Motor Boat & Yachting — November 2017

The competition to win over

customers in the 50ft flybridge sector

may be a headache for the boatyards,

but it’s the driving force behind some

of the best boats of recent years. Last

year it was the turn of the Sunseeker

Manhattan 52 and this year, the

Princess 55 takes centre stage.

Measuring 57ft 9in by 16ft 0in and

with a similar three-cabin two-heads

layout, it is as close a rival to the

Poole-built boat as you’re ever likely

to find. And yet, in some respects, the

Princess nudges the bar even higher.

Much of the credit for that must

go to interior designer Sarah Verey

and the Princess craftsmen who have

created an interior of exceptional

quality and detail. It’s the little things

that stand out, like the curved wings

on the saloon sofa, the floating

surface of the sideboard and the

sculpted edges of the window frames.

All of these things cost time and

money for tiny incremental gains

but together they create a feeling of

sophistication that will give its owners

a warm glow of satisfaction every time

they step aboard. Opt for the £40,000

Allure pack fitted to the show boat

and that glow will burn even brighter

as they take in the thicker teak step

nosings, the teak side and foredecks,

the granite galley surfaces, the

underwater

lights and a

basketful of

other tasteful options.

On a more simplistic level, the

saloon feels vast, amplified by those

huge side windows and the seamless

flow between cockpit, galley, saloon

and helm. Crucially, the master cabin

has 6ft 5in of headroom and a flat

floor all the way around the bed. The

forward VIP and twin guest cabin are

blessed with similar levels of light and

headroom, with ensuite access to the

shared bathroom from the former.

The raked windscreen means you

can’t stand comfortably at the lower

AT A GLANCE

Length 57ft 9in (17.6m)

Beam 16ft 0in (4.87m)

Engines Twin 800hp

Volvo D13 or MAN R6

Top speed 33 knots

Price from £1.09 inc UK VAT

Price as tested £1.44 inc UK VAT

Princess 55

helm but the seated position is spot

on, with the latest Volvo joystick

system (which juggles the rudder

positions as well as the engines

and bow thruster to move the boat

sideways) meaning it should be as

easy to park as an IPS boat. The upper

helm is a bit tight on knee space

(a fix is already planned) but the rest

of the flybridge is a hedonist’s delight

with dining, lounging and sunbathing

space. And that’s before you factor

in the foredeck socialising space.

A pair of 800hp Volvo D13 on

traditional shafts (there is no IPS

option) will keep traditionalists happy

while the optional Seakeeper gyro

should ensure a stable ride underway

and at anchor. In fact, the only fly

in the ointment may be its sheer

popularity; with the whole of 2018’s

allocation already accounted for,

you will need to be either very

patient or very persuasive.

Contact See website for dealers.

Web: http://www.princessyachts.com

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STARS OF SOUTHAMPTON

Subtle detailing

adds sophistication

to the saloon

The forward VIP has

the same feeling of

space to spare

Plenty of headroom

and a fl at fl oor in

the master suite

Foredeck seating

supplements the

fl ybridge

All these tiny incremental gains

create a feeling of sophistication