This month has brought us news of two remarkably similar British boat builders with radically contrasting fortunes. In the first case, Fairline has opened a revamped manufacturing facility, established a fresh outlet and registered a profit for the first time in four years; and in the second, Sealine has gone into administration.

Fairline

Fairline emerges triumphant



It’s a sad tale for Sealine. Having celebrated 40 years in business just last year with the introduction of the new F48, this well-established marque, with eight models of motor cruiser, ranging in length from 38 to 60 feet, has finally succumbed to reductions in turnover and increasing losses. Bought by the Oxford Investment Group from Brunswick in 2011, it was originally believed that the range would be making that common recession-busting move toward larger craft for wealthier clients - perhaps even turning Sealine into an umbrella company, with several brands under the same flag. But it never happened and while a buyer is currently being sought by the administrator, it seems inevitable that some of the 300 staff at the Kidderminster-based yard will be forced into redundancy.

Sealine

Sealine in trouble



Meanwhile, just a couple of hours east in Oundle, Fairline seems to be emerging triumphant from its battle with the world’s economic downturn. Founded just five years earlier than Sealine, Fairline’s focus is relatively similar, with 10 express and flybridge cruisers from 38 to 70 feet in length - and it too has a key interest in the 48-foot sector with the Squadron 48, the 48 Open and the 48 Gran Turismo all due to emerge in 2013. But having invested nearly £3 million in the revamping of its manufacturing facility in Corby and established a new Fairline dealer for Wales, it has benefited from its forward-thinking approach, reporting a profit for the first time since 2008. It’s excellent news - but whether Sealine’s troubles will have positive implications for Fairline’s sales figures (or whether Sealine’s woes are a suggestion that the mid-size cruiser market is particularly hard hit by our 37-dip recession) has yet to be seen…

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.