Fairline Corniche

1989 £39,995

The Corniche is one of those muchloved big beamy boats that the company built its reputation on. And while the styling is typically ‘set-square 1980s’, it passes it off with a certain retro charm rather than simply looking old fashioned. The GRP radar arch that replaced the stainless-steel version of earlier boats helps, as does the removal of the thick stripes that used to adorn all Fairlines of this era.

INTERIOR

Fairline offered three main layout options for the voluminous interior of the Corniche. Two are tri-cab, typically with crossover single berths in a small forecabin (although later boats got a comfortable compact double) and then either a second cabin with bunks or a converting dinette opposite the galley on the lower level. The third is this twin-cab set-up which simply had an indulgent master cabin forward ahead of a larger galley and heads. In all versions, the saloon slept two more on a converting sofa. All in all, you get a lot of sleeping space for your buck. A big flat foredeck, decent side decks and a reasonable cockpit make up the exterior of the Corniche. A near-vertical ladder grants access to the flybridge with a second helm position surrounded by an L-shaped run of seating.

PERFORMANCE

Early boats mostly came with Volvo Penta 40 series engines at 165hp each, but Fairline quickly adopted the 41 series at 200hp. Fairline offered both sterndrive and shaftdrive options. The sterndrives were faster and more economical, plus offered quicker and easier engine access (just lift the big hatch in the cockpit). But most opted for the shaftdrive. And that’s the right choice for this boat as it puts the engines further forward. That interior volume is carried well forward and as a result the Corniche has a tendency to run bow up. Placing the engines beneath the saloon floor helps reduce this quirk. Less complex mechanics are also good news in a boat of this age.