Formula 34 or Fairline Targa 27 for coastal use around North Wales?

BruceK

BruceK

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Both boats are diesel outdrives. The Formula 34 has KAD42's and the Targa AD31's. Intended use sensible cruising in and around Conwy and Anglesey with a young family.
I like the Targa but the power is marginal at 20knts WOT, I think she would easily be knocked off the plane but her sea keeping is reputedly good. I have been offered a Formula 34 for the same price. First appearances is this is a whole lot more boat for the money and space and she has plenty of power to spare, but I have no idea of their sea keeping abilities. Anybody able to offer an opinion?
 
I'd go with the Formula for the extra space and bigger engines although, your quote of only 20knts WOT seems a little low as I had a friend with a targa 27 and ad31's and that quite happily cruised 200 revs off WOT @ 24 knots.
 
This is what I was expecting of the Targa. But no go. The skuttle is when new they achieved that comfortably, now that they are older no. This seemes to be held out by a Sunfury powered with the same engines in Aberystwyth that I trialed. She just could not get over the hump with a mildly dirty bottom. A Targa with AQA 205's would just be too thirsty for my budget. Technically the Targa was planing just over 16 knts but it was all rather laboured and pedestrian. The engines sounded healthy etc for her age, just tired?
 
i would go with the formula. fantastic build quality, normally. good race pedigree etc. think designed by racer jim wynne. obviously dependent on engine/drive check by someone who knows whats what eg Volvopaul.
 
The engines on my friends targa were very tired but still manage to cruise well over 20knots. We cruised in company a few times as far as St Malo and spent most of the time @ 23-24 knots. He eventually replaced them with a pair of D3 190's
 
Quite possibly something in that order. (The sunfury had been idle awhile while the Targa has spent the last couple of years on the broads -glazing?) However the question really is do I continue to search for another Targa / Sunfury which was my original choice, or is the Formula a good sea worthy boat. I worry a bit that it may be a lakes design and not perform as well at sea as the Fairline, or is this just so much internet hype?
 
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They will be AD31P's which are 150hp in a Targa 27 assuming its the most recent 27.
Have those in my 31ft Spirit and yes they will struggle with a dirty bottom, but 20-25knts cruising and 30knts WOT normally though. It might also have dirty partialy blocked fuel filters, 20knts is well off the pace so something is amiss.
 
I looked at a Targa 27 with twin AD31s. On the sea trial, it did take a long time to get on the plane, but it may have had a dirty bot. Once it was there it seemed happy enough, but it wasn't quick.

Ended up buying a petrol version with new twin VP 431s, which was a great quick boat, but was thirsty. Have lots of fond memories.

I don't think I could have lived with the lack of power that the 31s offered. The extra 150hp from the 431s made a massive difference. Therefore I'd consider the Formula.
 
Whitelighter said:
I'd go with the formula.

Bigger boat with more meaty engines. If they are the same money assuming no major issues it's a no brainer
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The engines are in excellent nick. The PO had receipts for 40k on full rebuilds and ancilliary repairs to bring them back to scratch. Seems an awful lot of money tbh for the jobs performed but the surveyor was delighted with them. He was positively beaming after the Targa. There is a very slight crabbing to starboard and if you open her up on the port engine with starboard in neutral she veers to starboard. Reversed she tracks straight. So I am hoping on the lift for hull inspection it is proved just to be a toe-in misalignment. Deck / cabin wise she is a bit tatty but so far that's all cosmetic. She is a lot of boat for the money which is what gives me a nervous disposition.
 
BruceK said:
Quite possibly something in that order. (The sunfury had been idle awhile while the Targa has spent the last couple of years on the broads -glazing?) However the question really is do I continue to search for another Targa / Sunfury which was my original choice, or is the Formula a good sea worthy boat. I worry a bit that it may be a lakes design and not perform as well at sea as the Fairline, or is this just so much internet hype?
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Have driven Targa 27 petrol across Eng channel in force 3 tends to ride bow down and was quite wet ride( should have put the hood up)
possibly rides better with the extra weight of diesels in stern.
The Formula range of boats were mainly designed by Don Aronow one of the top designers of offshore race boats and Formulas! look him up on wiki pedia. He also did some designs for Cranchi
 
BruceK said:
The engines are in excellent nick. The PO had receipts for 40k on full rebuilds and ancilliary repairs to bring them back to scratch. Seems an awful lot of money tbh for the jobs performed but the surveyor was delighted with them. He was positively beaming after the Targa. There is a very slight crabbing to starboard and if you open her up on the port engine with starboard in neutral she veers to starboard. Reversed she tracks straight. So I am hoping on the lift for hull inspection it is proved just to be a toe-in misalignment. Deck / cabin wise she is a bit tatty but so far that's all cosmetic. She is a lot of boat for the money which is what gives me a nervous disposition.
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There is a tidy looking Formula 36 in Pwllheli, on shafts and has a generator
its dropped from 64k to its current price (39k) over the last couple of years....am suprised its not sold
I reckon a cheeky offer would secure it (plus my commission of course!)

http://bjmarine.net/boats/used/boat-details.php?BoatID=4909100
 
I had a look at that. In Dickies boatyard. Never really considered it. I boat on a budget and so at the time was really looking for something in the 27-31 foot class. The Formula 34 was offered to me when I rejected the Targa at a very attractive price - read too bloody good to be true - that was taken in on exchange by the brokers who really just want shot of it what with the silly season now on. Too good not to take a second look. However months of research and inspections on Sunseeker Portofino's / Offshore 31's, Princess 286's, Sealine 280/ 290 Ambassadors, Fairline Targa's Sunfury etc. before settling on the Targa. Never really on any American boat, so not versed on characteristics, sea keeping, build quality etc. Hence the thread.

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I bloody nearly went for the Ben Ant 760 lying next to it though. Missus rejected that. They always have the veto right
 
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Kwak. The boat in question is from your neck of the woods. On the off chance you might know her owner and he is willing to have a chat on pm or similar, I would be very grateful. Oh, and I believe you are the reigning authority on traversing the Menai at speed. I've always bottled it once hitting Beaumarris. A spell at hand holding and tlc training for a landlubber who had the ignominy of once beaching himself on the Conwy mussel beds and now has a pathological aversion to channels is very much in order. I imagine we will be speaking soon.
 
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My 28 ft sports cruiser, an Australian Mustang2800, has twin AD31Ps weight around 4000kg and will do 39knots flat out and cruises comfortably at around 20-22 knots at around 2500-2800 rpm
Uses about 30 -35 LPH both, not each!
The boat is 12 years old and is on DPE duo prop out drives
 
That's really very impressive. A little incredulous I'll admit. 39 knts! Is that with or without JATO? Maybe I should widen my search horizons.
 
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