Fairline boats were founded by Jack Newington who obtained some gravel pits in 1963 to run a hire fleet and marina on the River Nene.
The first boat built was a Fairline 19 in 1967 and in 1971 the business was handed to his son Sam, whose entrepreneurial skills developed the company into a world wide sports cruiser manufacture.
In 1979 turnover had reached 5 million and Fairline boats became the first UK boat builder quoted on the Stock Exchange. By 2002 the company had built its 10,000th boat, turn over is in excess of £150 million. This gave the company the opportunity of producing craft up to 65ft. Of late, the company has been acquired via a management buyout with city investment.
the site at oundle marina has now closed and production is in the more modern factory complex at corby. local people will witness large bubble wrapped craft being trailed towards to Ipswich.