SHARE
Princess entering open dayboat market with C Class
SHARE
The British builder is collaborating with American naval architect Michel Peters on the C48, the first Princess motorboat available with outboard engines.
Princess C48 Open
Princess is producing its first-ever outboard model as it enters the centre-console market with a new C Class of motorboats that will start with the C48, debuting in 2027. Available in Open or enclosed Deck Saloon styles, the 14-tonne cruiser is based on a 47ft 1in hull with a beam of 13ft 8in, which expands with the deployment of drop-down sides.
Will Green, CEO of Princess, said: “The introduction of the C48 marks a defining moment for Princess, representing our bold entry into an entirely new sector. This new yacht embodies freedom, excitement and pure performance, while setting the stage for a thrilling new chapter for our smaller models.”
Princess C48 Open
Michael Peters is responsible for the C48’s underwater naval architecture, centred on the American’s patented Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull. The SVVT design reduces drag and creates lift by channelling air beneath the running surface, improving performance and fuel economy. The central ventilated tunnel’s vertical sidewalls simulate the effect of a keel, enhancing grip and directional stability during turning.
Olesinski – Princess’s long-time collaborator for naval architecture – is responsible for the C48’s exterior architecture, while the shipyard’s in-house design team led by Andy Lawrence, Executive Director of Design & Development, is responsible for the styling and design.
Princess C48 Open
As Princess enters the high-powered outboard market, propulsion options include three 400hp Mercury Verado V10 petrol engines for an estimated top speed of 44-46 knots or triple 600hp Mercury Verado V12s for 52-54 knots, with a 2,250-litre fuel capacity. The inboard option features two 480hp Volvo Penta D6 inboard diesel engines for a top speed of 32-34 knots, a 1,500-litre fuel capacity and the option of a hydraulic swim platform.
The C48 Open is a departure for Princess, offering open-air boating that fits with the new market for luxury dayboats. Furniture starts aft with an island sunpad, while a moveable backrest can create a sofa facing forward to a table and an aft-facing sofa.
Princess C48 Open
A roomy two-part outdoor galley features an electric grill, drawer fridge, sink and storage, while a triple-seat helm station has the driver in the middle. The foredeck has forward and aft-facing sofas.
The lower deck includes an aft double cabin, a bathroom to starboard and, in the standard version, a lobby with storage and optional fridge-freezer, plus a convertible V-shaped dinette. Instead of the dinette, forward options include an enclosed owner’s suite or a lower galley.
Princess C48 Deck Saloon
The enclosed Deck Saloon variant has an outdoor cockpit with a table and facing sofas. Sliding doors lead to an interior with an L-shaped dinette to port and a galley to starboard, aft of a triple-seat helm station with steering to starboard and doors on both sides. A sliding sunroof is among options. The lower deck includes forward and aft cabins, and a bathroom, equivalent to the owner’s suite option on the Open.
“By uniting the extraordinary talent of Michael Peters, our long-standing partners at Olesinski, and our own design team led by Andy Lawrence, we have created a yacht that combines the very best of hydrodynamic engineering, exterior beauty and interior elegance,” Green said. “The C48 is not only a new direction for Princess – it also represents a new standard for the centre-console market.”
