbow room everywhere. The guest cabin aft has two single beds and an en suite big enough for a separate shower stall. The master cabin in the bow is similarly graced, and features a centreline double. Putting them at opposite ends of the accommodation provides great privacy too, with a large saloon area opposite a full run of galley dividing them. The cherry woodwork might be a little ubiquitous, but it still looks classy.
EXTERIOR
It’s a bit of a lunge from the pontoon onto the bathing platform due to buttresses that extend right to the corners, but once there you’ll find a huge sunpad hiding a large tender garage big enough to take a 2.85m RIB. A large dinette lies opposite the wet bar and a great driving position includes a lift bolster for a better view forward. Only rather short seat bases mar the experience slightly.
PERFORMANCE
Princess opened the batting with a pair of shaft drive Volvo Penta D9 engines of 500hp or 575hp. But the larger D12 motors were the ones to have. Available in 615hp, 675hp and the 715hp fitted to this boat, the latter pushes the speed well into mid-30 knots.
SEAKEEPING
The V50’s seakeeping maintains the emphasis on cruising with low noise levels, fast cruising speeds, good seakeeping and relaxed handling. The V50 is geared toward covering ground quickly rather than sporty handling, and is arguably all the better for it.
LOA 50ft 10in (15.5m) Beam 13ft 10in (4.2m) Draught 3ft 6in (1.1m) Displacement 17.8 tonnes Fuel capacity 2,000 litres Engines Twin Volvo Penta D12-700 700hp diesel FOR SALE Global Yacht Brokers www.globalyachtbrokers.co.uk