Worth a look if your into 60 ft boats .Squadron 59.

Actually as its 20 years old the depeciation is not that bad,especially if you take into account that somebody may have taken advantage of some tax allowence or other.
Not sure what it would have cost new.
Having rummaged through some old forum posts it would appear £650K,a considerable amount in those halcyon days.
 
Last edited:
BEWARE BEWARE BEWARE!!!! New to this forum but on many others. I've owned 3 Fairline boats and the last a Squadron 59 was by far the worst.. I see this boat has been advertised for sometime and I suspect the list of what is required is more of a distraction than anything else.. The one I owned "blew" an engine (430 hours allegedly) and in the end it cost me £34800 yes £34800 to get put right.. I'd always been told not to go for a boat that wasn't dealer or dealer approved servicing and steer clear of owner serviced boats and wished I had listened. I also had an array of electrical problems with bulbs popping within hours of being fitted, the fridge in the galley gave up the ghost and I had windscreen leaks, the air con also let me down 7 times in 3 years. Finally I had the gearbox go and had to have it rebuilt at a cost of £8200. It took me two years to sell her and in the end not much more than this one (£101,400) BUT with a dealer service record of late, oil survey and boat survey and everything down to the last bulb working as it should do. I totally lost my shirt on this so whilst I realise I may have been unlucky and things do happen, I think service history helps reduce the chances. This boat may well have all that as indeed it should.. Just one point, if that's all that's needing done and even if a quick sale is required, I'd be employing a local firm to do the work, get a survey done and engine/gearbox survey and present the boat in A1 condition with confidence to the new buyer. Me thinks the second choice of "old git" on this thread might be more appropriate...a whole heap of fibreglass! Just my experience and 2 Euros worth..

Pat McGuire.
 
There's no denying that big old boats can lead to big bills. But I don't think its fair to suggest this is a 'Fairline' problem. Engine, aircon and fridge faults can hardly be due to it being a Fairline and with regard to wiring issues, the cause could well have been defective installations post build.

But when you say you 'lost your shirt', would the depreciation have been any different if you'd bought a brand new boat? Still, it sounds like the buyer of your Fairline may have been the one who eventually got a bargain.
 
Hi Petem, I must apologise if that's how my post came across as I'm in no way laying the faults at Fairline's door. I have owned 3 Fairlines and it was only the last one, the "59" that was problematic.. I was trying to point out that as you say, big old boats can lead to big bills. If a boat hasn't been taken care of or as the case a great deal of the time, the owner can afford the boat but not the maintenance programs that goes with it, then it can lead to all sorts of problems. The windscreen looks like it had been a problem for a long time and got progressively worse. The engines were aledgely services every year by the owner and his brother but this was obviously not the case. I was just trying to warn potential buyers of the pitfalls that I fell down. I would now never buy a boat that hadn't been serviced recently by a reputable agent and would speak to him before buying as it's not the first time a recommendation has been ignored because of cost. This boat looks tired and to be honest not that cheap in my opinion. It took me 2 years to sell a boat with 5 years proper service history, a survey report of boat and mechanics with receipts for all work recommended in the survey complete. I kept the boat machine polished and looking good and even at an advertised price if £125k and offers accepted,it still took that time to sell and at £101k. They did all by the way have issues with bulbs blowing and that was a Fairline issue. If I was this guy, I would advertise the fact that it has proper service history (essential!) if it has, if not get it fully serviced with all recommendations, have it surveyed and put right the defects found and have the documents to prove it has been done. Get the boat anti fouled, polished and Valerie's. If the list supplied is all that's wrong, get them put right and I think then and only then will he have a chance to sell. Even at that, I doubt he will bet his asking price unless he can hold off for a few years. I sold mine sometime ago now ( 20 months) and the ones that were for sale then are still pretty much for sale now. I would love to know what the few that did eventually move, went for.. I'd be interested in any other comments re this boat but as I said at the start not in any way trying to slag off Fairline, just giving my experience. Finally re depreciation, I could never have afforded to buy the boat new so not sure I can answer that. All the best. Pat.
 
New to this forum but on many others
Well, welcome. Looking forward to some more interesting contribution in the future.
You know, I'm always a bit intrigued/suspicious when I see folks subscribing to a forum just to bash a boat/builder in their first post.
Obviously, I can't say for sure if you just have an axe to grind, but you sure give that impression, to my chaotic and cynic mind... :)
Again, welcome to the asylum anyhow!
 
Irish it is a 60 feet boat, many will see it big so 2 years to sell is usually a normal time for that size in the UK I would imagine. This is not a BMW 3 series which every middle man can afford, to run and keep.

I think actually the 59 Squadron was among Fairlines best hull in that period, and as Pete told you some stuff in a nearly 20 year old boat are going to give you some headaches.
They where still far away at the high level they reached today, past 2004 is usually very high, but anyways it is a boat. They say buying a boat is like having a cold shower and throwing 20£ notes away.
 
Boat stands for break out another thousand.
However, these days, thanks to inflation it should be spelt with a second t.

I.e. boatt which stands for break out another ten thousand.
 
I know this Boat well and those that live on her. It was a families pride and Joy who just stopped using her 5 years ago. 3 years ago the daughter and boyfriend turned up and have been living on her. A lot of things are broken or need fixed and every month the list gets longer. Much better to pay for a clean one as this could be a money pit. Probably getting near the point of no economical return now and a shame. There were some decent offers on her a few years ago.

£50k max from me.....even with half priced berth....
 
Well, welcome. Looking forward to some more interesting contribution in the future.
You know, I'm always a bit intrigued/suspicious when I see folks subscribing to a forum just to bash a boat/builder in their first post.
Obviously, I can't say for sure if you just have an axe to grind, but you sure give that impression, to my chaotic and cynic mind... :)
Again, welcome to the asylum anyhow!

MapisM, I'm kinda sorry I started now and so will finish by saying this. I have no axe to grind, I am now out of boats and hire as and when I want one, expensive but cheaper in the long run....for me anyway. There's not a lot of "59's" around and in having one, the profile of which doesn't sound too dissimilar to this one, I thought my input and experience might have been worthwhile. To do that I had to go to the bother of joining as I'm not on, and never was on this site. I lost a total of £57k on buying my 59 ( bought for £110k) between the engines, gearbox etc etc and then what I finally sold her for. I don't know this boat, the owners, the condition, the service history, I was only trying to point out the pit falls that I fell into in spectacular fashion and I'm nobody's fool, even for an Irishman. So apologies if this has come over in anyway other than the way it was meant. I'm of the opinion if you're selling something have it as perfect and correct as age will allow, be upfront and transparent, back everything up with paperwork and show confidence in your boat. If that means you need to ask more, ask more....it will probably separate you from the rest. Apologies once again....I'm off!

Pat
 
MapisM, I'm kinda sorry I started now and so will finish by saying this. I have no axe to grind, I am now out of boats and hire as and when I want one, expensive but cheaper in the long run....for me anyway. There's not a lot of "59's" around and in having one, the profile of which doesn't sound too dissimilar to this one, I thought my input and experience might have been worthwhile. To do that I had to go to the bother of joining as I'm not on, and never was on this site. I lost a total of £57k on buying my 59 ( bought for £110k) between the engines, gearbox etc etc and then what I finally sold her for. I don't know this boat, the owners, the condition, the service history, I was only trying to point out the pit falls that I fell into in spectacular fashion and I'm nobody's fool, even for an Irishman. So apologies if this has come over in anyway other than the way it was meant. I'm of the opinion if you're selling something have it as perfect and correct as age will allow, be upfront and transparent, back everything up with paperwork and show confidence in your boat. If that means you need to ask more, ask more....it will probably separate you from the rest. Apologies once again....I'm off!

Pat

Excuse MapisM, he's Italian :). Anyhow, no apology required. Are you saying that your £57k loss included repairs and depreciation? Anyhow, as I said in my previous post whoever bought your boat could have been the one who struck lucky. Or they may be experiencing further misery.
 
Well MapisM you can now have a go at me as I have just joined to make a comment. You can follow me in the practical motor boat forum as that's where I normally hide.. Aren't we a cynical bunch when someone tries to make a comment to help others. Irishpaddy, ignore them and don't let the few stop what I think is an interesting story. Smaller boats like smaller houses, sell quicker and are easier to maintain. Larger boats like the large ( fallen into disrepair) mansions we see on TV programs take longer and cost a fortune. I have over the years seen many large, once beautiful boats fall slowly into disrepair to the point as Nautorious said are almost beyond bringing back without deep deep pockets. Even a survey only tells half the story and it's really true ownership over time that is the real deal. I think if Nautorius knows the marina/boat which due to his location he does then we should listen to him. Personally I wouldn't touch this boat and would buy a proper one and pay proper money. Once a boat has been allowed to get past a certain point, it will run away with you and your money. if the guys siblings have been just living on it, God knows what state it will be in. Like the big country mansions that were at one time great but not maintained, a boat of this size requires you to be on top of it every month doing all the little things that need done before they become big things. I see this boat had Man 680's, they are great engines if looked after correctly. Not sure what one you had Irish.. I'll make a prediction. Several people with money will go and see this boat, they will make offers which the guy will refuse, the boat will get further and further into disrepair and it will eventually sell for buttons.. Ok MapisM, hit me with your worst! I'm off back to my original forum where they know and love me. BFN
 
Yes it was the Man's I had but the guy told me he and his brother did all the servicing twice a year but that was such a load of crap. Petem, yes based upon what I bought it for, the work I had to get done and what I sold her for! The guy who has her now is so delighted, we still keep in touch via Facebook. I think the more I hear about this one, you'd be mad, doesn't sound like its out a great deal and that's not great.. Anyway best of luck to him, he'll need it £99k is a good price for a 59 that is in good condition but you could spend easily another £50k easy!
 
Excuse MapisM, he's Italian
Haha, good point, P.
OTOH, he should have understood that already from the style, if you think about it.
After all, I'm still the only one who welcomed (twice!) Irishpaddy to the forum... :)
Oh, apropos: a warm welcome also to RTH. :encouragement:
 
Top