The first time we used the name Play d'eau was with this Princess V39, bought new in 1995. After eight seasons of great service, we sold her to a good home in 2003, later replacing her with another Play d'eau, a Fleming 55.
The Boat
With polished, deep burgundy topsides, the V39 looks were immediately stunning.
Play d'eau (camper hood up) just off Lymington bound for Guernsey - MBM Channel Island cruise 2001. (Needed her bottom cleaning!)
A deeper than usual vee hull gave the boat an excellent sea performance, with precision handling and smooth ride, even in challenging conditions.
The burgee in the jack staff is that of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club, whilst the dark blue board on the fwd stanchions is the Motor Boats Monthly Crusing Club banner.
Helm & Cockpit
Helm instruments were set in a fine burr walnut console. Alongside were the Morse single lever engine controls, with the Bennet trim tab and separate Volvo outdrive leg controls. A Momo sports steering wheel and twin helm seat with sit / stand facility for the skipper, complete the helm.
The cockpit had two seating areas on different levels. The larger one in the stern had a 'U' shape seating arrangement, with removable dining table that dropped down to convert to a large sunbed. The cockpit fridge and wet bar were immediately opposite.
The transom door led to the bathing platform. Telescopic davits folded away when not in use, leaving the bathing platform unencumbered, with a hot and cold transom freshwater shower and bathing ladder.
Forward on the raised level the second seating area was a small removable table, well sheltered when underway.
Soft Furnishings
The Joinery was all in golden burr maple, a finish only usually available on the larger Princess yacths. Carpets were dark russet, with matching curtains and bed covers. Seat cushions were cream, with russet markings. A truly stunning interior.
Boat and Mechanical Specification
| Princess V39 | Purchased - 28.7.1995 |
| Yard No | Q5032 |
| Hull No | MPPGB0325595 |
| SSR | 67592 |
| LOA (incl pulpit) | 40' 3" (12.26m) |
| LOA (ex pulpit) | 38' 11" (11.88m) |
| Beam | 12' 3" (3.73m) |
| Draft | 3' 0" (0.92m) |
| Displacement | 7.5 tonnes |
| Engines | Volvo KAD42, approx 750 hrs Outdrives - duo prop Approximately 1.4nm / gallon when cruising at 24 kts |
| Heating | Eberspacher, with twin silencers for the quietest exhaust to keep the marina happy! Outlets located in - main cabin, saloon, aft cabin, heads, cockpit |
| Throttles & gears controls | Morse, single lever for each engine |
| Trim tabs | Bennet Electro-hydraulic |
| Searchlight | Remote Control |
| Fuel | Diesel - note that diesel anti-bug treatments have always been used 160 gallons (720ltrs) in two aluminium tanks Fuel gauge for each tank |
| Water | 74 gallons (222ltrs) in an aluminium tank - note that this tank has always been kept clean Water level gauge in the galley |
| Hot Water | Calorifier, with 240v Immersion Heater |
| Bow Thruster | 4hp, 12v electric, with its own separate battery |
| Davits | Besenzoni Telescopic |
Princess library photo of a V39 without the burgundy topsides
Navigation & Electrical Equipment
| Steering Compass | Offshore 135 - white |
| Log | Speed and distance, with oddometer |
| GPS | 2 x Shipmate RS5800, with either able to drive the autopilot and chart plotter |
| Steering | Power assisted - hydraulic |
| Autopilot | Raymarine ST6001+ complete with gyro heading stabilisation, controlled from either No 1 or No 2 GPS |
| Depth gauge | Raymarine ST60 |
| Chart Plotter | Cetrek 930 & 350 |
| Radar | Anritsu RA772UA |
| VHF | Shipmate RS8300 |
| Radio/CD player | Sony CDX-C580R (1999) |
| Shore Power | 220 / 240v, with Polarity Reverser (for French shore power!) |
| Anchor Winch | Lofrans electric, 1000watt, with helm control |
| Bilge Pumps | 3 electric pumps |
| Alarm | Sealarm with radio transmitter |
| Aerials | 2 x Shakespeare 2m VHF aerials - one is available to be used as a spare 1 x domestic VHF radio aerial 1 x GSM cellular aerial 1 x external portable Garmin aerial |
| Batteries | Double diode charging system 12v. Two for auxilliary power, one for engine starting |
| Battery Charger | 40 amp, float charging |
| 12 v sockets | 1 x Cigar Lighter socket by the helm 1 x 30amp 12 v socket for an air compressor to inflate a dinghy, by the transom door |
Princess library drawing (note the different interior of Play d'eau)
Specification
| Fwd cabin | Double Berth with Sprung Matress (2001), with twin storage drawers underneath En-suite access to heads 2 x 240v sockets |
| Main saloon | Twin clocks for Local Time and GMT Aneroid Barometer 1 x 240v socket |
| Galley | Gas oven with grill Triple burner gas stove 12vDC / 240vAC fridge freezer (85ltr) Twin bowl stainless steel sink with monobloc mixer tap Water Tank gauge Avonite worktop 2 x 240v sockets |
| Aft cabin | 2 x berths Sofa & wardrobe Sink, with hot & cold water 1 x 240v socket |
| Shower / WC | Laminate surfaces Sink, with Monobloc hot and cold water mixer tap 220/24v shaver point Toilet, with sea-water flush Separate shower cubicle |
| Cockpit | Wet bar, with hot and cold water Fridge Additional safety grab rails Hot & Cold transom shower Bathing ladder |
| Engine Room | 1 x 240v socket |
| Tank Room | Outboard engine storage support bracket |
| Davit cleats | Large cleats fitted |
| Fender baskets | 2 x 3 fender baskets on the bow rails |
| Jack staff | Bow jack staff |
| Camper hood | Replaced in 2000 |
| Anchor | Stainless Steel 10kg Delta, with 45m calibrated 5/16" chain |
Autopilot Technology installed in Play d'eau - Raymarine T150G + ST6001
Of all the pilots I had used, the T150G was really excellent. Crisp, responsive, and accurate - even in "emotional seas" ....
The T150G and ST6001 autopilot technology was fully launched on the market at the beginning of 2002, after a year of sea trials on a numer of vessels, clocking many thousands of sea-hours.
On Play d'eau, the pilot steered the outdrives using Raymarine's Universal Drive, and Rudder Reference unit.
More powerful and rugged than before, Raymarine's T150G course computer with built-in rate gyro, provided a fast, high performance heading output, offering the ultimate in autopilot performance.
Advanced Steering Technology - AST
Using highly advanced AST software and a built-in rate gyro transducer, the 150G maintained a razor sharp course, with smooth, crisp and controlled turns right onto the next heading.
Intelligent Autolearn Function
AST and AutoLearn software learned the boat's steering characteristics and automatically set up the pilot for optimum performance.
FastTrim
AST corrected for any changes in standing helm required to keep the vessel on a straight course (e.g. weather helm or loss of one engine), keeping the boat right on course when the going changed.
ST6001 + T150G Features
- Advanced AST software with integral rate gyro for exceptional steering performance
- AutoLearn software for easy set-up
- Fast heading data for MARPA and radar/chartplotter overlay (not used on Play d'eau)
- Easy push button controls and clear informative information
- AutoSeastate with adjustable response levels, autotrim, autotrack/turn
- Steer to course / waypoint
- Displays BTW, DTW, cross-track error in track mode
- Rudder angle / course or cross track error display
- Pilot and system alarms
- Flush mount
END
Top