Botnia Targa interiors

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mateyboy

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Hi chaps/chappesses, I've been wondering if anyone knows why are they so old fashioned looking inside? Can anything be done to modernise the interior a bit, low cost re-fit perhaps?
I would consider buying the 31' but not sure what the entourage would think of it inside, well I do know what they would think (naff!) but does the superior handling, speed/economy outweigh all this?
I've tried the search but it just comes up with a load of irrelevant threads.
cheers M.
 
I've just realised something. I don't intend to offend anyone by knocking the interior a tad. Any thoughts?
ta.
 
mateyboy said:
Hi chaps/chappesses, I've been wondering if anyone knows why are they so old fashioned looking inside? Can anything be done to modernise the interior a bit, low cost re-fit perhaps?
I would consider buying the 31' but not sure what the entourage would think of it inside, well I do know what they would think (naff!) but does the superior handling, speed/economy outweigh all this?
I've tried the search but it just comes up with a load of irrelevant threads.
cheers M.
Click to expand...

I suppose it is a matter of taste ie. your poor taste and my good taste.
If you want loads of shiny plastic or imitation wood as per the common spivvy/cheap sportsboat interior then you obviously won't appreciate the more traditional interior of "the best things since sliced bread".
Those used to previous raggy lives will also love them as the predominantly wooden interior
will make them instantly feel at home.

Go and buy that 31 - unlike ours, that's even got an indoor toilet!!

p.s. I'm not sure that they have any economy advantage over the ordinary boat ranges.
However, the ultra practicality and all round access makes them superb to single hand. They are not normally attractive to womenfolk which means you have more time to use them by yourself or with your sons/fathers/male cousins or mates - yet another valuable characteristic of their design.
 
mateyboy said:
Hi chaps/chappesses, I've been wondering if anyone knows why are they so old fashioned looking inside? Can anything be done to modernise the interior a bit, low cost re-fit perhaps?
I would consider buying the 31' but not sure what the entourage would think of it inside, well I do know what they would think (naff!) but does the superior handling, speed/economy outweigh all this?
I've tried the search but it just comes up with a load of irrelevant threads.
cheers M.
Click to expand...

IMHO it goes with the rugged work boat ethos that is big part of the appeal of the whole boat. The contemporary ikea interior just wouldn't work.

But I understand very well where you are coming from. For example, their fabrics (at least the boats I've seen, including show boats) have the look of an different era.

While their interior could use a bit of modernizing, they could update the exterior slightly as well. Nordstar have taken the design forward a bit -> http://www.nordstar.fi/en/ns_31.php I don't expect their handling to be quite as good as Targas' though.

Again, all IMHO of course.

Botnia Marin will be at the Helsinki Boat show due to open in two weeks. I'll have a chat with them about this.
 
Deleted User said:
Actually, I quite like the traditional interiors but I think part of the reason that Botnia haven't updated their interiors is that they can sell every boat they make so why fix what ain't broke. If you want a similar boat with a slightly more modern feel, take a look at these

http://www.minoroffshore.fi/offshore25.html
http://www.nordstar.no/
http://www.paragonyachts.se/home.aspx
http://deltapowerboats.se/404
Click to expand...

Blimey, the Deltas could be entered for the European Ugly Boat Awards!!
 
I do actually like all the above boats and particularly the interiors, I think its the choice of material as opposed to the styling that bugs me on the Botnias.
The other issue is all the above boats are new so they are out of my budget, at £250k+ it's the 99-04 stuff I'm looking at so the only options are take it or leave it.

There's a few B/Targas now coming up for sale that have been for some time now in the 99-04 bracket, they don't appear to be selling as quickly as some say.

The wife took one look at a 2002 31' and gave it an instant no, so that puts paid to that I guess.
Amazingly enough, I've deduced all this without even taking a free joy ride! lol.
 
mateyboy said:
I do actually like all the above boats and particularly the interiors, I think its the choice of material as opposed to the styling that bugs me on the Botnias.
The other issue is all the above boats are new so they are out of my budget, at £250k+ it's the 99-04 stuff I'm looking at so the only options are take it or leave it.

There's a few B/Targas now coming up for sale that have been for some time now in the 99-04 bracket, they don't appear to be selling as quickly as some say.

The wife took one look at a 2002 31' and gave it an instant no, so that puts paid to that I guess.
Amazingly enough, I've deduced all this without even taking a free joy ride! lol.
Click to expand...

You must take a free joyride, how can you possibly know how that interior will look at 20 knots ?

You might find at speed it looks really nice, especially if it's a bumpy ride and your vision blurs :D
 
mateyboy said:
I do actually like all the above boats and particularly the interiors, I think its the choice of material as opposed to the styling that bugs me on the Botnias.
The other issue is all the above boats are new so they are out of my budget, at £250k+ it's the 99-04 stuff I'm looking at so the only options are take it or leave it.

There's a few B/Targas now coming up for sale that have been for some time now in the 99-04 bracket, they don't appear to be selling as quickly as some say.

The wife took one look at a 2002 31' and gave it an instant no, so that puts paid to that I guess.
Amazingly enough, I've deduced all this without even taking a free joy ride! lol.
Click to expand...

Yeah, its my impression too. I think these boats only sell to buyers who really want this style of boat and those buyers are not everywhere so they tend to stick around on the market for a while. Definitely not a female boat either. I'd have to work pretty hard on my SWMBO to persuade her that she'd want a Botnia Targa as opposed to a Fairline Targa:)
 
The Botnia Targa was designed and built as a work boat and is still sold as work boats as detailed on their website.

Then the leisure boater discovered the Botnia as an extreme play boat, which is reflected in the extras sheet supplied with their brochure.

Basically every comfort is an extra to the basic boat and price.
 
Yes, all the other qualities outweigh the '"retro-look"... Furthermore, they are some sort of upgraded "workingboats", sturdy and safe in all aspects. I bought myself a brand new American sportscruiser instead of a second-hand Targa, and boy do I regret it !
 
Work boats they may be, but Botnia don't appear to think that as they advertise in the mainstream leisure mags/websites. Who are they targeting with those interiors?
yottie converts?
 
mateyboy said:
Work boats they may be, but Botnia don't appear to think that as they advertise in the mainstream leisure mags/websites. Who are they targeting with those interiors?
yottie converts?
Click to expand...

Look at Delta Poweboats at the very high end or Nordstar for a more mainstream "off the peg" version of the Botnia.

Both those alternatives have awesome hulls and that unique Scandinavian look, but both offer slightly more recognised interiors.

Tom

PS: I am a boat dealer, but not for Botnia, Delta or Nordstar, but I would be proud to be a dealer of any of them. All excellent boats IMHO.
 
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BT have a broad range of upholsery fabrics to chose from if you buy new - but I guess that most of us who have these boats buy them for their rugged seaworthiness choose practical upholsery in the first place - hence the reason most of them have Royal blue !

The interiors look pretty traditional but they actually work really well - I guess like the rest of the boat it doesn't really date which has a certain upside to it & our '03 model is often mistaken for one much younger.

We had a Nordstar 31 and the wife much preferred it inside, but it certainly wasn't a BT in terms of its build quality & ability as a boat - and actually she would now prioritise the latter due to the peace of mind and confidence it gives us.


All I could do to keep her happy was fit electric heads and replace all the berth cushions with more modern comfortable foam... or buy her a 44 which wasn't an option !!

However workmanlike their approach has been in the past, BT appear to be moving with the times & are paying a bit more attention to the interiors of the new models.

Introductions such as the comfort fore cabin (CFC) on the 37 and new upholsery materials are testament to this.

I have no connection with BT other than being a very satisfied customer - speak to David Adams at Wessex Marine and ask him for a test drive.

http://www.wessexmarine.co.uk/targapreowned.php
 
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