V48 to be its first ever pod drive boat
Following the V39 and 56 fly, Princess has unveiled plans to
further strengthen its sub-60ft position with two new models.
First comes the 52. Replacing the impressive 50, Princess
claim the 52 will be bigger, much bigger in fact, with a flybridge claimed to
be some 70% larger than the old 50.
Using the same resin infusion build technology seen on the
56 and V39, Princess is putting a lot of emphasis on the 52’s deck accommodation,
with the cockpit, aft-galley and saloon working together to make one long
social level. The galley up layout also leaves more space below for three
cabins, including a full-beam master suite.
As the first ever pod drive Princess, the hardtop V48 is a
seminal moment for the Plymouth yard, one it wanted to get right first time.
Volvo Penta’s IPS was chosen as the drive unit and the new Olesinski-designed
hull has come about through plenty of close work with Volvo’s HQ in Sweden.
R&D work was also carried out on several secret IPS powered Princess
models, one of which, MBM understands, was a V45.
The boat itself will be an enclosed hardtop with triple sliding cockpit
doors to create more of a deck saloon feel, rather than an open boat – a large
sunroof overhead still allowing for the deck to opened up. This deck saloon
style allows for an interesting option below decks, where the standard
two-cabin layout can be changed to three cabins, by losing the lower saloon.
Both boats will feature mid cabins with the same huge hull
windows seen on the 56.
More information and images will be published in MBM’s
December issue
