Fairline Squadron 65 Review (1997 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

This 1997 Fairline Squadron 65 might be 28 years old on paper, but visually, she's in astonishing shape thanks to a comprehensive refit completed in 2021–2022. 

The teak underfoot is in excellent condition. Out back, the large swim platform includes a solid crane setup with receptacles for a tender cradle, a molded swim ladder, and transom shower. The tender cradle patches suggest thoughtful detail even below the waterline.

Unusually for this size of boat, there are twin transom doors making movement around the cockpit easier, particularly when a tender and outboard are in play. The cockpit includes electric capstans with foot switches, shore power on both port and starboard (both cable reels), upgraded stereo, and proper superyacht touches like dedicated fender storage.

Going forward, the side decks are safe and walkable with high stainless rails. There's extra storage built into the deck, plus a freshwater washdown fitting. The windlass appears replaced and is controlled by foot switches. The anchor chain is clean, neatly marked, and leads into a spotless anchor locker. Every bilge space is gleaming.

Up top, the flybridge feels like a whole second entertaining deck. The aft area can hold chairs or beanbags, and the repainted radar arch and reupholstered sun pads are uber fresh. There's a bar setup with sink, electric grill, ice maker, a drawer-style fridge, bar storage with drainage, and even regular power outlets. Visibility is wide open, and the entire hard-top enclosure includes clever ventilation flaps so you can unzip just a portion for airflow without opening the whole thing.

The upper helm is clean and recently refreshed, with a three-person helm bench, twin Furuno displays, MAN engine monitors, autopilot, VHF and trim tab controls. Judging by this setup, this is likely the preferred driving spot when weather allows.

Inside, the saloon is almost unrecognizable from a 1997 vintage. All upholstery is new, finished during the recent refit, with additional upgrades like a new TV, new carpet and upgraded air conditioning. The salon has a relaxed, fresh feel with generous seating that includes a long port-side couch and a cozy reading nook to starboard. A sliding door connects to the aft deck, and the starboard window is power-sliding to open up the space even more.

The bar area was also redesigned and now looks boutique-yacht elegant. Central vacuum is installed but now feels like a bit of a dinosaur tech-wise. There’s extra refrigeration here too, plus nice cabinetry and a retractable window to open things up further.

Forward of the salon is an elevated dinette area, which doubles as a fantastic home office or indoor dining space for 4-5 people. The whole space is ringed with windows and feels bright when the exterior mesh shades are off. 

The galley, down a few steps, is a rare find. It’s a pass-through style setup but still features a full-size four-burner electric cooktop, Miele extraction fan, dual sinks with disposal, and a proper compact dishwasher. There's also a large fridge, freezer, extra pantry storage, and even dual built-in trash bins. The setup is compact but extremely functional, with good access to the side deck through a weather door.

The helm area on the main deck is well-equipped and wraps around like you’d expect from a much larger vessel. There’s a pair of Furuno MFDs, analog fuel and water tank gauges, MAN engine monitors, and trim tab controls. The low and high-voltage panels are fully labeled. 

Owner's Cabin

The owner’s stateroom is midships and spans the full beam. The most striking feature is the sheer amount of floor space. It feels like a private suite on a much larger yacht. The entire room was reupholstered and fitted out with thoughtful storage including drawers under the bed, full-height wardrobes, side shelving and adapting where the former deeper TV would have been.

There are two opening portholes for ventilation, and the space is fully air-conditioned. The wraparound headboard design helps it feel homey and enveloping without being overdone.

The ensuite is equally unusual and clever. Alongside the mirrored vanity and electric Dometic head, there’s a two-tiered bathtub-shower setup that’s perfect for small children or for anyone who wants to soak while living aboard. Despite the hull shape limitations, it doesn’t feel cramped.

Guest Accommodation

This yacht offers three additional guest cabins. Forward is the VIP with a queen-size bed, full walkaround access, hanging locker, jewelry drawers, bedside shelves, and overhead storage. The head is shared with the adjacent bunk cabin and includes a well-maintained one-person shower, medicine cabinet, and opening porthole.

The bunk cabin is portside, smartly laid out with generous floor space and a large hanging locker. There's even additional linen storage in what would otherwise be dead space.

On the starboard side is the twin cabin, which stands out for its spaciousness. Like the others, it has storage everywhere, from drawers to cabinets, and two opening portholes for natural light and airflow. This cabin has its own ensuite with a medicine cabinet and a similar one-person shower.

Crew Accommodation

The transom hides a cleverly tucked-away crew cabin. It's accessed via the cockpit and features two bunks (upper and lower), a wet head, air conditioning, and opening portholes to the cockpit. It’s currently used as storage, but all the infrastructure is there to bring it back to working order. There’s even a separate AC control and decent headroom for the space.

Access to the lazarette is through a big hatch in the cockpit. It's been reworked with new paint, risers, and a top-loading freezer, making it highly usable for long-range provisioning. Water tanks, a water heater, freshwater pumps, and a Victron (or similar) charger are tucked in cleanly, and the space shows the same attention to detail as the rest of the boat.

Down into the engine room, the twin MAN engines with straight shaft setup are pristine. No rust, fresh diapers in the bilges, upgraded LED lighting, and clean insulation throughout. There's easy access to primary fuel filters, C-strainers, engine fans, and the Fireboy fire suppression system.

A reverse oil change system is fitted, and the generator sits in a well-ventilated location with solid clearance all around.  

As a 65-footer with a three-cabin layout, twin shaft-drive diesels and a flybridge large enough for a dining area, sunbathing space and wet bar, the Squadron 65 hits that classic private-yacht sweet spot - big enough to cruise in comfort, small enough to owner-run. But while the 2021/22 refit will reassure buyers on the condition front, it’s worth approaching a 27-year-old flybridge cruiser with a realistic view of the ongoing costs.

A note on refits - they’re expensive, time-consuming and usually full of surprises. So finding a yacht like this, where the big work is already done, really changes the ownership equation. This particular Squadron went through a major overhaul in 2021/22, and the list of upgrades is extensive. The standout is the full professional repaint - not just the topsides but the engine room, lazarette and storage compartments too. A job like that can easily run between $80,000 and $100,000 depending on the yard and how deep you go. But the result speaks for itself: she looks crisp and glossy, and presents far newer than a 1997 hull.

She’s also had long-term care, which makes a big difference. The same captain has been with this boat for over 20 years, and that kind of continuity shows - clean bilges, labelled systems, no musty smells or signs of damp. It’s exactly the sort of invisible maintenance history that makes ownership far less stressful.

With the major investment already made, the annual running costs are more straightforward. For a privately used yacht of this size, you should expect to spend between 7% and 10% of the purchase price per year. That covers berthing, insurance, fuel, engine servicing, annual lift-out, antifoul, hull polishing, and ongoing maintenance. As always, location, usage and systems age will influence the final number.

But compared with many boats of this age, the equation here is unusually favourable. You’re stepping into a well-cared-for cruising yacht with refreshed systems, four proper cabins, a functional crew space and no immediate refit pressure - a solid option for longer trips or seasonal liveaboard use, without taking on the headaches of a restoration project.

If you’re shopping in this sector, it’s also worth looking at the Sunseeker Manhattan 64 and the Princess 65. For broader context, the Azimut 70 brings Italian flair and layout innovation from the same era, while the Hatteras 63 Raised Pilothouse offers a more rugged, long-range American alternative with enclosed helm and liveaboard potential.

This 1997 Fairline Squadron 65 stands out for how well it’s been brought up to date. The 2021/2022 refit covered all the right areas (fresh paint, new upholstery, upgraded systems) making the boat feel years younger than her age suggests.

With four guest cabins, a proper galley, crew space, and generous social areas inside and out, she’s well suited for liveaboard use or extended cruising. And thanks to long-term care and recent investment, she’s in genuinely clean, ready-to-go condition.