Fairline Squadron 68 for Sale
Flybridge Motor YachtBritish-built flybridge motor yacht by Fairline Yachts, launched 2019 and updated 2022. Alberto Mancini exterior styling, Vripack naval architecture, three- or four-cabin layouts with an optional crew cabin, twin Caterpillar C18 shaft drives as standard.
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Updated 10 June 2026 · By Hulls.io Editorial
The Fairline Squadron 68: A Complete Guide
The Fairline Squadron 68 is a flybridge motor yacht from British builder Fairline, which Motor Boat & Yachting called its flagship flybridge and, in 2021, the largest boat the yard was then building. Fairline credits its exterior styling to the Italian designer Alberto Mancini and its engineering to the Dutch naval architects Vripack. At 21.12 metres (69 ft 3 in) overall, it is a big yacht to run without crew, and the layout allows for an optional crew cabin.
The Squadron range is Fairline’s flybridge line. Fairline announced the 68 in April 2019 as the replacement for the Squadron 65 (it was initially called the Squadron 64), claiming 12% more lower-deck accommodation space, a 5% larger main-deck saloon and a 10% bigger flybridge than the outgoing boat. It was substantially updated in 2022, with a redesigned exterior and hardtop and interior changes. This guide compares it with flybridge yachts from Princess, Sunseeker and Azimut below.
Fairline’s story began in 1963, when Jack Newington bought disused gravel pits by the River Nene at Oundle, Northamptonshire, and turned them into Oundle Marina; the first Fairline, the Fairline 19, followed in 1967. Oundle remains the company’s head office, and the business has been through several ownership changes since. Fairline said in 2019 that the first Squadron 68s were under construction at its then-new manufacturing hub in Hythe, Southampton. Its site today says its yachts are built in Oundle, and the current Squadron range lists the Squadron 50 and Squadron 58, so the 68 now trades on the pre-owned market.
Hulls.io currently tracks 1 active listing for the Fairline Squadron 68, drawn from brokerages worldwide.
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Fairline Squadron 68 Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| LOA | 21.12 m (69 ft 3 in) |
| Beam | 5.23 m (17 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 1.57 m (5 ft 1 in) |
| Displacement (dry) | 40,000 kg (original spec); 43,000 kg (2022 update) |
| CE category | B for 16 people |
| Fuel capacity | 4,680 litres (original spec); 4,177 litres (2022 update) |
| Water capacity | 1,080 litres (incl. calorifier) |
| Engines | 2× Caterpillar C18 (1,150 hp each); Fairline also listed 2× MAN V8 1200 (2020) and 2× Caterpillar C32 (1,622 hp, 2022) options |
| Propulsion | Shaft drive |
| Top speed | 30–31 knots |
| Cruising speed | 20–22 knots |
| Range | 300 nm at 22 knots / 800 nm at 8 knots (2022 MBY spec) |
| Cabins | 3 or 4 by layout (3-cabin with day head, 3-cabin extended VIP, 3-cabin with utility, or 4-cabin); full-beam master |
| Berths | 6–10 |
| Crew cabin | Optional; two berths and a head |
| Exterior designer | Alberto Mancini |
| Naval architecture | Vripack |
| Builder | Fairline Yachts (first hulls built at its Hythe, Southampton, hub, per Fairline in 2019) |
| Production | Launched 2019; updated 2022 |
Fairline rates the Squadron 68 CE Category B for 16 people. Fairline’s own specification changed with the 2022 update: its earlier specification gave 4,680 litres of fuel and a 40,000 kg dry weight, its 2022 specification 4,177 litres and 43,000 kg. Confirm which version a boat is, and its tankage, on the individual yacht.
The 5.23-metre beam allows a full-beam master cabin amidships. Fairline offered several lower-deck layouts — three cabins with a day head, three cabins with an extended VIP, three cabins with a utility room, or four cabins — so check the layout of any boat you view against your needs.
Performance & Handling
At speed: With twin 1,150 hp Caterpillar C18s on conventional shafts, Motor Boat & Yachting lists a top speed of 30 knots (2021) and 31 knots for the updated 2022 boat, with a cruising speed of 20–22 knots. BoatTEST recorded 30 knots at 2,350 rpm on its test of the 2022 boat, and noted that the semi-displacement hull holds the plane down to 12 knots.
Range: Motor Boat & Yachting’s 2022 specification gives a range of 300 nautical miles at 22 knots and 800 nautical miles at 8 knots — a realistic proposition for longer coastal passages and inter-island hops in the Mediterranean.
Low-speed handling: The conventional shaft-drive configuration is the only one Fairline listed — there is no pod-drive joystick option. BoatTEST’s test boat had proportional electric bow and stern thrusters, which it priced as an option and described as very powerful, so check whether a boat you view has them. The 5.23-metre beam demands awareness of berth width, and crosswind docking in a vessel of this displacement requires planning.
Engines: Every Motor Boat & Yachting specification we found lists twin 1,150 hp Caterpillar C18s, the standard engine. Fairline’s specification also listed twin MAN V8 1200s as an option in 2020 and twin 1,622 hp Caterpillar C32s (33 knots, Fairline’s estimate) in 2022, so confirm the engines fitted to any boat you view and check dealer support for them in your cruising area.
Interior Layout & Living Aboard
The lower deck came in several layouts: Fairline listed three cabins with a day head, three cabins with an extended VIP forward (adding a vanity unit and more storage), three cabins with a utility room, and four cabins. BoatTEST describes a full-beam master with its own en-suite. Motor Boat & Yachting’s 2021 tour boat had three cabins plus a day head; BoatTEST’s 2022 test boat had the master, a VIP forward whose head doubles as the day head, and a twin-berth guest cabin to starboard.
BoatTEST measured 6 ft 6 in (about 1.98 m) of headroom in both the master and the VIP. Ask which layout a boat has before viewing — the berth count runs from six to ten depending on configuration.
The main deck is a single-level saloon with the galley aft, to port, next to the cockpit — BoatTEST’s test boat had Miele appliances including a dishwasher. The aft cockpit, sheltered by the flybridge overhang, has C-shaped seating around a table and leads to a hydraulic bathing platform: Motor Boat & Yachting gives the 2022 boat’s high-low platform a 500 kg capacity, enough to carry a Williams 345 tender, and Fairline offered a 2.5 ft platform extension.
Fairline describes the flybridge as three areas: sun loungers aft, dining in the middle and seating forward. BoatTEST’s test boat had an electric grill and sink, an icemaker and a refrigerator up there. The roof changed with the 2022 update: Motor Boat & Yachting reports that the earlier slatted hardtop gave way to a hardtop better integrated into the flybridge moulding, with a canvas roof that fully retracts. BoatTEST lists the hardtop itself as an option, so check what a given boat has.
The crew cabin is optional. On BoatTEST’s test boat it was reached by lifting the starboard aft-deck stairs and had two berths and a head. For owners who employ a skipper or mate for Mediterranean seasons, check whether a boat has it.
Squadron 68 Ownership: What to Expect
At 21 metres, the Squadron 68’s running costs reflect its size and the complexity of its systems:
- Insurance: Mediterranean cruising and professional skipper usage may affect premiums.
- Berthing: A 21 m motor yacht requires a correspondingly large berth, on the UK south coast or in the Mediterranean.
- Engine servicing: Follow the engine maker’s service schedule for whichever engines are fitted (Caterpillar C18 as standard), ideally through an authorised dealer. Major service items (injectors, turbos, heat exchangers) come round as hours accumulate.
- Haul-out and antifouling: Annual haul-out for a vessel of this size covers hull cleaning, antifouling, and running gear inspection.
- Crew: If you plan Mediterranean seasons or long passages, budget for a skipper or a day skipper; the optional crew cabin, where fitted, gives a skipper their own space.
Pre-owned only: Fairline’s current Squadron range lists only the Squadron 50 and 58, so the 68 now trades on the pre-owned market.
How to Buy a Fairline Squadron 68: What to Look For
Production years and evolution: The Squadron 68 was launched in 2019. Motor Boat & Yachting reported significant changes for 2022, including a redesigned exterior, a hardtop better integrated into the flybridge moulding, a revised sunroof and interior changes — so establish which version a boat is before comparing.
Key Inspection Points
- Engines and running gear: Verify complete service records for the engines fitted. Inspect shaft seals, cutlass bearings, propeller condition, and rudder stocks. A sea trial should confirm smooth, vibration-free operation at all speeds.
- Flybridge hardtop and sunroof: Where a hardtop is fitted, test the opening roof through multiple cycles. Check seals for deterioration and inspect for any evidence of water ingress. Examine the flybridge drain channels and scuppers — blocked drains can cause water pooling and subsequent damage.
- Hull and gel coat: Inspect for osmotic blistering, stress cracks around cleats and mooring points, and any evidence of impact damage. The hull-to-deck joint should show no signs of separation or sealant failure.
- Hydraulic systems: The bathing platform, passerelle (if fitted), and tender davits all rely on hydraulic actuators. Verify smooth operation, check for leaks, and inspect hydraulic fluid condition and levels.
- Generator: The generator (BoatTEST’s test boat had a 22.5 kW unit) is essential for liveaboard comfort. Test under full load with air conditioning, watermaker (if fitted), and galley appliances operating simultaneously. Verify hours, service history, and exhaust condition.
- Teak decking: Where teak is laid on the cockpit, flybridge or side decks, examine it for lifting, blackened caulking, and softness underfoot (indicating moisture ingress to the substrate). Teak deck replacement on a 68-footer is a major job.
A comprehensive marine survey for a Squadron 68 should include a full hull inspection out of water, engine assessment by a qualified marine engineer, systems testing under load, and a thorough sea trial. Given the complexity of the onboard systems, the survey is non-negotiable.
Fairline Squadron 68 vs Competitors
The 65–75 ft flybridge segment is served by established British and Italian builders. Compare published specifications on each builder’s own model page, and like for like (overall length against overall length, dry weight against dry weight), rather than relying on headline length alone.
Squadron 68 vs Princess 68
The Princess 68 is the obvious domestic alternative: another British-built 68-foot flybridge yacht, from the Plymouth yard. The Squadron 68 counters with Mancini’s contemporary exterior styling and a choice of three- or four-cabin layouts. Compare layouts, engines and the age of the individual boats side by side, since the Squadron 68 was offered in several configurations.
Squadron 68 vs Sunseeker Manhattan 68
The Sunseeker Manhattan 68 is the Poole yard’s flybridge yacht of similar size. When comparing it with the Squadron 68, check fuel capacity and range on each builder’s specification for the year of the boat you are viewing — the Squadron’s own figure changed with the 2022 update — and whether each boat has a crew cabin.
Squadron 68 vs Azimut 66 Fly
The Azimut 66 Fly is the Italian alternative in this size band. Both are shaft-driven: Power & Motoryacht says the Azimut was offered only with twin Caterpillar C18s. Compare the two on interior style, layout and the engines fitted to the individual boats.
For a full interactive depreciation comparison between the Fairline Squadron 68 and competing models, visit the Hulls.io Market Intelligence tool, where you can overlay pricing trends, track seasonal demand, and benchmark value retention across the 65–75 ft flybridge segment.