Small Craft News

Fairline Yachts established from failed Fairline Boats

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Fairline Yachts has emerged from the collapse of Fairline Boats following investment from two Russian businessmen
Fairline Yachts has emerged from the collapse of Fairline Boats following investment from two Russian businessmen

Fairline Boats, which had seemed to be on the verge of disappearing just a few weeks ago, has been saved following the intervention by two Russian investors.

A new company, Fairline Acquisitions, funded by two UK based Russian investors with a background in the marine sector, is to take on the failed company’s order book and initially plans to recruit around 100 of the 380 staff who were made redundant before Christmas following the collapse. The new company plans to trade as Fairline Yachts.

The new business will be run by Russell Currie. He has been a Fairline dealer for the past 18 years.

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New EU Watercraft Directive to replace RCD is now applicable

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The new EU Watercraft Directive comes into force from 18 January 2016
The new EU Watercraft Directive comes into force from 18 January 2016

The new EU Watercraft Directive (formerly known as the Recreational Craft Directive or RCD) 2013/53/EU has become applicable from Monday 18 January 2016.

As a result, the European Boating Industry and International Council of Marine Industry Associations’ (ICOMIA) invaluable ‘RCD Guide’ is now applicable to boating professionals intending to manufacture, import, distribute and sell products on the EU single market as well as Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland (as part of the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association), and Turkey (candidate EU member).

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Concrete solutions for end-of-life boat dismantling

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Boat dismantling is a tricky and contentious issue. Photo courtesy of Gwynnie Griffiths
Boat dismantling is a tricky and contentious issue. Photo courtesy of Gwynnie Griffiths

How to approach the global problem of boat dismantling was under discussion at the recent ‘Boat’s end-of-life, truly the end?’ conference.

The event, held at the Nautic Paris International Boat Show on 8 December 2015, was organised by the European Boating Industry, the French federation FIN and Reed Exposition.

It brought together exhibitors, companies, visitors and public authorities who all heard the clear message that concrete solutions were available for boat’s end-of-life while more work was necessary at EU level to address remaining technical, legal and financial issues.

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Marine Installation Safety Training: Diesel fuelled heating

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The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before
The safety of diesel fuelled heating systems in boats is challenged as never before

The history
For over 40 years diesel fuelled heating has enjoyed a faultless safety record within the marine industry. This has been achieved despite being largely ignored by most regulating bodies.

So why are we writing this? Heaters are safe right? Well, yes, if installed and maintained correctly, diesel fuelled heating is still one of the safest forms of heating you can use.

Unfortunately, in recent years a worrying trend has started to develop, fuelled by a glut of cheap second hand vehicle diesel heaters and dubious internet knowledge.

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Fuel hoses for petrol inboard engines

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workboat on fireThe context of this article is in relation to improving the safety of operators and crew of existing inboard petrol powered vessels including auxiliary petrol motors from the possibility of explosion resulting in death or injury.

As one of our clients stated: “This vessel has only exploded once in all my 40 years of fishing. The explosion throwing me backwards onto the net board, so my vessel is perfectly safe!”

This particular case was the result of the fuel tank breather line falling off the fuel tank connection with the resulting fumes allowing free passage through the open boat structure as no bulkheads were included in the construction of the vessel finally allowed to gathering in the bilge under the motor. This nearly resulted in a personal space shuttle, he was lucky.

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Problems with skin fittings

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Surveyors should be aware of the issues caused by faulty skin fittings
Surveyors should be aware of the issues caused by faulty skin fittings

In the last month I have come across two situations which highlight the potential problems with skin fittings, reports Eugene Curry. One vessel, a GRP sea angling charter boat, was a licenced Passenger Boat (12 passengers and 2 crew) permitted to operate up to 40 nautical miles offshore. The other vessel was an aluminium hulled yacht undergoing inspection for renewal of its passenger Boat Licence and permitted to operate up to 30 nautical miles offshore. In both instances the owners grumbled about the additional expense involved but changed their tune when problems were found.

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Fairline Boats goes into administration

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A luxury yacht made by Fairline Boats shown at sea
The future of Fairline Boats is uncertain following the announcement that the company has finally gone into administration

UK Yacht builder, Fairline boats has entered administration, putting 450 jobs at risk. FRP Advisory LLP, a restructuring and business advisory firm, has been appointed as its administrators.

News of the administration comes only days after it was reported that staff had been moved out of Fairline’s head office in Oundle and into its factory. The majority of Fairline’s 450 staff are divided between Oundle and Corby in Northamptonshire, with a further testing site in Ipswich.

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Luxury catamaran builder, Gunboat, files for bankruptcy

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Gunboat Catamaran sailing on the seaGunboat International, a builder of high performance luxury sailing catamarans says it has filed for bankruptcy protection in a “perfect storm” of difficult business circumstances.

Company owner Peter Johnstone posted a letter on the Gunboat International Facebook page saying that a legal dispute with a boat building company was central to his own company’s financial problems.

“The Chinese built Gunboat 60 series cost Gunboat a fortune to sort out,” Johnstone wrote. “Gunboat felt an obligation to its customers and spent millions out of pocket, which proved to be a huge strain on our resources, focus and productivity.”

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Pendennis picks up awards for its apprenticeship schemes

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The Pendennis team all pictured385 Pendennis Shipyard has won two separate regional awards in the South West for its apprenticeship schemes.

Pendennis won the Apprenticeship and Training category at the Made in the South West Business Awards and the Best Apprenticeship trophy at the Western Morning News Business Awards.

Mike Carr, joint managing director, said: “Pendennis is very proud to have been recognised in both of these awards. Our Apprenticeships bring youth, enthusiasm and trained expertise to all areas of our business.”

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UltraSystem PowerPlus launched by Ultrasonic Antifouling

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Ultrasonic Antifouling has launched the UltraSystem PowerPlus
Ultrasonic Antifouling has launched the UltraSystem PowerPlus

Ultrasonic Antifouling Limited, market leaders and pioneers of the original hull and sea chest clearing technology, has launched the UltraSystem PowerPlus.

The PowerPlus – which is the latest development in the company’s ‘Ultra’ Series – is the result of 3 years of research, development and comprehensive testing and is twice as powerful as the Series II which has been the company’s flagship product for the past 5 years. The new product has been specifically designed with larger yachts and superyachts in mind.

The PowerPlus combines ultrasonic antifouling’s intelligent and unique software with their advanced digital control program (ADCP) to deliver a higher concentration of ultrasound. This prevents bio-fouling on hulls and sea chests, increasing performance whilst at the same time monitoring temperature, voltage and output loads. PowerPlus uses a wide range of key frequencies between 20 and 140 KHz, which is unique to the UltraSystem, and utilises high quality 50w multi-frequency mounted piezoelectric crystal transducers.

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British Coatings Federation to survey use of antifouling paints

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The British Coatings Federation has launched a survey to addressed concerns that authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling paints to strictly professional applicators
The British Coatings Federation has launched a survey to addressed concerns that authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling paints to strictly professional applicators

The British Coatings Federation (BCF) Marine Coatings Group has addressed concerns that authorities may decide to restrict the application and use of antifouling (AF) paints to strictly professional applicators and organisations, by launching a survey to determine DIY use of AF paints in the UK.

The survey looks to raise awareness amongst the boat-owning community regarding this issue, determine the current practice related to AF paint use by the DIY market, determine the awareness of users to the hazards of AF paint, emphasizing the importance of using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, and to provide an indication as to the impact on AF paint sales, boat maintenance costs and leisure boat ownership, if such a restriction becomes law.

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Volvo Penta has unveiled its new Forward Drive (FWD) Duoprop concept

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The new Duoprop concept has been unveiled by Volvo Penta
The new Duoprop concept has been unveiled by Volvo Penta

Ten years ago, Volvo Penta revolutionised leisure boating with its Volvo Penta IPS forward facing propulsion system. Now the company is opening up a new realm for recreational water sports with the new Volvo Penta FWD. The system’s patented design — forward facing dual counter rotating props and adjustable trim drive — pulls the boat through the water rather than pushing, with an undisturbed water flow to the propellers.

The clean and efficient FWD propulsion system delivers superior responsiveness, acceleration, fuel economy and versatility, and is ideal for water sports that take place behind the boat, including wakeboarding and wakesurfing — a sport rapidly gaining in popularity in North America. Similar to wakeboarding but without the use of a rope and handle, wakesurfing provides a surfer with a perpetual wave in the wake of a boat for a much longer ride than in traditional surfing.

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