The Princess Yachts V48 2016 vs Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Princess Yachts V48 2016 at 50,1 ft versus Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 at 52,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 tips the scales at 40 199 lbs — 8 899 lbs less than the Princess Yachts V48 2016 at 31 300 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 650 hp, the Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 has a 215-hp advantage over the Princess Yachts V48 2016's 435-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Princess Yachts V48 2016 carries 291 gallons versus 41 gallons in the Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 is rated for 16 passengers, while the Princess Yachts V48 2016 caps at 15. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Princess Yachts V50 Open 2020 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 16 passengers and at 52,7 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Princess Yachts V48 2016 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 15 that costs less to run day-to-day.