Why do we pay over the odds for Fairline/Princess when you could buy..

Nautorius

Nautorius

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 Jun 2003
Messages
5,273
Location
Gibraltar, Small Boats Marina
Visit site
Remembering the great deal Divemaster got on his boat and the quality he has talked about I set my self a little challenge;

To find a 35-42 ft Flybridge/ cool sports cruiser of good name and reputation for £10-15k less than a corresponding Fairline/Princess/Sealine.

It proved to be very easy! Within one hour I had found the following great deals on boats such as Ferretti, Laver, Alfamarine, Technomarine, Mochi and even Riva for all under £50k! Some are even 40ft plus and although they may be slightly odd inside, refurbs do not cost that much.

Now the UK boats are less 'Daring' i.e not as styled as the Italian boats and those 1980's Italian boats look very 80's and dated but in the same way Art Deco is back I think those aggressive angular 80's styles are in vogue again (personal preference!)

The difference is the Italian boats are well built, well specked and available a a great price!

So here are a few. A Laver 40 Fly , a Alfamarine 40, a Technomarine 42C
a Ferretti 38 Altura a Riva Bravo 38 and finally a lovely big Mochi!

Now I would be proud to own any of these craft and at slightly more than my Aquador 23HT I have to say it is very tempting!

With Interest rates and costs rising, buying a boat from Italy and then using her here could be the answer? Why spend £85k on a Princess 35 when that Alfamarine looks great...and why spend £70k on a Sealine 360 when that Technomarine is very promissing.

I am NOT going to do it, but if I was needing an upgrade I would consider it. Would you?

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The well known Italian boats, Azimut, Ferretti etc. are generally more expensive that the UK boats, not less.

Less well known boats are cheaper, as with less well known UK makes, 'cos there's a higher perceived risk of problems and depreciation.
 
I've given this a lot of thought from slightly another angle (although probably already discussed at another thread). Have a look at some of the 'lean manufactured' boats if you will.

Take Bavaria, Galeon or Skrogeness for example, all good looking boats and well enough made providing basically the same luxuries that their more expensive, more established counter parts do.

Q: So why spend extra money on a Princess when you can get a same size Galeon for far less...

A: Probably for the same reason some pick a BMW over Skoda...

Q: Is this going to dump the prices of 'quality' boats on second hand market???

A: Hasn't happened in cars.
 
how much money you want to spend

the best of the pack are the following:

- Tecnomarine 40 C (a timless classic)
- Alfamarine 40 Bronte (prefare the open version Renato Sonny Levi hull)
- Mochi Craft the Big (a great seaworthy and comfortable boat)
- Riva 38 Bravo (apart the color inside she is small tough the lines outside pay for it)
if you want a timeless classic look as a flybridge look for a
Possilipo 42 Martincia from 1975 onwards GRP versions
this is such a well build boat and IMO is timeless that makes a Riva Superamerica look kid
http://www.boatshop24.com/web/en/suchen/...p;totalcount=55

okay its over 50k but you can always try an offer, I might have one in Malta if you are interested....
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've given this a lot of thought from slightly another angle (although probably already discussed at another thread). Have a look at some of the 'lean manufactured' boats if you will.

Take Bavaria, Galeon or Skrogeness for example, all good looking boats and well enough made providing basically the same luxuries that their more expensive, more established counter parts do.

Q: So why spend extra money on a Princess when you can get a same size Galeon for far less...

A: Probably for the same reason some pick a BMW over Skoda...

Q: Is this going to dump the prices of 'quality' boats on second hand market???

A: Hasn't happened in cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

what is fact is that most of these mentioned boats (riva. mochi, ferretti, tecnomarine, alfamarine) have better build quality then Fairline, Princess and Sunseeker of the period, I can assure that
some of them might have suffered blistering but once this is fixed they are super solids boats with superb enginering I can assure that
 
A few years ago we were on holiday in Sorrento, our hotel overlooked a small marina which had quite a few older mobos. They were all pretty well maintained and I remember being struck by the fact that once out on the water they didn't look like "old" boats, they looked somehow right.
 
I run a newish boat, mainly cos I'd rather be spending time boating rather than down in the bilge with the toolkit. Also, older electrics, older gadgets, old fashioned interior styling: you can upgrade fabrics etc. but joinery isn't so easy.

(By old-fashioned I don't mean "classic": which doen't date, but instead something that was fashionable but now just looks out of date).

But, if you can get a hull in good condition, with fabric etc. all up to scratch, and solid engines, then I suppose it's a consideration.

Not for me, though!

dv.
 
I agree, I don't want those issues either. I was just making the point that those older boats did look good (and I must say elegantly stylish) out on the water.
 
it is true IMO that sometimes these older boats are easier to run and maintain then the new high technolgy glim offered today....
the only diiference is that you dont have guarante people who do the job for the first 2 years....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Remembering the great deal Divemaster got on his boat and ........

[/ QUOTE ]

Glad that someone remembers .... dare to be different ... and from my personal experience, I'd do it again .... How about an ItalCraft .... About 43 something ft, Flybridge for similar money ???

951.jpg
 
Why buy a new boat at all.

No room in Marinas except at extortionate prices, diesel prices going up. Dare not part with money to anyone.

I await the revolution which is surely coming.
 
Re: Why do we pay over the odds for Fairline/Princess when you could b

I have an Italian boat. I bought it because I liked the layout and because it was 25 to 50K cheaper than the Sealine/fairline equivalents.

I read afterwards in secret salesman that it is hard to re-sell them and that big names (eg Sealine, Fairline, Princess) are easier to sell on.

So what would rather have to sell, an Italian boat or Sealine, Fairline, Princess?
 
Welcome

sorry if my post is misleading. I would NEVER buy a new boat but my preference is for newer rather than older as things are less worn and not likely to need replacing.

My last two boats have been one year and three years old when I bought them and cost significantly less than they would have new.
 
Re: Why do we pay over the odds for Fairline/Princess when you could b

Wow.... I went to Bletchley Park last weekend, and looked at the Turing Bombe and Colossus....

300px-Bombe.jpg


Looks like they recreated it on Laver's helm...

1559790b.jpg


/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Mebbe one reason is that the price being asked is not always the prime concern.When perhaps your main interest is just being out on the water,not what the actual boat is or looks like and you have had a few previous boats,the priority becomes how close is the boat you can afford to where you live and you are far more likely to come across a homegrown boat in your local area than not..
 
[ QUOTE ]
Because you get what you pay for.

[/ QUOTE ]

this in my opinion is so misleading in boating

I think some brands pay more for shining ads and boatshow stands then the boat you are actually buying...

I can testify as a Gobbi owner for 13 years, that altough at that time a Gobbi was the same price as a Fairline with less gleamy interior, the workmanship on the Italian is so much better, especially the technical part (electronics, wiring etc)
I can give one simple example...
I can take out my boiler or fuel tank in a couple of minutes, in a Fairline 33 Targa which is 1 metre longer and a foot wider you need a minimum a day as you have to take off the engines for the job on the boiler as a minimum
the Gelcoat in my boat is like new (I do good maintenance and cleaning regularly), never had water infiltration problems etc etc

the fairline wins for the SS port holes and more refined interior for that I admit
sometimes people have to go onboard boats and forget a bit the name something I like doing in boat shows

as for the names mentioned above I must admit I saw the Galeons I admit I want consider that boat, Bavaria was dissapointed after seeing big repairs to various models in Sicily and Croatia, but after seeing some nice examples of the 35 this Summer I am for sure to give a look, same goes for the Jeaneau Prestige....

as for the 315 SC Gobbi thats a great boat, just compare the thickness of the stainless steel railing to that of other boats in the category, same goes for the good sized cleats, the interior looks also good with its colors IMO you did a fabolous choice and I am sure in the bad stuff you handle it better the makes you where paying much for
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top