Princess V42

 

 

 

Left: Charlie2 moored to a buoy off Sark, right in the centre of the picture.

A really good day, went ashore in the dinghy, but beware the tide rise and fall is over 12 metres so tie the dinghy very loose with at least 12 metres of rope.  There's loads of evidence of dinghies previously tied up too short at the steps, and cut ropes dangling under water!  Highly recommended, scenery breathtaking, people friendly and weather idyllic

 

Centre:  Charlie and a friend sunbathing at 28 knots en route to St Peter Port in August

 

Right: Newly polished and dehazed Charlie2 using 3M IMPERIAL MARINE COMPOUND from Jason at Diverse Marine Solutions in Newbury.  Wow is it good? So shiny so deep and you can see the car reflected.  We tried all sorts before, this is the ultimate.  Call Jason, for cash he'll do you a great price if you collect.  He even came into work Saturday specially to meet me so I could complete the job that day.  Use a big industrial angle polisher (£125) with MachineMart foam heads (£4) and a final wool 220 mm bonnet to finish off.

We originally fitted an AIS receiver and that was good, showing all the commercial vessels on the Raymarine C80 screen, but then when the low cost (£480) CB200 transponder was launched we just had to fit one.  Now the commercial vessels and anyone else with a receiver can see us.  Automatic collision course calculation and alerts are included.  And I can go on the internet and see Charlie2 wherever she is.  All our journeys are recorded on the tracking sites and we can see the last six month's history, times, speeds and speed over ground!

 

But beware harbourmasters can see us too and in Lymington we were reminded very light heartedly that we'd exceeded the 6 knot speed limit entering the Lymington fairway!  Imagine what the Poole harbour authorities can do with those fines!  Only a couple of weeks ago someone was fined £1500 in the local magistrate's court for exceeding (greatly!) the Lymington speed limit.

 

Call Pete, they are so helpful and really supportive always suggesting the best way to do a job, and the most effective way to buy parts.  Pete will always do everything to help and go above and beyond.  A real star peter.ward@princess.co.uk

 

Villeroy and Boch outlet shop is cheaper by far (£4) than Princess parts at £22

 

Steer clear of the chandleries where upwards of £6 each is the norm.  ebay generally around 50p each, again buy 10!

 

 

Really dissappointing quality.  Outrageously short life.

Charlie2 has completed 437 hours from new and has been serviced by the Volvo dealer near Beaulieu every year, the outdrives coming off for pressure test in the workshop each time.

In August 2008 we noticed the port drive was lathargic to go into forward gear, and over a few weeks would only engage gear if the revs were raised to 900rpm. 

So boat out of the water and outdrives off.  The Volvo dealer workshop  issued a report saying the outdrives were worn out!  Worn out at 430 hours?

Options ranged from final drive shaft metal spraying, clutch cones replacing and a total rebuild to a service exchange replacement.

Minimum rebuild cost £4000 for the pair and no warranty through to service exchange at £11000 for the two with minimal labour and three years warranty.

Now 430 hours, full Volvo service history, and no neglect tells me these 290 duoprops are not as good as they should be.

I wonder if we are the only people to experience poor reliability?

So if the gear shift gets lethargic start saving money!

 

The chrome ones fail alarmingly frequently.  Cheap white ones from PRIMELINE, part number PL5038, cost around £1 each.  Buy a box of 10, you'll need them in the long run!

 

£1.68 at Maplin's!