Fletcher and Fairline

Bigplumbs

Bigplumbs

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A couple of years ago when both Fairline and Fletcher went belly up I was informed that the same company bought both of them. We all know that Fairline is now back up and running. I was wondering if anyone knows who now own Fletcher (It is not SBS) and if there are any plans to get that brand going again. In my view we need something in the UK at the smaller end of the market to cater for people with less money. I found an article about its revival but that is clearly out of date

http://www.mby.com/news/fletcher-boats-relocation-new-model-51212

Any information anyone has would be greatly appreciated

Dennis
 
Dennis, the Fairline assets were bought from Wessex Bristol by another company so they are no entirely separate from Fletcher.

I assume that Wessex Bristol stripped the Fletcher business of whatever assets it had and it's effectively defunct. I don't know what happened to the moulds, records, etc, probably languishing in a shed somewhere.

It does strike me though as there's a big gap in the market for 25, 30 and perhaps 35 foot good quality UK manufactured boats now that the major manufacturers have largely deserted this sector. I can't really see the demand for anything smaller as you can't really sleep on them and they're not great for UK waters (RIB's are probably a better solution <24ft)

I don't know if there's any money to be made from making boats of this size and I'm not entirely convinced there is enough enduring love for the Fletcher brand to resurrect it.

All IMHO!
 
Many thanks for that information. I think the moulds etc are still with SBS yes in the back of a shed somewhere.

I feel that the straight sports boat market is lacking in this country as all you can buy new is big American boats generally with monster petrol engines in them. I think the 17 foot market is still there with 90 hp outboards. I hope some interested souls buys what is left of fletcher as they were such good boats and so many are still on the circuit. I own 5 fletchers so I am doing by bit to keep the name alive :)

Dennis
 
From what we know Fletchers boats do plan to make boats as we speak and still have a tremendous following. Their moulds have been moved to the south coast and a base and team established to evaluate and reintroduce the brand to include at least two of the models Petem reccomends.
SBS had very few assets and have concentrated on their very successful core business quality trailers. Fletchers have suffered over recent years in development. A quality British sports boat at an affordable price looks to be the intention. Its both a complicated and costly undertaking and there seems plenty of willing support. Financing and sales are another challenge altogether and as Fairline come back strong with their new AM range why not Fletchers?
 
Bigplumbs said:
Many thanks for that information. I think the moulds etc are still with SBS yes in the back of a shed somewhere.

I feel that the straight sports boat market is lacking in this country as all you can buy new is big American boats generally with monster petrol engines in them. I think the 17 foot market is still there with 90 hp outboards. I hope some interested souls buys what is left of fletcher as they were such good boats and so many are still on the circuit. I own 5 fletchers so I am doing by bit to keep the name alive :)

Dennis
Click to expand...

Why have you got 5 Fletchers Dennis? I know - because you thought 6 was excessive! :D:D (@gjgm, a long time ago...)
 
petem said:
It does strike me though as there's a big gap in the market for 25, 30 and perhaps 35 foot good quality UK manufactured boats now that the major manufacturers have largely deserted this sector. I can't really see the demand for anything smaller as you can't really sleep on them and they're not great for UK waters (RIB's are probably a better solution <24ft)

I don't know if there's any money to be made from making boats of this size and I'm not entirely convinced there is enough enduring love for the Fletcher brand to resurrect it.

All IMHO!
Click to expand...

not so much small sports boats but I have been wondering if there isn't a decent market in UK for a fresh new designed "Sports Fisher"
like Rodman, Karnic, etc...
boats with good seakeeping, with optional hardtop, that can be used for pleasure aswell as for more utilitarian useage, ....

when produced in a efficient but not too big organisation, and having a substantial home market,
business could work imo
 
BartW said:
not so much small sports boats but I have been wondering if there isn't a decent market in UK for a fresh new designed "Sports Fisher"
like Rodman, Karnic, etc...
boats with good seakeeping, with optional hardtop, that can be used for pleasure aswell as for more utilitarian useage, ....

when produced in a efficient but not too big organisation, and having a substantial home market,
business could work imo
Click to expand...

The Fletcher models that seem to retain value the best are the 18' Faro/Vigo and the later 19' SportsCruiser. Both good all-round boats that get used for leisure, fishing etc. SBS didn't have moulds for the Faro, but something that was considered I understand for a revamp had the development funds been available. They were certainly looking to the 24-30' ranges too.

Interestingly, we've had a couple of new Orkneys arrive on the marina in the last 6 months, so they seem to be doing ok. Not quite a sports-fisher, but the Pilothouse is quite a nice little boat!
 
I went to LIBS as I was looking for inspiration to change from my Fletcher 19 gto and there were some lovely Finnmaster cuddies around 21ft with 150 outboards on. Only problem is that they are 43k new and very few on secondhand market.

Last weekend I looked at a 6.25 cap camarat walk around which combines a cuddy and sort of bow rider. This just puts me over trailer and towing capacity with my current car.

The problem is that I wish to tow my boat to the sports boat rally in Brixham and changing from the fletcher means a new trailer and purchase of a 4wd to tow it.


So after looking at quite a few cuddy style boats I have decided to re engine my 17 year old Fletcher with a 135 Honda. Whilst some may think that spending twice the boat value on an engine is madness, I think it demonstrates that I have confidence in the durability of the hull for the next few years.

There are hundreds of Fletcher's available on auction sites dating back to 1980 in some cases.

Maybe they made them too well in the first place?
 
Hot Property said:
I went to LIBS as I was looking for inspiration to change from my Fletcher 19 gto and there were some lovely Finnmaster cuddies around 21ft with 150 outboards on. Only problem is that they are 43k new and very few on secondhand market.

Last weekend I looked at a 6.25 cap camarat walk around which combines a cuddy and sort of bow rider. This just puts me over trailer and towing capacity with my current car.

The problem is that I wish to tow my boat to the sports boat rally in Brixham and changing from the fletcher means a new trailer and purchase of a 4wd to tow it.


So after looking at quite a few cuddy style boats I have decided to re engine my 17 year old Fletcher with a 135 Honda. Whilst some may think that spending twice the boat value on an engine is madness, I think it demonstrates that I have confidence in the durability of the hull for the next few years.

There are hundreds of Fletcher's available on auction sites dating back to 1980 in some cases.

Maybe they made them too well in the first place?
Click to expand...
I think it's very sensible, a good Honda will mean that after a days boating you will always end up back at the ramp
 
RB is 100% correct. From a superb deep vee hull especially in the 17-19 foot range Fletchers have supplied an incredible number of uncomplicated sports and weekenders. Some may recall the Fletcher cruisette an 18 sports fisher which shows a BartW craft. Both the Vigo and Faro 18 cuddy cabin craft sold in extraordinary numbers fitted with outboards. Deep vee outboard powered craft i would say were their key USP's. A new 19 O/B SC range + performance weekender 22,25 and 30 would seem to be most popular. And high time for an update.
 
They sold loads of 14' Arrowflytes too and these made ideal starter boats. To make a success of this however you need the volume and that's where it all started to go wrong, when at the end of the 80's recession dented sales. There's also a lot of merit in being able to upgrade to something a little bit bigger every few years and few offered the range of models that Fletcher did in that era. That however meant a lot of tooling and moulds!

Economy of scale doesn't happen overnight however and I think there was perhaps some merit in combining the likes of Fletcher and Fairline - if indeed that was the intention of WB. Having the vision is one thing however, finding the means/resource to undertake isn't really something you can gamble on - as WB proved. For every 40'/50' hull you'd sell you'd probably be able to sell at least half a dozen sub 20's so you'd be able to fill any spare production capacity building smaller stock boats. Whilst you might not make the margin on the smaller boats, they would provide regular cash-flow and volume to maintain production. Building a Squadron 58 as a 'stock' boat could be cost prohibitive but small hulls could be produced at much less cost and likely sold quickly.

It will be interesting to see how the Fletcher story unfolds and I too really hope it isn't the end. :nonchalance:
 
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