FAIRLINE SQUADRON 43
BUILT 1995 PRICE £100,000
During the Nineties, Fairline had two tiers of flybridge boats. The Phantom series were well appointed high-quality boats in their own right. But the halo boats were the Squadron series, reserved for the biggest and the best. The Squadron 43 was the smallest of this series, giving the ‘superyacht’ character of its bigger brothers in a more compact form. The problem with two tier flybridge boats was that buyers of still very expensive Phantom boats felt a little riled at spending large sums on ‘lesser’ models, so ‘Phantom’ was dropped and all flybridge Fairlines are now dubbed Squadron.
INTERIOR The Squadron effect was most evident inside by virtue of complex curves, highgloss carpentry and high-quality linings and soft comfortable upholstery. It had the vibe of a larger boat. Fairline offered two versions, a two cabin or a three cabin layout, the latter with both guest cabins featuring side-by-side twin beds rather than having the bunk beds popular in this sector.
FOR SALE Boats.co.uk www.boats.co.uk
This is the two cabin version which has a larger galley area as a result. The master cabin is forward.
EXTERIOR That this is a Squadron, not a Phantom, is most evident in the expansive curve of the windscreen that looks like the front of an aircraft fuselage. Fairline initially took the unusual step of fitting no cockpit seating at all, the aft cockpit coaming featuring storage lockers instead. It was an unpopular move and Fairline eventually started fitting the small seat that this boat has.
PERFORMANCE Fairline fitted Caterpillar or Volvo Penta diesel engines to this model, all twin installations and shaft drive. This particular example has the Volvo Penta TAMD 72 430hp engines for a top speed of around 30 knots and a 20-25-knot cruise.
Length 44ft 5in (13.54m) Beam 13ft 6in (4.1m) Draught 3ft 1in (0.9m) Displacement 14 tonnes Fuel capacity 1.364 litres Engines Twin Volvo Penta TAMD 72 430hp diesel
SEA-KEEPING A Bernard Olesinski-designed planing hull, so safe, predictable and capable.