Help on what boat to go for

lizanne

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hello, think Ive got this right, hope it works.

Looking at three boats at the moment but keep going round in circles trying to make my mind up.

Boats in question....

Targa 35 (botina)
SB offshore 34
Aquador 32

Yes all from Scandinavia but I just love the way they make boats so suitable for our climate, so useable and built to take a bit of weather.

We plan to use our new boat as much as possible since its going to mean 50% of it is financed so we want our money's worth out of it. Last boat we had we used every weekend and about three weeks holiday a year including xmas holidays so all year round useability is a must. Have three year old so safety is also a major issue.

Not so worried about looking like the latest fashion but have to admit the Targa is a little boxy looking but very well screwed together and has probably the best sea keeping. SB looks quite nice but have never seen any second hand to judge the build quality and the Aquador looks the best and has the best layout for our purposes but only one engine which makes me a little nervous, on the up side is very compeditively priced against the others.

Would be interested to hear any comments, good or bad about each and experiences with them and whether any more experienced people have tried all three.

Thanks hope you can help
 

Solitaire

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The Targa! Go anywhere, do anything, great sea keeping and read Steve Curtis' commnets in MBM! Although the Windy won, the Targa came second and only just! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 

oldgit

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Might depend on where you intend keeping your boat and exactly what you intend using it for.Targa fine for sunny days out and nice calm weather as a platform to drink your wine and for looking all cool while parked in picturesque bay but has got to be kept in nice (expensive)marina location with ultra clean wooden finger berth,cos them white carpets will get filthy if kept in the sort of boatyard or alongside harbour wall or dock that the other two will love.If you intend actually using your boat maybe for fishing or in the more interesting sorts of weather and mebbe for the sort of stuff that involves moving around the boat safely while on the move in more than F1 then the other two would praps be more suitable.
Ps.If it helps you decide, it is vital,apparently to get the right colour of hull for your Targa as it is critical when you come to resell it.Not quite sure what this tells you about Targa owners. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

[2068]

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We are talking about the same boat, aren't we ?
Targa, as in Botnia Targa ?

targa.jpg
 

lizanne

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Yes that one not a Fairline Targa. Fairline would be no use to us as we want something to take out in all weathers (well anything up to 5-6 and rainy) I know the canvas on modern sport cruisers are good these days but the problem is we also use our boat during the finer days during winter and there is no heater in these type boats so you end up dressed like a blimp and freezing fingers. Also we tend to end up in smaller harbours around the Irish coast which means up alongside fishing boats and harbour walls so has to be a bit more robust than your average sports cruiser.
 
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Deleted User YDKXO

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You're definitely right. I have no idea why so many people buy canvas topped sports cruisers in the UK. The canvas is a complete pain in the arse to put up and down, it leaks in the rain and you cant see through the plastic panels at the front 'coz they're steamed up and/or cracked

If you're looking at rufty tufty boats have you looked at

Hardy 32 Hardy
Nimbus Coupe 320 Nimbus
Saga 315 Saga
Seaward 29 Seaward
 

[2068]

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Because I like to be outside in the cold doing an impression of Bibendum with a woolly hat? It's the same reason I used to drive SWMBO's MX-5 with the top down in January. Practicality and sanity don't come into it.

I suspect for many others, though, the glossy brochures at the boat show with the blue skies and bikinis seduce people into thinking that buying a sportscruiser will somehow improve the UK climate.

dv.
 

whisper

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It's a "no brainer" - go for the Targa. Mind you , I might be biased /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Actually I'd be worried in case I got the Aquador's swish interior dirty and as you say, the SB is hardly known in the British Isles so it's merits are difficult to judge.

I was told, however, by someone in Dorset, that the SB was a "poor man's" Targa. I was tempted a year or so ago but if my memory is correct I just thought the Targa was better finished off and also wanted outdrives instead of shafts. The SB is shaft driven I think - or atleast the one we were looking at was.

You will have fantastic fun with the Targa - wish I could afford a bigger one.

P.S. If you read the MBM report you will find that the script writer's maths leave a lot to be desired. The "scores" for the Targa are added up incorrectly, TWICE. It actually scores 40/50 - the same as does the "winning" Windy.
 

lizanne

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Agree although I suppose for some its the looks and would admit some of the newer Italian models look fabulous, if I lived in the Med and had a nice pontoon berth I would consider one but just not prcatical enough for us here.

Thanks for the others, looked at those but Nimbus and Seaward but getting out of our price range, Saga just does'nt do it for me, nice boat but looks like should be up and down the Thames or such. Hardy like the look of but again getting past the 200k mark to get all the bits we would want.

Sitting here with all the brochures out and have to say now leaning more to the Aquador. For 150k you get alot of boat for your money plus we can haggle in plotter, radar, teak, covers thruster all in, I know only single motor but our last Antares 9 was single and we went everywhere with her and never a missed beat. Only sold it as was not that happy in the lumpy stuff and the finish was starting to wain so now we want to go up the quality stakes a bit but still around mid 30' as it such a useable size.

Thanks again
 

miket

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Why buy new?
1st year you lose the VAT value (30k on £200k purchase)
Nimbus 345 or 350, twin Yanmar 230hp on shafts. Less than 5 years old and fully kitted out with all the toys between £130k and £150k.
 
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Deleted User YDKXO

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Agreed

Entirely agree with you. I can't understand why peeps throw money away on buying new. I suppose it's good for the rest of us in that it provides a steady supply of nice barely used boats. Boating is expensive enough without mega depreciation as well
 

lizanne

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I would certainly agree with your statement if I were only planning on keeping the boat a couple of years. However this is my dream boat what I have been planing and saving for for a long time. Worked up through small second hand stuff to our last Antares which was second hand now we have enough to pay well over half of the capital on a new boat so this is a one hit wonder that we will have to live with for at least five years or more.

Thanks for the advise though, I take it you have a Nimbus looking at the little picture thingy on your post, how do you find it, has it lived up to your expectations, would you buy another?.

Nothing can beat that feeling of having something brand new that you have always hankered after, you can put all your own little bits to it and know exactly how everything is fitted and not rely on some other guy who perhaps was a bit slap happy with fitting stuff like plotters and gizmos. Also you never know for sure buying second hand how the boat has been used, a really good valet can hide a multitude of sins, nothing perhaps structural that the survey would'nt pick up but all those scuffs and scratches that will show up once the salt water and weather have taken the wax and sheen off.

I suppose in the end its dream material stuff and although money comes into it its not the overriding factor.

Five six years from now the second hand value will probably be around 100k on the Aquador so 7K a year is doable of course trading up will give you more so maybe not even 5k per annum, hell fire my car is loosing more than that and it only cost 40k compared to 150k on the boat.
 

hlb

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Yes but nothing hurts more than, for what ever reason, selling the dream boat, for a fraction of it's cost. Times change and things move on. You may want bigger or smaller depending on circumstance. Some times it's other folk that make desisions you cant control!
 

lizanne

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Thank you, at the moment in the Isle of Man but we are moving to Bangor (NI) for work hence the new boat but waiting to hear back about a berth there. Where are you?
 

lizanne

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Yes I suppose you are right and if I had my thinking head on I'd probably not, but heck I am only ever going to do this once and the heart is stronger than the head (I think its called 'Brochure-itis). Now after a days deliberation having almost convinced myself of the Aquador we are back at the Targa, more money but you just can't escape that belt and braces build. There is actually one down our marina and I am sure the guy thinks I am casing it to try and steal it as I am down there every evening looking at it. It just looks so well thought out and everything is like one size up for what it should be or in other words its deck gear and stuff look off a 40 footer.

Anyway time is getting closer to make a choice so weekend will see the final decision.
 

hlb

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Well, I lost my business, my wife and my home. But still got my very, very capable P35 and some cash as well, hopefully enough cash left to buy a replacement as well and still live. But then I never owed anyone nowt!!
 
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