Fairline Targa 34 - advice please.

[nicololo]

Hello
Having recently sold our last boat, we are giving very serious consideration to moving up to a Targa 34, we are looking at 2000 manufactured boats with KAD 44s. Having looked at several old forum posts to research this possible move, the general rule of thumb seems to be 'go for as big as you can afford' - would this still be sensible/reasonable advice?
What is the forum's opinion of the Targa 34, are there any issues/points we should look out for?
With the market as it currently is, are there any guidelines for where to pitch an offer, is there an 'acceptable' percentage to use from the advertised price - bearing in mind the options subject to trials and surveys?
We would very much appreciate any feedback and or guidance?
Mark

 

[Whitelighter]

The Targa 34 seems to be one of those cult boats that just hangs onto its money like scrouge. Only the earliest green hulled boats have dipped significantly below the £100k mark, and even then you will struggle to find even one of those close to £90k.

year 2000 blue hulled examples are still commanding £120k and while there is no doubt about the pedigree of the 34, for me this is way too much. If you are looking at a bout with that sort of budget, it might be worth also looking at Targa 37's. Sounds insane, but for some reason 37's seem to be pitched at similar money to the 34. You dont really get anything extra, but just a bit more space in all areas.

2000 was the last year the 37 was produced, and was the first boat to be fitted with the now iconic tear drop side windows and flat screen when launched as the 36 in 1995. B

Both the 34 and the 37 are good boats, but if I was spending north or £100k I think I would go for a 37 that has a bit more room not to mention improved seakeeping that only really weight and length can give. I am sure there will be many 34 owners singing their praises, and rightly so. My comments are just as I have found things...

 

[volvopaul]

A 34 is a nice boat but have as with all kad44 engines issues to do with poor servicing and not setting the valve clearances at the correct interval net result a scrap cylinder head and damaged pistons.

I personally and nearly did buy a 37 last year there value for money more boat for your money than a 34, I would also look at a windy there great built boats, same drivetrains as other sport cruisers with that little bit extra in terms of build quality.

THere are also resale values as there are a lot of 34 on the market so bid low.

 

[gjgm]

all kad44 engines issues to do with poor servicing and not setting the valve clearances at the correct interval net result a scrap cylinder head and damaged pistons
**************
Dont you need the word "potential" in there?
WIndy are going to be using volvo engines too, so not sure you get around anything there. I d suggest the build quality might be better on whe Windy, and although the handling could be better, I m not sure the Scirocco is one of Windy's sportiest boats, and will have alot less space below than the Fairline.
To the original post:
As regards where to put a bid, dont worry about %, and asking prices etc. Do your homework, look at a number of boats, and work out the value to you. That might be 100pct of the price; it might be 75pct of the price. If you cant buy it at say 75pct, well you have to decide whether its actually worth a bit more to you after all , or not. If not, dont buy it ! However, as a popular boat, they do come on the market frequently, and i might imagine a few people are a bit keener in this economic situation to sell, than say a year ago. You dont need the boat til April next year, so take your time, and find the best you can !!

 

[Nick_H]

Ordinarily i'd say a 34 is a good step, it seems you have to go a fair bit bigger than a 34 before you get much extra, up to 40 feet really, so you would be looking at more money or an older boat. However if you can buy a 37 of the same age for the same money its a no brainer.

IMO Targa 34's are not good value for money if you look at how much boat you get per pound spent, you get a lot more with Sealine, Cranchi, and some others, but on the other hand they really hold their value, so depreciation may be less?

In terms of what to offer, I don't think there's such a thing as a silly offer nowadays

 

[wbartram]

The Targa 34 is a Fantastic boat, went down the the West Country twice this year from the Hamble, and also over to the channel islands. But we do have the KAD 300, so she is very fast and never missed a beat. Also handles very well in when to going gets hard. You just need to back off a bid more, and get the bow down if going into the swell.

Have Fun

William

 

[SilverTT]

[ QUOTE ]
But we do have the KAD 300, so she is very fast and never missed a beat.

[/ QUOTE ]
Is that 'very fast' as in loads more than a kad44.
You must only mean a couple of knots top end for extra stress on the engines.

 

[dkm]

Having tried a few manufacturers in the 32-38 ft range I settled on a Targa 34 last summer and haven't looked back.
Outstanding performance, great looks and class leading quality. T37 is a great boat also but you'll get a newer 34 for the same money. If your budget allows go for a newer boat with KAD 300s. If you want specifics PM me and I'll share more thoughts. I bought off Fairline, the boat was 3 years old and the customer service has been exceptional - in fact today they are replacing the gunwale band at their cost 3 years after the warranty expired.
Plenty on the market, also shared ownership options exist

 

[Mike_S]

Friend of mine bought a T34 in November last year and trucked it down to southern Spain, where it now resides in Funkygorilla (Fuengirola). We looked at a couple for him and this was definitely the best one, clearly well looked after and it had been retrimmed to current Fairline spec with leather etc. He paid just shy of £100k for it and if I remember rightly it was up for £120k. No way was it worth that but the owner knew it as well, it didn't take much to get it down to a reasonable price. For £100k it's been well worth it.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

I was going to buy a 34 Targa from 2004 with KAD 300s this summer in July before going for my Gobbi 335 SC

the reason I did not puchase was transport costs to the med
today I thank god for that due mainly to the smallish interior which wants to be many things and is actually noting
I drove 37 Targas several times and must say they have a very good lighter steering and good handling characaterisctic but I also gurantee the 34 Targa is a better seaboat

as for the inside 37 Targa is more spacious, I personally like the galley of both of them which is the best in the category and dash on 37 is IMO better
what I hate are cheap fittings outside like stainless steel and alloy cleats, for a boat with such a premium they are definitly cheap
as I did I suggest you to enlarge your spectrum, put in Windys, Cranchi, Sessa etc etc and whatever you think your budget can reach

as for the size factor I decided that a boat not less then 10 years old was our priority, so it is up to you to decide what is the most important issue for you

 

[petem]

[ QUOTE ]
Year 2000 blue hulled examples are still commanding £120k

[/ QUOTE ]

There's one on my Web Site for £110k.

As others have said, the T34 has rock solid residuals and a great reputation. Strangley, T37's command about the same £££ so might be better value.

Pete

 

[gimmesunshine]

i've been on friends t34 a few times, very good indeed even with kad42's theres plenty of power,
its a mk1 which is better in my opinion than later ones.
dont know about t37
a windy will be far less accomodation
supply and demand rule, at the moment there are plenty on the market and you can take your pick and try some silly offers, sure the cranchi is cheaper but you feel the difference when on board, but its all personal of course,
1st and foremost the machinery has got to be well looked after, so in some ways the simpler kad42/43 is a safer bet
good luck

 

[Argonautical]

I there, we had last year a cracking Targa 37, sold her this year to buy a targa 48.

Whilst looking for 37's we got the usual 'Spam' from ancasta etc, and at Porto Solento we did actually look at a 34. Nice inside being a couple of years newer than our 37, but tiny!

Even the main bed was tiny and off to one side! Each to there own, but I would honestly say the 37 is a better buy. Much more space, and obviously a bigger boat to be caught out in the rough stuff in. Both great looking ships indeed, but the 48's bettererer! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Jas.

 

[Questor]

[ QUOTE ]
Its a mk1 which is better in my opinion than later ones.


[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed, and not just because I have one. Friends with MkIIs agree aswell. Much nicer boat than the later model, and better built too. MBY did a feature on ours, and their conclusion was the ideal Targa 34 would be a MkI re-engined with KAD 300s, and I'd go along with that.

The blue hulls look good, but I also like the aqua ones. It is a different "aqua" to that used on the T29 & 39s of the mid nineties era - more of an emerald colour. The fact they are cheaper in the UK was also a bonus when we bought ours. That is if you can find one. I don't know how many were built, but MkIs are becoming as rare as rocking horse sh!t
The only other one I have seen on the south coast is "Nikki B" which lives on the Hamble which incedently is hull No1.

Two years ago we were offered a blinding deal on a one year old T34 with blue hull & KAD300s. After much perusal we decided that we preferred the MK1 layout to the attractiveness of a "cheap" MKII. The boat in question actually sold for £136k, which was the price it was offered to us.

 

[zt260]

There,s a mk1 for sale at www.yorkmarina.co.uk

regds ashley

 

[Questor]

So there is, but the "gallery" pictures are the MkII.

Also the asking price is more than the asking price was on mine back in 2001, when the boat was just 4 years old.

 

[John100156]

I purchased a 2006 T34 in February-08, in excellent condition, with low hours (89) all for £140k. Its an excellent boat, the KAD300's work very well indeed and can easily reach 33 knots fully loaded on a flattish sea with some to spare. Cruises and handles beautifully at 20-24 knots. I had a very rough passage from Soller (Mallorca) to MDL's new marina in Sant Carles de la Rapita Spain last week, head sea and F4/5 gusts - had to trim the the bow down and throttle back to 10 knots, she handled the conditions perfectly.

An excellent and very strong boat IMHO. But then I would say that!

Best of luck with your selection - if you need any info PM me.

 

[Whitelighter]

Sounds like you had a good run. I would have thought that 285Hp motors should be over 40knts at the top end, I managed 37knts out of a 34ft boat with KAD43s fairly easily.

 

[cliffdale]

I would be very worried about John....boat doing only 33 knots.

At 3000rpm I cruise at 30 knots. Fully loaded we get about 38 knots, end of season dirty bum and props.

I hardly go anywhere under 30k. In the rough, bows down and slow down to 22 to 24k.

Cd

 

[zt260]

I cant understand why they havent put any pics of the actual boat on as it is sat in there shed i,ve not been on it but apparantly its in good nick as you say a bit pricy i think its a stock boat so prob, open to offers,still i can but dream /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ash