Fairey Huntsman

[Peppermint]

Re: Have you looked here

http://www.transworld-yachts.co.uk/page_1.htm

Loads of cash required I suspect but looked nice at SIBS.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[milltech]

The Spearfish is the best of the bunch. Very flared bow makes the ride dry in almost all conditions, (meaning all the time that I remember), without a doubt the best boat I've ever owned though with a rather limited value use wise.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[milltech]

I thought the Spear was rather pretty, it's the Fantome I could never come to terms with.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[jhr]

The Spearfish is a strong contender, for me, for the title "most beautiful powerboat ever built" and I always felt that the Spear's wheelhouse spoilt her lines - tho' I agree that the Fantome is a bit odd and her looks haven't aged too well.

When I was at School, we were taken out for a spin on the Old Bill's Spear (called "Alarm"?) in Poole Harbour which was a complete blast. I don't think the Harbour speed limit applied in those days (early '70s) but if it did, they completely ignored it /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[burgundyben]

In recent years a few spears have had the wheelhouse removed and a windscreen fitted, its quite an easy and cost effective solution to the lack of spearfish about.

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[miket]

Try the Maldives?

The Maldivians use the Spearfish as taxis to take customers from airport to hotel for the nearer islands.
I imagine they were made locally under licence as there seem to be rather a lot of them.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jhr]

Ben,

On a different but related subject, some years ago I was backpacking in the Saronic Gulf and we ended up on the Island of Hydra, which is (or was, anyway) a fab place. There was a water taxi service, running from the Main Harbour to a very posh hotel along the coast. As I was a penniless graduate in those days, we didn't use the service but the boats looked suspiciously like Faireys, possibly even Spearfish. Have you ever heard mention of this? I know that some ended up being used commercially in the Med.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[burgundyben]

Not sure about Saronic Gulf (or even where it is) but as miket says lots of spearfish are in the maldives along with the odd fantome, I think most of the fantomes went to Libya. read the pages o nthe FOC site if you're sufficiently interested.

<hr width=100% size=1>My house is for sale, 2 beds, Hamble.

 

[milltech]

Re: Try the Maldives?

I think they were all purchased here, that's why there's so few in this market.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[milltech]

I think the money would have to be on the high spend side to have any effect. I like working boats and don't have a problem with the Spear, in many ways the wheelhouse adds to year round use and the after deck is still quite big.

I think I'm right in saying that the Poole Police boat "Alarm" came out of service only because the lack of watertight bulkheads meant she no longer met the Health and Safety requirements for offshore use in open sea conditions. I think the same fate applied to other Spears, most appearing on the disposal market around the same time.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com