Fletcher Buyer

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Steve_D

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I see that Fletcher have been bought by Franton Ltd who apparently make doors for trains. Is this a good thing? would it have been better if Fletchers had gone to a boat manufacturer?.

They say that they are going to support the boat side of the business and bring in new manufacturing methods, I'm wondering if I should wait until they've had a bit of practice before investing in a new Fletcher!

Regards

Steve D
 
If I'm not mistaken I think that Fletcher were owned at one stage by Hornby, the model train people, so maybe this is just natural progression. Spose next it will be Railtrack or maybe Stephen Byers!
 
XK Engineering of coventry, who are famous for their jaguar restorations, had a contract for the repair of train doors, from the tokyo subway!nJust as an aside, didn't make them any the worse jaguar re-builders!
 
No, John - Mr Byers wont "own" them. He'll put in place a completely independent MD who he'll tell exactly what to do but our Steve wont be involved in the decision-making process. When when your boat sinks it wont be Mr B's fault, but he'll sack everyone else and tell Motor Boat Monthly off the record that it was your fault for actually putting on the water!

M
 
I don't think Fletcher have been owned by a boat builder as such, since, possibly, the time of Norman Fletcher. As LJS says, at one time they were run by model train makers.

What's left of the work force and management team have had plenty of experience of building boats, and the new owners won't change very much, if they have any sense.

You can wait forever to see how things shape up, so, IMHO, if you've made up your mind that a 19 SC GTO is what you want, and have finished loft conversions etc., go for it, Steve.
 
Good point Geoff

Its just with my luck I'll buy the first one made under new ownership and the resale value will hit the floor because "they're not as good as the originals you know......" any way theres time yet I still haven't got planning permission (for the loft that is not the boat)

thanks

Steve D
 
If your waiting for planning permission from the IDC then you've got a long wait before the boat, will they still be making fletchers by then? :-)

Dom
 
Well I did suggest to SWMBO that if we forgot about the loft I could get a bigger boat and use that as a study instead, but that went down like a lead balloon :-(

Steve D
 
Re: Train Doors!!

So new Fletchers will have little rubber covered buttons eh! So when you pull along side the pontoon whos going to announce MIND THE GAP.
 
Thanks for confirming what I thought was correct re Hornby, also thought last owners were Yamaha so really don't know why they have financial problems, also seem to recall that latest boats were well thought of.
 
Yamaha never 'owned' Fletcher, they came in about 18 months ago as a joint venture, I suppose you'd call it, to handle marketing. Also of course to promote their engines. The larger boats, 22 & 25's, have Yamaha diesel stern drive options, and out board boats obviously come with Yamaha O/B's. Yamaha don't do petrol sterndrives (sensible people!), so smaller boats like 19SC come with Mercruiser still.
 
Steve look in the press Beneteau Flyer 701 for £24k only one year old with extras. I have seen this one about it has a silly name like costalot or something to do with expense anyway a good boat and a good buy especially if you haggle them down a bit.

Judging by the boat name they prob dont like the expense of boating as I didnt see them out alot apart from Herm. Would the wife put ff the loft for a bargain?

If not submit ridiculous plans to IDC which will def get rejected :-)

Dom
 
I am being strong and NOT looking too hard at the moment. But I might take a look at the 701 anyway, it'll be interesting to see the layout. They look as though they have a lot of 'space' for the size of the boat, with some well thought out designs.

Thanks

Steve D
 
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