Fairline Targa 43

To all,

I’ve just found a 2004 T43 with 450 hours on, surely with the hours In mind also and it’s been owned by an elderly couple who never used it as it should be. I’d be crazy not to purchase do you think or is it just me and boats like this with these hours don’t pop up too often?

Any advice appreciated

Thank you!
 
great boats as previous posts confirm, 450 hours is on the low side - subject to survey and engine checks and a price comparison with similar age/condition T43s, go for it.

the only minor thing I ever found annoying on mine is that when you fill up with drinking water and forget it overflows - no problem as long as you remember to close the porthole above the beds in the rear cabin.:o
mine was a 1999 so hopefully modded on later versions.
 
There’s a bit more to it than just engine hrs on boats .
In fact marina “ queens “ and in the car world garage “ queens “ often end up costing a lot more than the low hrs ( boat ) or low miles ( car ) implys at the purchase point .

The link is the engine aspect .
How ever none engine like the Aircon , pumps , electrical ver d gris stuff , any rubber seals still perish as farther time marches on independent of the engine hrs .

https://www.sbmar.com/articles/marine-age-the-real-age-of-a-marine-diesel-engine/
 
The odds of having serious issues will be down to the maintenance and survey, but if not used you can expect a series of niggles of the ancillary stuff in my experience.

Mine is a Squadron 58 2004 that had 500 hours on it ( now 670 odd).

The things I had to replace was "silly" but took time and money. Shower boxes, several air con air handlers ( paid by the vendor - noisy ), toilets ( seals gone - Vacuflush - could have been age or non use who knows). Ice Maker etc.

Heat exchangers are probably full of calcium ( as are most of this age).

The vendor had just replaced batteries

The market favour low hours so as long as it has been reasonably looked after and you dont mind that some ancillary stuff will go wrong ( no boat is perfect and at least what you replace will work) then go for it.
 
No one knows!

Just accept that without doubt it will require money spending on it - as will almost any boat you buy.

In replacing old bits you are making the boat newer ( man maths!) and less will go wrong in the future !

My tip. Don’t rely on the survey. I spent about 3 hours on the boat alone. I found a long long list of things that were sorted by the vendor.

The surveyor will be concerned about the structure of the boat etc. Unless something else is obvious he won’t notice the ice maker. That one cabin ac is noisy and not as cold as the others etcetc. This lot costs money.

You won’t find everything but you should catch the majority.
 
Thanks Jrudge, this is going to be my first ever boat so want to make sure I’m putting my money into something that will see me some form of return in a few years so I can upgrade again
 
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