New and Improved: Fairline upgrades fun-filled F//Line 33

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Fairline’s fastest boat, the F//Line 33 is ideal for one or two couples or a family, but has a daytime capacity of eight

The common adage, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, may sound familiar to most, but the saying is distinctly alien in the yachting industry where builders and designers are constantly refining proven models in a bid to create an even better version.

In the case of Fairline’s F//Line 33, the original model – which premiered at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2019 – was certainly not broken, proving both popular and very fast, hitting 48 knots with the most powerful engine options. Regional dealer Simpson Marine imported the first unit in Asia last year.

The hard top is a popular new option

Based on consumer responses, Fairline had decided by early 2020 that the boat could be slightly improved and started developing the new model, which was ultimately premiered at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival in September.

“All changes were 100 per cent driven by customer feedback,” explains Miles Moorhouse, Fairline’s Head of Marketing. “With all boats you are constantly tweaking the design and listening to your customers. Our ability to react to market demand is critical and a hand-made project like this means you can make changes.”

A C-shaped sofa replaces the two facing bench seats

An array of small but significant edits have helped the model reach new heights, but the original concept remains the same.

Penned by Italian designer Alberto Mancini and inspired by classic 1960s car design, the 33ft fibreglass vessel is a sexy day boat that offers much more than a quick cruise to the nearest lunch spot.

The aft sunpad is a major new feature

Generous onboard spaces, sleek lines and a revolutionised driving experience makes the F//Line 33 stand out among the brand’s other models. “It looks very different from a traditional Fairline,” Moorhouse notes. “This is very much a weekender boat.”

OPTIMISING SPACES

The new F//Line 33 is based on the same hull but with variations to the design of the main deck. Original features such as a forward sunbed and aft dining area are retained but with a slightly modified design to better serve their purpose.

The hard top has an electric sunroof over the twin helm

Optimising the outdoor experience became a clear priority for the revised layout of the model. This has been realised in the form of details such as a new portside wet bar with options to add a fridge, electric griddle and icemaker to enhance al fresco entertaining for six guests.

Starboard seating is now arranged in a C-shaped sofa to starboard around a teak-topped table, with the aft backrest doubling up as a headrest for an additional two-person sunbed.

There are now sunpads fore and aft

Having just one walkway, to port, instead of two creates more socialising area. Moving to an open-transom format also offers easier access to the water for guests wanting to spend extra time outdoors.

Perhaps the most obvious and popular alteration is the inclusion of a hard top option, with Fairline declaring that it has been chosen on every new order.

The interior dinette can convert to a bed

Below deck, interiors are surprisingly spacious given the compact size of the dayboat. The layout incudes a convertible forward dinette, day head and midships cabin.

The dinette with a nifty high-low table and an ultra-modern mirror TV also ensures that the lower deck is as cosy and comfortable as the spaces above. The low cabin offers a serene sleeping space with a double bed, justifying Moorhouse’s preference to call it a weekender rather than a basic dayboat.

The cosy double cabin midships

The new interior also has increased storage space and a host of new options such as a cooking hob and sink, ensuring that even when it’s raining outside, onboard dining can still involve more than pre-packed picnics.

EASY TO DRIVE – AND CONFIGURE

Fairline initially created the F//Line project to attract a new audience, reflected in the model’s energetic performance.

There are now twin helm seats instead of a bench

Moorhouse describes the desired demographic as slightly younger than ‘big boat’ buyers, maybe even people new to boating. For some, the F//Line 33 is their first luxury boat. The driving experience is key to the specific consumer market.

Despite being able to reach impressive speeds depending on engine choice, the F//Line 33 “has built a reputation as a good sea boat that lands softly” and is decidedly “easy to handle,” according to Moorhouse. He describes the F//Line 33 as “confidence giving” due to its user-friendly set-up.

The F//Line 33 is designed to be easy to drive

In the new version, an increased helm width makes room for two 12in Garmin navigation screens where before there was just one.

As well as being easy to drive, the F//Line 33 is easy to personalise. Fairline’s excellent online configurator allows potential clients to see how they’d like their boat to look, such as with or without a hard top, inboard or outboard engines, and the best colours for the hull, upholstery and interior.

The interior now has the added option of a sink, hob and tableware storage

Moorhouse says the online configurator is invaluable to the purchasing process of the new F//Line 33. “People’s knowledge of the product is great by the time they visit. It works well for clients from around the world, who can use the configurator to build their ideal 33. It’s a powerful tool.”

Looking ahead, Moorhouse says “there is scope to expand the F//Line”, suggesting that although the 33 may be one of the brand’s most refined models, there could be more to come from the new range.