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| Today’s assignment was to take a look at this Princess 33 Flybridge Motor Crusier. Designed by John Bennet, Marine Projects Princess 33 was in production from 1975 to 1987; nearly 500 were built. |
The standard layout has six berths-two vee berths in a forward cabin, a
convertible dinette/double in the lower saloon, and a settee which converts
into a double in the wheelhouse-cum deck saloon.
The most interesting feature about the 33 was the choice offered to purchasers of deep-vee or Y shaped hulls. The latter, with flatter sections aft and a long shallow keel, was intended for displacement and semi-displacement speeds.
Various types and sizes of engines were fitted. Probably the most popular option was a pair of 80HP Ford inboard diesels, giving a top speed of 13 Knots. The deep vee version was for full planing performance. With two 130HP Ford diesels the boat should reach 17 to 18 knots. Some deep vee versions have a flying bridge like this one I surveyed plus this had Volvos @ 200HP!.
The Y shaped hull was phased out on the arrival of the Mk II version in 1980, which had a modified superstructure with an extra settee which could be used as a seventh berth, plus a standard fly bridge.
Surveyor’s comments: Good solid British build. Good value. Expect a few blisters (osmosis) on the bottom of these ‘old girls’. (unless they have already been treated). Moisture found it difficult to condensate through this thick layup. Leave your moisture meter in your tool bag! . In my opinion, a wet hull alone is not a defect; most older boats will have wet hulls. Old hulls with thick laminates like this example are likely to tolerate significant moisture and some light blistering for years.
The most interesting feature about the 33 was the choice offered to purchasers of deep-vee or Y shaped hulls. The latter, with flatter sections aft and a long shallow keel, was intended for displacement and semi-displacement speeds.
Various types and sizes of engines were fitted. Probably the most popular option was a pair of 80HP Ford inboard diesels, giving a top speed of 13 Knots. The deep vee version was for full planing performance. With two 130HP Ford diesels the boat should reach 17 to 18 knots. Some deep vee versions have a flying bridge like this one I surveyed plus this had Volvos @ 200HP!.
The Y shaped hull was phased out on the arrival of the Mk II version in 1980, which had a modified superstructure with an extra settee which could be used as a seventh berth, plus a standard fly bridge.
Surveyor’s comments: Good solid British build. Good value. Expect a few blisters (osmosis) on the bottom of these ‘old girls’. (unless they have already been treated). Moisture found it difficult to condensate through this thick layup. Leave your moisture meter in your tool bag! . In my opinion, a wet hull alone is not a defect; most older boats will have wet hulls. Old hulls with thick laminates like this example are likely to tolerate significant moisture and some light blistering for years.
