Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin: Sea Trial Video with Triple Mercury 900 HP Engines

It takes just a few seconds at the helm of the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin to realize we are dealing with a Maxi-RIB with truly exceptional characteristics. Despite its considerable size and a particularly spacious cabin, this RIB delivers surprising sportiness thanks to an extremely efficient hull and a powertrain that leaves nothing to be desired.

The configuration chosen for our test features three Mercury Verado V8 engines at 300 horsepower each, for a total of 900 horsepower installed at the stern. That is already a great deal of power, but it is not the upper limit for the Prince 38 Sport Cabin: the boat is in fact rated for engines up to 1,200 horsepower.

From the very first acceleration, the boat’s response is impressive. Getting onto plane is practically instantaneous: just open up the throttles and the RIB quickly surpasses 20 knots without any noticeable bow rise or hesitation. The thrust of the three Mercury engines is strong but above all progressive, and it gets you up to cruising speeds in very little time.

The first reading is taken right at 20 knots, with the engines running at about 3,250 rpm. Under these conditions, total fuel consumption is just 74 liters per hour, a particularly interesting result considering the installed power and the size of the boat. Increasing speed slightly, the Prince 38 Sport Cabin reaches 25 knots at 3,700 rpm, with total consumption of 87 liters per hour. What stands out, however, is not just the efficiency: even at this speed, the comfort level remains very high. The hull glides over the water with great ease, without transmitting annoying vibrations or requiring constant helm corrections. The credit goes to a design that minimizes drag, allowing the RIB to maintain high speeds without placing excessive strain on the engines.

But the Prince 38 Sport Cabin can do much more. We bring the speed up to 30 knots, a pace that for this Maxi-RIB represents a perfectly natural cruising speed. The three Mercury engines turn at 4,180 rpm and total consumption rises to 109 liters per hour, equivalent to about 3.6 liters per nautical mile. It is a result that confirms the efficiency of the hull and makes the Prince 38 Sport Cabin especially appealing for medium- and long-range passages as well.

Performance data recorded during the test

The top speed of the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin

After verifying efficiency at cruising speeds, it is time to find out how far this large Maxi-RIB can go. We open the throttles all the way and the response is immediate: the three Mercury Verado V8 engines unleash all their power, carrying the Prince 38 Sport Cabin through a truly exhilarating surge of acceleration.

The speedometer quickly passes 40 knots, reaches 45, and keeps climbing until it settles at 47.2 knots, the top speed recorded during our test. It is an outstanding result for a cabin RIB of this size, especially considering that the installed engines deliver 900 horsepower versus the 1,200 maximum allowed.

But what makes this performance especially interesting is not just the number itself. Even at the highest speeds, the Prince 38 Sport Cabin maintains a composed running attitude and a sense of control that allows you to make use of the available power with great confidence. The three outboards deliver full, continuous power, while the hull conveys a pleasant sense of directional stability. It is a combination that makes sporty boating extremely engaging.

The Nuova Jolly hull put to the test in tight turns

If the speed performance is impressive, it is in the dynamic behavior that the Prince 38 Sport Cabin demonstrates the full quality of its design. Nuova Jolly hulls have long been appreciated for their seakeeping qualities and for striking a particularly successful balance between speed, comfort, and rough-water performance. To verify these characteristics, we put the Prince 38 Sport Cabin through a series of demanding maneuvers.

We reduce speed to around 30 knots, trim the engines down, and start with a tight turn to starboard. The response is surprising: the RIB follows the set trajectory with remarkable precision, maintaining truly impressive grip on the water. Even when adding power during the maneuver, the hull shows no tendency to slide out, continuing to carve a tight, smooth arc. The centrifugal force is felt, of course, but the feeling at the helm remains one of always being fully in control of the boat.

We repeat the maneuver on the opposite side, making an equally decisive turn to port. The behavior doesn’t change: the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin holds its line with great precision, demonstrating excellent lateral grip. This is an especially important trait on a Maxi-RIB of this size, because it allows you to tackle even dynamic maneuvers without compromising the sense of safety on board.

Further confirmation comes when we cross the waves produced by our own wake. The hull handles them with great ease, slicing through them and deflecting the water sideways without generating abrupt reactions or jarring impacts. The ride is surprisingly smooth, even when you decide to fully exploit the boat’s sporty character.

Acceleration from 0 to 40 knots in just 12 seconds

Another characteristic worth exploring in more depth is acceleration. After slowing down to a stop, we once again push the three throttles all the way forward to measure the time needed to reach 40 knots. The thrust is immediate and powerful. The Prince 38 Sport Cabin passes 10 knots almost instantly, gets on plane without hesitation, and keeps accelerating with an impressive surge. The 20- and 30-knot marks arrive in rapid succession, while the speedometer reaches 40 knots after just 12 seconds: truly remarkable acceleration for a 38-foot cabin RIB, one that highlights not only the power of the three Mercury Verado V8 engines but also the hydrodynamic efficiency of the hull.

And yet, despite these performance figures, the Prince 38 Sport Cabin is not a boat that necessarily requires aggressive driving to be appreciated. Settling back to around 35 knots, in a slight sea with waves on the bow, the comfort level remains very high. The hull effectively absorbs the impacts, making it possible to maintain a brisk pace without unduly tiring those on board. It is precisely this versatility that represents one of the design’s main strengths: a Maxi-RIB capable of delivering adrenaline-pumping acceleration, but also of tackling long passages in a relaxed manner.

The exterior of the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin

With the sea trial complete, we head back to port to explore the spaces of the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin. And it is precisely when viewing it at rest that the attention paid to space planning stands out even more. The tour has to begin at the stern, dominated by the three Mercury Verado V8 engines of 300 horsepower each. Despite the bulk of the engines, Nuova Jolly has managed to carve out a generously sized swim platform, which makes it easy to get in and out of the water and makes climbing back aboard after a swim especially comfortable.

Just forward of that is an enormous sunpad, wide enough to comfortably accommodate two or three people. It is an area dedicated to relaxation, perfect for spending days at anchor. On either side of the sunpad are two passageways that make it easy to reach the central cockpit, where one of the most interesting areas of the entire boat unfolds. Here we find a large dinette featuring a C-shaped settee, able to seat six or seven people. At the center is a retractable electric table, which can be lowered to blend into the cockpit sole or raised to the desired height.

This solution makes it possible to quickly transform the area to suit the needs of the moment: from a large open space for moving around the boat, to a comfortable dining area, to an additional sunbathing surface. It is an extremely versatile configuration, one that makes the most of the cockpit’s considerable beam and lets you take advantage of every bit of available space.

Outdoor galley and helm station: everything within reach

Serving the dinette is a complete outdoor galley, designed to make time aboard enjoyable even during longer stops. The equipment includes a sink, a cooking area that can also be configured with an induction cooktop, and a refrigerator of generous size located in the lower part of the cabinet. It is a practical solution that makes it possible to prepare lunches and dinners without having to go below deck, keeping you in touch with the guests seated in the dinette.

Moving forward, you reach the helm station, which has been carefully designed both ergonomically and in terms of protection from the elements. The large windshield effectively shields you from the wind even when running fast. During our test, moreover, the hull showed an excellent ability to deflect spray, keeping the helm area dry.

The station is protected overhead by a T-top, whose coverage can be extended further with carbon fiber poles and shade awnings. It is a useful solution especially on summer days, when having shaded surfaces becomes important.

Two comfortable seats facing forward make it possible to tackle even long passages in a comfortable position. The layout of the controls is rational and intuitive: the throttles for the three Mercury engines are easy to reach, as are the bow thruster controls, the maneuvering joystick, and the anchor windlass control. Everything is arranged so that the driver can manage a boat of this size with ease, both while underway and when maneuvering in port.

The large bow of the Prince 38 Sport Cabin

Another distinctive feature of the Prince 38 Sport Cabin is the bow area. To get there, you walk along two wide, secure side decks that allow you to move easily along the boat. Once at the bow, the sense of space is truly surprising. The available surface is particularly extensive and can be configured with large sunbathing cushions, turning the entire area into a space dedicated to relaxation.

The solution with teak decking, found on the boat we tested, enhances the boat’s aesthetics and gives the bow an elegant, tidy look. It is a space that reflects the design philosophy of this Maxi-RIB: offering livable surfaces comparable to those of traditional boats, without giving up the sportiness and practicality typical of RIBs.

The interior: a surprisingly spacious cabin

But the real surprise of the Prince 38 Sport Cabin lies right beneath the large bow surface. Going below deck, you discover an environment you would hardly expect to find inside a 38-foot Maxi-RIB. The cabin of the Prince 38 Sport Cabin immediately impresses with its size and the amount of surface area available: in the lower part, the width exceeds two meters, allowing for an extremely generous sleeping area where you can rest without the space limitations that often characterize cabin RIBs.

The space was also designed to offer remarkable flexibility of use. The sleeping area can in fact be converted into an interior dinette, creating a space to use on less favorable days or when you want to spend time out of the weather, thus significantly increasing the boat’s versatility for those who intend to use it not only for day trips but also for multi-day cruises.

Completing the interior are several storage compartments, essential for organizing luggage, gear, and personal belongings during extended stays aboard. Particularly important is also the presence of a separate head with a shower stall. This is an element that helps make the Prince 38 Sport Cabin a boat truly suited to weekends and longer periods at sea. The combination of such a large cabin, an independent head, and particularly livable outdoor spaces is one of this model’s greatest strengths.

Conclusion

The Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin is a Maxi-RIB that manages to impress in many respects. Performance is undoubtedly one of its main distinguishing features: with three Mercury Verado V8 engines of 300 horsepower each, reaching 47.2 knots and accelerating from 0 to 40 knots in just 12 seconds means having a truly remarkable power reserve to count on.

But it would be reductive to judge this boat on numbers alone. The quality of the hull emerges above all in its ability to maintain precise, predictable behavior in tight turns, in the smoothness with which it handles waves, and in the high level of comfort it delivers even at the most sustained cruising speeds.

On top of all this comes a particularly successful use of space. The large dinette, the numerous sunbathing surfaces, the outdoor galley, and above all the cabin below deck with its separate head make it possible to use the Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin in very different ways, from a simple day at sea to a multi-day cruise.

It is precisely the balance among sportiness, safety, and livability that makes this Maxi-RIB especially interesting. The Prince 38 Sport Cabin is a boat that can thrill those who love fast boating, but also provide all the space and comfort needed to experience the sea without compromise.

Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin – Technical specifications

Sources and references

Nuova Jolly Prince 38 Sport Cabin – FAQ