Prince 38 CC: flying over the water with two Mercury 500R engines

Nuova Jolly Prince 38 CC: on test in Miami with two Mercury 500Rs.

When carrying out a sea trial, the bond established with the boat being navigated often determines the outcome of the test from the outset. This is certainly the case with the new Nuova Jolly Prince 38 CC, which, despite its out-of-the-ordinary performance, always manages to convey a feeling of great safety.

On the other hand, we are talking about a legendary hull capable of feats like the one accomplished by Sergio Davì and Teo Aiello, who even crossed the Atlantic Ocean with a RIB like this.

Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this new version, powered for the occasion by a couple of Mercury 500R engines.

Prince 38 CC Sea Trial

We depart from the dock at Grove Harbour Marina in Coconut Grove on a sunny and slightly windy day. It is here that Mercury Racing has organized this day of sea trials. We are indeed in a portion of the ocean that, being outside Miami’s traffic, allows us to fully throttle without any problems.

It’s an impressive fleet of boats (11 units) that Mercury provides for testing its legendary high-performance outboards, and if the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 CC is the only Italian boat present, then it truly means that the echo of the legendary hull qualities of this Maxi-Rib has reached this far.

As we exit the marina, I secure the safety cord to my belt, and we’re ready to go. The pilot seats are enveloping, safe, and positioned at a height that allows for perfect visibility. Just outside the “no-wake zone,” I push the throttles forward, and almost effortlessly, the Prince 38 CC gets up on plane. We’re at just over 11 knots, and the boat trim is nearly perfect.

I can’t resist, I have to test the acceleration immediately. So, I push the throttles all the way, and as the sound of these engines and the GPS seeming to go wild raise my heartbeat, I reach 40 knots in about ten seconds and 60 knots in less than twenty! Fine-tuning the trim, at 6,800 rpm, I record a top speed of 62.7 knots, which is 72.2 mph!

At this speed, the Prince 38 CC navigates impeccably. The water caresses the bow wheel, barely touching it, and despite having only the dead rise or slightly more in the water, the trim is perfectly horizontal. I hint at some changes of direction, which the Maxi-Rib performs without hesitation. Then I slow down (figuratively speaking) to 40 knots and start turning in a circle. The Prince 38 CC holds the circular course as if on an imaginary rail. The RIB then leans, but the feeling of safety remains extremely high. I try to accelerate or decelerate, but this magnificent boat never seems to widen or tighten its turn.

I counter-turn to catch our own waves, the only way today to see what happens, and when I get close, I ease off the throttles. We pass over the waves at around 50 knots, and the Prince 38 CC takes off and lands back in the water without any fuss and, most importantly, without slamming onto the surface. The pronounced V-shape of the bow does its job and softens the hull’s re-entry into the water.

I slow down even further to 25/30 knots and perform a series of tight turns and counter-turns. This boat doesn’t even flinch; it’s an absolute pleasure to steer.

Test Conditions. The test was carried out in calm sea conditions, with wind between 5 and 10 knots, three people on board, and the fuel tank at 60% capacity.

The Nuova Jolly Prince 38 CC in detail

The Prince 38 CC is a new-generation RIB even from a construction point of view. The Hi Power hull, with a very deep V, is built using “Rowing Mat” fiberglass with a cross-lamination of fabrics to provide more strength and sturdiness. The tubulars are made of Neoprene-Hypalon for excellent resistance to UV rays and fuels.

So, let’s start with the impressions, and immediately say that the Prince 38 CC is a Maxi-RIB with the accommodation capacity of a much larger open boat. This is the sensation we got when climbing on board, even before heading out to the ocean, simply by walking around and observing the deck plan.

The stern accommodates a dinette that’s actually a convertible area which, thanks to electric servomechanisms, can completely change its appearance in just a few moves. The numerous configuration options include a set-up table, allowing the U-shaped sofa to comfortably seat 8 guests for lunch; an electronically lowered table level with the cushions, creating an impressive sunbathing area measuring 2.1 meters by 1.60 meters; or, the most suitable version for navigation, with the table lowering completely to become a stepping platform.

The aft dinette of the Prince 38 CC deserves further consideration for several interesting aspects. Firstly, for the storage volumes. When sailing with a RIB of this size, it’s reasonable to have aboard materials to be stowed proportionate to the number of people embarked and the type of navigation being done, ranging from shoes to clothing items, jerry cans to spare parts, and including provisions.

Underneath the seats of the three sofas, there are equally three lockers where all the embarked material can be distributed, not forgetting that plenty of additional space can also be found at the bow and in the cabin.

Furthermore, in this space of the Prince 38 CC designed for relaxation, there’s a standout feature: a fridge corner with a sink and a nice support surface located behind the pilot’s seat.

A special mention goes to the level of comfort of the seats, which, while appreciated when at anchor, is a different matter altogether when navigating at 35 knots, where the sense of welcome and protection in the cockpit is measured on a completely different scale.

Ideally positioned in the center of the Prince 38 CC, we find the helm station. Overall, one essential fact stands out: those who think and design these inflatables are seafarers.

There are many aspects that lead to this reflection: the seats are enveloping with a backrest high enough to provide good support for the back, essential ehen cruising at high speeds; the console sees the instruments distributed so that the gaze logically moves from one to the other to gather navigation data; the position of the throttles is perfect, not requiring any muscular tension; visibility towards the bow is excellent, despite the height of the helm station determined by the presence of the cabin below, which also provides protection thanks to a deflector that redirects the airflow.

To the left of the helm station, there’s access to the cabin, which, certainly larger than it appears from the outside, consists of a spacious V-shaped bed and a separate head equipped with a toilet, shower, and sink.

Beyond the pilot’s station, we find a second “dinette”, which isn’t inappropriate to define as a multifunctional space. In the cruising configuration, the forward triangle is offered in its most classic form: a V-shaped bench seating 6 people who can rely on the presence of sturdy handrails fixed to the tubulars.

The adjustment of the table completely changes the situation. Without support, the table becomes the base for a large cushion that transforms the entire forward area of the Prince 38 CC into a large sunbathing area. With its support, it becomes a second table for placing food and drinks. Even under the forward seats, there are three lockers that increase the already very good storage volumes at the stern.