All About Princess Yachts

Princess Yachts, established in 1965 in the city of Plymouth, is now one of the leading and most highly esteemed manufacturers of luxury motor yachts in the industry. 

Princess Yachts recently announced that they’re 90% sold on production capacity for 2018 and 30% sold for 2019 after an 85% surge in orders following the 2017 Cannes Boat Show. Impressive figures by any account.

Yet while it may mean a wait on the Princess 62 boat and the other new models, the good news is that those in the market for one of the world’s most well-loved and highly acclaimed sports boats can choose from a long legacy of British-built models.

Truly British Boats

Princess Yachts was founded in 1965 by ex-Naval Officer David King. Somewhat fittingly he chose the base for his then-fledgling company in Portsmouth where he was surrounded by a profound maritime heritage. It was from here that Sir Francis Drake set sail in the 14th century, and the Pilgrim Father’s sailed aboard the Mayflower in 1620. Fast forward to the present and Portsmouth is the site of not only the largest naval dockyard in Western Europe, but remains the 1.1 million square feet home of Princess Yachts.

Some 2,300 people across six vast factories craft over 300 yachts annually. David King remains Chairman, his office has never moved from the Newport Street headquarters where it all began. In 2017 he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Boat Builder Awards, the recognition of decades of innovation, forward-thinking and creativity. Alongside him stands Bernard Olesinski, a renowned naval architect who, since designing his first Princess 30DS yacht in 1980, has stood at the helm of the company’s design team.

Princess Yachts Past and Present

Each yacht in Princess’ expansive range is linked by elegance and exceptional seakeeping capabilities. The current line-up is an impressive one; flybridge yachts, motor yachts, super yachts, and sports yachts sail out of Portsmouth, totaling some 24 different models in production today. Yet today’s yachts are an evolution. 

Take the Princess V58 Open sports cruiser for example. As a yacht which enjoys the spotlight, she shows off her stylish sophistication and speed, gathering awards in her wake. Launched in 2015 she is the ultimate social butterfly, offering a party boat layout and masses of outside space. Yet look to her predecessors and it is easy to see why the V58 has been such a roaring success. When the 15 metre V48 won 2014 European Powerboat of the Year it set a precedent for the V Class. Go back a little further to 1993 and the very first V Class yachts, the Princess V39 Yachts and V52 Yachts were revolutionary and created the foundation for today’s high-performance V Class. 

The deep V hull for which for which they are renowned is crafted using precision composite construction and resin infusion technology to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency and performance. The result is a spacious interior with a smooth, safe ride. 

The classic Princess, however, has got to be the flybridge F Class which continues to dominate the market. When the 45 was launched in 1982 it was a landmark design and at the time the largest production motor yacht in the country. Over 400 yachts were sold over nine years when it was replaced with the Princess 455. The range past and present has always stood at the forefront of flybridge yachts, their technological advancements and perfectly proportioned entertaining spaces making them the quintessential pleasure yacht. The current Princess 43 flybridge yacht was another award-winner in 2014 and remains a top choice for a flybridge weekend yacht. With its two en-suite cabins it demonstrates the Princess signature ability to create space even in the smallest yacht in the range.  

Princess Yachts know when they’re onto a good thing. Well-loved and highly acclaimed models stay in production for years, with some such as the 23M and 42 pushing 15 years of continuous production. The models evolve, remaining at the forefront of technology and design, yet retain their unique styling. And while the under 25-metre yachts dominate the Princess line-up, the M Class superyachts form an integral part of their repertoire. 

The M Class are the epitome of the brand. When the 40 metre Imperial Princess launched in 2010 she was a vision of 50 years of Princess construction. The 40M is still in production today, standing alongside the 35M and 30M. 

Princess Yachts are timeless yet slick, sleek and elegant. They are the ultimate pleasure boat, a head-turner designed with comfort, performance, and style. Whether you’re in the market for a new yacht or a pre-loved one, check out the enormous selection of Princess Yachts on Rightboat.com and begin your voyage.  We have over 1000's of new and used boats and yachts for sale available at rightboat.com, for you to choose from. Explore to find your next yacht online now.