The current boats which ply the Torquay to Brixham route are steel hulled, and not a patch on the Fairmiles.
We used to sit in front of the wheelhouse, and sometimes just went there and back without disembarking. The wooden hulls were shaped for speed, but obviously the Perkins Diesels didn't give that, although they went along at a fair pace, with a most pleasant motion in the water.
The current boats are not in the same league, sadly, and there's no incentive to make that trip now. I first did that trip in 1961, when they were painted a pale yellow and white.
Soon after they were painted bright blue with red funnels.
