Flybridge to targa.

volvopaul

volvopaul

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When ive sold my current flybridge Princess im thinking of going Targa type boat for a few years, I only get out on sea trials on this type of boat so have never over nighted on one to see how little space is available, compared to what I have now (Princess 410).

Would I miss the flybridge to sit on at rest, better view etc, would I miss the visibilty in bad weather, but most of all would I miss the larger saloon compared to a massive cockpit thats on the Targa, would the Targa saloon feel like a dungeon?.

Im looking at Targas as ive never owned one, I would like the feeling of a sports boat and of course in our ever increasing fuel hikes like to save some money on fuel, servicing costs wether it be shafts or drives dont really come into it as I do my own servicing.

So if I buy one how many times am I going to say to myself " wish id never bought this thing" or" im so glad ive switched".

Im looking at mainstream models uk built , but ive also viewed a Windy 43 hardtop, which is very practical but doesnt have the glitz or tender garage that the Princess and Fairlines have.

Your thought please as im trying to convert Mrsvolvopaul away from another flybridge.
 
Hi Paul,

We have been out on a FL Targa and they are brilliant boats. Can definitely see the attraction - handling, open roof, only one set of instruments and controls to worry about etc But.... I think the FB gives you visibility and views, gets you away from the noise a bit more and gives you the "wind in the face" experience - no screen to peer over (if you want that). Only the other week we were moored up in an estuary and the views from the FB alone made the day. Yes it gets a bit rolly up there occasionally and thats annoying, but there is still the lower helm and saloon and stern seating area. I know they are bit heavier and cost a bit more to push along, but the extra room upstairs and the options that gives you IMO wins the day. I think you may miss a FB. What is Mrs VPs veiw?
 
I like targas

I had 2 flybridges and now have a targa. much prefer the targa, more sociable cockpit, essentially it replaces the flybridge saloon but easy to ventilate on sunny days. In UK I'd go for a hard/sliding roof boat because of the weather, Bedroom space is not dissimilar to same length flybridge. Hardly ever use the saloon below except to watch TV. They feel safer because you know where everyone is at all times, you feel much safer when its a bit lumpy and when you get a bit of rolling at low speeds it feels much less severe. dead easy to park too. engine access on mine is good too, dont have to lift up saloon floor etc. I wouldn't go back to a flybridge now.
 
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...... what them before me said, plus:
I know for a definite fact that if I didn't have the height that's afforded from the the flybridge I would have hit numnerous badly discoulored and stupidly placed pot bouys.
Perhaps not a deal breaker when considering your options, but you'll almost certainly miss the height you've been previoulsy used to.
 
We've also given this a lot of thought, but the biggest issue I see in targa-type boat is the downstairs 'dungeon' as you put it. I know it's possible to have heating in the cockpit but based on what I've seen, the crews of 90% of the sports cruisers seem to disappear down below when it gets a bit chilly. In a FB-boat's saloon you still feel connected to the activity around you.

To be fair, I've only done cruising in a FB-boat so my view is a bit biased :)
 
Your not serious of course.

Whats not to like...All those silly zips and bits of chrome tent pole,lower accomdation for Hobbits only and that dreadful pitch black claustrophobic coalhole of an aft cabin.
Need the skills of a mountain goat to go forward esp when underway,got to move peeps from aft sundeck to open garage door to get the fiddly to get out and pain to get back in inflatable(usually under inflated to get in at all).
Hiding all those bits of blue tent in all those lockers to keep the boat looking tidy.Spending 30 mins finding them all again and another 30 getting them all back up(the flybridge bloke is halfway home while you are making notes to call the zip stitching man agin)
Sports boats are a beginners mistake.Just say NO.:):):)
 
oldgit said:
Whats not to like...All those silly zips and bits of chrome tent pole,lower accomdation for Hobbits only and that dreadful pitch black claustrophobic coalhole of an aft cabin.
Need the skills of a mountain goat to go forward esp when underway,got to move peeps from aft sundeck to open garage door to get the fiddly to get out and pain to get back in inflatable(usually under inflated to get in at all).
Hiding all those bits of blue tent in all those lockers to keep the boat looking tidy.Spending 30 mins finding them all again and another 30 getting them all back up(the flybridge bloke is halfway home while you are making notes to call the zip stitching man agin)
Sports boats are a beginners mistake.Just say NO.:):):)
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Like your no nonsense style OG, bit like LS.
David
 
as a reply to Oldgit's post - When I used my targa in UK I generally left all the canopy on except the front screen as generally not warm enough and rolled up the rear entrances (exactly the same as flybridge rear canopy). When weather was raining popped front screen back in and carry on. fitting/removing the front canopy is loads easier than replacing the flybridge tent when you want to go home. How easy/difficult it is to take bits of canopy on and off depends on model/make but Fairline design with the rear raked radar arch is dead easy. Access to forward decks depends on the model, if you have to climb through the windscreen thats a pain, however on bigger targas forward access is just the same as flybridge without the stairs/ladders to fall down when they are wet (chipped leg bone that day ouch). I'm 5'6" on a good day and found forward visibility a bit limited as top of screen in my line of sight so I made platform 6" tall at the helm so then I'm 6" ;-) visibility is now great. (and got another locker too). also another plus you have all your electronic instruments in one place accessible all the time - you don't need two screens or debate where to put the radar etc.
 
kashurst said:
as a reply to Oldgit's post - When I used my targa in UK I generally left all the canopy on except the front screen as generally not warm enough and rolled up the rear entrances (exactly the same as flybridge rear canopy). When weather was raining popped front screen back in and carry on. fitting/removing the front canopy is loads easier than replacing the flybridge tent when you want to go home. How easy/difficult it is to take bits of canopy on and off depends on model/make but Fairline design with the rear raked radar arch is dead easy. Access to forward decks depends on the model, if you have to climb through the windscreen thats a pain, however on bigger targas forward access is just the same as flybridge without the stairs/ladders to fall down when they are wet (chipped leg bone that day ouch). I'm 5'6" on a good day and found forward visibility a bit limited as top of screen in my line of sight so I made platform 6" tall at the helm so then I'm 6" ;-) visibility is now great. (and got another locker too). also another plus you have all your electronic instruments in one place accessible all the time - you don't need two screens or debate where to put the radar etc.
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Kas I totally agree with you on the instuments score, when I bought the 410 it had little in the way of nav gear and instuments thats protect the thousands of pounds to rebuild engines, so I fitted new radar and plotters up and down along with oil and temp gauges to the fly, im certainly not going down that road again its just silly money fitting gear again. My flybridge cover is a real pain, if you dont fit it on every time you leave the boat all the cr"p off the A27 is all over the seats, dash etc and im sick of it, my rear canopy shields the sun off unless you take it all off, its no good just rolling the sides up.

My mate has just bought the bargain of the year a 2001 T43 with 74 480 engines on the hamble for under 130k, hes having great fun with it already sorting out all the bits and the motors are turning at 1800 rpm to give a nice 20 knots over the ground, thats got to be a massive fuel saving, I heard of one T43 travelling from port solent to weymouth and back calling in at various places, he topped up on his return to put in just around 600 litres and he nailed it most of the way at 30knots, just shows how economical a boat is without the flybridges weight and wind resistance, id also like to hear from any windy 43 owners from scandanavia if there out there as the hardtop with electric roof sounds good, ive not got the £££ for a dream v48 or targa 47 with the very desireable hardtop id like.
 
I looked at several Targa's before getting a FB, I thib=nk that it is very subjective, each to their own and all that but FWIW if like me you dont always go out cruising and enjoy being on the boat on your berth then my money is on a FB.

Its a bit like this, when the sun comes out everyone wants a convertible, when its raining and windy no one wants one, having owned one the reality is in this country you rarely have the top down.

It depends on how you want to use your boat, I know my missus wouldn't be happy in the bowls of Targa with her feet up reading a book or watching the TV once the sun went down.
 
volvopaul said:
Hi jimmy what didn't you like about the p 42? As a flybridge 40 is also on our list if we had another flybridge, also the phantom 40and 43 are too.
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Morning Paul

As 14m flybridges go, I think the P42 was the best choice available at the time when I bought it (2008). But I just didn't like the whole flybridge concept - it just didn't feel boaty enough when I was used to speedboats and then the T37. It was too slow, and I didn't feel happy single-handing it. There's only me and swmbo so having lots of different accommodation areas isn't important. I like the big single cockpit and the lower c of g of the targa.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
oldgit said:
Whats not to like...All those silly zips and bits of chrome tent pole,lower accomdation for Hobbits only and that dreadful pitch black claustrophobic coalhole of an aft cabin.
Need the skills of a mountain goat to go forward esp when underway,got to move peeps from aft sundeck to open garage door to get the fiddly to get out and pain to get back in inflatable(usually under inflated to get in at all).
Hiding all those bits of blue tent in all those lockers to keep the boat looking tidy.Spending 30 mins finding them all again and another 30 getting them all back up(the flybridge bloke is halfway home while you are making notes to call the zip stitching man agin)
Sports boats are a beginners mistake.Just say NO.:):):)
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Agree 100% and very well put. Twice I've gone from a flybridge to a sports cruiser in my boating life and twice I've bitterly regretted it. In fact both of those sports cruisers lasted less than 1 yr with me. No way I'm going to make that mistake again.
 
I'm not sure the argument about covers stands up, particularly - when I bought the p42 I did think that one benefit would be less canvas to deal with - but of course there is a massive cockpit cover, which is bigger than any of the covers on the t40 - and on the flybridge there's another big cover, which depending on what design of cover you've gone for can be a completely nightmare to try and fit from the inside.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
oldgit said:
Whats not to like...All those silly zips and bits of chrome tent pole,lower accomdation for Hobbits only and that dreadful pitch black claustrophobic coalhole of an aft cabin.
Need the skills of a mountain goat to go forward esp when underway,got to move peeps from aft sundeck to open garage door to get the fiddly to get out and pain to get back in inflatable(usually under inflated to get in at all).
Hiding all those bits of blue tent in all those lockers to keep the boat looking tidy.Spending 30 mins finding them all again and another 30 getting them all back up(the flybridge bloke is halfway home while you are making notes to call the zip stitching man agin)
Sports boats are a beginners mistake.Just say NO.:):):)
Click to expand...

Spot on Oldgit :)
 
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jimmy_the_builder said:
I'm not sure the argument about covers stands up, particularly - when I bought the p42 I did think that one benefit would be less canvas to deal with - but of course there is a massive cockpit cover, which is bigger than any of the covers on the t40 - and on the flybridge there's another big cover, which depending on what design of cover you've gone for can be a completely nightmare to try and fit from the inside.

Cheers
Jimmy
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I agree that an all over flybridge cover is a pain especially when you have to start fiddling about with poles under it. I dont know about anyone else but I only put my all over f/b cover on at the end of the season for the winter and during the season I only use the individual covers for the helm and seat units which are much easier to handle. Dont agree about f/b cockpit covers (side screens) though. They tend to just drop down from the f/b overhang and I find them pretty easy to handle. Again I take my cockpit screens off completely during the season as the f/b overhang provides reasonable shelter.
I think the big difference with a sports cruiser is that the deck seating and helm is the only outside space so you have to keep it dry with covers. With a f/b boat, if the upstairs gets a bit soggy, you and the crew just decamp to the saloon and drive from there
 
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