Princess Yachts is stepping into a completely new era—and it is doing it with serious speed. The all-new Princess C48 Open is the builder’s first outboard-powered yacht, the opening model in its new C Class range, and potentially the fastest production Princess ever built.
For a brand long associated with refined flybridges, sleek V Class sport yachts, and traditional luxury cruising, this is a big move. The C48 Open trades the expected shaft-drive formula for big Mercury power on the transom, a wide-open deck, and a center-console-inspired layout that feels built for warm-water adventure. It is Princess with a fresh attitude—and the boating world is paying attention.
The C48 Open is made for the kind of days that get boaters excited: pulling away from the dock early, running hard to a destination, dropping anchor for an afternoon with friends, then staying out until the sun goes down. Its walk around deck links the helm, cockpit, and foredeck, so there is always a natural flow onboard rather than a cramped collection of seating areas.
The cockpit is set up for entertaining without overcomplicating things. Princess has included an aft sunpad, dining seating, exterior galley, electric grill, fridge, sink, and dual wet bars—essentially everything needed to make the boat the center of the day once the engines go quiet.
There is also real cruising ability below deck. An aft cabin comes standard, with a choice to add a forward cabin in place of the lower salon, allowing accommodations for up to four guests. That gives the C48 more flexibility than a pure dayboat while preserving the boat’s open-air personality.
The headline number is hard to ignore: in its top configuration, the C48 Open runs triple 600-hp Mercury V12 Verado outboards and is projected to reach 52 to 54 knots. Buyers seeking a slightly more restrained package can choose triple 400-hp Mercury V10 Verados, estimated at 44 to 46 knots.
Those speeds are not simply about bragging rights. Princess developed the C48 with American naval architect Michael Peters, whose Stepped Vee Ventilated Tunnel hull is designed to reduce drag, build lift, and deliver a more composed ride when conditions are less than glassy. That combination of outboard punch and advanced hull design is a major part of why this boat feels so different from anything Princess has previously offered.
At just under 49 feet of hull length and about 50 feet 5 inches overall with the engines down, the C48 is large enough to feel substantial offshore but still firmly aimed at the high-energy luxury dayboat market. It is the kind of size that can handle a serious run while remaining easy to picture at a marina, beach club, or raft-up.
The excitement around the C48 is not just because it has three big outboards and a huge top-speed number. It is because Princess is entering one of the most competitive—and arguably most fun—segments in boating with a product that still feels unmistakably Princess. The lines are clean, the finish is upscale, and the concept seems built around actually enjoying time on the water instead of simply looking good at the dock.
There is a subtle nod here to the appeal of boats like the Galeon GTO: performance, outdoor entertaining, and flexible use are clearly central to the experience. But the C48 does not feel like a copy of anyone else’s formula. It looks like Princess has taken that energy and filtered it through its own British luxury design language.
The Princess C48 Open will make its world debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, running October 28 through November 1, 2026. If the finished boat delivers on its promise, this may be more than a new model—it may be the boat that proves Princess can rule a whole new corner of the market.