New Fairline Squadron 53

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Like it or not - 4 cabins in sub 60ft is a usp that will sell boats, even if only for charter.
But the point is if you want it you have to buy the SQ53

If I was buying the Sq53 and assuming the 4 cabin version did not take too much space from the master cabin, I would definitely buy the 4 cabin version. Why wouldn't you? Surely we have all had instances when we have needed an extra cabin for friends or family. I know I have. Plenty of times we've had to put guests in the crew cabin because we haven't had a 4th cabin. And for a family man with quarrelling teenage kids I would think a 4 cabin boat would be a godsend. And IMHO it doesn't matter how small the guest cabins are because they're only going to be used for a few days at most. I honestly dont see how Fairline could be criticised for offering what some people in this sector of the market surely want?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

At anything less than 60' or so, she thinks that the galley down arrangement is better in more ways than one - .

Shows how wives can be very different! My SWMBO has banned me from looking at boats which dont have a galley aft near the back door. Her reasoning is that she doesnt want to be stuck on her own in the galley without being part of the conversation

 

[MapisM]

Perfectly legitimate viewpoint.
Otoh, as you know we have seen a few Ferrettis, in the 53' to 60' bracket (i.e. all smaller than yours), but their lower galleys are at least on par with the 630, if not a bit larger - definitely larger in the 185, for instance.
And most important, all of them are also expandable (so to speak), using the crew/utility cabin directly connected with them. That's something Ms.MM likes a lot.
Besides, she also likes the idea of keeping the cockpit hinged glass raised leaving an open view from the saloon, rather than just from the galley behind it.
But of course, all of that very much depends, aside from personal preferences, also on the type of usage: we spend much more time onboard than yourself and S, and that's bound to affect the priorities...

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Perfectly legitimate viewpoint.
Otoh, as you know we have seen a few Ferrettis, in the 53' to 60' bracket (i.e. all smaller than yours), but their lower galleys are at least on par with the 630, if not a bit larger - definitely larger in the 185, for instance.
And most important, all of them are also expandable (so to speak), using the crew/utility cabin directly connected with them. That's something Ms.MM likes a lot.
Besides, she also likes the idea of keeping the cockpit hinged glass raised leaving an open view from the saloon, rather than just from the galley behind it.
But of course, all of that very much depends, aside from personal preferences, also on the type of usage: we spend much more time onboard than yourself and S, and that's bound to affect the priorities...

Have to disagree with that. We found the lower galleys smaller and not as convenient on our previous Ferrettis as the aft galley on our 630 but then we're not comparing apples with apples as the 630 is overall a larger boat. But then as my SWMBO says, what would I know about galleys on boats as I always try to avoid going anywhere near them

 

[benjenbav]

I do think that it is very bright of F/L to offer a number of alternatives. Even if it turns out that one layout accounts for 99% of the hulls built it will seem much more special buying a semi-customisable boat than simply parting with £700+k for something where there is no significant choice.

 

[petem]

If I was buying the Sq53 and assuming the 4 cabin version did not take too much space from the master cabin, I would definitely buy the 4 cabin version. Why wouldn't you? Surely we have all had instances when we have needed an extra cabin for friends or family. I know I have. Plenty of times we've had to put guests in the crew cabin because we haven't had a 4th cabin. And for a family man with quarrelling teenage kids I would think a 4 cabin boat would be a godsend. And IMHO it doesn't matter how small the guest cabins are because they're only going to be used for a few days at most. I honestly dont see how Fairline could be criticised for offering what some people in this sector of the market surely want?

Because you might prefer the convenience of a utility room instead. Or I suppose you could just pile up 10,000 bottles of water in the 4th cabin . As I said earlier, Fairline are pretty amenable to tweaking these things so you could have it primarily designed as a utility but incorporate some bunks as an emergency 4th cabin. I think JFM did something similar in his crew cabin.

 

[MapisM]

Have to disagree with that. We found the lower galleys smaller and not as convenient on our previous Ferrettis as the aft galley on our 630 but then we're not comparing apples with apples as the 630 is overall a larger boat. But then as my SWMBO says, what would I know about galleys on boats as I always try to avoid going anywhere near them

Haha, yeah, that's more or less what also S tells me - and TBH I don't mind spending more time in the e/r while viewing a boat, and leave her the galley and other interior stuff.

That said, I'm not arguing about "convenience" because that's subjective, at least to some extent, but I beg to disagree on "smaller".
Ok, the 53 is actually the smaller among the Ferrettis we considered, and of course its galley is smaller than in the 630 (less so in the 57, 590, 165, 175 and 185, though).
But if you don't mind (as we don't) losing the whole center crew cabin, you get a HUGE additional space, easily accessible from the galley, which you can use for storage or even for installing additional full size appliances.
We have seen a 53, a 57 and a 165 arranged in that way, and according to S (but fwiw I agree with her), the difference is day and night, for living aboard.
That's what I meant by "expandable" galley in my previous post.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Because you might prefer the convenience of a utility room instead. Or I suppose you could just pile up 10,000 bottles of water in the 4th cabin . As I said earlier, Fairline are pretty amenable to tweaking these things so you could have it primarily designed as a utility but incorporate some bunks as an emergency 4th cabin. I think JFM did something similar in his crew cabin.

To be honest who needs a utility room on a small boat? Providing you've got a washer/dryer somewhere and a spare cupboard for bedding etc IMHO you dont need one. Actually my 4th cabin would be used for storing booze not water

 

[Hurricane]

Actually my 4th cabin would be used for storing booze not water

You know who he was getting at.

Actually, when living on the boat for any length of time, you do need somewhere to keep dirty washing.
We get away with cupboards in the bathrooms - the washing machine is a "must" though and much better if it is within the boat rather than in the lazerette or something.

And on the 3 cabin vs 4 cabins subject, our boat is a big 3 cabin boat - you would expect a 20m boat to have 4 cabins.
The advantage of only 3 cabins being that all the cabins are big and have their own big bathrooms.
In fact, there are also huge cupboards in the companion way that we use for spare clean bedding and towels etc.
Only three times in 9 years have we needed more than 3 cabins and the crews quarters was used on those occasions.
(and 2 of those occasions were within the 1st year)
So, personally, I prefer to have the extra space and fewer cabins.
Depends on how you use your boat though - we use ours as a comfortable home from home.