Looking at all the big beasts inhabiting the UK boatbuilding ecosystem, few come larger than Fairline. The firm’s current range starts with the 33ft F//Line and extends via six Targa variants and the Phantom 65 up to the 68ft Squadron. Add to that a host of previous models and it’s no surprise this brand is ubiquitous on the UK boating scene – there surely can’t be many marinas without a Fairline on its pontoons.
IN BUILD: 2017 – 2020 PRICE RANGE: £800,000 - £1,200,000
It’s all a far cry from 1967 when Oundle-based entrepreneur Jack Newington built his first Fairline – a 19-footer based on a secondhand mould. Four years prior to that Jack had started his water-based adventures with the purchase of some old gravel pits, which he duly connected by way of a trench to the nearby River Nene in order to create Oundle Marina. In 1971 Jack’s son Sam took over the business with its 14 employees, and set about building boats and the brand in earnest. In particular he looked to the Mediterranean, where the market was rapidly growing.
Two highly successful models – the Phantom 32 and the Fairline 40
