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DAVIDO

DAVIDO

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Evening all,
As the sale of our current boat is progressing well we have started looking around more seriously for the next investment.
As previously posted we were very taken with New Bavaria 35S but with due consideration decided not to spend (borrow) as much, so have been looking in the 100-120k bracket with a view to spending nearer the lower amount.
Short listed so far Sealine S37 or Fairline Targa 37/39.
Question is whats the opinion of these craft and also whats the difference with the two fairlines because im getting confused.
Thanks.
 
The Fairline 39 is an older model, I think it ran to 95 or 96 and very much last generation. It has the Metal framed windows seen on the 35 and 30/33 and is starting to look a little dated. The 37 is a much newer version based around a similar sized boat.

The 37 has the now very familiar curved GRP window frames with flat windscreen and an al together much more modern Fairline Targa fell to it. The internal joinery and upholstery/colour schemes are also much more current and in my oppinion a much better bet.

I will get flamed for this, but the Sealine S37 is very much and old design and looks/feels it. The later boats are very good, but if it really was a straight fight between the two I think the Fairline would win on Style and Pedigree.

That said, if the S37 was £25k cheaper the outcome might be a bit different.

My only advice to you is buy the newest (but not brand new), biggest, most well known boat you can afford and you will not go far wrong.
 
Thanks Jez that all makes sense the conflict then is the better or newer one. For the same money the Sealine is a couple of years younger but heart says Fairline. What are the engine options to look for in your opinion.
Cheers
 
With your budget of £100k - £120k I would really try to get a 1999-2000 Targa 37 - I know you can probably get a later S37, but you will always be sat across the bay looking at your neighbours Fairline thinking *bugger*.

Even a 97/98 boat that has been well looked after would be a good bet. Also, it has probably reached its bottom value, or be very close to it, so you are unlikely to loose your shirt.

Interms of engines, the general rule of thumb is the bigger, the better. The price difference between a big engine model and a weedy engine model is usually not a lot and the bigger engined boats will be easier to shift in the long term. They don't actually burn any more fuel either, unless you are WOT everywhere.

In terms of the 37, early boats came with KAD 42's, a good engine with 230hp but had a few problems (most now sorted I would imagine), replaced with the KAD 43's, same power, just with the niggles fixed. Later (98-) boats had KAD 44's, which gave 260hp and EDC (electronic) controls, if you like that sort of thing. I have seen very late boats with KAD300's, but these seem to be very rare.

I would suggest a 98/99 boat with KAD44's and a full spec, bit like this one at inwards on the Hamble would be the one to shoot for. Asking £115k, should be bought for between £105-£107k I would have thought, provided it's in good nick.
 
Have seen that one on the usual search, looks good. Might try and pop down to take a look in the next couple of weeks.
 
You should PM gjgm on this forum, he went to look at that T37 at Inwards a couple of weekends ago - I don't think he thought it was all that.

I've got the T37 and I think it's great (but then I would, wouldn't I); I agree with most of what Jez says above, although I have to say that I have never come across a T37 with KAD300's in it.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I went through all your thought processes a couple of years ago and having viewed several older targas, sunseekers, sealines etc concluded that newist was best. I bought a 2003 cranchi zaffiro 34 which is 37 feet overall, because she had the revised interior with wood rather than all white, latest navigation and radar, heating and air con, kad 43's, and overall was virtually a brand new boat and all within the budget of £125,000. She has not missed a beat, has a superb hull, incredibly spacious cockpit and accomodation down below, and a still looks new. i realise she is not a Fairline, but when looking to buy i got fed up at looking at older tired boats which imo would keep hitting you with future problems.
I am now looking at going into a flybridge and now have the same decision to make, older versus newer etc etc.
ps if you want any info on zaffiros pm me
cheers
 
I owned a S37 for a short time a while back and had the same dilemna - something older and more prestigious v something new. In the end I went for the S37 for 2 reasons. For the same money I could get the KAD44 EDC engines and the mid cabin of the S37 is just so much bigger than the others
For the same money you could also consider a V39/40 which IMHO is a better boat than either the T37 or S37 but you'd probably have to consider older boats
 
A agree that there are perhaps some alternatives, but another long thread has discussed these and it looks like David has pinned it down to the T37 or the S37.

Out of these two alone, for overall value I still reckon the T37 has it.

Though I do agree about the V39/40/42.
 
We had an S37 and it was a nice boat to live with, well made, and the saloon is more spacious than a T37. Agree the T37 looks sleeker and probably handles better. I think any premium on a T37 will still be there at resale, so you can't go far wrong with either.

Given the choice I would also raid the piggy bank and go for the Princess.
 
It could be me, but I quite like the styling of the S37 (minus those horrible blue stripes on early ones). The main issue I have is the "big nose", which looks porpoiseful underway when it's trimmed up a few degrees, but just a big nose at rest.

Fairline Targas with the blue stripe hulls look incredibly fab when new, or older ones that are well maintained and shiny, but not so good once the blue hull corners go chalky and the blue hull has picked up a few dings and scrapes. All fixable, I know, and if you can find one at that age that had an obsessive owner, then it would be my choice too.

However, given the choice of a older,tattier Fairline, or a tidier,newer Sealine... I would probably go with the Sealine.

dv.
 
I'd go for the targa 39, much bigger than the 37 not just in length but in volume. It's huge compared. Better looking imho as well, more of a classic look rather than gelly mould. The targa 38 is the same as the 39 but with shorter bathing platform. The perfect boat would be a targa 39 that has been re engined, I think they all came with KAD42's? one with 44's would be nice.
 
With reference to the engines i would not be too concerned about the edc controls i.e Kad 44's because the earlier engines are beginning to have ecu problems which can only be rectified by replacing the whole unit at a cost of £1600 to £1800 depending on who fits it.Quite costly if both go!
I had this problem on my previous boat which was 1998 and kad 44's. Volvo dont particularly acknowledge the problem but a quick web search will bring up quite a number of people like myself who have had problems.
 
There is a feeling that electronic giggery pokery means that if it all goes tits up, then the only thing you can do is buy new parts from Volvo. Your friendly local mechanic can do bugger all if your ECU goes up the swanny.

I don't think that is that likely to happen, but I was happy to have KAD43's as there is much less electronics to go wrong. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the delay EDC controls give you, but I know loads of bods who have them and now wouldn't go back, so I guess its a personal thing.

Before buying the current boat, I really wanted Mercruisers, but now I have the VP units I realise they are lovely and super smooth, and probably wouln't go back. Lots of things can cost money on a boat, and if you worry about all of them you just won't buy a boat.

Yes the electronics could go wrong ans cost £1600, but likewise (as I found out), so could any number of other things. Get a very thorough survey and if it really troubles you, make sure you canb afford to keep a slush fund of a couple of grand for unexpected cock ups - and then just enjoy boating.
 
I believe the bigger engines are just supercharged versions of the smaller ones, and some people find the whine of the chargers to be a real pain. May be something to look (or listen) out for on sea trial, regardless of which boat you go for.
 
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