rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Interesting first post Flavio. Welcome to the forum, and tell us a bit about yourself please?
Fairline Boats purchased
- Thread starter stelican
- Start date
jimmy_the_builder
Well-Known Member
wakeup
Well-Known Member
Check his join date. He's been here longer than you!
Is it Briatore.....?
I wondered what he was doing these days.
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Check his join date. He's been here longer than you!
Still an interesting first post Jimmy
davidej
Well-Known Member
Ha ha ha - there speaks an optimist
Just look at the history of Northshore
I don't know why anyone supplies these companies without cash in advance
Nigelpickin
Well-Known Member
Eeeeew, creepy!
petem
Well-Known Member
There's worse things to be in life!
henryf
Well-Known Member
Well, I hope they've got deep pockets and have a good design team lined up.
The work starts today......
Henry
The work starts today......
Henry
vas
Well-Known Member
all this receivership jargon is way beyond my command of the language. Could someone explain in plain English if what's happening is actually reviving the company and ppl are going to go back to work in the same factory and start building boats again (assuming there will be demand in the near future that is as I doubt they have any orders awaiting right now!)
Or are we talking about something that may happen in x-months from now once all that palaver is over and clean?
just curious
cheers
V.
Or are we talking about something that may happen in x-months from now once all that palaver is over and clean?
just curious
cheers
V.
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
It appears that the investors have started a new company, and have bought some or all the assets of Fairline (ie. the brand name, moulds, machinery and probably some stock of components). By doing this they will probably have assumed the employment rights for the 75 or so employees that weren't made redundant by Fairline, and I think have signed a lease on one of the properties. They've also indicated they want to employ another 100 of the Fairline employees who were made redundant.
That means fairly soon they will be paying about 175 people's salary and a property lease, so we can be fairly sure they'll want to start making and selling boats ASAP.
Good luck to them, I hope they can return Fairline to something like its former glory
petem
Well-Known Member
Also worth pointing out that the dealer network is very much still I'm place and that some of those dealers may still be holding deposits. I imagine it's going to be crucial that the necessary guarantees are there for the dealers to release those deposits.
henryf
Well-Known Member
Deposits and dealer networks are merely a very short term distraction. What we need to see are completely new models based on brand new hulls which use the latest construction methods and include floor plates to rival the best out there.
If all they are going to do is re-hash the existing line-up they are dead in the water. As long as the new 53 is promoted as the pinnacle of their design excellence they are finished. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh and I know that on here we traditionally see the best in all craft never criticising others choice but given what's happened to the company we might as well be honest and face reality.
For a long time you've stepped off a Fairline and known there was something much better out there from one or more of its rivals. They've tried and there are some isolated touches of inspiration but generally the outdated hulls have held them back when it comes to internal space. They either keep the line up and make the boats so cheap they sell on price or they draw a line and offer boats that compete head on with the very best out there. I can only think of one boat in the model range which might stand a chance.
The purchase price of the company is pennies compared to the investment required to stabilise and move forward. Whether they could ever become profitable after that investment remains to be seen. People like Princess, Sunseeker and the euro builders have the advantage that they have already made that investment. Much has been discussed on here that even with class leading boats builders aren't making a profit so I see an uphill struggle if we are to avoid merely seeing a stay of execution.
Exciting or scary?
Henry
If all they are going to do is re-hash the existing line-up they are dead in the water. As long as the new 53 is promoted as the pinnacle of their design excellence they are finished. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh and I know that on here we traditionally see the best in all craft never criticising others choice but given what's happened to the company we might as well be honest and face reality.
For a long time you've stepped off a Fairline and known there was something much better out there from one or more of its rivals. They've tried and there are some isolated touches of inspiration but generally the outdated hulls have held them back when it comes to internal space. They either keep the line up and make the boats so cheap they sell on price or they draw a line and offer boats that compete head on with the very best out there. I can only think of one boat in the model range which might stand a chance.
The purchase price of the company is pennies compared to the investment required to stabilise and move forward. Whether they could ever become profitable after that investment remains to be seen. People like Princess, Sunseeker and the euro builders have the advantage that they have already made that investment. Much has been discussed on here that even with class leading boats builders aren't making a profit so I see an uphill struggle if we are to avoid merely seeing a stay of execution.
Exciting or scary?
Henry
petem
Well-Known Member
I was replying to vas's query about how quickly they can be building boats again.
Regarding design, I don't agree that the T53 was as bad as you maintain but we've done that to death already. But I do agree they need to do something different alongside a smaller range of class leading models if they are to succeed. Perhaps something along the lines of an 'Explorer' / Trawler model (see my posts in the Nordhavn thread).
And to answer your final question, 100% Exciting!
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
I wish them luck but it's going to be exceptionally tough to persuade people to part with a bar apiece unless they are able to offer something that in some way stands out from the crowd in terms of design, build or aftercare.
P4Paul
Well-Known Member
I did wonder if now was maybe the right time to consider relocating to remove one of the design constraints resulting from being located at Oundle.
Mind you, if they see the way back is through nailing the 35 - 60 foot bracket, then they are better off with remaining at Nene Valley and having access to a talented and experienced workforce.
Mind you, if they see the way back is through nailing the 35 - 60 foot bracket, then they are better off with remaining at Nene Valley and having access to a talented and experienced workforce.
Illusion
Well-Known Member
I have to say I'm a big Fairline fan (or at least was), but I have to completely agree with Henry on this in terms of most of their new models over the last 4 to 5 years failing to delivery, both in terms of looks, design and utilisation of space. I also think the quality in some areas, isn't what it was - compare the T48 to the T47.
Really hope this change brings back Fairline with some fresh ideas.
henryf
Well-Known Member
My first two big boats were Fairline and I have very happy memories. In 2007 we moved to a Princess P42, the difference was clear to see then and that P42 has since been replaced in the model line up so Fairline are in effect 2 generations out of step. I have a soft spot for Fairline and was genuinely excited to see what the 53 would bring to the range.
At Swanwick 2015 as I've said before on here I spent a long time talking to the MD and Sales / Marketing director chatting over why we didn't buy Fairline the last two times we changed our boat. I hope I'm objective and was careful to point out the strengths of their design ethos particularly in the engine room but at that point the damage was done. In truth I suspect there was not the budget to re-design even if the willingness was there.
Swanwick is a very interesting show in that it allows you to step off one boat brand onto another in seconds so comparison is easy and very clear.
There is a huge amount of work ahead at Oundle but now is the time to implement change if it is ever going to happen. All the shackles are off. The Olesinski hull contract will presumably be over now so they can either go where they want or re-negotiate. You would have to say that Olesinski aren't doing a bad job with the Princess hulls and floor plates but I don't know at what financial cost.
Just don't try to re-jig what you've inherited on the grounds that it's a cheap fix. It will only make you 3 generations out of step with the competition.
Henry
At Swanwick 2015 as I've said before on here I spent a long time talking to the MD and Sales / Marketing director chatting over why we didn't buy Fairline the last two times we changed our boat. I hope I'm objective and was careful to point out the strengths of their design ethos particularly in the engine room but at that point the damage was done. In truth I suspect there was not the budget to re-design even if the willingness was there.
Swanwick is a very interesting show in that it allows you to step off one boat brand onto another in seconds so comparison is easy and very clear.
There is a huge amount of work ahead at Oundle but now is the time to implement change if it is ever going to happen. All the shackles are off. The Olesinski hull contract will presumably be over now so they can either go where they want or re-negotiate. You would have to say that Olesinski aren't doing a bad job with the Princess hulls and floor plates but I don't know at what financial cost.
Just don't try to re-jig what you've inherited on the grounds that it's a cheap fix. It will only make you 3 generations out of step with the competition.
Henry
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
Out of interest, what do you mean by floor plates? Are they related to resin infusion?
I'm surprised you've picked out the Fairline hulls for criticism, as I though they had a solid reputation. You may mean that they don't allow the same internal volume as others, but I'd have though a possible niche marketing angle for Fairline is to build on their reputation as being very good sea boats, rather than chasing internal space at all costs, as most of the other brands seem to be doing.
I'm surprised you've picked out the Fairline hulls for criticism, as I though they had a solid reputation. You may mean that they don't allow the same internal volume as others, but I'd have though a possible niche marketing angle for Fairline is to build on their reputation as being very good sea boats, rather than chasing internal space at all costs, as most of the other brands seem to be doing.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Have to agree entirely. I hope the new owners have deep pockets because they're going to have to pump a load of money into R & D as well as into the production facility itself. FWIW I think Fairline quality started to go off the rails longer than 4 or 5 yrs ago. I remember looking over the newly launched Phantom 48 at SIBS some years ago and being disappointed how basic the fit out on that boat was
On the plus side, Fairline still have a credible brand, an established dealer network, a good deal of residual customer loyalty and now it seems the basis of a good management structure so all they need is a fantastic range of boats:encouragement:
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
Dangerous strategy that because we all know that accommodation sells boats at boat shows. Apart from that, being a 'good sea boat' is an almost unprovable selling point and other marques like Princess are already in that territory. However it is interesting to talk to foreign boat owners about their opinion of British motorboats. I've heard it said more than once that British built motorboats have good sea hulls because of the shit weather we have here
so maybe there is something in your suggestion