Boat in build pics (2013 Fairline Squadron 78)

[rafiki_]

Well the tableware just arrived. Hand made bone china from Legle in Limoges, France, with handpainted decoration and real platinum silver rims. Five grand's worth. Unfortunately the despatch department decided to skimp a bit on the polystyreme packaging blobs. About a 20% hit rate, LOL. Another job to sort out....

Can I volunteer JTB to bring the replacements back in his truck, after the rib delivery? Sorry Jimmy.

 

[longjohnsilver]

A few minutes with a tube of superglue and no-one will know this happened! All will be as good as new

 

[rafiki_]

A few minutes with a tube of superglue and no-one will know this happened! All will be as good as new

eBay calling?

 

[Lozzer]

Hi JFM

sorry for late reply just been on holiday skiing.

The RC model is great. It has 3 different sails. Smallest one is good for a F6, mind you running downwind it tends to submarine.

I thought my season was sorted but I think our plans might be changing. I am now looking at Greece for two months. Main issue is getting a mooring in these harbours.. You cannot per book..

Whilst Greece is a lovely place it is very basic in places, even the nice areas. Have you cruised in Greece? Do you have any recommendations?

When do you expect to be in SOF with New boat.

Hi Lozzer
I've seen those r/c Lasers in the shops a few times and wondered about getting one. Looking good in your pic! On non windy days I could do a flyby and create wind with the quadcopter, though the carnage and expense of that could be considerable
Ready for the season? What's itinerary looking like?

 

[deuc02]

Well the tableware just arrived. Hand made porcelaine from Legle in Limoges, France, with handpainted decoration and real platinum silver rims. Five grand's worth. Unfortunately the despatch department decided to skimp a bit on the polystyreme packaging blobs. About a 20% hit rate, LOL. Another job to sort out....

5k for some plates and bowls. They must have seen you coming. Reckon the postie did you a favour. For durability can highly recommend plastic dog bowls found in most chandleries. And ive got some silver airfix paint somewhere i can borrow you if you want to tart them up a bit

 

[Danchc]

Hi JFM,

Is it me, or are you and these build threads doing more to sell Fairline SQ78 boats than Fairline themselves? Their SQ78 webpage has not been updated in ages. They need to add some new pictures and maybe a video or two, or a 360 virtual tour like the SQ60.

I assumed that they were not because they planned to supercede the 78 with the 80 (http://www.worldinteriordesignnetwork.com/news/fairline_to_launch_80_feet_squadron_yacht_110729/ & http://www.fairline.com/images/boats/brochures/Main Cat Brochure-2012-en-S80.pdf ), but it still does not have it's own section on the squadron page.

Have you seen them building the 80 while up at their factory? Or is it on hold?

From the pics, I think I prefer the layout of the 78. The 80 looks very square and 1960's looking, and the centre galley is just odd, it's almost in the cockpit...

Talking of videos, if Fairline don't make any, maybe you could do one in he factory - would be very interesting.

 

[rafiki_]

Hi JFM,

Is it me, or are you and these build threads doing more to sell Fairline SQ78 boats than Fairline themselves? Their SQ78 webpage has not been updated in ages. They need to add some new pictures and maybe a video or two, or a 360 virtual tour like the SQ60.

I assumed that they were not because they planned to supercede the 78 with the 80 (http://www.worldinteriordesignnetwork.com/news/fairline_to_launch_80_feet_squadron_yacht_110729/ & http://www.fairline.com/images/boats/brochures/Main Cat Brochure-2012-en-S80.pdf ), but it still does not have it's own section on the squadron page.

Have you seen them building the 80 while up at their factory? Or is it on hold?

From the pics, I think I prefer the layout of the 78. The 80 looks very square and 1960's looking, and the centre galley is just odd, it's almost in the cockpit...

Talking of videos, if Fairline don't make any, maybe you could do one in he factory - would be very interesting.

Hmmmmmmmm. Danch, I don't think you are being very fair to JFM. This thread is about the mods and customisation not the base Sq78. I don't recall a pic or discussion about the standard item, as the focus is about what JFM is specifying for his boat, and the reasoning behind it. I find this and similar threads fascinating, and highly educational, and personally am grateful to JFM for taking the time out to share his thoughts and knowledge with us. I equally enjoy Vas's thread about his rebuild annd others like the Blue Angel threads. You have an option to skip over the thread if you are not interested or you don't like it

 

[jfm]

Hi JFM,

Is it me, or are you and these build threads doing more to sell Fairline SQ78 boats than Fairline themselves? Their SQ78 webpage has not been updated in ages. They need to add some new pictures and maybe a video or two, or a 360 virtual tour like the SQ60.

I assumed that they were not because they planned to supercede the 78 with the 80 (http://www.worldinteriordesignnetwork.com/news/fairline_to_launch_80_feet_squadron_yacht_110729/ & http://www.fairline.com/images/boats/brochures/Main Cat Brochure-2012-en-S80.pdf ), but it still does not have it's own section on the squadron page.

Have you seen them building the 80 while up at their factory? Or is it on hold?

From the pics, I think I prefer the layout of the 78. The 80 looks very square and 1960's looking, and the centre galley is just odd, it's almost in the cockpit...

Talking of videos, if Fairline don't make any, maybe you could do one in he factory - would be very interesting.

This thread is most definitely intended as technical stuff for like-minded boat geeks. And also I get great input, even to the extent of, say, all those staircase drawings from Italian architects on the Match1 thread I enjoy reading other build/refit threads (of which there are loads in the history of this forum, from Hurricane, Vas, BartW, Magnum, Kristoff, jonmendez, Deepor and many others) and I'm contributing my bit in return. If this does anything to help sell a sq78 that's incidental, though it would be a good thing becuase the boatbuilding industry is in tough times and if its followers and customers can help out then we should all do that - we all want these boat builders to thrive so as to keep comeptition and innovation going.

BTW, as regards negatives aspects of the Sq78 I mention those too. I have no bias and I bought 2 sq78s purely on my own free will. After selling the first Sq78, I could have bought something else and looked hard at Ferretti 800 (down to spec and pricing) and Prin78, to mention just 2 examples, but I decided on Sq78 based on its technical merits

Ref the website etc, which was refreshed quite a lot about a year ago btw, actually Fairline don't need, arguably, to spend the huge cost of more marketing materials on Sq78. They are sold out till end of this year (I'm not sure exactly but something like 6 slots after mine are sold) and customers just keep buying it. Captains recommend it because it is so well built, and the customisation available is 100x what Ferretti and Princess will do (actually they will do nothing other than a tickbox options list, pretty much) which attracts a whole underworld of buyers who know what they want and need customisation. In the last couple of years worth of Sq78 Fairline have made a day head on main deck for Russian owner, internal staircase all enclosed (as distinct from my "floating sculpture" stairs), tender garage, scuba centre, gun room, several stabbed boats both gyro and fin, a few with "my" extra fuel tank, a US boat with huge clothes storage in lieu of a cabin, a master bathroom with bath tub and separate shower, plus both of my boats which have hundreds of heavy duty mods.

Let's be clear here: FairPrinSeek et al build lovely boats but they do not actually know 100% what features to include in a boat. They've never owned one and semi-lived on it and had to manage the whole fuel/food/cleaning/laundry/black-tanks/flowers job that goes on behind the scenes of entertaining clients and guests on this sort of boat. But there are many customers who do know this stuff and therefore will only buy with customisation, and at 24m there isn't a long list of builders you can go to for this much customisation and there is only one in UK. And the best part is that it is all for broadly same price as a Princess 78 or whatever. And that's why the Sq78 just sells and sells...

The 80 project is going slowly becuase there is no need for it currently and there would be much capex needed to get it to market, and they're concentrating/spending on other new models like t48 and i guess then a Sq48 version of that. I have no idea but I'd think hull#1 of the replacement for Sq78 is some years away. No building on an 80 has started yet. (By the way I liked the centre galley on the design concept they have for Sq80 and I've been aboard the full size plywood mock up. But each to their own on that!)

I don't think i'd do a factory video because there are lots of folks working and privacy issues etc, sorry. But I have done and will continue to put some non factory videos on here, and feel free to come aboard and look at the boat if timing allows me to have it in solent for a few weeks this June, or at Cannes boatshow this September

 

[Danchc]

Hmmmmmmmm. Danch, I don't think you are being very fair to JFM. This thread is about the mods and customisation not the base Sq78. I don't recall a pic or discussion about the standard item, as the focus is about what JFM is specifying for his boat, and the reasoning behind it. I find this and similar threads fascinating, and highly educational, and personally am grateful to JFM for taking the time out to share his thoughts and knowledge with us. I equally enjoy Vas's thread about his rebuild annd others like the Blue Angel threads. You have an option to skip over the thread if you are not interested or you don't like it

I'm confused!! Exactly what did I say in my post that was unfair to JFM? I was complimenting him on generating so much interest in the SQ78, even more than Fairline do themselves. How is that unfair to JFM?????

I am fully aware that this is a customisation thread, it would not get this long if it were not! If you read this and his previous build thead, the standard SQ78 has had some changes to it's standard spec because of customisation experience, yet they do not seem to be reflected in the webpage or photo's on Fairlines site. That is all I was commenting on, and I was definitely not criticising the thread in any way!!! I agree that JFM has done a great job in these threads, but I have said that already in posts on this and his previous build thread.

As for the option to skip reading this thread, why would I when I have clearly enjoyed it so much?

I keep re-reading my post and cannot see what I wrote that warranted this aggressive response.....

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I'm confused!! Exactly what did I say in my post that was unfair to JFM? I was complimenting him on generating so much interest in the SQ78, even more than Fairline do themselves. How is that unfair to JFM?????

I am fully aware that this is a customisation thread, it would not get this long if it were not! If you read this and his previous build thead, the standard SQ78 has had some changes to it's standard spec because of customisation experience, yet they do not seem to be reflected in the webpage or photo's on Fairlines site. That is all I was commenting on, and I was definitely not criticising the thread in any way!!! I agree that JFM has done a great job in these threads, but I have said that already in posts on this and his previous build thread.

As for the option to skip reading this thread, why would I when I have clearly enjoyed it so much?

I keep re-reading my post and cannot see what I wrote that warranted this aggressive response.....

Hi Danchc

I don't think Rafiki's response was intended to be aggressive - I think what he was responding to was your first sentence in your post #1206. That sentence _could_ be read as suggesting this thread is some form of marketing exercise for Fairline, rather than what it actually is, which is an enthusiasts build thread. But, it's clear from your subsequent response that this isn't the point you were trying to make, so all is fine.

Let's get back to the thread. I think we should be berating jfm for not installing a pole* in the saloon...

Cheers
Jimmy

* this might make it clearer:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?319950-MY-SIA-115-Predator-Poole

 

[Danchc]

This thread is most definitely intended as technical stuff for like-minded boat geeks.

I do fully understand this. It would be a short and simply thread otherwise

BTW, as regards negatives aspects of the Sq78 I mention those too. I have no bias and I bought 2 sq78s purely on my own free will. After selling the first Sq78, I could have bought something else and looked hard at Ferretti 800 (down to spec and pricing) and Prin78, to mention just 2 examples, but I decided on Sq78 based on its technical merits

I thought you designed all the negative out of it I must admit, I could not list many negative points of the sq78, and I have spent some time researching and comparing different boats.

Ref the website etc, which was refreshed quite a lot about a year ago btw, actually Fairline don't need, arguably, to spend the huge cost of more marketing materials on Sq78. They are sold out till end of this year ..../.... And that's why the Sq78 just sells and sells...

I suppose, if your production line is full and the boat has so many recommendations for it, they have little need for extra effort on the webpage. But it would be nice for outsiders, looking in at what might be (or will one day be).

The 80 project is going slowly becuase there is no need for it currently and there would be much capex needed to get it to market, and they're concentrating/spending on other new models like t48 and i guess then a Sq48 version of that. I have no idea but I'd think hull#1 of the replacement for Sq78 is some years away. No building on an 80 has started yet. (By the way I liked the centre galley on the design concept they have for Sq80 and I've been aboard the full size plywood mock up. But each to their own on that!)

Thanks for the update. You like the centre galley... interesting.

I don't think i'd do a factory video because there are lots of folks working and privacy issues etc, sorry. But I have done and will continue to put some non factory videos on here, and feel free to come aboard and look at the boat if timing allows me to have it in solent for a few weeks this June, or at Cannes boatshow this September

Don't apologise, it was just a thought and your reasons are very true (and you are spending enough time on this thread as it is).

 

[jfm]

I'm confused!! Exactly what did I say in my post that was unfair to JFM? I was complimenting him on generating so much interest in the SQ78, even more than Fairline do themselves. How is that unfair to JFM?????

Hi Danchc - I agree with you and certainly no offence taken by me. Rafiki probably sped-read that a bit fast and somehow came to a bit of a wrong conclusion. He'll probably correct himself later. No worries; it's only a forum, I've met Rafiki and he's a very nice guy

There's a funny background to your question of whether Fairline should or shouldn't advertise say some of the custom features on my current or previous boat. Fact is they can do customisation big time, but they can't do it on all 10 or so Sq78s they make each year. They can do a boat even 2/3rds of mine only on a say one-out-of-3 or 4 basis, and the two/three in-betweeners need to be bog standard or with just options off the tick box list. If anyone wants to criticise me, it is that i have cannibalised other customers' customisation chances by hoovering up pretty much all of Fairline's customisation/design/build team for the last 6 months, though in my defence (i) a lot of customers ask for only a small bit of customisation (some have one big must-have like the 3rd fuel tank or the stabs or whatever but they dont get into detail on dashboards say), (ii) it's first come first served (iii) I have paid for it all to the tune of a 45 foot flybridge and at a macro level we all (customers and builders) want our industry to thrive

Now these threads and knowledge of some past custom boats (see hull #44 here http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/fairline-yacht/7810-my-new-fairline-squadron-78-build.html) has created more awareness, and more dealers have become more aware and can obviously tempt buyers by promises of big things like stabilisers or custom staircases or whatever floats the customer's boat. Remember Match1 was Fairline's first ever fin stabbed boat, and since then they have done about 6 more iirc. Fairline however probably think they don't need any more awareness of the customisation possibilites for now hence they most certianly wouldn't want my boat's spec advertised on their website I'd guess!

My comments on Fairline's marketing are guesswork btw. I'm not privy to their detailed marketing strategy etc nor do I even want to be - that's their business and I've got plenty else to fill up my time. So don't take anything I say on this as gospel or "insider". your comments are interesting though on revving up interest among say future customers and Fairline do read this stuff so will take note. I think your point is that building brand awareness and following is a long term game. Come to think of it I knew of and liked Fairlines for perhaps 15 years before buying my first one in my early 30's (the delay being lack of money not lack of love for sea/boats which is a genetic defect), so your point there is a good one

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Hi Danchc - I agree with you and certainly no offence taken by me. Rafiki probably sped-read that a bit fast and somehow came to a bit of a wrong conclusion. He'll probably correct himself later. No worries; it's only a forum, I've met Rafiki and he's a very nice guy

Actually you are doing a great job for Fairline, jfm Google Fairline Squadron 78 and your previous thread comes up on page 1. For any manufacturer, this kind of unsolicited testimonial is priceless. Of course I'm not suggesting in any way that this was your intention but it does demonstrate the power of the internet and, in particular, Google, which if I understand our website designer correctly, loves social media websites and therefore will favour brands which are consistently mentioned on them. Of course, it works both ways. If you google Trader Motor Yachts, this forum comes up on p2 and from there any prospective Trader purchaser will doubtless find gludy's threads and be suitably alarmed

 

[rafiki_]

I'm confused!! Exactly what did I say in my post that was unfair to JFM? I was complimenting him on generating so much interest in the SQ78, even more than Fairline do themselves. How is that unfair to JFM?????

I am fully aware that this is a customisation thread, it would not get this long if it were not! If you read this and his previous build thead, the standard SQ78 has had some changes to it's standard spec because of customisation experience, yet they do not seem to be reflected in the webpage or photo's on Fairlines site. That is all I was commenting on, and I was definitely not criticising the thread in any way!!! I agree that JFM has done a great job in these threads, but I have said that already in posts on this and his previous build thread.

As for the option to skip reading this thread, why would I when I have clearly enjoyed it so much?

I keep re-reading my post and cannot see what I wrote that warranted this aggressive response.....

Danchc, I apologise if I appeared agressive, that was not my intention. There have been 1 or 2 threads on here that have crossed the threshold of business or product promotion, and I thought that perhaps you were concerned that this thread was doing the same. Clearly not, so I am back in my box, and we can all get back to enjoying this thread

 

[Danchc]

There's a funny background to your question of whether Fairline should or shouldn't advertise say some of the custom features on my current or previous boat. .....

I can imagine the CEO of Fairline reading your posts and hanging his head and groaning: "Nooo, don't tell them about that, they'll all want one..."

But, as you say, most will not want anything near the changes you ask for. How many would redesign the black water system on a boat? Not many.

I can't help thinking that Fairline could do with a bit of expansion. Easy for me to say, of course, but maybe not so easy for them. If small to mid sized boats are not doing as well as the high-end range, then Fairline would be foolish to expand for now.

That said, they are getting good reviews in the US atm. Perhaps opening a production facility over there would be a good plan. It would free up slots over here, and US people always like their own workforce used wherever possible.

But, we will see. Let's hope Fairline continue to go strong for many years. I like the idea that a British company employing British craftsmen in Britain is doing well.

Rafiki - we are good. Just a misunderstanding. I responded quickly as forum misunderstandings have a habit of snowballing, but we're good.

 

[MapisM]

US people always like their own workforce used wherever possible.

Mmm... They don't seem to care a lot, when it comes to checking how much bucks they must fork out to buy something.
They were the first who made the People's Republic what it is, after all...

 

[Jonmendez]

Have to say JFM you are an inspiration I was dreading our 'winter rebuild' But I have found myself really enjoying the planning and sourcing of all the various parts needed. Interestingly as I am also the major labour part as well, seeing it all go together each day has been great fun if slightly shattering. Even at 32 foot, so way smaller than Match the amount of detail is immense. Take my hat off - don't really know how you manage a job as well! Following yours has provided many ideas and a much tidier finished product on mine - well almost finished!

 

[davids0865]

Hi JFM,

Truly brill thread and a stunning boat taking shape.

You have said in the past that you dislike running a genset at night, I agree, however the kit that you will have had on M1 and more in M2 will obviously require a lot of elecktrickery overnight and I'm sure that you have a well practiced genset running routine. How big is the battery bank and the chargers/inverters. Is most of the galley kit, ie fridges/freezers 240v only.

My routine in the past has been to run the genset in the evening to cook, make water, charge the batteries and cool the cabins before everyone retires, I guess this is much the same for you?

Overall I have to say I am overawed by the level of detail and care you have lavished on ever element of your spec.

 

[jfm]

Have to say JFM you are an inspiration I was dreading our 'winter rebuild' But I have found myself really enjoying the planning and sourcing of all the various parts needed. Interestingly as I am also the major labour part as well, seeing it all go together each day has been great fun if slightly shattering. Even at 32 foot, so way smaller than Match the amount of detail is immense. Take my hat off - don't really know how you manage a job as well! Following yours has provided many ideas and a much tidier finished product on mine - well almost finished!

Teehee - glad some of it is useful. As you well know, having gone right back to the hull in your e/room project, it's really nice to get behind the mere surface of these boats and get it all clean, tidy and right, and to know how is is all done and where everything is, and to know personally the guys who did the important stuff (Col on your engines, fe) and know it has all been done right. Especially when you're out of sight of land a year later and the sea gets up. Also that first days/months/weeks when it comes out of the shed all done and into the water, and all the stuff you've been thinking about/sketching is there in front of you, as shown on your videos last week, makes for quite a nice feeling and an especially big cup of tea

 

[jfm]

Hi JFM,

Truly brill thread and a stunning boat taking shape.

You have said in the past that you dislike running a genset at night, I agree, however the kit that you will have had on M1 and more in M2 will obviously require a lot of elecktrickery overnight and I'm sure that you have a well practiced genset running routine. How big is the battery bank and the chargers/inverters. Is most of the galley kit, ie fridges/freezers 240v only.

My routine in the past has been to run the genset in the evening to cook, make water, charge the batteries and cool the cabins before everyone retires, I guess this is much the same for you?

Overall I have to say I am overawed by the level of detail and care you have lavished on ever element of your spec.

This is a tricky one David and I've debated it in my head a lot. It's easy just to fit more batteries if that's your preference, and the downside is the space consumption and weight. You might remeber that OuterReef 70 featured on this forum last year whose owner I've met, and it's a beautiful boat, but the owner wanted ability to run airco on batteries so he has massive inverters plus an unbelieveable amount of batteries in the keel. Not sure how many but it's well over a dozen of those 500mm long truck battery jobs

In the end I reckoned I would never haver a problem during the day due to genset use in afternoons and for cooking lunch, and because engines charge batteries underway, so my only problem is overnight on anchor. I don't use airco at night and have specced 2x the amount of opening windows in master cabin. Sure, if there was a weird heatwave I might want airco, and would then use genset but this would be once in blue moon. Like you I always use genset in evening for an hour so batteries are full when we turn in. BTW I have a second 24 battery charger (standard fit on s78) that is normally turned off but for this evening charge I flick it on and have 200amps of batt charge not the usual 100amps

The only overnight load is refrigeration (all lights are LED) thru the inverters. There are 5 fridge units, all mains AC, and two are big SubZero drawer units. I have decided not tp spec any extra house batteries due to weight and space so the standard fit batteries (500Ah@24v) are well flattened by the morning, maybe down to 60% (there is a mastervolt computer thingy that displays %age charge remaining). That deep cycling doesn't do them any long term good but I don't care because I just get new ones each winter if needed - they're basically disposable items. I also specced an auto genset start by Capricorn-Controls.com so when the house batteries get down to the trigger level (21 volts or something) one of the gensets autostarts. Both batt chargers - 200amps - will be on so the genset will run 20 mins or something to fill up the batteries. So, in hot weahter I can expect a genset to run at 6am maybe, and in average weather it wont autostart and I would manually start a genset to make breakfast etc.

I reckon this will be ok but it's an area where you have a lot of choice and lots of detialed-speccing owners come up with differnet answers on this one

T'other thing is, I have 500Ah@24 house batteries and then 250Ah@24 dedicated batteries for port engine and ditto for stbd. I thought on Match 1 of rewiring so that only one engine has dedicateds, and the other engine batteries join the house bank which would increase the house bank capacity 1.5X. I might do this on Match2 if I get around to it - I can't see why not, esp as the port/stb dedicated sets have a link relay

While discussing spec I have a 12v battery set for electronics, rahter than a 24-12 dropper, with 12v 230v charging plus 28-14 charger dropper so it can charge off engine alternator. And I have 2 inverters: one is 3500watt 230v for the music/TV and icemakers, and a few wall sockets around the boat for phone and laptop chargers. The second is a custom install of a 3500watt 110v 60cycle US spec, because the SubZero fridges/freezers that I wanted are a US-only product so were imported specially. The inverters are Mastervolt and all wired back to remote control switches and digital metering on the panel near the lower helm