LIKES
- Opulence from one end to the other- Engine room head height excellent- Spacious entertainment areas both in the saloon and cockpit- Full-beam stateroom very roomy
DISLIKES
- Short headroom when standing at the helm when the sun roof is closed- Cooktop in galley needs a safety fence
OVERVIEW
- The real deal
‘Stately’ is the best way to describe the Princess V62. It sits just under the V85-S in the royal stable of boats that encompasses another four boats below its size; the smallest being the V39 but they all feature exquisite quality of build and componantry design and layout.With Christmas Eve almost on top of us the logistical constraints to get this Princess out for a run beat us but the opportunity to check out the crown jewels was just too good to pass up. And this is not bling we looked at but rather the very best in refinery draped over a right-regal hull.
PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Originality is the name of the game
The recommended retail price of the V62 as tested is $2,531,492 and while a small slice of that tag comprises options, the whirlpool of the options list from which they are plucked are many and varied. No two boats will ever be the same as when one gets to this level it just simply doesn’t have to be!
LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Luxury cruising or entertaining, this boat has it all...
This boat is big on entertainment value with a very roomy saloon that looks even larger than it is thanks to the low-profile panoramic windows that extend down to shoulder level when seated at the large ‘C’ shaped lounge. Unless dwarfed in stature everybody aboard will be able to enjoy the passing scenery.The fixed table servicing this seating is coffee- rather than dining-style with book storage within. The front section of the lounge is located opposite the double helm seat so the skipper may have some company on long journeys.That helm module is perched on a short mezzanine which gives the skipper excellent all-round viewing from a seated position. While standing though, if you are more than 180cm in height you will have to have the big sunroof at least partially open to look directly ahead due to the stylish downward curve of the forward brow of the roof. This will have its problems in inclement weather obviously.The dash has been upholstered in the same leather as the rest of the seating in the saloon including that at the helm which is described by the distributor as ‘cocoa leather with ivory stitching’.A door in the rear of the helm chair base opens to reveal a small ice maker which services the bar which is built against the starboard wall of the saloon and runs back to the rear wall. The bar features a leather inlay and a flush door that opens when the flatscreen television is raised on its electric motorised frame. There is also a bar fridge, wine and spirit bottle rack and three drawers in which glasses may be stowed. Another cupboard hosts the DVD player with shelf room for the discs.The close proximity to the bar and its accessories is ideally suited to the cockpit patio that is a satellite to the air conditioned saloon. Here a large C-shaped lounge runs across the back glass wall of the saloon and down the portside before extending across to the walk-through in the transom bulkhead. A large fixed table with drink bottle retainer inserts is fixed portside of centre giving access to the large engine hatch that lifts in the centre of the deck on gas struts.Installed against the cockpit liner is a wet bar that features a small hand basin in its top plumbed with hot and cold water. There is an electric hot plate next to it and both of these items are under the same gas-operated hatch. A second hatch opens to a chest-style refrigerator that has a bottle rack fixed to its bottom. Two storage cupboards are accessed in the front of this module.On the starboard-side cockpit liner another cupboard features stainless steel hooks on which to hang shore-power leads when underway. The transom walk-through gate sits in a rebate here when open alleviating any bruising to shins on passage through.Three quarters of the cockpit is shaded by the aft of the hardtop while the remainder is sheltered by a canvas awning zipped to the rear of the superstructure. Tight clears are fitted to the end and sides of the awning and they extend down to behind the rear most lounge.An expansive flat area behind the transom bulkhead may play host to sunbed cushions and at the aft end a hydraulically-lowered swim platform is fitted as standard and capable of handling a payload of 350kg.Down the companionway, the galley is found on the port side and is nicely dressed in light coloured timbers. Its L-shape offers plenty of bench space which is interspersed with a four element cook top while the convection microwave oven is mounted directly underneath. The cook top was open sided so some sort of safety fence or fiddle rail would be ideal to prevent pots and pans sliding off the slick ceramic top should there be any serious rock and roll when out on the water. A high-volume dishwasher is installed to its right and cutlery drawers and a storage cupboard are at the opposite end.The refrigerator is large and has the cooling part on top of the freezer below. Both have their doors attached to timber panels with the sturdiest of locking handles to prevent them opening when underway during rough seas.If one steps off the companionway stairs and takes the passage immediately to port they will locate a front loading washing machine/dryer behind a door there. Straight ahead the full thwart beam state room is located hosting a large double bed with a lounge recessed amongst storage drawers against the starboard wall. On the portside of the room another storage unit has full bench top in which a leather jewellery case has been crafted. Four large toughened glass window panes sitting between stiffening columns each side throw plenty of light into this cabin and one of them each side is designed to be opened when safe to do so to provide natural ventilation.The bed head consisted of a soft upholstered full floor to ceiling height pelmet behind which soft lighting was installed; it looked the part! A dedicated ensuite bathroom serviced this cabin. Once again the timber panelling was light in colour with lots of glass screens, mirrors and smooth lines of fibreglass mouldings.On the opposite side of the companionway stairs another door leads aft down into a smaller cabin featuring two single bunks.Back out onto the lower deck and moving forward the dining room proper is located with L-shaped lounge seating and a large table and across the way a door leads to a twin share bathroom. The other double bed cabin sits right in the point of the bow with large openings in the wall cupboard units each side to access the eye shaped portholes. This cabin shares the aforementioned bathroom with others on board and locks from the inside for privacy.
MECHANICAL AND HULL
- Engine room envy!
The V62 is fitted with twin MTU 8V 2000 M94 engines which are 1268hp each. The bow thruster is rated to 210kg.F while the stern thruster is rated to 170kg.F. The engines are accessed under the main hatch centrally located in the cockpit deck. A vertical step ladder takes one straight down onto the aluminium checker plate pathway that runs between the two engines. Oil and air filters are handy to the entrance point as are the dipsticks down low next to the pathway. Twin fuel filters service each engine and they are within easy reach for visual inspection and servicing from the entrance point.
While I wile away the hours to Christmas morning in anticipation of whatever, one thing we here are hoping for under the tree is an invite for a ride in this Princess; and a right royal one will do just nicely.
RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.6/5.0Mechanical/equipment: 4.7/5.0Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0On the water Performance: Static test onlyValue for money: remains to be seen after on-water testingX-factor: This boat is above x-factor ratings. It is after all, royalty!
Specifications
Price: $2,531,492LOA: 19.14m (63’ 6”)Beam: 4.99m (16’5”)Draft: 1.13m (3’8”)Weight: 23,500kgEngines: 2 x MTU 8V 2000 M94 (2 x 1268 MHP)Water: 500 litresFuel: 3,409 litresBerths: 7
Supplied by:
Princess Motor YachtsSuite 3 The Board Walk, 1 Rialto Quay Drive Hope Island Queensland 4212 Australia Ph: 07 5514 1900 Fax: 07 5514 1901 info@princessaustralia.com.au www.princessaustralia.com.au