NoIllusion
Well-Known Member
Why was the Fairline 43 AC so unpopular??. I saw one in Cowes Yacht Haven last weekend and thought it looked pretty good. The accommodation must be pretty impressive for a 43 footer.......but why so few built ??
Fairline 43 AC
- Thread starter NoIllusion
- Start date
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Mebbe Fairline was trying to pinch a bit of the Broom market.
We have one lying near us on The Medway,looks perfectly OK to me but that aft cabin may detract from the lines a bit in some peoples view.
Now while not saying that Broom owners care little how how their boats look and are perhaps more concerned with practical things, perhaps Fairline buyers do not share those priorities.
We have one lying near us on The Medway,looks perfectly OK to me but that aft cabin may detract from the lines a bit in some peoples view.
Now while not saying that Broom owners care little how how their boats look and are perhaps more concerned with practical things, perhaps Fairline buyers do not share those priorities.
ari
Well-Known Member
It was too much money new for what it offered.
It was a 2 cabin boat with TAMD 63P's (which were a bit small for such a voluminously big boat), and for similar money at the time you could have had a Princess 440/460 with bigger (TAMD 72) engines and three cabins.
Plus it was ugly from the back, had ridiculously high side decks, and a weird sort of sportsboat cockpit on the back of a cruiser.
Just didn't quite come together somehow.
It was a 2 cabin boat with TAMD 63P's (which were a bit small for such a voluminously big boat), and for similar money at the time you could have had a Princess 440/460 with bigger (TAMD 72) engines and three cabins.
Plus it was ugly from the back, had ridiculously high side decks, and a weird sort of sportsboat cockpit on the back of a cruiser.
Just didn't quite come together somehow.
tcm
...
yep, the ugliness and the price: 300k for (at the time) only two cabins was too rich. As far as i know only 12 were made, or at least - not many. It was supposedly a replacement for the turbo 36- but loads more loot, far less flexible, far too bulky and not such an airy saloon. Fairline have their "hit boats"...and a few duds. I wd imagine the 43 AC was their worst to date. Another dud shorlty after was the squadron 52 i think, also two cabins, which they tried to advertise positively but it died a death. Heyho.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Agree with tcm. At the time the 43AC was introduced it was too much money for too little boat. The trouble was that it was supposed to be a long awaited replacement for the Turbo 36 but the average Turbo 36 owner had about £100k invested in his boat and the £300k Fairline were asking for the 43AC was a step too far for most especially considering you could get a mint used Princess 435 for £150k at the time or a new Sealine 410/F43 for less than £250k. In addition both the P435 and 410/F43 offered more interior space than the 43AC in that they had an additional dinette/3rd cabin space which the 43AC did'nt have
Then the rear end styling was controversial to say the least. I well remember the 43AC's introduction at SIBS and the shock horror when most people saw it's vast arse end.
Basically Fairline misjudged it's market. Had they introduced a 40AC at, say, £225k it would have sold like hot cakes. Having said that, the 43AC is reputedly a very good sea boat. In order to maintain the reputation of the Turbo 36 as a good sea boat, Fairline made the 43AC with a deepish V hull. I would think that at its current market value of a bit less than £200k, it represents a reasonable buy
Then the rear end styling was controversial to say the least. I well remember the 43AC's introduction at SIBS and the shock horror when most people saw it's vast arse end.
Basically Fairline misjudged it's market. Had they introduced a 40AC at, say, £225k it would have sold like hot cakes. Having said that, the 43AC is reputedly a very good sea boat. In order to maintain the reputation of the Turbo 36 as a good sea boat, Fairline made the 43AC with a deepish V hull. I would think that at its current market value of a bit less than £200k, it represents a reasonable buy
DERF
Well-Known Member
I was in CYH at the same time, saw your boat but didn't know you were a forumite!
I spoke to the owner at length as he was on the next berth, thoroughly decent chap! He was chuffed to bits with it. Looked in pretty good condition too.
He had previously owed a Turbo 36 and bought his boat used. Told me only `17 were built afor the reasons metioned before.. too expensive, 2 cabins etc etc..
That one was based in Chichester and called " the Govenor".
I spoke to the owner at length as he was on the next berth, thoroughly decent chap! He was chuffed to bits with it. Looked in pretty good condition too.
He had previously owed a Turbo 36 and bought his boat used. Told me only `17 were built afor the reasons metioned before.. too expensive, 2 cabins etc etc..
That one was based in Chichester and called " the Govenor".
Questor
Well-Known Member
Just as we were negotiating the purchase of our first Fairline, we were invited on a long weekend over in Cherbourg with Peters, on "Seatech", their brand new 43AC.
Initially I didn't particularly like the boat - it was all up and down stairs, and a bit peculiar in the design dept, and the stern was really a bit ugly. It did drive really nicely though.
Ten years later or thereabouts, I now appreciate what a fab boat it was. Was it a flybridge or a sportscruiser? I don't really know, but it seemed to have the best of both worlds, with 2 fab cabins.
Maybe it was just pitched in the market in the wrong place, but if the arse-end had been tidied up, I'd have liked one.
And thanks to Peters for a great weekend we'll always remember, and Eric, if you ever read this stuff over in yankee land, it would be good to hear from you.
Initially I didn't particularly like the boat - it was all up and down stairs, and a bit peculiar in the design dept, and the stern was really a bit ugly. It did drive really nicely though.
Ten years later or thereabouts, I now appreciate what a fab boat it was. Was it a flybridge or a sportscruiser? I don't really know, but it seemed to have the best of both worlds, with 2 fab cabins.
Maybe it was just pitched in the market in the wrong place, but if the arse-end had been tidied up, I'd have liked one.
And thanks to Peters for a great weekend we'll always remember, and Eric, if you ever read this stuff over in yankee land, it would be good to hear from you.
tcm
...
Command bridge is the term often used for that style.
On paper it was ok. It was just at a boat show that the relatively high price and ugliness were such stand-out features.
Now priced a bit low cos its obsolete it should be quite good value.
One I saw was a bit manky condition inside - the light fittings etc suffered light rustiness in any damp conditions I think. Probly the same with many boats tho.
On paper it was ok. It was just at a boat show that the relatively high price and ugliness were such stand-out features.
Now priced a bit low cos its obsolete it should be quite good value.
One I saw was a bit manky condition inside - the light fittings etc suffered light rustiness in any damp conditions I think. Probly the same with many boats tho.
Questor
Well-Known Member
On the Peters Seatech boat, they either had to replace or rebuild the engines at around 2000 hours. To gain access, I think they had to chop most of it's arse end away, as I think the engines were forward of the aft cabin. All sounded rather horrendous. Not something I would fancy if it was me footing the bill. Think they sold it on for an asking price of £160k