We spoke with new Princess owner Keith Ansley to find out more about his buying experience, and what gave Princess the edge when choosing his new yacht.
Is this your first Princess?
Yes but I have been looking a buying a Princess for some time.
How long have you been a Princess owner?
Just over 5 weeks.
Previously, you owned a Fairline Targa 44GT?
My last boat was a Fairline Targa 44GT which I bought from the London Boat Show in 2010. I was very pleased with the Targa but wanted a larger boat with more room and comfort.
Why choose Princess?
I was very impressed with the build quality and style of the Princess range and the level of equipment which was standard on the boat.
What other boats did you consider when researching your latest purchase?
I looked at the Fairline Targa 50, Sunseeker Portofino 48 and Predator 53. None of these had the right layout to suit myself and my family.
What features of your new boat do you particularly like?
The best features of the Princess V52 are the two superb cabins, both with en-suite shower rooms. The large lower and upper saloon and the fact that the upper saloon is fully enclosed with sturdy sliding doors makes the boat very comfortable to use all year round.
Please comment on the buying process from your first enquiry to handover of your new Princess. My first contact was at the London Boat Show in January 2012. We kept in touch after the show and by April with the option of a part exchange deal we ordered the new boat. As the boat was ordered at an early stage with the delivery date late September we were able to choose exactly the options and colour scheme we wanted which was interesting.
Where do you keep the boat?
The boat is moored at Mercury Marina, on the River Hamble in the Solent. The facilities and staff are excellent and berths are larger than in most Marinas. The Solent is the best area to be based in for places to visit even when the weather is inclement. With the shelter of the Isle of Wight you can always go somewhere, even with gale force winds.
Has the boat lived up to your expectations?
In the last 5 weeks we have been away every weekend, in rain, mist and last weekend head on, in to a force 7 for a short trip to Bucklers Hard. The boat handles really well and the two large relatively low revving Caterpillar engines together with the stable ride gives us stress free boating with confidence.
Has the after sales service lived up to your expectations?
In the short time we have had the boat we have only rung the Princess after sales department once, which was on a Saturday. Within 3 hours the minor problem was fixed and we were on our way.
What expeditions do you have planned?
We will spend the New Years Eve on the boat somewhere in the Solent and in the summer next year spend a couple of weeks on the Cornwall and Devon coast. Our favourite places include Dartmouth, Salcombe, Fowey and the River Yealm. We also plan to visit the Channel Islands and the Northern French coast.
You were asked to help with a training exercise with the coast guards? Can
you please talk about it?
On the 20th of October at about
11.00am after spending the night in
Yarmouth Harbour enjoying the local
hospitality, we decided to motor to the
Needles and round to the southwest
side of the Isle of Wight. What had
started off being a grey overcast day
started clearing and on a spur of the
moment we decided to take a run
New Princess Yacht owners Mr Keith Ansley
and his wife Vanessa discuss their recent
acquisition, the stunning Princess V52, and
how their new boat was a dream come true.