Fairline 41/43, flybridge, a couple of (simple?) questions

[mrlavin]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I'm in the process of moving up a couple of notches in size from my current 29 ft boat. Looking primarily at 40-45 ft flybridge vessels; Princess and Fairline. I would be happy to receive some input on the below questions from you experienced yacht owners:

1. Fairline name boats e.g. 41/43, 43/45 etc. Is that the actual name? Or different names for different markets?
2. Would you say buying a early 90's Fairline is a very bad idea or is it ok? Because I see very few late 80s on the market which can either mean they didn't produce any, or the ones that were produced are now inoperatable.
3. Any other good advice on the 41/43 model?

 

[kashurst]

I think the two models you refer to are the 41 and the 43, Over time confusion has crept in with the names as later owners have got mixed up. The 43/45 sometimes came in a three bedroom version
I would think subject to condition, survey and anticipation of a few bits of work any Fairline was a good idea. Obviously they are getting on so check out the engines and hull really well, but a well loved example should be good for many more years.
I used to moor next to a 43/45 and it always struck me as very well made. stainless windowframes etc.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Buying an early 90s boat of any kind is only a bad idea if you're not prepared to spend the money and time maintaining it. Self evidently, the older a boat gets the more maintenance its going to need unless you strike lucky and find a boat thats had some major refit work done. I have owned Fairlines myself and an early 90s model would have been a solidly built boat so you should have no problems with the hull or the structure. The issue will be the mechanicals but as with any used boat purchase, do not skimp on having a full hull/equipment survey done by a qualified surveyor and a full engine check done by a competent technician. Money spent at this stage before you actually buy the boat will pay for itself many times over later

If you're not handy with the tools yourself, find yourself a reliable mechanic. He will become a close friend!

 

[ari]

1. Fairline name boats e.g. 41/43, 43/45 etc. Is that the actual name? Or different names for different markets?
   

In the early Nineties integral bathing platforms (ie part of the hull moulding instead of just a shelf bolted to a flat transom) became commonplace. The manufacturers saw a way of 'upscaling' the model designations (which referenced the boat length) and so started to include the bathing platform in that designation. But they didn't necessarily wait for a new model to come out before doing so.

As a result, some boats remained the same, but the badge on the side went up a couple of notches. From memory, the 41 became the 43 and the larger 43 became the 45 (And I think the Phantom 38 became the Phantom 41!). Very confusing because then you have two 41 model and two 43 models of similar era that are completely different boats.

The middle boat (the 41/43) had two thin diagonal windows on the side at the back of the saloon. the 43/35 and the 38/41 had thin horizontal windows here.

So to answer your question, it wasn't different markets that had different badges on the same boat, it was different years (later boats had the bigger numbers). I think the change took place in about 1993.

Hope that doesn't confuse things too much!

 

[Baseplate]

Much the same applies to the Sealine 410 Statesman/F43. The latter (97) models of the 410 included an extended bathing platform plus internal tweaks to decor and fittings.

Indeed, I believe that the 390, 410 and the F43 used the same hull moulding.