Back to the UK for a winter refit

[jimmy_the_builder]

My Fairline Targa 40 is now ten years old, and that, combined with three seasons of fairly heavy use in the Med, prompted me to have the usual 'keep it or trade up' conversation with myself. Problem is, although it's getting on a bit, I really like the boat. Most of the time it's just me and/or swmbo on board, and for two plus occasional guests, the T40 is pretty good. So I decided to keep her for another few years - but I was a bit itchy for a project, so I've decided to bring her back to the UK this winter for a bit of a refit.

There's a long list of jobs I've got in mind, but the main ones are:
- engine refurb
- bathing platform extension
- new cockpit upholstery
- electronics upgrade

Plus a bunch of lesser revisions, like ground tackle upgrades, fire extinguisher system recert, aircon water outlet reposition (below the waterline). And of course, all the usual off-season stuff as well.

So with all that in mind, Coast2Coast picked the boat up in Antibes at the very end of October. A few days later she arrived at RK Marine at the top of the Hamble in Southampton. I've been away quite a bit since then so we delayed the start of the project proper until today - when we started the engine refurb by removing the engines from the boat.

By the time I got to site this morning work was well underway - the garage floor had been removed (it is a separate unit, designed to come out for servicing) and the drives were already off:

With the garage floor removed, access to the engines is pretty good:

Port engine first. This is fairly straightforward - disconnect everything, then it's a straight lift:

One down, one to go:

Starboard is trickier, the companionway runs over the top of the engine, so a bit of work is required to shuffle the engine sideways and then around before it can be lifted:

Inevitably there was a lot of spillage from the disconnected engines as they came out - this was due to be cleaned up after I left. Empty engine bay:

While all that was going on, I finished off the removal of the cockpit upholstery:

Next thing is to have a good look at the engines now they are out, and work out exactly what needs to be done. They are early D6-350's, which originally had the notoriously leaky raw water filter caps, so there's a been a fair bit of salt water spray over the engines which inevitably has caused corrosion. Now's the time to sort that out. I hope!

 

[jrudge]

Wow big job. Keep us informed. I loved our t40!

 

[MarieK]

oh great another rebuild thread!! Should see us through the winter months. Thanks for posting Jimmy.

You might want to add painting the bilges to your list, seems a shame not to when engines out and such an easy job. Also the engine mounts look like their time is up.

 

[jfm]

Good going jimmy. What about a hull wrap, something a bit wild like the colour of the cherry picker? I've got grapefruit graphics doing some wrappery for me currently and the limit is just your imagination ( I'll post a thread in a while)

Will platform be fixed or hilo? Fixed prob makes more sense. Anyway it will be fantastic when you're done. Keep posting pics please!

 

[longjohnsilver]

Hi Jimmy, when you say engine refurb, do you have specific problems which need looking at or is it more cosmetics to be done? And are you renewing the cockpit upholstery, if so with what? Particularly interested as that's something we need to do with our flybridge seating sometime soon. And how much bigger are you making the bathing platform, something else I'd ideally like to do.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Hi JTB..... love threads like this....a sideways question if you don't mind...it seems (to someone like me who isn't in this league) a bit "ott" to bring the boat back here just for a refurb, or is there a story behind that decision also ??..... please keep the pics and details coming


JFM.. Had a chuckle at your post as on first read I thought you were wrapping Match in graphics with pics of grapefruit !!!!!.....yet another Thanks Mum egg on face moment !!!!

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Hi JTB..... love threads like this....a sideways question if you don't mind...it seems (to someone like me who isn't in this league) a bit "ott" to bring the boat back here just for a refurb, or is there a story behind that decision also ??..... please keep the pics and details coming.


JFM.. Had a chuckle at your post as on first read I thought you were wrapping Match in graphics with pics of grapefruit !!!!!.....yet another Thanks Mum egg on face moment !!!!

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Sorry guys but I DIDNT post that twice and I cant get it to delete !!!!!.................. computers AAAHHHHH !!!!

 

[mlines]

jfm's wrapping prototype, just awaiting the full size version

 

[vas]

good luck, looking fwd to regular updates 'cause the two other built/rebuilt threads are a bit dead atm

curious what's that round thing in the middle between the engines (with the pipe coming out of it) and what's inside the central engine mounts box thing aft:

Inevitably there was a lot of spillage from the disconnected engines as they came out - this was due to be cleaned up after I left. Empty engine bay:

cheers

V.

 

[Portofino]

Suspect super silent exhaust for the Geny V ?

Interesting thread J

 

[RogerRat]

My Fairline Targa 40 is now ten years old, and that, combined with three seasons of fairly heavy use in the Med, prompted me to have the usual 'keep it or trade up' conversation with myself. Problem is, although it's getting on a bit, I really like the boat.

- engine refurb
- bathing platform extension
- new cockpit upholstery
- electronics upgrade

Plus a bunch of lesser revisions, like ground tackle upgrades, fire extinguisher system recert, aircon water outlet reposition (below the waterline). And of course, all the usual off-season stuff as well.

Now's the time to sort that out. I hope!

Hi Jimmy,

I can understand your position and know exactly where your coming from. The 'Trade Up' isn't so obvious as there will be a major cost in selling and buying a so called trade up.

A larger boat will give you space you don't really need as it's mostly two of you on board. It'll increase running costs in berthing and fuel consumption and you'll be back to learning the whole workings of something unknown with almost certainly less performance and sea keeping.

The Targa 40 ticks so many boxes which is why I kept mine for six years.

The weakest link in power train and always a concern for me were the legs. I was always very gentle in turning up the wick from slow displacement speed so as not to put unnecessary strain on them. While she's out and apart, I would definitely consider looking at and then possibly rebuilding the internals of the drives if required, like a ten year, 1000 hour service.

A couple of years back there were two threads where someone had extended a T40 swim platform. One of them by just a foot or so and the other had really made it much larger, enough to put a table and chairs on it. I always thought it needed about a foot or so for easy access on pontoons but I suppose it's less important if you're mooring stern to in the med.
How much are planning to go for?

I guess the electronics upgrade is partially due to the recent break in and theft. I would expect one of the 'locals' to suggest a touch screen model but I was recommended to avoid this on the T40 as it's possible to turn the daylight mode off accidentally if you're out in some chop and it's then a pain to reset what you can't see.:ambivalence:

I must add, I'm looking forward to seeing the after pictures of the engines and the bay when they go back in so keep us posted as things develop.

Enjoy the project.:encouragement:

Roger.

 

[z1ppy]

Great post Jimmy, look forward to watching this.

We also had early D6 350s and the boat had the same corrosion problems albeit for different reasons.

T40 looks a cracking boat for you so as you say, makes sense to make it as you want it and keep hold!!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

oh great another rebuild thread!! Should see us through the winter months. Thanks for posting Jimmy.

You might want to add painting the bilges to your list, seems a shame not to when engines out and such an easy job. Also the engine mounts look like their time is up.

Agreed on the bilges. Engine mounts are structurally ok but look terrible. I'll either replace them or get them blasted and painted, depending on how easily they come off (and what state the rubber bonding is in).

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Good going jimmy. What about a hull wrap, something a bit wild like the colour of the cherry picker? I've got grapefruit graphics doing some wrappery for me currently and the limit is just your imagination ( I'll post a thread in a while)

Will platform be fixed or hilo? Fixed prob makes more sense. Anyway it will be fantastic when you're done. Keep posting pics please!

Hull wrap is not on the list, that might be for another year. Logical time to do that is when the cockpit covers are end of life, then change the whole boat scheme.

Platform will be fixed; there isn't enough room at the transom for the H+B mechanism, plus adding the extra weight at the back doesn't help the trim.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi Jimmy, when you say engine refurb, do you have specific problems which need looking at or is it more cosmetics to be done? And are you renewing the cockpit upholstery, if so with what? Particularly interested as that's something we need to do with our flybridge seating sometime soon. And how much bigger are you making the bathing platform, something else I'd ideally like to do.

Nope, there's no specific prob to solve - but the engines have always been a bit rusty and this does not fix itself. So having decided to stay down there for a few more years, I wanted to just generally tidy everything up and hopefully head off some of the inevitable corrosion-related failures before they get too big.

And yes, replacing the cockpit upholstery, haven't decided precise what with yet, that all won't happen until January. Something grey, is as close as I've got so far.

Plan is to increase the platform by 500mm, which doesn't sound like much, but it's basically double what's there at the moment and I think will make a big difference.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Hi JTB..... love threads like this....a sideways question if you don't mind...it seems (to someone like me who isn't in this league) a bit "ott" to bring the boat back here just for a refurb, or is there a story behind that decision also ??.....

I brought it back principally because I wanted to take the engines out - and I'd rather do that with a local yard that I know. I did look into taking the engines out in France and shipping them back, but in the end with all the travelling up and down that I would need to do to keep an eye on things, it was broadly cost-neutral. I still own the berth in France and my intention is to get the boat back there in time for the summer next year.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

good luck, looking fwd to regular updates 'cause the two other built/rebuilt threads are a bit dead atm

curious what's that round thing in the middle between the engines (with the pipe coming out of it) and what's inside the central engine mounts box thing aft:





cheers

V.

My refit is just a minor wipe-down with a rag compared to your excellent endeavour!

To answer your questions, the round thing in the middle is the silencer for the generator exhaust, and the central box is just a glassed-in square bearer for the engine mounts.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Nope, there's no specific prob to solve - but the engines have always been a bit rusty and this does not fix itself. So having decided to stay down there for a few more years, I wanted to just generally tidy everything up and hopefully head off some of the inevitable corrosion-related failures before they get too big.

Wow Jimmy, lifting the engines seems a bit drastic if there's nothing major wrong with them. What are you actually having done? Just a silly thought but how about taking the opportunity to remap the engines for more power/torque or would you be worried about the drives?

 

[kcrane]

If you had said you needed a project I could have suggested a boat already in the UK which would appreciate some TLC, though I think the only way the engines are coming out of a V48 is through the bottom.

Did you do the mental gymnastics I did? The one where you go: if I sell the boat it will cost £10k+ in fees and it isn't the best time to sell, so maybe lose out on another £10k to get a quick buyer. Then I need to buy a new boat, but it will depreciate more compared with the dep. on the current boat, so costing me an extra £25k per year, over a couple of years that's another £50k. Total extra cost of changing the boat for another one that does nothing more would be £70k. If instead I spend £60k on a second boat, then I save £10k, which will pay for the new boat's berthing for 2 years. Heck, a second boat is cost neutral!

Of course your £70k 'savings' on buying a replacement boat will be even better used, as you'll spend less than £20k on logistics, cosmetics, electronics and maintenance, thus saving £50k, which sounds like an opening for a weekend 911 to me.