Princess V50 Specs, Price and Buying Guide

Where the Princess V50 sits in the V Class

The Princess V50 is the bridge between the sterndrive-powered V40 and the larger V55 and V65 in Princess's sports yacht range. It is the smallest V Class model with a full-beam midships master cabin, and the point where Princess moves from sterndrives to Volvo Penta IPS pods. James Nobel, marketing director for Princess Americas, told Power and Motoryacht that the builder felt the V50 was enough of a step up in class to warrant the bigger, more sophisticated drives, noting the stigma some buyers attach to outdrives at this size.

The model line has a history. Princess's V48 was followed by the first V50, which debuted in 2018, and in 2022 Princess introduced a new edition with a fresh hull, deck and canopy design, created by the Princess Design Studio with naval architects Olesinski and the Italian design house Pininfarina. If you are browsing a Princess V50 for sale, the model year tells you which generation you are looking at, and the difference is more than cosmetic.

Open or Deck Saloon, a choice that depends on your latitude

Princess builds the current V50 in two versions. The Open runs the main deck straight back into the cockpit with curved built-in settees and a three-person sunpad, and it is the more popular choice in Europe, where dayboating dominates. The Deck Saloon closes the main deck with sliding glass doors and a climate controlled saloon with U-shaped dining and a concealed TV. Princess expects the Deck Saloon to be the stronger seller in the Americas.

Both versions have a large sunroof and electrically actuated side windows, so the Deck Saloon can open up almost like an Open on a good day. The Deck Saloon weighs a little more, about 40,200 pounds against 39,200 for the Open, and draws 3 feet 7 inches against 3 feet 8 inches. For Florida and the Bahamas the Open is tempting, but for the Northeast or for anyone who cruises in the shoulder seasons, the enclosed boat is the more versatile purchase and the easier one to resell in the US.

A full-beam master on a 50-foot boat

Below decks, the V50 offers two cabins with a full-beam owner's stateroom amidships, which is the reason many buyers step up from a V40 class boat. Power and Motoryacht highlighted the en suite head with a shower large enough for American shoulders, a small settee and table for morning coffee and a five-foot cedar hanging locker. The forward VIP is also en suite, with a hatch overhead and good light from the long hullside glazing, and its head doubles as the day head with access from the saloon.

Between the cabins sits a bright galley with an L-shaped counter, and Princess lets you specify a third twin bunk cabin in place of the lower saloon opposite, which lifts the sleeping count to six. For a couple who host occasional guests the two-cabin plan is better. For a family with young children the bunk option is worth considering, though it costs you the lower lounge.

IPS600 and IPS650 performance

At launch in 2022 the new V50 was offered with twin Volvo Penta IPS600 or IPS650 pods. Power and Motoryacht reported a top speed of about 32 knots and a cruise of 26 to 28 knots on IPS600s. Princess's current specification lists twin IPS650 at 480 mhp each, with a maximum speed range of 29 to 31 knots. The fuel tank holds 1,550 liters, 410 US gallons, a capacity Princess increased with the new edition.

The IPS package brings joystick docking and Volvo Penta's assisted docking system, which uses position sensing to hold the boat against wind and current in crowded marinas. For an owner-operator stepping up from a 40-footer, that technology makes a 50-foot yacht far less intimidating. Princess also fits its Princess Connect telemetry as standard on new yachts, along with Garmin's OnDeck system for remote monitoring.

This is a brisk, comfortable sports yacht rather than a racer. The deep-V hull is the V Class signature, and the result is a boat that holds a 26-knot cruise in moderate chop without drama.

The 2018 first-generation V50 on the used market

First-generation V50s from 2018 onward predate the 2022 redesign and use the earlier hull, deck and canopy. They are now the value entry to the model, typically asking about $950,000 to $1.3 million in 2026. Engine specifications on these boats differ from the current spec sheet, so confirm the exact engines and drive type on any listing and have them surveyed by a Volvo Penta technician.

The 2022 and later boats carry the longer cockpit, the elongated canopy, the larger fuel capacity and the newer interior finishes. If you value the full hullside window graphic, the current styling and the extra range, budget for a later boat. If you mostly want a well-built two-cabin 50-footer with a midships master, the earlier boats are a sound buy.

Ownership costs for a 50-foot IPS sports yacht

Plan on $75,000 to $135,000 a year to run a V50, excluding depreciation. That covers a 55-foot slip, insurance on a $1 million to $2.4 million boat, Volvo Penta IPS service, generator and air conditioning maintenance, bottom work and canvas. Most owners run the boat themselves, with occasional captain hire for deliveries.

Princess supports US owners through its Americas organization and dealers, and US-spec boats arrive with upgraded air conditioning, a larger generator and electric cooking as standard. That specification is worth checking on any used boat imported privately from Europe, because a European-spec boat may need costly conversion to run comfortably in Florida summers.

Who the V50 suits

The V50 is ideal for a couple or a small family moving up from a 40 to 45 foot express who want a proper owner's cabin, joystick docking and 30-knot pace without a flybridge. Buyers who entertain big groups on board or want a high helm view should look at Princess's F Class flybridge models instead.