Away with the Faireys

[AustinPowers]

I always thought the classic lines of the Fairey Huntsman and its stablmates couldn't be bettered. Flattering that people have tried to imitate the success of Alan Burnard in designing a classic but why are the press so ready to accept modern interpretations as real Faireys, and what happens to the name and reputation if the copies outnumber the originals?

We see it all too often in the film world with "homages" to the originals of; The Italian Job, 39 Steps and latterly, the Pink Panther.

Steve Martin may be the new Inspector Clouseau, however I prefer Peter Sellers for his subtlety and style in creating a classic role and as for James Bond, well he'll always be Sean Connery to me, not Austin Powers.

 

[jhr]

Aren't most of the modern "Faireys" built from the same moulds as the originals? Iirc, the 30 footer is a Spearfish hull with a slightly taller superstructure and the 37 and 40 footers take their hull from the military ("Dagger") hulls produced by Fairey. The original Spearfish was an updating of the 28ft Huntsman, I think, so Fairey did it themselves.

They're not original in the sense that they are GRP rather than cold-moulded ply, and their lines have been updated a bit, but they carry Alan Burnard's seal of approval and I reckon they're still cracking boats

 

[burgundyben]

Aren't most of the modern "Faireys" built from the same moulds as the originals? Iirc, the 30 footer is a Spearfish hull with a slightly taller superstructure and the 37 and 40 footers take their hull from the military ("Dagger") hulls produced by Fairey. The original Spearfish was an updating of the 28ft Huntsman, I think, so Fairey did it themselves.

They're not original in the sense that they are GRP rather than cold-moulded ply, and their lines have been updated a bit, but they carry Alan Burnard's seal of approval and I reckon they're still cracking boats

You are mostly correct, Spearfish was moulded from Huntsman 31.

The wood boats were hot moulded.

Superstructure on the Swordsman 30 is based on the Tarrant built boats of the 80's or 90's, not quite sure when those were built, it wasn't many.

37 and 40 are indeed the Dagger hull.

As you say, all have been under the eye of Alan Burnard although I think there have been some bones of contention along the way, I'm not sure if its really true to say they carry his seal of approval, they did have his input for sure.

As a long time Fairey owner I'd say that the current Swordsman Marine boats and indeed the Supermarine Swordfish 36 are continuing to do a fine job. Some might not like to see a pastiche and the retro market is a fickle one that does not always age as well as the original. (VW Beetle?)

All variants are welcomed by the owners club, in fact the Commodore has a Swordfish.

 

[AustinPowers]

All variants are welcomed by the owners club, in fact the Commodore has a Swordfish.

Thanks for the clarification Burgundyben, Was it his boat that sank in the opening leg of the 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race?


The principal concern must surely be upholding the reputation of Fairey which has been built up through years of racing success and the fine record of longevity proven by the Huntsman and Spearfish's original construction methods up to 50 years ago.

The latter Faireys were built in the early days of polyester boat construction and as such seem to have escaped the excesses of osmosis suffered by lesser marques today. The feeling is that they were built, largely in a time when lifetime cost analysis and cost to weight ratios hadn't been thought of and as such that is why they have stood the test of time so wonderfully.

The sheer thickness of their hulls and the extensive use of woven rovings seems to have also permitted the massive increase in power from 350HP or so to almost 800HP for the converted military Fairey Spears of today.

Modern boats may well be even better built, but it'll take a few years or so and a few races under the belt to find out.

Was the Tarrant Spearfish regarded as a Fairey and should owning one bestow the owner with the right to fly a Fairey burgee?

I imagine any association with Fairey would be an honour and a great benefit but my question was, why do the motorboating press so quickly associate these modern interpretations with Fairey when as you say all they seem to do is use a 30+ year old Fairey mould?

Is it simply because mentioning Fairey is a sure way to sell more magazines?

 

[AustinPowers]

All variants are welcomed by the owners club, in fact the Commodore has a Swordfish.

Seemingly the crossover has reached as far as the Royal Southern, they refer to your commodes (post 1989) Supermarine Swordfish, named Spitfire, as a classic Fairey too.

".... the Swordsman Marine Predicted Log.... classic division was won by John Skuse in his Fairey Huntsman who received the Fairey Trophy, from Mark Rhodes's Fairey Swordfish and Paul Harlow's Fairey Swordsman.

 

[Bassplayer]

Ain't nothing like the real thing IMHO. That's why I'm off to survey/sea trial my next aquistion tomorrow a Super Swordsman....