New Fairline F//LINE

[rafiki_]

No, of course not but it gives Fairline dealers something to offer in the sub 40ft market which Fairline vacated some time ago. I wouldnt be surprised if the plan is to produce a range of sub 40ft F line models if the 33 is well received. It would seem a strange business decision just to produce one standalone F line model

Mike, don't you think this is a distraction for a young business, still fully to find its feet? For me, spending the development resources on the new 80 which will be built at Southampton would be better for the long term future of the business. The sub 40' mobo sector is very busy with Bav/Jean/Ben/lots of Scandi plus the ribs that are growing into this sector.

 

[petem]

Mike, don't you think this is a distraction for a young business, still fully to find its feet? For me, spending the development resources on the new 80 which will be built at Southampton would be better for the long term future of the business. The sub 40' mobo sector is very busy with Bav/Jean/Ben/lots of Scandi plus the ribs that are growing into this sector.

The 33 was never going to be the only boat in the F/Line model range. Personally I'd like to see an outboard powered 26ft one to compete with the Cranchi e26 models but I doubt FL will go that small.

As for spreading development too thinly, they need to be launching new models every year IMO (the 80 will be a couple of years in development I reckon).

Remember that the design of the F/Line was outsourced to Mancini. I'll see if I can find out who will do other models in that range.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Mike, don't you think this is a distraction for a young business, still fully to find its feet? For me, spending the development resources on the new 80 which will be built at Southampton would be better for the long term future of the business. The sub 40' mobo sector is very busy with Bav/Jean/Ben/lots of Scandi plus the ribs that are growing into this sector.

Rafiki, I try not to criticise other peoples' business decisions. There are some good people at Fairline and I'm sure that the F33 was a considered decision within an overall business strategy but there's always an element of 'build it and they will come' about any new model in any industry.

 

[jfm]

Slightly incidentally and a bit OT, there is mention above of a new Fairline "80". The public display at Cannes actually showed two new bigger boat concepts, one called "concept 7x" and one called "concept 8x". There were deck plans and profile sketches for both on display in Cannes. I have no idea which has "priority" in terms of being built first. The 7x looked at least 75 feet and the 8x looked very much like 88 or 89 feet from the pictures (it has RPH) and of course I hope it is not a millimetre more than 28.99m x 6.6m for Antibes berthing reasons.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Slightly incidentally and a bit OT, there is mention above of a new Fairline "80". The public display at Cannes actually showed two new bigger boat concepts, one called "concept 7x" and one called "concept 8x". There were deck plans and profile sketches for both on display in Cannes. I have no idea which has "priority" in terms of being built first. The 7x looked at least 75 feet and the 8x looked very much like 88 or 89 feet from the pictures (it has RPH) and of course I hope it is not a millimetre more than 28.99m x 6.6m for Antibes berthing reasons.

What are the chances of the 8x being launched before the end of the leases at PV though?

 

[petem]

Slightly incidentally and a bit OT, there is mention above of a new Fairline "80". The public display at Cannes actually showed two new bigger boat concepts, one called "concept 7x" and one called "concept 8x". There were deck plans and profile sketches for both on display in Cannes. I have no idea which has "priority" in terms of being built first. The 7x looked at least 75 feet and the 8x looked very much like 88 or 89 feet from the pictures (it has RPH) and of course I hope it is not a millimetre more than 28.99m x 6.6m for Antibes berthing reasons.

J, who was the designer for them - still Mancini?

Also, wots RPH?

Pete

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

wots RPH?

Raised pilot house

 

[rafiki_]

Rafiki, I try not to criticise other peoples' business decisions. There are some good people at Fairline and I'm sure that the F33 was a considered decision within an overall business strategy but there's always an element of 'build it and they will come' about any new model in any industry.

Yes, understand Mike, and concur.

 

[ari]

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.

Exactly because of the boat you linked to and Jeanneau Leaders etc. These boats didn't exist when the old T33, T30/33 etc were in their heyday (late eighties early nineties) so people wanting a 30-35ft family sportscruiser bought a Fairline or a Princess 346/333 Riviera etc. It's a hard sell today in a 'value conscious' market where, even if people can see the quality difference, they're not necessarily prepared to pay for it.

So if you want to build a 'small' (26-36ft) high quality boat, you need to go away from the 'functional' practical boat and into something a little more aspirational where people are prepared to pay more to get the quality product.

No different to Windy, who build a 31ft Zonda but don't build a 31ft 'practical' family sports cruiser like the Scirocco that they used to do well with years ago.

I think it's a great shame, but you can understand why they've gone that way.

 

[Lloydroberts]

Slightly incidentally and a bit OT, there is mention above of a new Fairline "80". The public display at Cannes actually showed two new bigger boat concepts, one called "concept 7x" and one called "concept 8x". There were deck plans and profile sketches for both on display in Cannes. I have no idea which has "priority" in terms of being built first. The 7x looked at least 75 feet and the 8x looked very much like 88 or 89 feet from the pictures (it has RPH) and of course I hope it is not a millimetre more than 28.99m x 6.6m for Antibes berthing reasons.

Is this a hint of a new boat build thread on the horizon?
I do hope so

 

[Portofino]

A grey one @ Genoa rather overlooked as a huge choice of competition.
It’s teak detail was not fantastic btw .

 

[petem]

A grey one @ Genoa rather overlooked as a huge choice of competition.
It’s teak detail was not fantastic btw .

God, you're a miserable sod Porto!

Colour is interesting, I assume it's the white one from London, wrapped in blue for Cannes and re-wrapped in grey for Genoa.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

God, you're a miserable sod Porto!

He's not wrong though, is he? That teak caulking is pretty poor.

 

[stelican]

Where is the quality control Fairline this is your showboat

 

[Portofino]

I think we need to look a bit deeper the factory surly can’t have sent that to a show looking like that ?
The problem i see with a complete U shaped hinged transom is flexing.
You have lost a huge amount of stiffness at the stern .
So driven hard in a chop the rear door / fold down section can’t prevent the lateral aspects flexing and that starboard corner bit of teak ( one piece routed and glued on ) has been bumped off by the rear panel moving .
Note the edge of the wood inboard someone’s been reshaping it .
I don’t believe it left the factory with what looks like a 5 year old in preschool attempt at using sikaflex .
That been re bonded recently after it popped off by a show guy .
It been choppy out .
It doesn’t look wrapped btw , the moulding inside are the same colour.

 

[petem]

He's not wrong though, is he? That teak caulking is pretty poor.

I'm not disputing that but no doubt it will be rectified before the boat is sold on and improved on when in production. And that point has already been made earlier in the thread.

 

[petem]

Where is the quality control Fairline this is your showboat

Not great, but it's a bit of teak and easily fixed.

Were there really no quality issues on show for other brands (are S/S still glassing in the the ply that their engines came in for some partitions)?

 

[ari]

Where is the quality control Fairline this is your showboat

I'm going to hazard a guess that this isn't the first, and won't be the last, boat show boat from any manufacturer that has been rushed out the door in less than perfect condition to hit the show deadline.

Agree with Pete, it won't reach its final customer like this, it'll probably go back to the factory for 'final rectification', along with 50% of the other boats at the show!

 

[jfm]

What are the chances of the 8x being launched before the end of the leases at PV though?

Low/zero I think. Someone mentioned a loose ambition to have 8x at Boot Jan 2022. I'm not bothered personally: I'm inclined to buy a "U" sized lease at PV which lets me buy a boat max 29m x 6.6m, and keep Match in it till my next boat is ready.

J, who was the designer for them - still Mancini?

I don't know Pete. Sketches had a mancini feel but surely another designer will need to take the project forward. Fairline need to get this right - what is now the in house team does not have real live experience of multi-deck motorboat useability (there is very little of an 8x Oyster design that is relevant to an 8x RPH motor boat). If they consult widely and maybe get a good designer from outside the company they could of course do a great job. The layouts showing on the Cannes stand were mostly good imho (with a few important but easy changes needed)

Is this a hint of a new boat build thread on the horizon?
I do hope so

I'd love there to be but I'm super-absorbed in (and enjoying very much) a new thing in my work life that keeps me too busy (like, 200 flights/pa) to spend time in a boat project. I'm targetting a new boat after 2-3 more seasons in current boat, which I still love.

 

[jfm]

I'm going to hazard a guess that this isn't the first, and won't be the last, boat show boat from any manufacturer that has been rushed out the door in less than perfect condition to hit the show deadline.

Agree with Pete, it won't reach its final customer like this, it'll probably go back to the factory for 'final rectification', along with 50% of the other boats at the show!

Precisely. It isn't great but I have far worse pictures of caulk/sikaflex/silicone/fitment disappointments on Princess R35 and other boats from different categories: Princess 24m stuff including the Y85 just shown at Southampton; Sanlorenzo, Azimut, etc. This is a bit of a non even because it all gets rectified.