FAIRLINE HOLIDAY 23'

[lanason]

FAIRLINE HOLIDAY 23\'

I am thinking of buying a Fairline Holiday 23' around 1977-1982. Has anyone any experiance, especially with towing it on a trailer ????

 

[Chris_d]

Re: FAIRLINE HOLIDAY 23\'

Hi, haven't got any personal experience of a Holiday 23, but it is well thought of by most people. The layout is a bit dated now with the old quarter berths, a more modern boat like a Falcon 23 or Cruisers Int'l 224 have mid cabins and better helm positions but will probably be more expensive.
Also unless you are only going to potter up the river get one with a big engine or diesel, the small four cylinder petrol engines fitted to a lot of them, will barely give planning peformance (don't believe the saleman). A nice V8 or a torquey diesel for econony is the way to go.
If your going to tow it, 23' is a big boat to tow, your all up weight with the trailer will be 2500-3000kgs, so a large 4 wheel drive is essential, this is not a casual exercise to just hitch up tow off for the weekend. A good trailer helps, if it hasn't got full rollers, twin axles and a break back forget it, you will be struggling!
Anyway don't be put off and have fun.

Chris

 

[lanason]

Re: FAIRLINE HOLIDAY 23\'

Thanks for that. I realise that it is a fair size to tow - I already tow quite a big caravan and so towing is a skill I already have. I will however need to change the Car to a big 4x4 maybe Shogun or similar. You are dead right about the 120 hp engines. My Dad had a 24' Fjord a few years ago with 120hp and it only just planned.(He then bought a 30' with twin diesels) I intend to use it locally on the rivers and then tow to Poole Harbour for long weekends. i need a boat this size as my wife is not keen (at the moment) and I have 4 kids, aged 12, 9, 5 & 3 and so the space is important.
Finding a good slipway will be important

 

[Chris_d]

Re: FAIRLINE HOLIDAY 23\'

If the wife is not that keen, be carefull the first time you tow it, the lauching and retreiving can be easy for a well drilled team, but husbands and wives don't always seem to acheive this!
Definately check out the slip way first, make sure it is long enough and the angle isn't too shallow, check the tides for the best time as well.
Are you sure you don't need something bigger though, 4 kids sounds like a handfull on a 23 footer.