Spotlight: Princess V55

Launched last year at the Southampton Boat Show in the UK, the boat features a design that has all the benefits of an open boat, yet all the luxuries you’d expect of the high-end brand.

The Princess V55 is a three-cabin cruiser featuring a main deck with a large cockpit that’s mostly open to the outdoors, a saloon with galley, and the accommodations below.

Princess says the main deck is “purposely designed for those who enjoy true open-boating”.

“The expansive cockpit features a large L-shaped seating area with additional seating aft around a substantial folding teak table served by a wet bar opposite with electric barbecue,’ it says.

“This area connects to the saloon via a drop-down sliding door and opening window aft of the galley, seamlessly integrating the two living areas as required.

“[The Princess V55’s] main deck also boasts a large sun pad located aft of the cockpit and a further foredeck seating and sunbathing area.”

The starboard helm is equipped with two seats – the skipper’s adjusts electronically – and has a large electrically operated side window.

The helm is fitted with twin navigation screens, an echo sounder and autopilot.

The amidships galley features three ceramic hobs, a convection mictowave oven, stainless steel sink with mixer tap, and a fridge with a freezer compartment.

Accommodations, described by Princess as “class-leading”, include a full-beam master suite with private bathroom amidships, a forward VIP stateroom built into the bow – it features a double bed that swings apart to create two singles – and a cabin with Pullman bunks. All have opening portholes.

There also is a crew or occasional guest berth aft, which can also be used for storage space when not needed.

Beside the crew's berth is a tender garage with an electro-hydraulically lifting door that is large enough to take a tender of up to 3.5 metres

Building on the V-Class sports yacht credentials is a pair of 1000hp 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder Volvo Penta D13 1000 shaft drives, the most powerful engines to be produced by the Swedish brand. They provide enough grunt to deliver an estimated top speed of 37 knots.

The drive system includes a bow thruster for low-speed maneuvering.

Specifications
Model: Princess V55
Length overall: 17.81m
Beam: 4.65m
Draft: 1.40m
Displacement: 27,500kg (est)
Engines: Twin Volvo Penta D13 1000
Speed range: 35-37 knots
Fuel: 2200L
Water: 550L