New Fairline F//LINE

[jrudge]

I'm aware of that. This boat has been on the drawing board for a couple of years so Russell was very much in charge at its inception. As for a "ringing endorsement" for the company, Russell was in charge so he build the business from its rebirth so would only have himself to blame! Of course, there are two sides to why he's left and as I only hear these things second hand it wouldn't be right for me to comment.

Russel runs a business. If you sold boats would you prefer to sell Princess ( lots of r and d not much discounting relatively stable ) or fairline who are just at the beginning of that cycle ?

I have had 3 Fairline’s. One brand new -s65 - so I like them but a dealer needs new boats to sell to make money which is why boats.co.uk moved as well. Business is business

 

[stelican]

Just saying why could Fairline not make something like this. https://youtu.be/hoNj6M5nHVg

Represents more its history see old T33, T30/33, and T34 where huge successes for them, and how the company expanded in those years.

Why do they really want to copy Princess and Sunseeker in building fast day boats with a cuddy cabin at 10/11 meters.

Malta is full of Fairlines no one will be interested for the F-Line while we have about five new V39s/V40s which arrived in the last three years.
And I can bet my money that you want see any R 35 in Malta. Anyways I will be hugely surprised if one would come.

The Galeon.
Strange video they were given a weekend on the boat but failed to show the full benefits of the boat . As far as I could see no view of the forward cabin .
If they are to do justice at all they should invest in a wide angled viewer.
Looked more like a jolly.
Shame as this company produce some good boats and put in a lot of effort.
Perhaps this is the best they can do remembering past reviews.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I have had 3 Fairline’s. One brand new -s65 - so I like them but a dealer needs new boats to sell to make money which is why boats.co.uk moved as well. Business is business

Surprised to learn at Düsseldorf this year that they only get an allocation of around 12 Princess boats a year to sell which is not big business

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Surprised to learn at Düsseldorf this year that they only get an allocation of around 12 Princess boats a year to sell which is not big business

Allocation are what they will think they will sell, and then move the order around. It is also possible but not sure since I do not know the operation of Princess, that above 24/25 meters are build to order, with possibly the yard only preparing a laminated hull. Anyways with most Princess upwards of one million, that is a twelve million sales. If the dealer makes a net of 10% and another 5-10% in expenses for the sale, then they make a net of 1.2 million in new boat sales alone. That is excluding what a dealer does in brokerage and other operations.

Allocations / waiting lists are a hype very much used in boat shows especially by the big builders, some like to hype it even before you start to see a boat.
Some have a more genuine case as really they cannot build more boats with the infrastructure they have. When I worked with Ferretti in 97/98 the case was the later.
At the time Ferretti for eg. had a production run of 50 boats a year from the 430 to the 80 RPH, and then had the Customline department which was just starting operation with the 94 in process to start construction. We used to receive a detailed fax every week, with allocations and a note if boat was sold or not or build by a dealer, as is referred today a speculation build.
At Fer the allocation thing was very flexible up until a real sale came through.

Some years ago I was on the Sunseeker stand in Genoa, and the Sunseeker agent told a client of mine that the years production was sold for a 70 Manhattan. But they had a spot for a boat in the following calendar year. My client when hearing this literally, said he is not interested but the sales guy told us to wait a minute and like a Jesus miracle in less to a minute we could have a 70M the following Summer, in the month we wanted at the time we wanted, apparently as is another Jesus miracle the 70M was cancelled by someone who upgraded to an 86 after hearing our important need.
Here you had two scenarios happening in reality; or a dealer had a M70 not sold in his allocation and gave it to our guy, or Sunseeker had a production hole from one of its models and could move it into the M70.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

The Galeon.
Strange video they were given a weekend on the boat but failed to show the full benefits of the boat . As far as I could see no view of the forward cabin .
If they are to do justice at all they should invest in a wide angled viewer.
Looked more like a jolly.
Shame as this company produce some good boats and put in a lot of effort.
Perhaps this is the best they can do remembering past reviews.

There is a tiny bit if you watch, but hey Jack preferred the midships.
Anyways I saw the video and this post came to mind, saying if Galeon can do it why not Fline or any British builder.
Sam Newington would surely have found a way to build a boat as good if not better to that Galeon with a similar price tag.
Entry level Fairline exl the Fline is the 43 at the moment costing over 600k. They could have kept producing the T38 with a few tweaks. I think she was/is a great boat!

 

[stelican]

There is a tiny bit if you watch, but hey Jack preferred the midships.
Anyways I saw the video and this post came to mind, saying if Galeon can do it why not Fline or any British builder.
Sam Newington would surely have found a way to build a boat as good if not better to that Galeon with a similar price tag.
Entry level Fairline exl the Fline is the 43 at the moment costing over 600k. They could have kept producing the T38 with a few tweaks. I think she was/is a great boat!

It would be interesting to know how many boats 30 to 40 ft built by Benetteau / Jeanneau are sold into Europe anually. Ok perhaps the market has shrunk but I expect there are still a good many being sold.

 

[petem]

There is a tiny bit if you watch, but hey Jack preferred the midships.
Anyways I saw the video and this post came to mind, saying if Galeon can do it why not Fline or any British builder.
Sam Newington would surely have found a way to build a boat as good if not better to that Galeon with a similar price tag.
Entry level Fairline exl the Fline is the 43 at the moment costing over 600k. They could have kept producing the T38 with a few tweaks. I think she was/is a great boat!

The only thing wrong with the T34 is that she's 4ft too short to breathe inside and get a tender on the bathing platform, hence I'd go for a T38 if I could afford it.

Both boats were pretty perfect for their sizes, in my opinion, apart from the roof arrangements. I'd prefer a very light weight permanently framed canvas roof to replace the bimini with removable side screens. I really don't get these hardtops in the Med. But the big issue that FL have is labour costs compared to the likes of Galeon which I believe is made in Poland. Still, Brexit might sort that one out for us!

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

It would be interesting to know how many boats 30 to 40 ft built by Benetteau / Jeanneau are sold into Europe anually. Ok perhaps the market has shrunk but I expect there are still a good many being sold.

I was told 36 Leader is around 200 mark. Prestige 550 now replaced by 560 sold 170 boats in HT and Fly version in 3 to 4 years.

V39 now V40 sold about 70. Sunseeker 40 Portofino sold 80 in three years. This last stopped cause they said they where not making any money at starting price of 350k£.
I think the best sold British boats atm is the Manhattan 52 which is over the 100th hull as we speak.

 

[stelican]

I was told 36 Leader is around 200 mark. Prestige 550 now replaced by 560 sold 170 boats in HT and Fly version in 3 to 4 years.

V39 now V40 sold about 70. Sunseeker 40 Portofino sold 80 in three years. This last stopped cause they said they where not making any money at starting price of 350k£.
I think the best sold British boats atm is the Manhattan 52 which is over the 100th hull as we speak.

It was more their entry level that would be interesting to hear more about if you have any info.

 

[petem]

I was told 36 Leader is around 200 mark. Prestige 550 now replaced by 560 sold 170 boats in HT and Fly version in 3 to 4 years.

V39 now V40 sold about 70. Sunseeker 40 Portofino sold 80 in three years. This last stopped cause they said they where not making any money at starting price of 350k£.
I think the best sold British boats atm is the Manhattan 52 which is over the 100th hull as we speak.

It's a far cry from the 300 odd T34/40's that FL built in the old days. Probably why they don't think it's worth the effort.

Still, FL are going to need something to build in the production lines being freed up by the move of the production of the bigger stuff down to Southampton.

 

[PalmaTarga]

It will be interesting to know who they think their target audience was when their design brief was set. In this size and price there is a fair bit of competition mostly with the Scandinavian brands like Windy having the Zonda and Solano which I personally would prefer, even tough I like the look of the FLine. I think I would be swayed to other brands like Axopar with outboards that maximise the space and performance.

The folding transom to bathing platform idea is good, but someone who has 300k+ to put into a boat won't be too disturbed at an extra couple of K on mooring fees and If the transom folds by remote, i don't see it being too much of an issue in the Med as steps can easily be added to the dock. What it does mean is there is no chance for a tender which is essential in the med.

Either way, I like that manufacturers are being experimental. Whether it wins or fails, parts of the R&D will end up being implemented across the line.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

It's a far cry from the 300 odd T34/40's that FL built in the old days. Probably why they don't think it's worth the effort.

Still, FL are going to need something to build in the production lines being freed up by the move of the production of the bigger stuff down to Southampton.

36 Leader sold 200 in less to three years. T34 sold 300 in nine or eight years of production run. How much did the T38 sold in like nine years? I heard about 150.

I imagine Oundle facility will be sold over the years if the Southampton facility goes well. It is very much 50/50....

But anyways if you build a boat to outsell another it is a lost battle. You make a good quality and competitive product and the rest will take care of itself.
The number is always that when you sell over ten the moldings of a boat have paid themselves.

btw Galeon does offer it without a Hard-top if you want.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

It will be interesting to know who they think their target audience was when their design brief was set.

My guess is that they didnt think much if my experience with manufacturers of other products is anything to go by, many of whom seem to operate on an if we build it they will come basis. I suspect that Fairline were under pressure from their dealers who will have seen their sub 40ft market slipping away over the years and there will have been some heroic thinking about smaller boats attracting new buyers who will eventually trade up through the range

FWIW my own opinion is that the design falls between 2 stools. It isnt practical enough to mix it with the Nimbuses and Axopars off this world but neither is it pretty enough to attract the Med dayboat set either. Also I think the price of £300k or whatever is ambitious but probably a reflection of the fact that it isnt built in somewhere like Poland or Slovenia (?)

I suspect that Fairline will sell a few units but then it will be quietly dropped in a couple of years time

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Allocation are what they will think they will sell, and then move the order around. It is also possible but not sure since I do not know the operation of Princess, that above 24/25 meters are build to order, with possibly the yard only preparing a laminated hull. Anyways with most Princess upwards of one million, that is a twelve million sales. If the dealer makes a net of 10% and another 5-10% in expenses for the sale, then they make a net of 1.2 million in new boat sales alone. That is excluding what a dealer does in brokerage and other operations.

I guessed the numbers would be something like that but its still not big business considering that spares and servicing are not provided by the dealers in this industry. The other thing I forgot to mention is that I think that in the boating industry the dealers pick up most of the warranty costs rather than the manufacturer but I may be wrong on that but that could eat into the margins substantially

 

[petem]

Just seen a Facebook post. Fline 33 seatrial - 6 up, full tanks, 47.5 knots. Woof!

 

[Portofino]

Just seen a Facebook post. Fline 33 seatrial - 6 up, full tanks, 47.5 knots. Woof!

“ Woof “
The fuel gauge movement down ?
Or more like it going up because of a petrol leak ?

 

[petem]

They're hoping to get 50kts out of the next hull. A new pic:

 

[Portofino]

Interestingly at the Ferretti preview the most popular boat in terms of trips out and folks wanting a ride was the Wally 48 .
It’s debut is Cannes and it’s a day boat aimed at villa owners , or SY toy / tender chase boat ?

That’s got re me thinking the whole R 37 , H 38 and FL F line concept of the U.K. remaining 3 .

If Ferretti has something in there line up as well ...........
Maybe this segment is the new growth area .

That pic ^^^^ looks stunning btw .

Obviously on here there’s a disproportionately large number of owners who camp and live aboard / cruise / use as mobile holiday home there boats .Who clearly aren’t the target buyers of this new expanding segment .
That may explain why the forum ( inc me ) are or have been critical of them .
We are looking @ them through the wrong set of glasses that’s why .

So price and VFM don’t really ,or are lower down in the buying decision process , theses boats are accessories to real estate on shore and likely afloat - SY .

 

[julians]

Looks good in blue

 

[Parabordi]

I concur:ambivalence:

Me too, bow shape is hideous