Fairline Squadron 50 and 47 your experiences appreciated.

[Greg01]

I am researching buying a used Squadron 50 for an article, and would appreciate any feed back specifically on either the 50 or the 47. Performance, sea keeping and reliability are key issues and any sea stories in big seas are always valid testament to the boats abilities, or lack of them.

 

[rickp]

Check this very similar thread /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Rick

 

[volvopaul]

already replied !

 

[Greg01]

Thanks Paul, your relevant feedback appreciated, I will certainly make good use of it.

thanks
Greg.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

hello Greg
I have a friend customer who purchased a Squad 50 last October from Mallorca, if you are interested PM so I can give you his phone number, may be you can have a chat with him

 

[simongwynn]

We had a Squadron 43 until we traded up a couple of years ago. I think that the 43 is essentially the same boat as the 47 but without the extended bathing platform.

We had the tri-cab version and she was comfortable and spacious. Sea Keeping was typical Fairline and the boat was extremely solid to drive.

We were caught mid channel in a Force 6 wind against tide with 3 metre seas on a trip back from Dieppe (You can't always trust the forecast) and although we needed to slow down to 14 knots, the boat soldiered on into huge head seas. Radar, Autopilot and white-knuckled skipper all worked seamlessly. We took numerous green waves over the top of the coachroof and were both seasick, but the boat plodded on and got us home safely. We learned that the boat can handle a lot worse conditions than we can and also demonstrated why we would never choose to put to sea in such conditions.

Needless to say, we had abandoned the flybridge in favour of the lower helm. Visibility was still good despite the conditions and the boat felt reassuringly solid - not too many rattles and bangs.

The only damage we sufferred from this trip was a locker door that slammed off it's hinges and a shower door that detached from it's rail. Both were easily repaired.

Several important lessons for us to learn but the boat took it all in its stride.

Great boats, beautifully made.

 

[volvopaul]

The 43 was a boat design on its own, the 47 is a different hull and is slightly wider, the 43 is the older 43 sedan hull, the 47 became the 50 with a longer bathing platform, the 56 became the 59 later on.