The Princess F45 is a 45-foot luxury flybridge yacht featuring a unique electrically sliding transom that expands the cockpit, making it a competitive, space-optimised model. The F45 launched with Volvo Penta IPS600 propulsion, while current Princess specifications list twin D6 480 IPS650 engines. It is noted for its full-beam owner's cabin, efficient hull design and versatile alfresco living areas, though its sliding transom reduces bathing platform space when extended.
The sub-50-foot flybridge sector is fiercely competitive, demanding that naval architects maximise onboard real estate without sacrificing sleek lines or offshore performance. In this category, the Princess F45 serves as the entry-level gateway to the British shipyard's prestigious F Class range. Introduced in 2019 as the replacement for the long-running Princess 43, the F45 represented a significant change in layout, with IPS propulsion helping Princess create considerably more accommodation within a relatively compact footprint.
The Princess F45 made its official global debut at boot Düsseldorf in January 2019. The design combined the Princess Yachts in-house team and its long-established collaboration with Olesinski Design, with exterior styling input from Pininfarina. Engineered with a resin-infused deep-V hull, the craft balances structural strength with efficient water handling.
Key features & layout
The F45 is packed with technical and design innovations that make the compact platform feel like a much larger vessel above and below deck.
The Flybridge: This extended upper deck includes a large seating and dining area with a teak table, together with forward L-shaped seating that converts into a spacious sun lounger. An outdoor galley provides a grill, sink and fridge.
The Sliding Transom: At the touch of a button, a unique electrically sliding transom seating arrangement moves backwards over the bathing platform. Motor Boat & Yachting reported at the F45's launch that the seating module travels approximately 40cm, significantly expanding the cockpit footprint and creating considerable main-deck space for a 45-foot yacht.
Main Deck Saloon: Designed with a galley-aft layout, the interior connects directly to the cockpit via full-length patio doors. Wrap-around glazing floods the saloon with natural light and provides sweeping views.
Accommodation: Below deck, the hull configuration yields a full-beam owner's cabin amidships, one of the defining features of the F45. This is complemented by a forward guest cabin featuring scissor berths that slide apart to switch between a double and twin bed arrangement. Both cabins have en-suite facilities.
Find out more about the current F45 from Princess Yachts.
Critic reviews: pros and cons
Marine journalists and yacht reviewers have thoroughly tested the Princess F45 on the water, highlighting its clever space-saving tricks alongside some operational tradeoffs.
The pros
Class-Leading Owner's Suite: Motor Boat & Yachting identified the full-beam midship owner's cabin as one of the major developments when the F45 launched. Moving to IPS propulsion allowed Princess to position the engines further aft, freeing valuable space amidships for two spacious double cabins and two bathrooms.
The Sliding Cockpit Innovation: Analysis by YachtBuyer highlights the electronic sliding transom as one of the F45's key features. The ability to move the aft seating backwards creates a much larger cockpit area when required, giving owners useful flexibility between cockpit and bathing platform space.
Handling and Performance: In sea trials documented by Power & Motoryacht, the original twin IPS600-powered F45 reached approximately 31 knots. The reviewer praised the performance of the Olesinski hull and noted that the F45 feels like a substantially larger yacht when running offshore.
Clever Exterior Amenities: Power & Motoryacht also highlighted the F45's outdoor cooking facilities. The flybridge includes a grill, sink and fridge, providing a useful second galley for entertaining outside.
The cons
Reduced Platform Space When Extended: The sliding transom inevitably creates a physical tradeoff. When the aft seating is pushed all the way back to enlarge the cockpit, it reduces the usable space available on the bathing platform.
Headroom Compromises Midships: Motor Boat & Yachting noted tight headroom in parts of the otherwise spacious midship owner's cabin. Taller owners should therefore spend some time moving around the cabin when inspecting an F45.
Cockpit Storage: An owner account published by Motor Boat & Yachting praised the F45's workmanship and layout, but identified limited storage around the aft cockpit as one of the practical compromises of the design.
By blending Pininfarina's exterior styling with genuine layout innovations like the sliding transom, the Princess F45 established itself as a strong contender among compact luxury flybridge yachts. Its layout has also earned considerable recognition, including Best Flybridge up to 60ft at the 2022 Motor Boat Awards.
Awards and Recognition
Princess lists the F45 among the winners at the 2022 Motor Boat Awards, where it received Best Flybridge up to 60ft. It also received Best Layout in the 45 to 60ft motor yacht category at the 2022 Oceanway China Yacht Awards.
Technical specifications
The engineering profile of the Princess F45 relies on Volvo Penta's Integrated Propulsion System to optimise performance, cabin space and efficiency. The engine specification has evolved since the F45 was introduced, with original boats using IPS600 propulsion and current Princess specifications listing D6 480 IPS650 engines.
Length (including pulpit): 47' 1" / 14.35 m
Length (excluding pulpit): 44' 9" / 13.64 m
Hull Beam: 14' 0" / 4.26 m
Draft: 3' 7" / 1.10 m
Displacement (approx.): 38,103 lbs / 17,283 kg / 17.28 tonnes
Fuel Capacity: 361 Imp gal / 433 US gal / 1,640 L
Water Capacity (excl. calorifier): 102 Imp gal / 122 US gal / 462 L
Black Water Tank Capacity: 33 Imp gal / 40 US gal / 150 L
Original Propulsion Setup: Twin Volvo Penta IPS600 / 435 mhp each
Current Propulsion Setup: Twin Volvo D6 480 IPS650 / 480 mhp each
Tested Cruising Speed with IPS600: 25.0 knots
Maximum Speed Range: 29.0 to 31.0 knots
Guest Capacity: 4 guests, 2 en-suite cabins
Princess calculates the published displacement with 50 percent fuel and water, with a liferaft aboard but no optional equipment or other gear. Maximum speed will vary with loading, hull and running gear condition, water and air temperatures, and sea conditions.
References
Motor Boat & Yachting F45 Assessment: Motor Boat & Yachting covered the Princess F45 at its global debut at boot Düsseldorf in January 2019. The review identified the full-beam owner's cabin as one of the boat's major developments, made possible by the switch to IPS propulsion. The publication also noted tight headroom in parts of the owner's cabin.
YachtBuyer Sliding Transom Breakdown: YachtBuyer identifies the extending transom as one of the F45's defining features. The electrically operated aft seating slides backwards to create a larger cockpit area, allowing owners to alter the balance between cockpit and bathing platform space.
Power & Motoryacht Performance Trials: In sea trials documented by Power & Motoryacht, the original twin IPS600-powered F45 reached approximately 31 knots, with a tested cruising speed of 25 knots. The review praised the performance of the Olesinski hull and noted that the F45 feels like a substantially larger yacht when running offshore.
Power & Motoryacht Exterior Amenities: The same Power & Motoryacht review describes the flybridge outdoor galley with grill, sink and fridge, adding another practical entertaining area away from the main saloon.
Princess Yachts Current Specification
Princess Yachts currently specifies twin Volvo D6 480 IPS650 engines producing 480 mhp each, with a quoted maximum speed of 29 to 31 knots. Princess lists displacement at approximately 17,283kg, calculated with 50 percent fuel and water, a liferaft, but without optional equipment or other gear.
