PERFORMANCE
TEST ENGINES Volvo Penta IPS800. Twin 600hp @
3,000rpm. 6-cylinder, 7.7-litre diesels
FIGURES ECO FAST MAX
RPM 1,000 1,800 2,000 2,200 2,400 2,600 2,800 3,000
Speed 7.3 11.5 13.4 17.0 20.0 23.6 27.8 32.1
LPH 15 82 110 137 154 185 209 243
GPH 3.3 18.0 24.2 30.1 33.9 40.7 46.0 53.5
MPG 2.21 0.64 0.55 0.56 0.59 0.58 0.60 0.60
Range 779 224 195 199 208 204 212 211
SOUND
Helm 55 61 64 66 69 72 71 74
Saloon 55 61 64 66 66 70 73 70
Cockpit 76 78 79 79 80 81 82 82
THE COSTS & OPTIONS
Price from €1.05m ex VAT
Price as tested €1.37m ex VAT
Air conditioning (60,000 BTU) €32,800
Aft cabin fit-out €15,500
Bow thruster €8,000
Transom wet bar €3,950
Volvo interceptors €13,700
Passerelle €20,000
Helm door €3,300
Vovlo Penta digital anchor €31,200
Hardtop with sunroof €43,000
Hydraulic bathing platform €21,000PRINCESS 55
£1.09m inc 20% VAT
The latest addition to
Princess’s flybridge fleet
is class personified, with a
= Options on test boat beautifully judged interior.Speed in knots. GPH & MPG figures use imperial gallons. Range in nautical miles and factors inSpeed Speed Speed in knotknotsknotGPH GPH & MPG MPG figurfigures ususe imperial imperial imperial imperial gallonsallonsallonsRange in angin nauticnauticnautical milemiles mileand fand actors in
2 20% 20% 2 0% 0% rereserve. Figures taken from on-board readings, yours may vary. Prices include serve FigurFigurFigures takaken from om on-boon-board d readingadingadingsyourours may mavary. PPricesinclude include include 20% 2 20% 0% VAT. LightVVATT LightLightLight
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VERDICT
There’s no avoiding the fact that Absolute
still hasn’t reinstated a UK dealer and that
will be a stumbling block for some potential
customers who will be concerned about
not having a point of contact in the UK,
even if the boat isn’t being kept here. No
doubt the factory and its European dealer
network is capable of looking after those
based here, but it’s not quite the same.
If you can put that issue to one side,
Absolute is quietly putting together an
excellent range of boats here. Underpinned
by top-notch IPS dynamics, the 58’s bold
styling shrouds a boat that has one of the
most spacious and best-fi nished interiors
in its class backed up by exceptionalengineering detail. It’s the thoughtfulness
of the design that is so enticing, and every
inch of it makes the most of the available
space to ensure life on board is easier and
more enjoyable for the owner. Despite the
crew cabin, in most markets the 58 Fly will
be owner operated and these seemingly
small details will add up to more than the
sum of their parts on a day-to-day basis.
IPS is not to everybody’s taste but I
would wager that even the most staunch
advocate of traditional shafts would be
able to force down a mouthful of humble
pie after spending some time on this boat.
The competition, no matter how capable,
ought to be worried.
Contact http://www.absoluteyachts.comTHE HELM VIEW
RIVALS
AZIMUT 60
Price from €1.4m ex VAT
Replaces the old 60 but
is a brand new boat with
three spacious cabins.Absolute is quietly putting together
an excellent range of boats here
The multifunction
displays are
a stretch if you’re
sitting at the helmFit and fi nish is
very impressive,
even these air vents
have an air of quality
to the touchThere’s an
excellent
relationship between
the wheel, throttles
and IPS joystickThe foredeck seating is a great place
to enjoy the ride at displacement speeds61BOAT REPORT