Engine Opinion on Tamd 63,73,74 or 75 Fairline targa

My aunt and uncle have owned a Targa 43 with the Tamd 75 for ~8 years, and so far, they haven't had any series issues at all. I believe its either a 1999 or 2000 year. The boat is stored indoors every winter, serviced annually, and I don't think they put many hours on it each year, so it’s not a boat that's being run hard. All in all, they've been very happy with it, but that is just one data point.
 
My aunt and uncle have owned a Targa 43 with the Tamd 75 for ~8 years, and so far, they haven't had any series issues at all. I believe its either a 1999 or 2000 year. The boat is stored indoors every winter, serviced annually, and I don't think they put many hours on it each year, so it’s not a boat that's being run hard. All in all, they've been very happy with it, but that is just one data point.
If she has 75 she has to be 2003 or newer. Up till 2002 480s were called Tamd 74s.
 
My Targa 43 had electronic throttles fitted. My previous boat had morse mechanical throttles.
I found the electronic throttles a bit easier when moving about marinas etc. But out at sea either seems OK to me if set up properly.
I wouldn't pay for an electronic upgrade, I would just makes sure the mechanical set up was in good working order. On a T43 there is no switch over mechanism so it's all much smoother and simple.
 
If she has 75 she has to be 2003 or newer. Up till 2002 480s were called Tamd 74s.
I think you must be right on this - I'm definitely not in the know regarding the differences between these engines! I should have been paying more attention because its not long ago that I was down in the engine room hauling up the old batteries and putting in new ones. On that point I could have wished for a bit more headroom, but I think that goes for almost all similar boats this size!
 
Having had more modest boats with both, providing the original throttle system is operating as smoothly as it did from new , would rather spend a few quid on replacing Bowden cables etc ( £ Hundreds) to regain smoothness than to replace with an electronic system. (£ Thousands )
If your existing or retro fitted electronic system decides to fail it could do so somewhat abruptly resulting in some interesting moments you will remember with no fondness for the rest of your boating life. ?
 
Well we replaced our Morse controls with electronic last winter. Cost almost kyboshed the idea but was offered a good deal so went for it and did the job myself during the winter refit with help from a mate mounting and commissioning the actuators.

To be fair it is a flybridge boat with two helm positions so there was a degree of complexity to the old system that was a bit clunky but without question it has transformed the experience at the helm for the better and was, to my mind, worth the cost and effort.

My personal view is that once electronic controls have been experienced the mechanical stuff is just not as good. All IMHO of course 😁
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Well we replaced our Morse controls with electronic last winter. Cost almost kyboshed the idea but was offered a good deal so went for it and did the job myself during the winter refit with help from a mate mounting and commissioning the actuators.

To be fair it is a flybridge boat with two helm positions so there was a degree of complexity to the old system that was a bit clunky but without question it has transformed the experience at the helm for the better and was, to my mind, worth the cost and effort.

My personal view is that once electronic controls have been experienced the mechanical stuff is just not as good. All IMHO of course 😁
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Which manufacturer / system did you go for?
 
Which manufacturer / system did you go for?

We went with the Vetus EC4 system. The actuators are hefty lumps so we made up a bespoke panel with shelves to fit them on the aft bulkhead of the engine bay. The changeover system for the upper and lower helm controls was previously located in the same place.

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All these electronic systems require a good stable supply of battery power to function , usually from the leisure batteries.
Flatten those those batteries or if the volts drop below a certain level and you have a problem.
 
All these electronic systems require a good stable supply of battery power to function , usually from the leisure batteries.
Flatten those those batteries or if the volts drop below a certain level and you have a problem.

Yes indeed, so alongside installing the electronic controls we installed additional batteries and separated out the engine starts so there is now a dedicated start battery for each engine and an entirely separate domestic bank. Power for the electronic controls is taken from each engine battery and if one fails the other will power the whole system. Nothing is foolproof but hopefully we have done as much as we can to minimise the risk of failure.
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