Princess F55 2023 Review

British motor yacht brand Princess is renowned for its engineering and high-quality designs.

Since its inception in 1965, the brand has evolved into a full line of luxury sedans and flybridge cruisers that continue to stand out from everything around them. 

At the heart of Princess’s F-Class flybridge motor yacht line-up is the relatively box-fresh Princess F55, a flybridge version of the V55 sedan. Tweaks to the F55 have continued to refine the formula including the latest feature on our test boat, larger hull windows. 

The F55 represents a step-change in Princess’s design language aimed at making an already good owner experience even better. 

Princess Yachts Australia has priced the base Princess F55 starting from $3.75 million for a turnkey boat that is pretty much ready to hit the water once guests and provisions are put aboard.

You’ll need to note, though, that this is for an Australian-delivered boat, which gets a much richer list of standard equipment compared with one destined for the European market.

The boat is fitted with the tropical climate airconditioning system providing 78,000BTU of performance, so Princess upgrades the F55’s default 9.5kW Onan genset to a 17.5kW version that has enough performance in reserve to also power a Seakeeper gyroscope.

Our market also gains 60.0 metres of 10.0mm anchor chain – an extra 20.0 metres – with a rode counter and more premium stainless steel anchor; mosquito screens on all port

holes; and an electric overboard discharge system rather than a manually operated one.

We also get a combination washing machine and drier hidden away below the companionway staircase.

The Princess F55 is your typical flybridge cruiser with three staterooms – the master uses the full internal beam – and two bathrooms, and the option of turning a utility room accessed via the swim deck into a crew cabin with a wet head.

Teak is used on the transom platform, in the cockpit, on the flybridge stairs and side deck steps, as well as in tables used in the boat’s outdoor areas.

This motor yacht has a main helm station inside the saloon as well as a second station located on the open flybridge.

The engines powering the Princess F55 are a pair of Volvo Penta’s 900hp D13s. Their set-up includes a low-speed docking setting via Volvo Panta’s Joystick Control system that integrates the engines and pod drives with the standard-fit bow thruster, as well as a dock holding system that acts like a virtual anchor.

Blinds and sunscreens are fitted to all windows, with finishes on surfaces including oak and walnut, solid surfaces for all worktops, and a timber-laid floor in the galley.

The Princess F55 is built on Princess’s proven Bernard Olesinski running surface but features an interior fit-out courtesy of its in-house design studio.

Its resin-infused hull is laid using a computer-controlled vacuum to ensure exact fibre-to-resin ratios for greater consistency, stiffness and strength. 

The hull’s shape is fair featuring a sharp entry and aggressive downturned strakes and chines, the latter helping with lift once the high-speed hull is up on the plane, and with deflecting spray.

The hull’s inherent strength reduces the need for intrusive stiffening beams, yielding more internal volume than more traditional hull layouts. Fuel is distributed between two tanks

Up to 80 per cent of a Princess Yachts boat is made in-house at Princess’s Plymouth-based manufacturing facilities. Princess operates its own stainless steel metal shop, loom shop for making all the fabric components, and furniture shop, giving it the ability to control the quality and also customise mid-build.

A cockpit hatch to the engine room reveals what the average boat owner should be looking for; plenty of servicing room and the ability to spot leaks, good bilge access, room to change the generator impeller, ready access to the engine dipsticks and coolant overflow bottles, and accessible fuel filters and sea strainers.

Backing up Princess’s time-proven engineering is a national network of dealers and service technicians. 

Linked 1375-litre fuel tanks that help to distribute weight evenly across the hull can be filled from either side of the motor yacht.

Access to the Princess F55 is via a large swim platform hanging off the transom that can add an electric mechanism to raise and lower, allowing it to carry a tender. The transom opens up to reveal a large lazarette, complete with a custom rack to hold a Seabob, on our test boat that can also be optioned as a crew quarters – not a very common feature on motor yachts of less than 70 feet in length, we’re told. There’s access here to the fuel shut-off system and fire suppression.

Stairs lead up to gates at either end of the transom that swing open to provide access to the aft cockpit.

It’s not a huge space but protected overhead by the flybridge deck that extends right across it. The space features a large, comfortable U-shaped lounge and a teak table with fold-out leaves that doubles its size. Stainless steel cleats for making fast, mounted on their own pedestal, are also at this level.

Teak-topped stairs to the side decks are outboard of this space. In the middle of the cockpit floor is the access hatch to the surprisingly spacious engine room below.

The wings of the saloon extend part-way into the cockpit, providing shelter from the elements. At the front of the cockpit is the glass bulkhead that forms the aft section of the saloon. An awning window in the bulkhead opens onto a shelf that is an extension of the galley top.

Entry to the saloon is via a sliding glass door. To port is the aft galley that tucks into the corner of the space.

Despite its compact size, it is well equipped with a full-size upside-down fridge and freezer; four burner induction cooktop; convection microwave oven; a single-door dishwasher (replacing the former standard-fit two-drawer dishwasher) and a deep sink with faucet. 

The entire space is finished in optional dark walnut, a big contrast to the slightly off-white fabrics and marble-look bench surfaces. More walnut covers the floor.

Opposite the galley and to starboard is a stunning piece of furniture – a  finely crafted sideboard with inlaid highlights and a contrasting, floating upper surface that integrates seamlessly with the coachouse. It’s lit with soft lights that cast over the highly polished timber finish of the benchtop. Lanterns rise from the corners of the saloon at the push of a button to add atmosphere, as does a 49-inch TV.

Two steps up is the carpeted entertainment zone featuring a U-shaped dinette with a fold-out expanding walnut table to port, and an inboard-facing lounge to starboard. The table drops down and an infill can convert the space to extra accommodations if needed.

Deep windows line both sides of the saloon, providing plenty of natural light. Hidden blinds, recessed into the pelmets, provide shade and privacy. 

Forward of the starboard lounge is the twin-seat helm. It is also a work of beauty, featuring a pair of separately adjustable light-tan chairs with diamond stitching and contrast highlights, and with timber inserts on their backs. 

The helm has two tiers, with the main 16.0-inch Garmin multifunction touchscreens and a 7.0-inch Volvo Penta engine management system mounted on the upper level and minor gauges and screens, laid out below with the switch bank. There is plenty of small-item storage on the top level, including a recessed open glovebox in front of the first mate’s seat.

The Princess F55 features a height-adjustable fly-by-wire sports steering wheel with a branded emblem that remains upright as the wheel is turned, fly-by-wire throttle controls mounted forward of the joystick – something we’ve not seen before – and controls for the Sidepower bow thruster.

Large windows to either side of the helm station lower electronically to provide cross-airflow, and there is the option of adding a sunroof.

Visibility from the helm is good in all directions, helped by a two-pane windscreen forward and the glass bulkhead aft.

Access to the companionway leading below decks is via the centre of the forward section.

The companionway descends into an atrium that provides access to all three staterooms and the bathroom that doubles as the day head. The owner of this Princess F55 has young children, so you’ll notice the stairwell has its own set of clears to help make it safe.

Forward is the guest stateroom featuring a double bed built into the vee of the bow.  Hanging lockers frame either side, and the bed lifts to reveal a large storage space below. However, there is a lack of small-item storage unless you want to leave it on one of the two shelf-like features.

One side of the cabin also provides direct access to the day head to make it a semi-ensuite.

To starboard is a stateroom with two single beds, one of them turned into a bassinet using a custom-built stainless steel rail. This space also has a large hanging locker, with an access door to the shared day head across the companionway. The day head has full standing headroom and a separate shower and sink

Aft of this space, a combination washing machine and drier, and a water maker are hidden away under the stairwell.

The master stateroom is a step down aft, with the entry on the port side. It uses the full internal beam of the Princess F55.

As well as serving as a bedroom, it’s a place to escape and find some solitude. To port is a comfy and private breakfast bar or workstation, with a credenza that doubles as a makeup station to starboard, as well as large hanging lockers. 

Large almost water-level windows with opening portholes – all the staterooms have opening portholes – let natural light flood into the space.

The forward bulkhead is fitted with a large TV.

The ensuite to the master stateroom, accessed via a sliding door, is large and spacious with full standing headroom. It features a separate shower and vanity, and a separate head.

Of note, the staterooms all have 240-volt power points equipped with USB charging points.

A teak-clad stairwell leads up from the cockpit to the Princess F55’s flybridge deck. Overhead, a large cantilever-styled hardtop – the struts are painted black to break up the slab of white – provides shade over all but the aftmost seats. A large fabric sunroof is available as an option on this boat.

The bridge deck is an area set up for entertaining while at anchor. At the top of the stairs is a wet bar with a fridge and sink that backs onto the helm station.

Beside the helm station is a large inward-facing U-shaped lounge that’s an ideal space for guests to join the skipper on a passage.

It makes the port side two-seat flybridge helm station a far more sociable setting than the deck-level one, especially for the skipper who sits inboard while the first mate sits outboard.

A low wind-breaker that wraps around the leading edge of the flybridge deck offers protection while passage-making.

Aft of the forward lounge is another large C-shaped lounge space that wraps around the trailing edge of the flybridge deck, fully enclosing it. A large teak table with fold-out leaves that double its size sits in the middle of the space. There’s also an alcove to stow a liferaft.

The bridge helm feels like a proper helm rather than an outpost, featuring the same array of electronics as the one below – the only difference is the hard wipe-down surfaces that form the console replacing the soft-touch finish of the lower station. The seats are equally comfortable as those below, but captain’s chairs with folding armrests may be a better option as there is a little more lateral movement while underway.

The Princess F55’s bow is accessed via broad side decks with deep rails and an overhead handhold.

The bow is made up of a Portuguese bridge-style lounge facing a large, shaped two-person sunbed with adjustable backrests. A removable section hides the escape hatch for the VIP stateroom in the bow.

If laying in the full sun is too much, an umbrella rated to withstand up to 20 knots is an option for this space. 

The bow carries a lot of beam forward, with good access to either side to go and unsnib the safety for the anchor, or spot for the skipper while raising it.

Princess has also thought about what happens back at the marina, with a walkway behind the lounge that makes it easy to attach the windscreen covers.

The Princess F55 looks all the world like a traditional cruiser, but beneath the classic exterior is a motor yacht made for bluewater running.

While we didn’t experience any offshore conditions on our test run along the Gold Coast Broadwater, we did get to measure the depth of the twin 900hp Vovo Pentas powering the F55.

At a comfortable 80 per cent engine load the D13s are spinning at around 2000rpm, pushing the Princess F55 along at around 22.0 knots of speed while using around 220 litres of diesel an hour. Pushing the throttle lever right forward, the F55 touched almost 30.0 knots at 2350rpm and used around 300 litres an hour.

At cruising speed, the 2750-litre fuel capacity will give a range of about 250 nautical miles with a 10 per cent reserve.

The Princess F55 rises easily onto the plane, keeping its nose below the horizon with just a small amount of attitude adjustment using the Bennett trim tabs fitted to our test vessel.

Pitch it into a turn and the hull responds immediately, with very little lean as the trim tabs, set to automatic, work their magic to keep an even keel.

An option fitted to this boat that we were keen to test is Garmin’s Shadow Drive system which links the Volvo Penta electric steering to the ACR autopilot system.

The benefit of this system is most apparent when cruising, allowing the skipper to take temporary control away from the autopilot to adjust the Princess F55’s heading, and then let go of the wheel to let the autopilot take the new course.

We also stopped and had a play with Volvo Penta’s joystick system that has now rolled out to shaftdrive versions of its engines.

The system’s responsiveness is not quite the same as the one developed for IPS-based systems, but the joystick is able to independently control rudders, the D13s’ thrust and the bow thruster to give maneuverability that’s as good and precise as IPS.

A Dockmate remote controller also helps when shuffling in and out of tight berths.

Princess has taken the flybridge concept and delivered a comfortable cruising motor yacht that is well-suited to the Australian environment.

Fast, confident, pampering and exquisitely designed inside, it’s a boat where the perceived value stacks up well against the price you pay for it. 

At rest the rather conventional exterior design can belie what’s inside, but who spends all their time looking at the outside of their motor yacht? 

Specifications
Length overall: 16.98m/17.68m (inc. pulpit)
Beam: 4.87m
Draft: 1.41m
Weight: 30,924kg (est)
Engines: 2x900hp Volvo Penta D13 shaft drives/2x800hp MAN i6-850 shaft drives (opt)
Genset: Onan 17.5kW/50Hz
Fuel: 2750L
Water: 530L/70L hot water
Holding tank: 315L
Accommodations: 6 people/3 staterooms

Priced from: $3,490,000 including Onan 17.5kW/50Hz genset; extra 20.0m of 10.0mm anchor chain with rode counter; combination washing machine/dryer; 78,000 BTU reverse-cycle airconditioning with controls in all cabins; electric overboard discharge system; mosquito screens for all opening portlights; blinds and sunscreens to all windows; ultra stainless steel anchor; Australian electrical/TV system; radio system; cockpit cover; bed covers; full engine instrumentation on lower helm; full radio/navigation system; hot/cold swim deck shower; Princess-branded china, cutlery and glassware

Prince as tested: $3,790,000 including Garmin Shadow Drive; Seakeeper 9.0 gyroscope; Dockmate remote control; watermaker