Princess 60

Launched at the Southampton Boat Show last September, the new 60 does pretty much everything asked of its 64-foot sister ship, one of which now lives in Perth, only that spiffing British boat has four cabins instead of three. Oh, and the 64 has twin 1150hp Caterpillar engines not the de-rated 930hp C18 ACERTs, and the aft crew quarters received the full fit-out unlike the handy lazarette left for future owners of this stock 60.

Price is the bigger difference. For the slightly pared-back 60, you pay almost a $1 million less. That’s a big saving considering that fourth cabin on the 64 isn’t all that grand. We reckon 64 buyers will have no regrets with this 60 and a cool million in their pocket.

Given the price savings, this new 60 is a sweet fit in the present climate, where buyers might be exercising at least a modicum of restraint. You get a lot of luxury relative to what was previously available. But credit to Princess Australia for ensuring the 60 isn’t pared back on the comforts and kit.

You also have to hand it to them for being daring enough to fit a custom carbon hardtop which, while not true to the British boating culture, turns the flying bridge into an all-weather stage. Local buyers like enclosed bridges.

Add the UK motoryacht marque’s haughty touches, and the smart and austere choice of high-gloss Serotina dark cherry interior, and the 60 sings. Not in brash notes, mind you, but trumpeting the kind of class you’ll find on the right side of the tracks. And the five-star-London-hotel ambience extends through to this boat’s en suites, which go beyond mere on-water amenities to somewhere special.

A 13.5kW Onan, upgraded from the 9.5kW standard model, takes care of potential increased onboard power demands. The electrical system meets Australian standards, which isn’t usually the case on imported boats. There are insurance benefits to be gained from this accreditation.

A small inverter was fitted for the A/V, but we’d upgrade that to an 1800W-plus model to power a GPO, power kettle and/or microwave. The fridges are 12/240V.

Heading the upgrades were 73,000 BTUs of tropical-strength air conditioning, with separate condensing units for each of the three cabins. They also pipe useful dehumidifying air into the en suites. While the 60 has plenty of hatches, equipped with insect screens as per local instructions (you can tell these guys go boating in Queensland), and you also have complete climate control.

There was an upgraded premium Bose DVD media system linked to a Lifestyle 48 with separate zones, 19in LED televisions in the guests’ cabins, a 32in LED in the master stateroom and saloon, dishwasher upgrade, freezer in place of a split washer/dryer (combo unit fitted instead), underwater lights, and a big Raymarine 12in navigation kit at upper and lower helms, with 4kW radar for spotting the prawn trawlers mid-passage and in fog or at night.

We’re equally pleased to find an optional foredeck freshwater anchor and deck-wash system fitted to this 60, upgraded anchoring tackle that takes the 10mm chain to 60 metres in length, with one of those hold-fast Ultra anchors for peace of mind at night. Presumably, the Raymarine nav gear interfaces with the boat’s AV system so you can also monitor your position and anchor alarms while ensconced in your cabin.

The chosen Serotina Cherry joinery is opulent and we don’t throw such words about loosely.

Here, the pitch is very aimed at buyers who, say, furnish their homes with Fine French antiques and personal items with meaning. The $2,464,877 price tag is warranted, as much by the big inventory as the high quality. Owners are in good hands, with big factory and local backing from a brand on the ascendency.

"We’re defying gravity. We’re still selling boats. While business is not booming we’re a healthy business all the same," said Alan Paterson, dealer principal of Princess Australia. Financials from the UK parent company reveal increased turnover with lower margins due to investment in new facilities. Incidentally, the UK yard released its first almighty 40 Metre model this year.

But thanks to the UK boat builder’s design lines, there is abundant natural light. Broad opening saloon doors let you frame the views out yonder, while split saloon windows carry the vistas forward.

We made a point of testing the main low-backed U-shaped saloon lounge, facing the portside entertainment unit/wet bar. The views were there to be had, perhaps with a drink in hand. The wet bar features a leather servery and nearby cabinet with Slovakian-made Rona crystal glasses… "the number one choice for wine enthusiasts"… clinks.

But the thing we toasted were the unfettered views and saloon seating arrangement that encourages social discourse. It’s a very liveable lower saloon, before you range forward up two steps on the forward mezzanine level.

A dinette for six is located opposite the galley and adjoining helm, so there’s a sense of connectivity whether driving or eating. Electric windows at the helm help with air flow. But Europeans don’t always appreciate a galleying gourmand at work, hence the electrically-operated sliding rear galley screen that may well add to the drama of meal delivery.

Midnight Sky (read black) Avonite counters trace the modest U-shaped galley designed for one. The return has reasonable food-prep and presentation space, there’s a four-burner cooktop, combi microwave/oven/grill, twin sinks, dishwasher, and domestic upright fridge and small freezer with commercial-grade locking handles. No naff plastic catches to snap.

While there’s scope to add more fridge-freezer capacity with stand-alone units in the lazarette, Princes Australia mounted a series of three freezer trays in a flush-mounted unit above the combo washer/dryer at the lower landing. It’s carpeted here, so take care when transporting goods and washing.

The VIP cabin forward has the expected double island bed but an enlarged hatch that doubles as a sky light and terrific stretched oval portlights that swing open for fresh air. Add the soft-touch quilted bed head, Italian reading lights, quasi vanity and classy joinery extending to his and her hanging lockers and, well, no guest would dare complain.

Adult-length single beds with inner-spring mattresses, opening portlights, hanging space and individual reading lights enhance the third cabin. It wasn’t patently obvious, but Princes Australia specified an electric mechanism on the inboard berth so it slides across -- at the press of a button -- to make a double. An ideal floating holiday house for families with grown-up kids with partners.

But it’s the full-beam stateroom that creates the greatest sense of belonging. Owners get a wonderful chaise lounge (sprawl with book in hand) before quad panorama windows, with a dresser opposite, and a great big king bed where you want it, right on the centreline. Princess Australia has the window mullions deleted or concealed, so externally it looks like one big hull window. Clever.

Unless I’m mistaken, the single hanging space I found is the only shortcoming. In all other aspects, the stateroom is near perfect, with big hull portlights, one of which opens on each flank, to provide a model of how to deliver views and fresh air in a full-beam stateroom.

Back outdoors, a cockpit hatch reveals the fuel shutoffs, extinguisher and manual bilge in keeping with EU requirements. The rope lockers that conceal mooring-line tails are a nice touch, while the teak cockpit table seats up to 12 with loose chairs (kept underfloor).

Locally cut clears and covers turn the cockpit into another all-weather outdoor room, while helping protect the teak decks. Safe walk-arounds with semi-bulwarks lead to the bow, where a sun pad can be located. And all the lighting aboard is LED.

Thanks to a custom carbon-fibre hardtop with rear carbon stanchions -- they weigh only about 100kg we’re told -- the flying bridge rules for entertaining. With Strataglass clear curtains, an aft sun pad, seating for 12 around a great big table, and an amenities centre with griddle and fridge, you can stage a party, cruise for views with a crowd and champagne, and enjoy the vision as you drive from the twin portside helm. The co-pilot lounge for three or four adds to the social setting.

The generator had a gas/water splitter to keep noise to a minimum, hydraulics for the 350kg rated swim platform/tender lift, and a stack of air-con units. Of course, there’s plenty of scope for custom storage solutions to sate the serious coastal cruiser.

Meanwhile, the boat’s German-engineered Boning CAN-Bus boat management system hails from the superyacht sphere. The touch-screen unit near the lower helm dramatically reduces the number of switches and, with a repeater at the dash, just about everything but clutter is at your fingertips.

We decamped with the aid of Sidepower variable-speed bow and stern thrusters --- upgraded to 170kgf each -- which have extra grunt, offer incremental control, and boast a station-hold function. The docking option is a Xenta controller with joystick or YachtController. The latter on a lanyard could be handy for husband and wife crews.

Of course, we trained the bow east, exited The Seaway, and ranged north, albeit merely adjacent to South Stradbroke Island. Hamilton Island was calling. I also noted a snappy hole shot from the CAT engines that are among the torqueiest in their class. A mere 1800rpm returned 24 knots, should seas permit you can cruise at 2000rpm and 27 knots, and I saw 31.5 knots at 2100rpm.

But this as-yet-to-be-fully-commissioned 60 was down about 200rpm from the usual 2350rpm wide-open throttle that should see 32-33 knots. Princess quotes 33-35 knots with twin 900hp Volvo Penta D13s. However, our local boat was carrying a fair bit more fruit.

According to our research, the C18 930hp ACERTs claim 25 per cent fuel savings compared with the 1150hp variants, which CAT’s own supplied data says use about 200 litres per side at 1800rpm.

It’s our educated guess the de-rated engines on this 60 are likely to use about 300 litres in total at cruise for a rough range in the order of 250 nautical miles. Of course, pull the throttles back and, at displacement delivery mode, that mileage differs markedly.

 The 60 has a much-bigger-boat accommodation plan than you might think otherwise possible, generous living spaces, and plenty of onboard comfort. With some clever dressing from the local importers, the boat we drove presented as a stately motor yacht with trusty shaft-driven power.

Pitched at the discerning cruising buff, those who have owned boats before, who are perhaps downsizing to something more easily self-driven, berthed and maintained, the Princes 60 is a really nice fit in a market that rewards clever niche boat building. Ours was hull number 43 of a new model on the move.

Priced from: The P60 was imported as a complete package as tested above with CAT C18 ACERT 930hp engines and options.
LOA:  18.61m including pulpit
Beam: 4.83m
Draft: 1.45m
Weight: Approx. 27,000kg dry
Water: 793 litres
Fuel: 2818 litres
Sleeping: 6 +
Engines: Caterpillar C18 ACERT 930hp six-cylinder turbocharged diesels with shaft drives