Used Princess Yacht Guide Hong Kong: F/V/S/Y Explained

To choose a used Princess, start with the letter classes: F is the traditional flybridge, V the sports line, S the sportbridge and Y the flagship. Four are listed in Hong Kong.

Short answer: Sun Yachts currently has four used Princess yachts in stock — a 2020 Y78 (HK$21,800,000), a 2021 Y85 (price on request), a 2009 50 Fly (HK$3,580,000) and a 2011 42 (HK$3,000,000). Princess now grades its models by letter: F Class is the traditional flybridge, V Class is the sports line, S Class is the sportbridge, and Y Class is the flagship motor yacht. The Y78 and Y85 in stock are Y Class; the 50 Fly and the 42 use the older naming that predates the letter system (in effect, the forerunners of F Class). For flagship space and presence, look at the Y78 or Y85; for an entry-level flybridge budget, the 50 Fly or the 42. Below we unpack where the class names come from, then compare each boat on specs, survey points and running costs.

To be clear up front: Sun Yachts is an independent brokerage for used yachts, not an official Princess Yachts dealer or distributor. The specifications and naming information below come from Princess's official or authorised dealer pages (each sourced individually), and the in-stock boat data comes from Sun Yachts' own listing database — read the two separately. To compare with Fairline, see Fairline vs Princess.

Princess Yachts now divides its range into letter classes, each representing a different hull positioning:

(Sources: HMY Yachts — A Look into the Different Princess Yachts Classes, Princess Yachts America — F Class, V Class, Y Class)

Note: the 2009 50 Fly and the 2011 42 in stock use the naming convention that predates the letter classes (length plus "Fly" to denote a flybridge). That is not a typo, and it does not mean the boats are dated — in positioning they correspond broadly to today's F Class (traditional flybridge); Princess simply had not yet moved to the letter system when they were built. A name like "50 Fly" can be read as a forerunner of F Class.

The four Princess yachts in Sun Yachts stock span 2009 to 2021, with prices from HK$3,000,000 (the 2011 42) to HK$21,800,000 (the 2020 Y78). That reflects a used Princess market in Hong Kong that is polarised between entry level and flagship, with less in the middle — itself a consequence of Princess positioning the brand around mid-to-large luxury cruisers, so production and turnover of smaller boats (under 40 ft) is lower than for brands like Fairline or Absolute. For how asking prices are spread across Hong Kong's used market overall, see the used yacht asking price guide.

As a qualitative observation (there is not enough public transaction data to support a specific depreciation percentage, and no one should be calculating a "Princess loses X% a year" formula):

• Boats over ten years old (the 2009 and 2011 boats in stock) have come back to the HK$3.0–3.6 million band, a similar bracket to contemporaneous used Fairline Squadrons (see our other buyer's guide), suggesting the two brands trade at comparable levels for this age and length.
• Flagship boats under five years old (the 2020 Y78 in stock) still hold a substantial proportion of the original new-boat price — Y Class is the flagship line and typically holds value better than the entry range, but that is a general industry observation, not a conclusion drawn from Sun Yachts' own transaction data.
• Actual depreciation on an individual boat is driven far more by condition, engine hours, service history and market supply and demand than by year alone — echoing the "hours matter more than year" principle in our first-time buyer's guide.

Below are the four Princess yachts currently in Sun Yachts stock with published prices. Specifications are from our own listing database; for the actual transaction price, the survey and the deal details, please enquire directly. On budget, the 50 Fly falls in the HK$3M–6M range and the Y78 is over HK$6M; for the latest asking prices on every Princess in stock, see the Princess listings and asking prices.

On the Y85: specifications are from our own listing database: twin MAN V12 1900HP engines, 323 engine hours and capacity for 35, plus 11,000 L of fuel, 1,500 L of water and a 5.83 ft / 1.77 m draft. The price is on request (POA); for the latest condition and a quote, please contact Sun Yachts directly.

Princess Y78 — flagship motor yacht, 30 guests

The 2020 Y78 is a Y Class flagship at 74.2 ft, with twin MAN V12 1800hp engines and capacity for 30, making it the largest and most expensive of the four Princess yachts in stock. Y Class is positioned as the traditional flybridge concept scaled up, with the emphasis on indoor and outdoor space and natural light — a fit for buyers planning larger gatherings and needing multiple cabins for overnighting.

Princess Y85 — the same class, more length, 323 engine hours

The 2021 Y85 is 86.6 ft, the largest boat in stock and also Y Class. It runs twin MAN V12 1900HP engines with 323 hours and carries 35 guests. The price is on request, so for the cabin layout and a current quote we would suggest a WhatsApp enquiry so Sun Yachts can give you the latest information from the boat itself.

Princess 50 Fly — entry-level flagship hull, twin Volvos

The 2009 50 Fly runs twin Volvo 670 Hp diesels with 250 engine hours, low for the boat's age, and carries 26 guests, making it arguably the best value of the four in stock — an entry-level price for a traditional flybridge layout positioned close to today's F Class.

Princess 42 — the smallest in stock, entry budget

The 2011 42 is 44.2 ft with twin Volvo Penta 435 HP engines and capacity for 14, the shortest and least expensive of the four Princess yachts in stock — a fit for a buyer who wants into the brand on a relatively modest budget.

Whichever class you go for, these are the points to have your surveyor look at on a used Princess (they are the standard survey points for a mid-to-large twin-diesel yacht, not some house secret of ours):

• Shaft drive transmission — most mid-to-large Princess boats (including Y Class) use a conventional shaft drive rather than pod drive, so check the propeller shaft and shaft seal for water ingress, and the wear on the cutless bearing.
• MAN / Volvo engine service records — the four boats in stock run MAN V12 (Y78) and Volvo (50 Fly, 42) engines, and both brands require strict service to the hour schedule. Ask the seller for the records from the factory dealer or authorised service agent, rather than reading the hour meter alone.
• Teak decks — most mid-to-high-end Princess models have teak decks, so check the caulking for splitting and the deck screw positions for water working into the substrate; this is a common repair cost on used luxury yachts.
• Completeness of the dealer service history — a boat with a full authorised dealer service record is generally easier to verify for actual usage intensity on resale; where the record has gaps, or maintenance was done privately, we would add an engine oil analysis.

For the ongoing costs after purchase (berthing, insurance, seasonal maintenance) see How Much Does It Really Cost to Own a Yacht Per Year?; for Sai Kung berthing and membership arrangements, see Sai Kung Berthing Reality.