Fairline vs Princess: Choosing Between Two British Yacht Brands in Hong Kong

Short answer: the two brands' stock sits in different price bands, so pick your budget band first, then look at individual boats. As of 2026-10-27, Sun Yachts lists 5 Fairlines (all Squadron series) and 4 Princess yachts, all listed with UK origin. All 5 Fairlines carry a price and fall into two groups: HK$1.28M to 2.58M (2 boats) and HK$7.5M to 8.2M (3 boats). Of the 3 priced Princess yachts, 2 sit between HK$3.0M and 3.58M, 1 is asking HK$21.8M, and the fourth is price on request. In other words, the HK$1M to 3M band currently has only Fairline, and the HK$3M to 6M band currently has only Princess.

All figures come from the Sun Yachts listing data as of 2026-10-27.

Sample note: these are Sun Yachts listings, not the whole Hong Kong market. With 4 to 5 boats per brand, treat the ranges as a description of this stock, not as proof that Fairline is cheaper or Princess dearer.

Using the four bands on the price guide, the stock splits like this:

Source: Sun Yachts stock listings (as of 2026-10-27). Band edges match the website: exactly HK$3,000,000 falls in "HK$3M to under 6M".

Three points from this split:

1. The HK$1M–3M band has only Fairline right now, for example the 2006 Fairline Squadron 58 at HK$2,580,000. There is no Princess in that band to set beside it.
2. The HK$3M–6M band has only Princess right now, for example the 2011 Princess 42 at HK$3,000,000, with one other at HK$3,580,000. There is no Fairline in that band.
3. The HK$6M+ band has both brands, but the prices are far apart. The 3 Fairlines are all between HK$7.5M and 8.2M (for example the 2005 Squadron 74 and the 2015 Squadron 60), while the priced Princess is asking HK$21.8M and the 2021 Y85 is price on request. Even within one band, the two brands sit at different budget levels.

So with the stock we hold, the question is usually not "which brand is better at the same budget" but "which band does my budget fall in, and what is in it". This reflects current stock and can change at any time.

• Fairline: in 1963 Jack Newington turned disused gravel pits at Oundle, England into Oundle Marina, and the first Fairline boat was built in 1967 (Fairline heritage page; Wikipedia: Fairline Yachts). The Squadron series is Fairline's flybridge range. Fairline Boats entered administration in December 2015, and in January 2016 its assets were bought by Alexander Volov and Igor Glyanenko, forming Fairline Yachts Ltd (MBY; IIMS). See our Fairline Squadron guide.
• Princess was founded in 1965 in Plymouth, England, and is still headquartered and built there (Princess: 60 years; Wikipedia: Princess Yachts). It now names its ranges F, V, S, Y and X Class; the two flagship models in stock are Y Class. See our Princess buyer's guide.

The two guides already cover specifications and survey points boat by boat, so this article does not repeat them and only covers how to choose between the two. To browse the stock directly: Fairline listings, Princess listings.

• HK$1.28M to 2.58M: only Fairline in stock today, with older hulls (model years 1995 to 2006). Set aside a refit budget and commission an independent survey.
• HK$3.0M to 3.58M: only Princess in stock today, model years 2009 to 2011. Hours are as stated by the seller, so you still need service records and a survey to back them up.
• HK$7.5M to 8.2M: only Fairline in stock today, model years 2005 to 2018. If you want a lot of space without going to the HK$20M level, this is the group available now.
• HK$20M and above: only Princess Y-series in stock today, one priced and one price on request. Ask us on WhatsApp for details.

For how to read hours and age, see our engine hours guide; for what to check before you commit, see the pre-purchase survey guide.

• How often will you go out, and what is the annual running and berthing budget? See ownership costs.
• How many guests need to be aboard at once?
• Older hull plus refit allowance, or a younger one?
• Shaft drive or another drive type? Ask; don't assume.
• Where do the engine hours come from, and are there service records?
• Where will you berth? See Sai Kung berthing.
• First boat and want the whole process? See the complete guide to buying a used yacht in Hong Kong.