Fairline and Boats.co.uk to split

Maybe Fairline really are only interested in selling directly to very exclusive section of the market, but all their previous efforts will appear at some point on the used boat market. The best chance of me ever buying a half decent modern Fairline would only become a reality after I had walked around the Essex boatyard, probably in search of a totally different brand and even more likely different price bracket.
While on the Fairline stand had the pleasure being seated with one of the EBY brothers and the Cala Or Fairline rep,both appeared to be getting on famously.
Blimming shame. IMHO.
The financial climate in UK will change at some point and perhaps boat sales will pick up and mebbe Fairline will once again value the home market.
 
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I am not so sure the Peters example is analogous with EBY, Peters went spectacularly bust after they were ditched by FLine. I don't think there will be any such fear with EBY.

But you support my point Admilli with the fact you personaly know 3 Squaddie 58 owners that will probably look to upgrade via EBY and no doubt if Bark Bros put a good offer on the table for trade in to 'a n other' brand then good chance those punters will take it.
 
Just had a word with Stuart McCullough from Fairline who wanted to clear up a few things said on here. He says:
We have absolutely no plans to sell direct. We have absolute confidence and faith in our dealer network structure to deliver the best quality service and support for our customers.
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And on a separate point:
When we offer a warranty we offer a factory warranty, which is valid with any accredited Fairline dealer.
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We have absolutely no plans to sell direct. We have absolute confidence and faith in our dealer network structure to deliver the best quality service and support for our customers.
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Which begs the very obvious question as to why they split from their most successful UK dealer, EBY or whatever they're called these days!
 
Am a little confused, maybe someone could illuminate the position. I think that as of 24 April, if I want to buy a new Fairline in the UK the choices will be:

Southampton (the old EBY branch at RK Marine in Bursledon) with a yet to be announced dealer

Chertsey

N Wales

Jersey

Eastbourne

Is that right?
 
Deleted User said:
Which begs the very obvious question as to why they split from their most successful UK dealer, EBY or whatever they're called these days!
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Ditto, I may be daft and Welsh but I don't understand how this clears things up! It confuses more than clarifies. Clearly Fairline are in a bit of a PR/Channel pickle here.
 
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Deleted User said:
Which begs the very obvious question as to why they split from their most successful UK dealer, EBY or whatever they're called these days!
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That's the $64k question: Maybe BCU and/or their financiers were unhappy with the suppliers accounts, (I doubt it was the other way around). VC's have a habit of burying their dead quietly, so perhaps Better Capital are de risking as a first step in some broader move. If forum consensus reflects the wider view then BCU are very well liked and they know how to sell boats and how to look after their customers; at the same time FL have perhaps fallen behind the curve in terms of keeping up with the competition.

So on the one hand you have a Dealer who is very much driven by the Customer Experience providing a service tailored to their needs, (keen part ex, strong brokerage model and good customer service/support).
On the other hand we have a manufacturer happy with or perhaps restricted to recycling hulls and components while the competition forges ahead in terms of product development....I know which one my money is on to be around in three years time...

My guess is that BCU are chomping at the bit in terms of their next challenge.

Very much just humble my opinion.
 
benjenbav said:
Am a little confused, maybe someone could illuminate the position. I think that as of 24 April, if I want to buy a new Fairline in the UK the choices will be:

Southampton (the old EBY branch at RK Marine in Bursledon) with a yet to be announced dealer

Chertsey

N Wales

Jersey

Eastbourne

Is that right?
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Sounds about right - I don't believe that their combined experience as Fairline dealers equals BCU alone.
 
Contract yes, but when you buy a Fairline you get a warranty certificate providing a factory warranty valid for 12c months.( redeemable via the dealer network - never actually read it) and a warranty book just like you do with a car.So the warranty is manufacturer under written. Essex offer a further 12 months that they underwrite themselves.

The grey line is what is and is not warranty. Essex fix issues, not all of which are re-imbursed by the factory. The extent to why this is I don't know, I just know that is the case. The factory will have a warranty procedure, and this will include de-minimis items I suspect.


Fairline are not really very strong at PR, and who the Southampton dealer is remains a mystery to us all. They did not say they were selling direct, but that was most certainly the suggestion.

Boat sales is a long term game, and brothers Barke know a lot of people who are / maybe interested in a boat. They also as mentioned above do whatever to make a deal go through ( PX etc) and make the transaction painless just like swapping you car - which in the marine world is relatively unique.

I have no idea who Fairline North Wales is for example, but if you bought one from there and shipped it down the med how honestly likely is is that a man with a screwdriver and a box of parts would appear a day or so later next to your boat. Essex offer this. ( Sorry if N Wales do as well - but you don't read "Wow FL N Wales did this for me" every week on the forums)

The press release was written / distributed by Fairline. They will spin it as they choose. I have heard the Essex side of the storey ( not mine to re-tell or intimate at). The truth will be somewhere in the middle.

Essex sold an awful lot of Fairlines. Unlike most boat dealers they have a substantial balance sheet (a Marina) which makes dealing with them less risky than most others ( happy to be corrected - I have nil idea of the other dealers finance position, but I would doubt it is as strong). I can't really see Fairline emerging as the winning party. Time will tell.

The news is out there, the only missing bit really is Fairline making their position clear.
 
I have heard the Essex side of the storey ( not mine to re-tell or intimate at).
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Tease;)

Unlike most boat dealers they have a substantial balance sheet (a Marina) which makes dealing with them less risky than most others ( happy to be corrected - I have nil idea of the other dealers finance position, but I would doubt it is as strong). I can't really see Fairline emerging as the winning party. Time will tell.
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It's not obvious whether or not the marina is held in boat sales company from the accounts. My guess is that it isn't and also I would suggest it would be risky to do so anyway. Yes EBY have a substantial balance sheet but it seems to be mostly stock and debtors. Whether there are any cross guarantees in place from other companies I don't know. Having said that, I would think that EBY is one of the least risky boat dealers you could buy from given their track record and the personnel involved. Yes it is difficult to see how Fairline will benefit out of the split but then we don't the back story (well you seem to!) and I can only imagine that the decision was taken in the best interests of both parties
 
wakeup said:
Ditto, I may be daft and Welsh but I don't understand how this clears things up! It confuses more than clarifies. Clearly Fairline are in a bit of a PR/Channel pickle here.
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I guess it does clear up the issue of whether they will sell direct, as it clearly states they wont, or at least they have no intention (always best to leave the door slightly ajar!)
 
From what little I know all the other UK 'dealers' were sub dealers of eby. With the exception of Bates Wharf (Chertsey and Eastbourne) I am not sure whether the other companies have the funding ability to trade in the same way eby did (stock, p/ex etc etc). I wonder if they will continue without the direct or indirect backing of eby?

Also, where is JFM? He is normally one of the first to comment about FL/eby. Its now 5 day old news and 6 pages of forumness. Maybe he knows the inside track and is keeping his head down? :)
 
diligaf said:
From what little I know all the other UK 'dealers' were sub dealers of eby. With the exception of Bates Wharf (Chertsey and Eastbourne) I am not sure whether the other companies have the funding ability to trade in the same way eby did (stock, p/ex etc etc). I wonder if they will continue without the direct or indirect backing of eby?

Also, where is JFM? He is normally one of the first to comment about FL/eby. Its now 5 day old news and 6 pages of forumness. Maybe he knows the inside track and is keeping his head down? :)
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Surely no-one would keep quiet on the internet just because they happened to have privileged information, the disclosure of which might possibly impact in some way on their real life beyond the rectangle. :D
 
benjenbav said:
Surely no-one would keep quiet on the internet just because they happened to have privileged information, the disclosure of which might possibly impact in some way on their real life beyond the rectangle. :D
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I imagine that he resides in an NDA environment with both parties...I guess that he is enjoying the read while he mulls over his order for the F.L.Y. 86, hull number 1 :)
 
Fairline's original press release....

Fairline Southampton, the brand showroom located on the A27 in Swanwick, alongside the Hamble River will become the main office for Fairline GB.
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Their clarification....

We have absolutely no plans to sell direct. We have absolute confidence and faith in our dealer network structure to deliver the best quality service and support for our customers.
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So, their main "brand showroom" will be a Fairline office. But it they have no plans to sell direct? WTF?
 
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Nigelpickin said:
I imagine that he resides in an NDA environment with both parties...I guess that he is enjoying the read while he mulls over his order for the F.L.Y. 86, hull number 1 :)
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LOL, I'm not sure he's mulling over another FL build, considering also the extent of upgrades under way on M2.
But that aside, my guess is that you are spot on.
Actually, I was already somewhat surprised to read his statement on FL in this previous thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?416917
because that actually said a lot, just reading a bit between the lines.

In hindsight, the latest news discussed in this new thread are just a consequence, sort of.
And btw, it's not like these things are unheard of, with companies struggling with their own financial investors!
What spring to my mind is along the lines of there, that, and T-shirt... :D
 
MapisM said:
LOL, I'm not sure he's mulling over another FL build, considering also the extent of upgrades under way on M2.
But that aside, my guess is that you are spot on.
Actually, I was already somewhat surprised to read his statement on FL in this previous thread:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?416917
because that actually said a lot, just reading a bit between the lines.

In hindsight, the latest news discussed in this new thread are just a consequence, sort of.
And btw, it's not like these things are unheard of, with companies struggling with their own financial investors!
What spring to my mind is along the lines of there, that, and T-shirt... :D
Click to expand...

For sure!

My point was simply that JFM, JRudge and others will have loads of inner circle info but that it's impossible for them to comment until the appropriate time.

its a 'public' interest story and I'm sure there will be some interesting contributions when all the PR is aligned and scheduled.

It will be good to see the Fairline distribution and support channels working in short order and BCU making some exciting announcement or other very soon....they're both deserving of success IMHO.
 
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