MBY contributor Nick Burnham knows his Princess's inside out having sold the boats for over 20 years. He selects 10 of Princess Yachts' most iconic craft

 

 

 

 

The flagship at the time and also (I believe) the biggest production boat built in the UK upon launch (how times have changed!) Opened up the Med market for Princess and an outstanding boat then and now.

 

 

 

Launched in 1973, the flagship at the time and set the pattern for Princess for twin shaft drive diesel flybridge cruisers – and twin stainless steel horns on the front of the flybridge!

 

 

 

Okay, possibly not ‘iconic’ (maybe the 286 Riviera would be more iconic as the first Princess sportscruiser) but one of my favourite Princesses ever for its styling, layout, manageability, but most of all its incredible sea keeping and phenomenal performance (42 knots with twin 4.3 V6 petrols). A classic.

 

 

 

The boat with which Princess really got to grips with clever interior packaging, creating a hugely spacious interior for the boat’s size.

 

 

 

First of the V range (along with the original V55), brilliant combination of size, style and space. It was massively successful, from memory over 500 sold across the three versions.

 

 

 

First of the M Class (back in 1996!) and a great looking (and distinctive) boat with its huge oval saloon windows.

 

 

 

The original V65 with the open backed hardtop. Great cockpit layout, twin garages, fabulous saloon with the glass topped bar, epic sea keeping and 40-knot performance with the 1,300hp engines. Fantastic!

 

 

 

First pod drive and the first sub 50ft full beam master cabin (in a Princess) and took the V Class in a new, more accommodation lead, direction that ultimately proved to be hugely successful.

 

 

 

I think, the ultimate combination of manageability, capability, (relative) affordability and practicality. This was – still is – in many ways the perfect family flybridge cruiser and very successful.

 

 

 

Biggest ever! (So far)