51 ft Fairline 2014

A rare opportunity to own a West Coast-based, Fairline Squadron 50 motor yacht in one of San Diego’s most prestigious marinas. This yacht shows pride of ownership and is in Bristol condition with extensive maintenance records.

Boarding her teak-plank swim platform with twin stairs lead to the cockpit, which gets sun protection from the overhanging cantilevered bridge, gives the feeling of a larger yacht.  Bridge access is easy via stairs to port, and this bridge is huge! Stretching forward from above the transom to the venturi windscreen, it could comfortably seat all of your family and friends on the full-width divan aft, which curves into another couch to starboard. A folding table serves the family dinner or cocktails for a few. A console on the port side holds a grill and wet bar with refrigerator and ice maker.

The helm’s thoughtful portside location gives the skipper a good view down the steps to the corner of the 50 for docking. The captain also gets a double-wide helm seat behind a modest fiberglass dash. 

This yacht’s master stateroom is in the bow. Lots of yachts have the master cabin amidships, but if a yacht has any amount of deadrise there, you can end up with slanted walking areas around the berth. A full walk around king size bed with an enormous flat sole with the space usually found on much larger yachts, plus headroom of more than six feet.  On the 50, the big windows provide light and view, and with overhead skylights, the suite is lovely. Amenities here include a realistically sized hanging locker, a dressing table and a frosted shoji-style door leading to the en suite head.

Just aft are two guest staterooms, and each provides flexibility with double berths that can separate into a pair of singles. The starboard cabin has direct access to the day-head and, like the master’s, is comfortably large with a full shower stall.

Fairline has broken with its own traditions by placing the galley aft, which makes sense because the sliding doors to the cockpit are extra wide, opening the area for entertaining. Large windows surround the L-shape countertop, which houses a De Dietrich grill and under-counter Isotherm fridge, with several large lockers to hold pots, pans and provisions. 

The lower helm is in the forward starboard corner and offers great all-around sight lines. A full array of Garmin instrumentation appears on a single monitor. Controls for the Bennett trim tabs and Sidepower bow thruster are handy.

Not having a space-eating tender garage in the transom allows the Squadron 50 to provide a truly civilized crew cabin under the cockpit, with a single berth, mini galley and head. It’s perfect for kids.

The engine room is impressive. Every possible service point is readily accessible. Not only is this likely to improve the reliability of the yacht, but service techs will love you. Power comes from a pair of 715-horsepower Caterpillar C-12s, which push the Squadron 50 along at a respectable 31 knots.  Under way, she carves sweeping turns with élan and maneuvered nimbly in tight spots. She feels solid, certainly because she is well built, but also because Fairline takes the time to put what the Brits aboard for our test called “little rubbery bits” between anything that might squeak or rattle.

And no more struggling with a crane or consuming interior space with a tender garage. Designed by Fairline and built by Besenzoni, the tender valet is a huge improvement over the submerging swim platform. A 9½-foot tender can sit on a pair of chocks on the teak transom platform, and at the touch of a button, a section of the platform slides out and down, still holding the tender. At this point, you can comfortably and securely board her. Another touch of the button lowers her into the water. When you want a swim platform, the chocks fold flat.

Just standing on the dock and gazing up at Fairline’s Squadron 50 gives you a sense of her magnificence.  Come aboard, and let her give you that feeling you’ve been searching for.

Disclaimer: FYI Yachts is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Yacht Coast Yacht Sales