When three friends in the UK got together in the early 1960s to start building boats, little could they have imagined the future. The fruit of their imagination is Princess Yachts, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, counting global reach, thousands of deliveries, and more to come.
Initially, these three friends hadn’t planned to be boatbuilders. In fact, they wanted to charter a boat to holiday-goers out of Plymouth, along England’s southwest coast. However, upon realizing the cost of buying was prohibitively expensive, they reasoned they could build one for less. Therefore, in 1965 they acquired a small workshop. Under the name Marine Projects, they designed and built their first boat, further launching her that same year. Project 31, as they called her, had abundant mahogany, a partially enclosed helm, and a cozy interior. In deeper consideration of the vagaries of the region’s weather, the trio realized chartering might be too challenging. Not only did they sell the boat, but they landed two additional contracts. Ultimately, they went on to deliver upwards of 150 units in the Project 31 series in the following four years.
Since then, Princess Yachts outgrew its small workshop and moved into proper full-blown manufacturing facilities. Although it met with international success, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Princess Yachts really started focusing on the American market. It forged a partnership with Viking Yachts in 1995 to form an exclusive U.S. distribution and dealer network. The result was Viking Sport Cruisers, which later became Princess Yachts America and independent of Viking. All the while,the dedication to the U.S. market hasn’t changed Hundreds of boats, yachts, and megayachts have arrived on U.S. shores, the largest being the Princess X95 Vista (above). More megayachts, including the Princess X90 yacht, are in development, too.
Throughout 2025, Princess Yachts has several celebrations in store to mark the milestone anniversary. For instance, a YouTube series takes a look at the past, including a sit-down interview with David King (above), one of the three original founders. Additionally, Princess Yachts has a limited-edition version of the V40, one of its most famous series. Naturally, she’s complete with a “60 years” emblem, including at the helm.
“Reaching our 60th anniversary is a momentous achievement that fills us with immense pride,” says Will Green, the CEO. “It’s a testament to the enduring commitment of our talented team past and present, and the loyalty of our clients. This is not just about reflecting on our rich history of craftsmanship and innovation, though. It is as much about looking forward to the next 60 years.”
Princess Yachts princessyachts.com
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