Foreward: “Very occasionally, a boat comes along that seems to have a small but discernable edge in performance over the competition.” So wrote Tony Jones (page 98 November 2002 MBY) where in a glowing tribute to this boat entitled “Tweak Philosophy” he tries to establish why it is just so good. Ok I know he refers to the 42 but in essence they are the same boat with little gain in space for the extra 2 feet.

Introdution: The Princess V40 came in many guises and is a surprising boat in many ways. Introduced in 1996 as the replacement for the 1995 V39 it was available with a variety of alternative layouts and engine configurations.

The cockpit layout was either all seated allowing comfortable seating for 10/12 people or the “Med” sun bed layout. The former commands higher resale values in the UK and sun bed layouts sell around 10% less on resale and can stick in the market.

Transmission: The boat was also available in both stern drive and shaft drive option with apparently various gear box configurations, the writer only having seen the close coupled V-drives.

Engines: At first the boat was introduced with Volvo KAD 42’s (230 hp), later (1998) also offered with the KAD44. With 44’s the stern drive propelled the boat at almost 40 knots when clean and lean with good props but 36 knots was regular with comfortable cruising at 30 –32 knots.

Performance: Princess only claimed 36 knots for this boat and even that was 1 knot faster than the more expensive but perhaps more sporty looking Targa 40.

The shaft drive version was originally more expensive by around £40k when new and offered substantially less performance (around 32 knots) but lovers of the shaft driven boat championed this configuration and only in the later V42 did Princess eventually withdraw the shaft drive option when the differential had risen to £81,000

Colours: V40’s were normally specified with Blue hull although some burgundy and green were supplied, unsurprisingly the favoured hull colour is blue and other colours will stick on the resale market.

Competition: The V40 is often overlooked when buyers seek a sports boat in this range due in some part to over 40 feet being a step too far for many but the extra space you get from a V40 in comparison with a Targa 37 with little extra LOA makes the V40 well worth a second look.

Prices are comparable with the Targa 37.

The other competition includes the Sealine S37 but build quality, performance and sea keeping qualities make the V40 a difficult act to follow.

Buying used: This guide refers to a V40 with open seated cockpit and KAD44’s on stern drives, available from 1998 onwards.

Asking price for this boat in good condition with around 400 hours (four seasons, January 2003) would be circa £150k with another 10k added per annum up until its being superseded by the V42 in late 2001.

Earlier versions similarly depreciate at around 10k per annum.

The Sun bed layout would reduce the starting price by around £15k and the premium for the shaft drive option is lost by the third year.

This is a fairly beamy boat at 12 feet and this is a contributory fact to both the boats speed and its airy accommodation.

As one steps on to the bathing platform look out for scuffed teak flooring where outboards may have been dragged aboard (no garage in this version)

The stern quarters as with all blue hulls tend to take the worst of the sun degradation but this is thick gelcoat and compound normally restores. Fastidious owners keep this area well polished and it’s a good sign if these quarters look good.

The stern fender locker is under the aft most cockpit seating and the seat has to be removed to lift lid which in turn lifts fender holders.

Plenty of storage around under seats including helm seat. Dual gas bottles in split locker behind helm seat which also hides small cockpit table and legs for all tables.

Large table is under port side seating although later models had large table attached to underside of engine room hatch. Liable to get dirty.

In middle of cockpit floor engine room hatch allowing easy access to large engine bay, and second hatch to lazarette containing fuel tanks and crossover valves.

A visit to engine room should find clean dry bilge although a deluge of rain can find some rainwater draining to bilge. Check for oil leaks around rocker gasket and where injectors are sealed where they stick out of said cover. Volvo had trouble with this and it appears to be because length of bolts to rocker cover do not allow proper tightening of previously removed cover. Whilst in engine room have a look at fuel separator filters. Best option is glass see through jobbies and a quick glance at filter bowls should see no trace of what looks like black sludge in bottom of bowl, indicating fuel contamination with fuel bug.

Check Teak floor to cockpit for signs of wear and tear, this teak floor is not an “extra” as some brokers boast but standard on all V40’s. The floor is surrounded by a gutter, forming a trap for peanuts and fluff. Later boats the teak floor had no surrounding gutter.

Battery master switches and fuel cut off valves in two separate lockers to port side of cockpit with shore power input in master switch locker.

Companionway door has runners with little plastic ball bearings which tend to escape, Check runners as door opens ok but sticks at times if ball compliment not complete. Check lock works.

Aft cabin hides storage under beds’ also home for Tacho sender unit.

Check hinges and wardrobe and cupboards here and throughout boat.

Wood options were Cherry or Maple, later giving boat feeling of even more space but more rare.

Run off hot water if any (if there is then boat has been run up before you looked at it) and check immersion, a 10 minute wait should provide you with some hot water.

Storage drawers under double bed in forward cabin tend to stick and should be picked up on.

Check internal blinds and shades on deck hatches.

Check operation of Saloon and Wet bar fridge. Saloon should work 12v and 240v although 12v not as cold as might be. Cupboard next to fridge contains Gas shutoff valves and novices should acquaint themselves with the rules regarding the use of gas on board.

Same cupboard contains small waste bin. Oven has gas hob and gas oven with drawer under. Check operation of oven and drawer.

Check bow thrusters operation as this is a must have option and although this is a relatively easy handling boat its 40ft. hull can be difficult whilst trying to manoeuvre in any sort of blow.

When on sea trial check navigation equipment thoroughly including autopilot as this can be expensive to fix especially if bearings knackered in auto pilot steering ram.

Internal décor is a matter of personal taste but there are not many bad options.

A decent survey will pick up any major problems but overall this is a classic.

Buy the "The RYA Book of Buying Your First Motor Cruiser" By: Tom Willis This book is written for those buying a motor cruiser for the first time or for those thinking of changing their present craft. It is intended to help them through the process, not only the decision making but the bureaucracy that increasingly affects today's boat owner, from the Boat Safety Scheme to the Recreational Craft Directive and the official registration.