£1.6M Princess V55 - Why choose a 'V' Class over the 'F'lybridge Class

In this boat tour of this brand new Princess V55 - James discusses why some people chose a sports V configuration over a flybridge 'F' model.
He compares the 2 models as well as showing off some of the stunning features of the Princess V55.
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[@charliehyett1574]

£10 per nautical mile on fuel is very impressive for a 55ft boat! Great video, thanks James

[@stevegray1308]

I like how you point out the "bad" things as well as the good.

[@DoctorTimHK]

You're a magician James, you made the V55 interior looks as big as my old Sunseeker Predator 64. I use the sock sofa in the master cabin a lot, it's a great place to watch the waves when the boat is cruising at high speed.

[@Boatscouk]

I love the sock sofa really Tim 😂

[@brickisland6353]

38 knots in a 55 feet boat of this size, that is impressive. And the blooper at the end was gold.

[@chrish2996]

Hi James. A sock sofa, a shout window, 3 good cabins. Stunning exterior lines. Great video thanks 😊

[@Boatscouk]

She has everything 😊

[@GA-jo1tu]

Thank you James for your open opinion about various boats. Normally I end up feeling queasy when reviewers say how beautiful, amazing and perfect everything is.

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks GA. They are mostly beautiful but there are some issues on some boats which I am happy to point out.

[@mrexumas]

The Jeremy Clarkson of boating

[@Boatscouk]

Ha ha I wish 😂 😆

[@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67]

Beadle??

[@cookiemonster2299]

I absolutely love the Princess Yachts, especially the V and S range 👍🇬🇧❤️

[@Boatscouk]

They are cracking boats 🥳

[@thekaibenz]

Love the detail James. It’s very different but insightful. Thank you!

[@randybates789]

Good content, thanks for sharing. Love the V!

[@gumshoesleuth2788]

Best explanation I have heard on fuel cost per x miles.

[@Boatscouk]

I like to keep it simple . Like me. 😂

[@gumshoesleuth2788]

@@Boatscouk Absolutely

[@phillo1818]

lol, brilliant ending... I love Princess yachts and their worldwide service centers are second to none. I've never had a question, problem to be solved quickly or any request, not resolved within a very timely manner. Properly taken care of Princess' ships of beauty. Perhaps you could give a talk on ownership and associated costs, hiring the right crew members, provisioning and especially engineering maintenance. Have a wonderful week.

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Phil 👌

[@porschecarreras992cabriole8]

Miele is the best I agree! I decided to subscribe as well as I enjoy your movies including the sock test and the shout window! 😂

[@PUNCHYNUTZ]

That helm looks so comfortable and simple. I watch a lot of Yacht videos and think that this station is by far the best looking too.

[@Boatscouk]

Thank you. It really is !

[@jamescollins2615]

Absolutely beautiful boat

[@Boatscouk]

She really is - thanks James 😎

[@cstwong]

First class, James. Love your videos!

[@Boatscouk]

Thank you 🙏

[@gbmac6756]

Much appreciation for the enjoyable, educational and comical presentation.

[@Boatscouk]

A pleasure 😎

[@lightsodda]

Love the V series boats. They look fantastic

[@Boatscouk]

I agree. Look so cool 😎

[@adityajoshi3524]

I really like when you demonstrated ‘electric windows-oye grt the fender in’ and socks sofa in Master stateroom.👍👍👍😀 Thank you for sharing engaging n pratical walkthrough of princess. Regards Aditya

[@Boatscouk]

A pleasure 😂

[@pedromanafaia]

Brilliant thank you

[@richardsedorski1206]

Another very good and interesting vid well done.😎😎😎

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Richard 😊

[@jaffaholland4039]

This is a lovely boat and what a way to spend an afternoon showing us all this boat. I dont think that I would mind either the F or the V to be honest.

[@Boatscouk]

You are right- both boats are gorgeous 😎

[@Mr_DXB-kt5di]

Excellent review. Very useful info rather than the usual boring walk through tours that offer little to no insight. Cracking boat and I would almost buy it just so I can watch the Football with a few beers with my mates while at anchor but aside from the TV I do prefer the F55.

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Alex. It’s the coolest boat TV I have ever seen 😂

[@kehlanirylee1369]

You have a great sense of humor.

[@Boatscouk]

My work mottos in order . 1/ Have Fun and laughs 2/ Try to earn a living 3/ Try and keep most customers happy 😂

[@CM-he8ni]

Refreshing to hear the pluses and minuses of a boat

[@Boatscouk]

That’s how we roll 😎

[@gomezadams9900]

Hi James, Ive often wondered how the grey and black water tanks were emptied, so thanks for explaining that in this video. I assume that the capacity is different for every boat and it would be a nice touch if you could quickly point out their capacity when you're talking about the fuel capacity. I've also wondered just how much chain is provided in the chain locker and no-one ever mentions that point when showing the chain locker. Being that I am from North America, I would think that another treason why people would choose the V over the Fly is because if your travelling up or down the intra-coastal water way that are some low bridges which a fly bridge model might not be able to safely go under.

[@michaeldavis1841]

Love your videos. Maybe one day. Just need those numbers to come up🤞🤞🤞

[@Boatscouk]

👌👌

[@jasonbond5584]

This guy is funny without trying to be funny 😂😂😂 top video 👍👍👍

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks JB! (From JB) 😂

[@richieduck67]

Best boat guy on KZbin

[@pcb1962]

I much prefer James to that aquaholic bloke

[@stevegray1308]

Good video.

[@johncooper2707]

Very useful comparison. I think you get more floor space with the F but the V is more practical with a garage where you can hide the tender rather than spoil the looks of the beautiful boat. Great podcast thanks

[@Boatscouk]

Thank you John 😊

[@johningham4942]

The name of the boat is "Toy" and this is a big boys toy James. Great informative tour and the volume was perfect well presented James!

[@blewyd]

Sure is a huge and expensive toy. I was looking back, there is a few words in the name, but they were blocked out.

[@Boatscouk]

Yes I had to blank the name - last bit was toy though. Great toy !

[@johningham4942]

@@Boatscouk definitely was James the perfect big boys toy to say the least!

[@Boatscouk]

@@johningham4942 👌👌

[@peterlewis8672]

Another great video James, and a stunning boat!! But……currently owning an older V class in the Med I’d go flybridge next time as the cockpit (open style) gets so so hot without the breeze……a used 43,49 or maybe 52 next time for us👍

[@Boatscouk]

I like them all . V, S and F 🥳

[@robporter817]

Great video! Brilliant at the end “Made In France” 😂

[@Boatscouk]

😂

[@allanmanning]

"Oi! Get The Fenders In!"

[@Godofthemoon1]

You sir are awesome! I wish you were in the US I’d definitely buy my yacht from you

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Driver 5. I may have to come over for the Sea Ray conference so I may do some US vids then 😎

[@Godofthemoon1]

@@Boatscouk that would be awesome 😎

[@martinsomereder4025]

Love it!

[@Jeff-se5cg]

I love this fellow

[@jhume7461]

Lovely boat, Great video James.... Want to see the money shot...so to speak... want to see them in action, on a sea trial to see what they can do.

[@Boatscouk]

Yes I will try and do more sea trials in future 😊

[@gro9465]

Awesome review James, another new subscriber. Enjoy your unostentatious presentation, fortunately I can drive a boat/yacht hence no need for a joystick on mine...

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks G Ro - I do love joysticks really 😂

[@patrickmolloy6994]

I love reading owners manuals. 2 suitcases full of them ! wow... that makes it worth buying that yacht !!!

[@Boatscouk]

They are pretty boring 😂

[@wings9925]

Great film James. Always informative and entertaining. It's a beautiful boat, but I'm surprised to see so many snags on her. Paying that much and with it being a Princess I'd expect their QC to be 100%

[@Boatscouk]

The blue tape is normal and part of the QC. Remember all hand made and very low volume 👍🏻👍🏻

[@wings9925]

@@Boatscouk I get that; but I don't think those issues should get passed the Princess QC, so you as the dealer don't have to.

[@Boatscouk]

@@wings9925 . I agree but I have found that you can send 5 engineers onto a boat and they will have 5 different snag lists 😂 what the customer wants sorted is the most important 😎

[@paulwalker2133]

Love your work James She’s a beauty. One thing I don’t quite get is when would you use the power switches for the various systems. Is this something you turn on and off regularly or is it more like a house where you just need to be able to locate an issue when one of the fuses has tripped?

[@Boatscouk]

Just use them to isolate things - not daily use 😎

[@EpicSlug]

The sock sofa is also really useful when the wife kicks you out of bed.

[@kentuckianaboy]

Im a poor old codger! Wish Princess made a live aboard for me! 😝

[@alisavas9526]

Great tour. Love the sense of humour. A lot of blue tape for a brand new boat though. The yard should have sorted out, no? Anyway, it's a great boat

[@Boatscouk]

Blue tape can sometimes mark a cleaning error - it’s normal and all gone the next day 😎

[@justthink5854]

yo James! great tour! .........now that we know each other there's a great time share deal i got for ya. heheheehe

[@Boatscouk]

Always love a deal . DM me 😊

[@justthink5854]

btw you're crazy cool dad probably prefers not just the flying bridge, but a tuna tower as well!

[@markrutherford4962]

Great video. Quite interested in the types of things the lucky new owners are wanting sorted with the blue tape - scratches?

[@CD-vp7rn]

Would love to know that myself

[@Boatscouk]

Yes - blue tape marks small scratches during build . Easy to sort but it was handover day - all fixed the next day 😊

[@markrutherford4962]

@@Boatscouk thanks, looks an epic boat!

[@1320fastback]

@@Boatscouk They do this with new houses too. The development company will send through a rep with blue tape and those are fixed and then the onwer goes through later with more tape. If the Dev did his job proper the owner shouldn't find anything.

[@Boatscouk]

@@1320fastback - I think you can always find something on a brand new handmade boat. It depends how bad your OCD is .

[@phdconstructioncork]

Hi James, is there a big cost differential between the V and the F? Thanks Sean

[@Boatscouk]

Hi Sean - they are nearly the same price 😆

[@phdconstructioncork]

@@Boatscouk Thanks James

[@tkars4364]

Some day some how :-=)

[@ellisdavid1987]

Joystick - "that's for people that cant drive a boat" 😂😂

[@Boatscouk]

Sorry if I have caused offence to anyone - but I think it is true - I use one lol 😂

[@Boatscouk]

Sorry if I have caused offence to anyone - but I think it is true - I use one lol 😂

[@jacktyler7599]

OK...add one more reason to acquire significant wealth: Meet Dad (very much enjoyed that video), exchange a few flying stories with him, and then let James' silver tongue guide me towards a yacht far beyond my dreams. What a pleasure to be invited aboard...

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Jack. I keep Dad out of the videos mainly as he is so rude 😂

[@masaiwhite5933]

He left princess as a dealer on good terms,its a hunch but i reckon defective product/build issues were pissing him off ,so he bolted back to fairline after meeting sales figures....fairline is an upgrade in quality in my opinion anyway....so good move by him.

[@Boatscouk]

They are both great quality boats 😊

[@colinturner4158]

Quality

[@Military-Museum-LP]

Very informative. I do think the Volvos don’t have twin turbos but a super charger and turbo.

[@Boatscouk]

You may be right

[@cotter1975]

New to this boating caper, and still getting my head around the ££ involved .... Overall I guess this is good value for money, but £6k for a table?!?! Seriously.....that's comedy gold

[@Boatscouk]

It’s a nice table (and leg ) 😂

[@ihogenhuis960]

I might think that another argument for chosing a V sportscruiser over a Flybridge cruiser is price. I assume a V sportscruiser is less expensive in general. Or am I wrong?

[@jameswaldron1]

On the v55 what is the length of the boat for getting a slip or birth

[@Boatscouk]

Hi James - she is 17.81m long 😀

[@keithhughes2104]

Which would you go for this Princess V55 or Sunseeker Predator 60 EVO?

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Keith. I don’t know enough about the New Sunseeker Predator Evo 60 to give you a fair comment, but look at some of things that I pointed out in my Portofino 47 video. One thing I would say is that whichever you pick - they are both from the top manufacturers 👌👌👌

[@gotagreatidea]

A tour around Ithaca would be good?

[@Boatscouk]

Ah you spotted it 😊 next time

[@gotagreatidea]

@@Boatscouk looking forward to it. Saw it on the Dart today. Looks very impressive in the flesh - more so than on video. I was that impressed I’d be interested in a part ex on my 18ft cuddy cabin if you’re able to help me get my hands on a 100% mortgage? 😆

[@Boatscouk]

@@gotagreatidea 😂 we can only do 70% mortgages - but ready when you are

[@alangebbie8848]

Seems to be a hell of a lot of blue tape on a new build.Still prefer personally the F55 and I’m 62 and the fly ridge has a crew cabin

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

Depends how exacting the owner is. Some people will expect absolute perfection (and why not when you're spending so much!) Others won't be so bothered about the odd little mark (it's going to get wrecked by the kids anyway!).

[@thebozboz]

How much for the X95 behind it? ;)

[@Boatscouk]

£7m

[@earthtrack1]

Great video and a very nice Boat! I don't know why but somehow you remember me of Del Boy 😂😂

[@Boatscouk]

Luvverly jubbly 😂

[@earthtrack1]

@@Boatscouk 😂😂 Bonnet de douche!

[@richieduck67]

Lot of blue tape were they scratches or marks?

[@Boatscouk]

Both

[@HarveyPaul007]

Does that table have an infill cushion to make it a bed 🛌?

[@Boatscouk]

No sorry

[@stevegray1308]

Don't you need to use the VHF when approaching a marina you intend to moor in?

[@Boatscouk]

Yes it’s the correct procedure

[@frankiegregoriou2271]

James there is an S class with F.B

[@Boatscouk]

Yes - that’s one of the next videos 😊

[@teddingtonbear3265]

Blue tape = fix all that side 😆

[@paulwalker2133]

Why do you have to keep the buttons pressed to move the door/telly/pantry up and down? Surely it would be much nicer to just press the button once and it goes all the way up/down on its own.

[@Boatscouk]

I think it does that

[@seasider101]

Doh!

[@romeobravo3793]

2:41 it’s an ice maker, not a fridge.

[@Boatscouk]

I realised that afterwards - you are right. I hate ice makers 😂

[@johnholwell9514]

I'm surprised by the amount of bits of blue tape everywhere. For the price of one of these boats and coming from a company with such a reputation for quality I would expect a completely faultless product.

[@scottbaxter7771]

I was thinking the same thing

[@richardsmith273]

Beautiful boat but £20k for an umbrella ?

[@Boatscouk]

Very reasonable 😂

[@swe_machete]

Hope my stocks going up alot so i can buy one. 🤨😂

[@torstengro8990]

Must be a German wife. 😂😅 Miele is THE German household company

[@dubz9409]

thanks for not opening all the drawers and cabinets

[@Boatscouk]

There are too many 😂

[@gandilas]

Seen two of your videos and like them but you have far too many ads and the sound is up like mad…

[@Boatscouk]

Thanks Antonio. We don’t set the ads - how do you turn them down ?

[@ralfralfsen261]

I guess your customers who can't decide between V and F class, will opt for the S class which combines advantages of both models in a compromised concept?

[@Boatscouk]

Yes but we don’t offer a S55 yet. Bigger ones yes but currently not smaller than S62 😎

[@ralfralfsen261]

@@Boatscouk Agreed James. However, the difference (in length) between the V55 and S62 is just 1.26m. I rather don't want to know the difference when it comes to the pricing. Probably around GBP 350.000 ;)

[@Boatscouk]

@@ralfralfsen261 yes it is about £400,000 😂

[@rpsrps1]

TV on the wrong side of the boat!

[@Boatscouk]

Can fit another 😎

[@rpsrps1]

@@Boatscouk Knew you'd say that! 😁

[@darthkek1953]

Deja Vu!! The upswing of the V over an F is you get a tender and a main-helm sunroof, the F has a fairly small flybridge (no galley) it's basically a glorified sportsbridge. But then on a Galeon of 45 to 60 foot you get fold-out side decks, you get a choice between massive flybridge with galley or a sports flybridge that does allow main-helm sunroof, and you get a choice of three aft fixtures (1) fixed seat plus crew cabin, or (2) rotating aft seat plus mini-garage, or (3) sunpad with full tender garage. For all I want Princess, Fairline and Sunseeker to do well, Galon are absolutely _destroying_ them. The British three are pretty much still 20th century yachts, Galeon are fully 21st century.

[@Boatscouk]

They are all good

[@romeobravo3793]

James gave you the diplomatic comment, IMO. He makes money turning around boats small and big, after all. Can’t blame him. Qualitatively speaking they’re probably in the same league, which means they’ll ALL have issues that need to be fixed in year 1. The main difference is in value. Remember, price is what you pay, value is what you get. Princess, being part of the LVMH group, will charge you most because their products cater to a clientele that is focused on making a (social) statement. It’s quite a price-insensitive bunch. Consequently, value for money for a Princess will be lowest. Poland-made Galeons rank highest, whilst Sunseeker and (PE- owned) Fairline are somewhere in between. I also agree on your comment that Galeon is a more innovative company. In boating however, this is not necessarily always an advantage as innovative products tend to depreciate faster. With depreciation being your biggest cost, your TCO may actually start looking very similar to the one of a Princess. Just like in real estate, it all depends on your entry price. I’ll take a Princess at a 15% discount over list price any day over a cheaper Galeon. The problem is to find that 15% discount these days. Boat dealers are a spoiled bunch since COVID hit, unfortunately. Their biggest problem seems to be that they don’t get enough new boat inventory. Lucky them! My (unsolicited) advice? Stay away from boating until at least 2023. As soon as the world opens up again, people will want to travel overseas. They’ll need cash for all those safaris, hotels and premium class flights. Lots of them will want to part way with their boats. That’s when I’d start sniffing around to buy one.

[@darthkek1953]

​@@romeobravo3793 Well, if Galeon depreciate proportionately more then you would simply get one a couple of years old rather than new. That's how you play that game. Normally I'd be a bit skittish about "buying East European" but Poland is one of the world's leading boat makers, #5 in the world for boats, #2 for small boats up to 10m (behind only the usa), they make 35% of all EU sailing yachts, and they build for the likes of "non-Polish" brands such as Brunswick, Jeanneau-Benetau, Windy, Sea Ray, Bayliner, Askeladden. So that French or Swedish boat could be made in Poland. As for 2023 being better due to Covid, don't bank on it. This was a laboratory-perfected scientifically-perfected ultravirus and they still don't have a kill switch. It's going to get a HELL of a lot worse and not necessarily EVER going to get better.

[@gro9465]

@@romeobravo3793 I concur

[@hi-rm8ei]

My dad worked on that and trust me he said the quality of the materials underneath wouldn’t hold more than 5 years

[@Boatscouk]

We sell used Princess boats that are over 30 years old and they are still in good shape- everything needs maintenance . 😊

[@hi-rm8ei]

@@Boatscouk yes the older ones were built with pride only 4 or 5 guys building it they were good boats

[@Boatscouk]

@@hi-rm8ei . They are still good boats I find. I am away on one now - very well built 😎

[@0tispunkm3y3r]

Surely they'd never put a Hoover on a million+ boat. On a canal boat maybe! Miele all the way!

[@Boatscouk]

Yes I got it wrong 😂

[@outsider5112]

If MFI did boats .............

[@Boatscouk]

They never did anything 😂

[@jaimaUK]

Why choose V55?…half a million pounds (£500,000) difference in the price might be a good reason

[@Boatscouk]

25% does not always make the difference. If you could afford a £7.5k car but the £10k was the one you wanted - you might find / borrow the extra £2.5k - just saying.

[@1911z4ever]

Was there blue tape on the captains chair? Garbage chair moving as you shifted about. High-end manufacturers catch the deficiencies before leaving their business. Disappointing. It's still a gorgeous boat.

[@Boatscouk]

We sell boats all over the world from £5k to £5m and I don’t know one manufacturer who catches most of the deficiencies before handover Flashkill? Which brand are you referring too? These are all handmade and humans make tiny mistakes - it happens 😊

[@DeWin157]

I personally think a fly bridge makes any boat or yacht look ugly, it messes up the aesthetics IMO.

[@Boatscouk]

Choice means you have a fly, a sports or a sports fly 👌

[@snortyhog]

Shoot poo out the bottom! That's where it came from! Seriously tho, does it dump the waste into the sea?

[@Boatscouk]

There is a valve labelled sea or tank - so you have the choice 😊

[@mortenhjornevik2850]

Miele is pronounced like Sheila…not mieley……….lol

[@Boatscouk]

😂

[@homerjsimpson2118]

the price tags on the stuff are just stupid.

[@Boatscouk]

All hand made- low volume

[@chrisardern4594]

Well if this was your video interview dont call us we'll call you NOT. You need to watch and learn AQUAHOLIC to see who these boat reviews are done

[@Boatscouk]

Apologies Chris . We are just havin some fun 🤩

[@roteldorel]

wata fuck its dis dis boat cost hapf of milion maxim and you sel over 2 time ?

[@denispatrice5522]

Very poor presentation of what is called a boat, but nothing more than a party pontoon.

[@Boatscouk]

Would you like one? 😂

[@1Pureblood606]

Also if you do canal cruising you may have clearance issues . Thus no fly.