2022 Princess V50 flies through sea trials

According to Princess, the new hull sitting under the 16.0-metre V50 – available as both a deck saloon and as a flybridge – delivered “impeccable performance, with sure-footed handling and a smooth ride” during the trials.

The latest member of the Princess V-Class that extends from the entry-level 12.9-metre Princess V40 up to the flagship 24.5-metre Princess V78 was to have its official debut in production form at the 2022 Dusseldorf Boat Show, which was scheduled to run from January 22-30. 

Princess said the heart of the new Princess V50’s performance was a pair of Volvo Penta IPS600 or IPS650 powerplants that could deliver up to 30 knots of performance.

This, combined with larger fuel tanks, means this generation of the Princess V50 can range further than the boat it replaces.

But the Volvo Penta brings other benefits with it. “An intuitive IPS system and joystick allows for easy piloting, whilst the addition of the fully integrated Volvo Penta assisted docking system can assist in the management of external factors such as wind, current and manoeuvring in crowded marinas,” Princess said.

Volvo Penta’s joystick system was significantly upgraded last year to include the ability to hold station, including the heading, as soon as the skipper lets go of the joystick.

This allows the skipper to step away from a docking manoeuvre, have a think, and then retry the procedure when they’re confident they know what to do.

The new system also will also allow the boat to slowly pivot around a fixed position to properly align with a dock without drifting off its path, and can then crab sideways using taps of the joystick.

Once alongside the dock, skippers can then push the joystick sideways to activate the “side push” function that will stick the boat against the dock so passengers can board or disembark, or the docking lines can be fixed.

The new twin-stateroom Princess V50 will adopt other cutting-edge technology, including a Naim premium audio system and the new Garmin On-Deck smart boat system, an integrated remote connectivity solution that tracks, monitors and controls selected onboard systems from virtually anywhere via a smartphone app.

The Princess V50 makes a number of improvements over the motor yacht it replaces, including an extended canopy to provide more usable outdoor space, and an extended full-length hull window graphic, similar to the one rolled out on the Princess V55, that integrates the aft air intake.

The cockpit and bathing platform were both designed to maximise the levels of outdoor living space, with access built in from both sides of the transom to both cockpit and side decks similar to a larger motor yacht.

The cancellation of this year's Boot Dusseldorf means the Princess V50 will have to make a virtual splash rather than a physical one when it is shown for the first time in production trim.

Princess Yachts Australia is based at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast.