Fairline Yachts, the British Builder That Started in a Gravel Pit

From gravel pits on the River Nene

Fairline's story is unusually inland. In 1963 Jack Newington bought gravel pits on the River Nene to create Oundle Marina, and in 1967 he launched the first Fairline, a 19-foot fiberglass river cruiser. His son Sam later ran the business, and Fairline grew into one of the three big British motor yacht builders alongside Sunseeker and Princess. The Targa range arrived in 1985 and the Squadron flybridge range in 1990, and both names remain in use.

The family sold in 2006, and the company has since changed hands repeatedly, through 3i, Better Capital and RBS, Wessex Bristol, Russian investors in 2016, RiverRock in 2020, Hanover Investors in 2021 and new owners again in late 2024. Each change brought new strategy and, at times, trading difficulties, which matters to buyers thinking about long-term support.

Targa, Squadron, Phantom and the F//Line

Fairline's modern ranges were restyled with Italian design input. The Targa line covers sports yachts from about 38 to 62 feet, the Squadron line flybridge yachts from about 42 to 78 feet, and the Phantom 65 introduced a newer flybridge concept in 2022.

The Fairline F//Line 33, launched in 2019 and covered in depth on this site, was a departure for the brand: a 33-foot dayboat with a sporty hull, open cockpit and a focus on short, fast trips. It appeals to European buyers using it as a tender or Mediterranean day cruiser and to US owners who want a European-style dayboat.

• Targa, sports yachts from about 38 to 62 feet
• Squadron, flybridge yachts from about 42 to 78 feet
• F//Line 33, the compact dayboat introduced in 2019

Buying a Fairline in the United States

Fairline's US dealer presence has been thin and has changed with each owner, so many American Fairlines are bought through brokers or imported. That makes used Fairlines cheaper than equivalent Princesses or Sunseekers in the US, a potential bargain for buyers comfortable sourcing parts from the UK. Mechanical service is easy because most Fairlines use Volvo Penta engines.

European specification is the key issue for US owners.

• 230-volt, 50-hertz electrical systems and how they were converted for US shore power
• Volvo Penta service history, including IPS pods where fitted
• Window bonding and hull window seals
• Teak decks and cockpit seating
• Confirmation of US Coast Guard documentation and import duty status on imported boats