MapisM
Well-Known Member
Congrats to FL for the achievement, but for crissake P, didn't your holiday in CF teach you anything on proper food? 
Fairline - any news?
- Thread starter DougH
- Start date
petem
Well-Known Member
Congrats to FL for the achievement, but for crissake P, didn't your holiday in CF teach you anything on proper food?
Perhaps I spent too much time with MYAG
diligaf
Well-Known Member
Really....? Which shows are those? Fort Lauderdale was a dealer standard as FL pulled the plug at the last minute and left the dealers carrying the baby, where else have they been? Building to order......more like building to bank guarantee. There are loads of boats in dealer stock as afaik so shouldn't being a problem if the dealers are willing to participate. Maybe their confidence is shaky too??
petem
Well-Known Member
Fairline or more accurately their dealers have exhibited at the following shows since Southampton:
Annapolis
Cape Town
Istanbul
Mandurah
Genoa
I will be the first to concede these are pretty insignificant shows.
If there are stock boats with dealers then it is a shame that FL couldn't have a token presence at London. Even if its to reassure punters that they are still in business and to answer questions (assuming that remains the case).
But we've often said that two UK shows is unsustainable for the UK builders. Someone has to take the lead in not attending.
diligaf
Well-Known Member
You are quite right Pete, they are insignificant shows and mostly have always been dealer stands.
I agree about having 2 UK shows being too much but sad to say I doubt very much they had a choice. Apparently dealers are on the move now too so I can't see it lasting too much longer with dealers leaving and customers not buying. The inevitable is looming I fear.
petem
Well-Known Member
Well I spoke to two dealers yesterday (in the course of my own boat search). As some of you may know, dealers were called in to a meeting with the new owner on Tuesday. He continues to maintain that there will be investment in new models but its still not clear where the money is coming from (that remains the $64,000 question). There are rumours of the middle east but no evidence of this that I'm aware of.
Incidentally, I suggested next Friday afternoon for my factory visit to be told that it wasn't ideal as the factory is on a four day week (I've a feeling that they've always finished at midday on a Friday). I'm going the following Wednesday instead when the factory is in action!
Something will need to give soon - either way!
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
At the lower end of the spectrum I fear a similar fate looming for that Gt British builder Fletcher 
diligaf
Well-Known Member
I hope neither go, I don't know much about Fletcher but have been out on a few older ones over the years so it would be a shame for that to go too.
Pete. One thing that should be remembered is there is a 'director' there who has a history of wool pulling and spin (think Sealine in its last months/weeks) so I wouldn't believe everything you are told.
Pete. One thing that should be remembered is there is a 'director' there who has a history of wool pulling and spin (think Sealine in its last months/weeks) so I wouldn't believe everything you are told.
henryf
Well-Known Member
I think it's fair to say anyone in that position will put a positive spin on things right up to the point they sell the last nut & bolt in the place.
My concern is that no one at Fairline has held their hands up and admitted they got it wrong with the Targa 53. Talk of production lines is all well & good but you simply wouldn't buy one ahead of the competition. It's got a 39 foot interior in a 53 foot body.
It's no use designing new models until you get the first one right. If the 53 had been superb to the point everyone wanted it we probably wouldn't be here now. I genuinely walked onto the Fairline stand at Southampton wanting to be won over. As I walked off the boat the guard rail on the pontoon collapsed and a part plopped into the water. A higher power than me was sending a message!
For me the big difference between Fairline and Sealine is that Sealine always had some great design ideas. They used space inventively. The build quality might not have been there but you can fix that quite cheaply and quickly. Fairline has a work force and production facilities but no killer designs to build. They need someone to stump up a load of money and re-design new models but that takes time and is hugely expensive, particularly as said workforce are twiddling their thumbs waiting in wings whilst the process takes place.
As for the two shows, when ever I've asked the question to Princess they tell me London is good news. It's a good location for foreign buyers and what else would the home market be doing in January if there wasn't LIBS?
I will wholeheartedly agree that for me personally the little show at Swanwick is far more effective at displaying UK produced boats for a tiny fraction of the cost to the manufacturers compared to LIBS or SIBS but I'm not sure international buyers see it like that.
Henry
DougH
Well-Known Member
Pete,
Everyone on this forum has been very easy and understanding of your position in offering moral support for Fairline, but that last sentence is ridiculous in the extreme and has only discredited all that you have said in previous posts.
Doug
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Well i know of one dealer who would be at the meeting ...
Some dealers have funded stands at LBS however these are smaller stands. I don't think any one dealer is going to pay for the stand at LBS. not that there is one to pay for ...
Some dealers have funded stands at LBS however these are smaller stands. I don't think any one dealer is going to pay for the stand at LBS. not that there is one to pay for ...
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
IMHO there's a certain amount of truth in what Pete says. 2 UK boat within 4 months of each other is not justified in the current market and over the last few years, it seems like LIBS has been the one that is suffering, especially as it conflicts with Dusseldorf too. LIBS has become a show only for the Big 4 UK boatbuilders (3 now of course and soon to be 2 it looks like) so if Fairline pulling out, for whatever reason, sounds the death knell for LIBS, I'm guessing that Sunseeker and Princess will breathe a sigh of relief
petem
Well-Known Member
Fair comment.
petem
Well-Known Member
I think it's fair to say anyone in that position will put a positive spin on things right up to the point they sell the last nut & bolt in the place.
My concern is that no one at Fairline has held their hands up and admitted they got it wrong with the Targa 53. Talk of production lines is all well & good but you simply wouldn't buy one ahead of the competition. It's got a 39 foot interior in a 53 foot body.
It's no use designing new models until you get the first one right. If the 53 had been superb to the point everyone wanted it we probably wouldn't be here now. I genuinely walked onto the Fairline stand at Southampton wanting to be won over. As I walked off the boat the guard rail on the pontoon collapsed and a part plopped into the water. A higher power than me was sending a message!
For me the big difference between Fairline and Sealine is that Sealine always had some great design ideas. They used space inventively. The build quality might not have been there but you can fix that quite cheaply and quickly. Fairline has a work force and production facilities but no killer designs to build. They need someone to stump up a load of money and re-design new models but that takes time and is hugely expensive, particularly as said workforce are twiddling their thumbs waiting in wings whilst the process takes place.
As for the two shows, when ever I've asked the question to Princess they tell me London is good news. It's a good location for foreign buyers and what else would the home market be doing in January if there wasn't LIBS?
I will wholeheartedly agree that for me personally the little show at Swanwick is far more effective at displaying UK produced boats for a tiny fraction of the cost to the manufacturers compared to LIBS or SIBS but I'm not sure international buyers see it like that.
Henry
Henry, when I visit the factory I'll ask what they make of the T53 criticism.
petem
Well-Known Member
Yep. I also wonder what the commitment is from the sponsors, whoever they are.
DougH
Well-Known Member
Do not disagree Mike as I have no inside knowledge to make any comment nor judgement.
It was the sentence 'Someone has to take the lead in not attending.', as if they had any choice!!!!!!
MedDreamer
Well-Known Member
Pete
I agree with Doug, your brand loyalty is clear but I feel it may be a little blinkered.
Could you please answer me one question, if you were in the market for a new 50ft+ boat would you be happy to pay Fairline a deposit?
I agree with Doug, your brand loyalty is clear but I feel it may be a little blinkered.
Could you please answer me one question, if you were in the market for a new 50ft+ boat would you be happy to pay Fairline a deposit?
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Yeah fair enough. Can't blame Pete for wanting to stick up for his favourite brand though!
henryf
Well-Known Member
I look forward to hearing their response.
Of more concern is that no one in the design / build process said hang on a minute guys......
Henry
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
I remember similar things being said when Sealine pulled out one year, I think around 2008/2009 just after the SC38 launch