Fairline Squadron 50 Review (2019 Edition)

At Sea

The Squadron 50 is only available with IPS, either IPS650 with 480hp per side or IPS700 with 550hp. Of the boats built thus far, the smaller engines have been overwhelmingly the more popular, which somewhat goes against the grain. Usually, the larger engines are the automatic option when customers are speccing their boats but the mix of decent performance from the smaller motors and the fact they cost £40,000 less than the larger ones make the difference here.

You should expect 30 knots from the IPS650s and a shade more from the 700s but our test boat, fitted with the former, achieved a whisker over 25 knots at WOT. In fairness, the boat had been sitting in the water for some time so it's likely that there was a fair bit of growth on the hull and props, hindering performance. Either way, 22 knots feels like the cruising sweet spot where progress is smooth, sound levels are measured and the range is in the region of 200nm.

The fly-by-wire steering is super light from both helms but the turn-in has more urgency than other IPS rivals from Prestige and Absolute. You don't get the keenness in turns that an equivalent shaft drive boat would have but for an IPS boat that 50 reacts nicely from both helms and is easy to thread through the waves. Not that there were many waves to be seen in the Solent on the day of our test but any wash the boat was confronted with was dispatched solidly.

It's not what you'd call exciting to drive but performance is smooth and the hull dynamics are reassuringly solid. 

The Squadron 50 was launched in 2019 and is based on a previous model, the Squadron 48, so in design terms, it's beginning to feel a little behind the curve. The use of space on board isn't as good as more current rivals and this is most noticeable on the foredeck where there is a simple sun pad and not the more usable table and sofa arrangement that many competitors have incorporated into their designs.

The Squadron is part of a three-boat platform design, off which Fairline builds the Targa 50 GT and Open so there are elements of compromise here. The lower helm, for example, will work just fine on the sportscruisers where there is a sunroof overhead but on the Squadron the view out isn't great and the windscreen is a little shallow to sit comfortably with clear sight over the bow. 

The flip side is that because of this platform share Fairline has built a couple of hundred 50s in one of the three guises so the quality and consistency of the build are very good indeed. Fairline's reputation for quality and attention to detail shines through and there is an impressive amount of flexibility regarding the layout, which is pretty unique for a production boat of this size. 

The black flybridge moulding is the most striking aspect of the exterior design, the purpose of which is to trick the eye and lower the boat's visual height. It works, too, with only Princess's F55 rivalling the Squadron for the most pleasing proportions in the sector. 

There is the option to have the galley on the main deck or lower deck inside the Squadron 50 and both have their merits. Having the galley on deck is a more sociable arrangement and makes it easier to grab food and drink from the outside while having it on the lower deck keeps the kitchen mess out of view and creates more space in the saloon for either an extra sofa or a sideboard with storage and a place to mount the pop-up TV. 

Our test boat had the former and it feels like a good arrangement given the size of the saloon. Having the galley on the lower deck allows it spread out a bit more and crates room for a domestic fridge/freezer and some really useful pop-out storage racks for stowing tinned food and other dry stores. 

Opposite the galley, there is the option to have either a small lower dinette or an extra cabin with a pair of bunks inside. Which option you go for will likely be swayed by which version of the 50 you've chosen. On the Squadron 50 and Targa 50 GT, with their plush upper saloons, the lower dinette seems surplus to requirements but if you have the open-backed Targa 50 Open then a lower saloon with full protection from the elements would be a good idea. For most, the extra sleeping space of the third cabin with the potential to use as a storage space/walk-in wardrobe if it's not occupied by guests will probably win out.

Either way, the VIP and master suites are spacious and comfortable with double cabins with ensuite access to their own bathrooms. Standard scissor-action berths in the VIP mean it can transform from a double to a twin in seconds, adding to the cabin's versatility. Additionally, the saloon table on the main deck drops down and uses an in-fill cushion to create an occasional double berth, meaning you could sleep nine adults (if you include the crew cabin) on this boat. 

The quality of the fit out and specifically the woodwork shines through once again on the lower deck; the quality of the gloss walnut woodwork on our test boat was outstanding. 

A single crew cabin is an option but it's not the most pleasant place to spend time and, given the size of the boat, it's probably more useful to have the standard storage void where you can stow bulkier cruising gear.

The lower and upper helms share almost identical layouts so the controls are familiar at either one. They are stylish and clearly laid out with a nice mix of digital instrumentation and classy analogue dials. Unlike many rivals, the MFD isn't marooned at the top of the dash but instead mounted low, opposite the navigator. This is a smart move because it means that the navigator can use the screen really easily but it is still within reach of the skipper if they need to use it. 

The screen behind the steering wheel is somewhat obscured by the wheel itself but it is useful to have a separate albeit smaller screen to show the engine instrumentation. 

Adjustment is good at both helms thanks to a sliding seat mechanism and adjustable steering wheels but the view out from the lower helm is rather compromised. This comes back to the platform-sharing arrangement, where no doubt the geometry works well on the sportscruisers which both have a large sunroof that you can open and poke your head out of. On the Squadron the windscreen is shallow and anyone of 6ft or above will have to perch on the edge of the helm seat and stoop their head awkwardly to have a clear view forward. This isn't helped by the fact that there isn't a side door at the helm, just a small window. 

All-in-all, the lower helm feels a little compromised so most of the driving is likely to be done from the flybridge unless the weather is really bad. 

The compromise that comes with having such taught proportions (and ones that are shared with a sportscrusier) is that the deck spaces aren't as spacious as some other boats in the sector. But, with the exception of the foredeck, which feels a little basic compared to more contemporary boats in the sector, the outdoor areas are well-designed and use the space intelligently. 

The cockpit has good access from both sides of the bathing platform and more than enough space to erect some free-standing chairs around the fixed dinette. There isn't a fixed table but a handsome free-standing teak one that stows next to the flybridge stairs. It's a bit fiddly to get in and out but it does mean you have nice clear deck space if you don't need the table. The bench isn't huge so fixed seating is limited but it's comfortable and the large cupholders built into the armrests are a neat addition. There is access through this bench to either a large storage locker or the crew cabin, depending on the spec. 

There is no lack of seating on the flybridge where a big dinette aft provides plenty of space for guests to dine from the elevated vantage point of the top deck. Forward, adjacent to the twin helm, are a pair of opposing benches that will come in handy both when the boat is on passage and as another spot to relax a rest. In between the two areas, a small but well-stocked wet bar with a grill, sink and fridge mean you can cater for guests without having to rely on the galley downstairs.

There is no hardtop option on the Squadron 50 but an optional canvas bimini provides some shade in a matter of seconds.  

Engine room access is brilliant as there are two points of entry. One via a large deck hatch at the transom on the port side and another through a hatch in the cockpit. Once in, the smaller D6 blocks have plenty of space around them so accessing all sides of the engines is easy and the installation itself is immaculate, with neatly run plumbing and wiring, which is labelled so you can easily tell what does what. 

Fairlines tend to command a premium but there is evidence all over the boat as to where this extra money is going. From the quality of the mouldings and metalwork to the beautifully fitted out and well-engineered machinery spaces, the Squadron 50 is a quality product peppered with top drawer craftmanship. 

Our Options & Pick

Fairline has helpfully collated most must-have options into the Premium pack. It costs £165,000, which looks like quite a lot of money on paper, but it includes big-ticket items such as air-conditioning, the upgraded generator, teak decking, a bimini and a Garmin navigation package. The only major options you may want to add to that are a passerelle if the boat is going to live in the Med and the Seakeeper 6, which is a £70,000 option. 

The layout of the interior is a personal choice, depending on how you like to use the boat, but we think the galley down, three-cabin layout is a great combination.