Fairline Phantom 50 advice

Hugo_Andreae

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We're running a story in the next issue of MBY on buying a used Fairline Phantom 50 (2002-2009 model). We've been speaking to brokers, owners and dealers but wondered if any of you have personal experience of the boat and particularly any tips or advice on what to look out for when buying a used example. Must have options, known weaknesses, key spec changes, worthwile upgrades, Med vs UK boats etc would all be valuable info to pass on to would-be buyers.

Many thanks
 
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Exhaust systems can be prone to corrosion after 4 to 5 years, Check for rusty water marks around elbow on outlet of turbo. These corrode from the inside out so welding is only a temporary repair, they need to be replaced. Also there is a stainless steel elbow in the port exhaust system where it passes through the bulkhead this corrodes very quickly and needs an anode fitting in the port silencer and bonding to the elbow to prevent future failure.
 
Hugo

I owned a Phantom 50 fitted with twin D12 715HP. Will gather my comments and PM you tomorrow.

Regards






Andrew

Why not share it with us all rather than a pm , that's what this forum is about.

I looked at one with a view to px, it was battered to death, but had been a charter boat.
 
Exhaust systems can be prone to corrosion after 4 to 5 years, Check for rusty water marks around elbow on outlet of turbo. These corrode from the inside out so welding is only a temporary repair, they need to be replaced. Also there is a stainless steel elbow in the port exhaust system where it passes through the bulkhead this corrodes very quickly and needs an anode fitting in the port silencer and bonding to the elbow to prevent future failure.

Tom i don't think that elbow issue is specific to phantom 50. For example, I had same in Sq58 with D12s afer 500 hours iirc. The elbow used there is a Halyard component and the welds are inclined to get pin hole leaks in the bit where the temp is still high due to exh gas and at the boundary of the zone where the salt water is just being sprayed in. No big deal, very cheap to fix (few splodges of weld gives you another couple of years; £200 max. Then after a while you need new ones mebbe £600) and not particularly a phantom 50 issue afaik
 
Exhaust systems can be prone to corrosion after 4 to 5 years, Check for rusty water marks around elbow on outlet of turbo. These corrode from the inside out so welding is only a temporary repair, they need to be replaced. Also there is a stainless steel elbow in the port exhaust system where it passes through the bulkhead this corrodes very quickly and needs an anode fitting in the port silencer and bonding to the elbow to prevent future failure.

That sounds familar as we have already spoken to one owner whose Phantom 50 sprung a pinhole leak at the elbow where the raw water is injected into the exhaust. Is this the same problem you are referring to? As JFM says it's not a massive issue to repair or replace but worth keeping an eye on when buying a used one.
 
Tom i don't think that elbow issue is specific to phantom 50. For example, I had same in Sq58 with D12s afer 500 hours iirc. The elbow used there is a Halyard component and the welds are inclined to get pin hole leaks in the bit where the temp is still high due to exh gas and at the boundary of the zone where the salt water is just being sprayed in. No big deal, very cheap to fix (few splodges of weld gives you another couple of years; £200 max. Then after a while you need new ones mebbe £600) and not particularly a phantom 50 issue afaik

Yes the water injection elbow (spray head) problem is common to all boats with the Manuflex or Halyard elbows. But the next elbow in line behind the port engine is a phantom specific fault as although the elbow is bonded to the hull anodes the water that sits in the bottom of the silencer and is in contact with the elbow but not the anode on the hull. There for an extra anode in the silencer sorts this.

We always used to get the spray heads welded but now the welders wont guarantee them as they dont usually last much longer. It makes a big mess when they eventually fall off!
 
First time at this forum (please be patient). I have a Targa 52 HT With Volvo D12-715 2005' - problem With small leak at between exhaust elbow and spray riser at port engine. Any idea where to get spare parts?
 
First time at this forum (please be patient). I have a Targa 52 HT With Volvo D12-715 2005' - problem With small leak at between exhaust elbow and spray riser at port engine. Any idea where to get spare parts?

Hi welcome, you will get a much better result if you start a new thread asking this question, many experts here to offer sound advice :)
 
First time at this forum (please be patient). I have a Targa 52 HT With Volvo D12-715 2005' - problem With small leak at between exhaust elbow and spray riser at port engine. Any idea where to get spare parts?

If its volvos spray head then volvopenta agent . If its manuflex then here in the uk, they will make up a new one.
 
Tom i don't think that elbow issue is specific to phantom 50.
Agree, had the same issue on my Targa 48 only they weren't cheap to replace as I paid SoF labour rates:eek:
 
if any of you have personal experience of the boat
No personal experience of owning one but have looked at several and my abiding memory is smacking my head on the patio door frame on entering the saloon. The patio doors are not very tall
 
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