Newbie! First Cruiser - Recommendations please and advice

R

RobBradley

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Aug 2018
Messages
122
Location
Inverlael, Highlands, Scotland
lochendpods.co.uk
Hi All,

Rob here, new to the world of Yachting but not new to the water, shamefully ex RN. Played about in a few ribs over that time, and always loved the water.

Since joining here and reading all the various cruise reports, you guys have done me no favours what so ever, certainly not for my future bank balances. The more I read, the more I want. And not even being put off by the many threads of what can and probably will go wrong, because most have the what to do, well done guys for such an informative forum.

Hopefully very soon various things will come to maturity and I feel now is the time to finally live my life long dream and buy a boat. Done the biker thing, that was fun, but now I want the pleasure and lifestyle. Always lived by the water, currently live on the Thames (with anchoring very near me!), think it is time to make it happen.

For months I have been looking at what I could possibly afford and dreaming, so far what ticks all our boxes for layout is the Fairline Targa 33 and above range.

Anything smaller does not fit what we want from a boat. I regularly have my six year old son, so would like two separate cabins, and still have an area to sit and make a drink or what ever (night owl!).

The Targa range are beautiful to the eye I think as well, really love the layout of the decks. Perfect for me, the other half, my son and our mad ginger cat (hope she can swim), I dream of a G&T on calm water, just enjoying the moment.

The Targa layouts for 33 and up work. And a few 33’s on the market fit the finance, initially looking at a £50k budget, that may extend, unknown at the mo. A Mk2 34 would be absolutely lovely if you know anyone selling one very cheap :) lol.

For a first boat is this a wise choice?

My travel plans. Was a sailor! Granted that was Subs and a big grey ship driven by someone else, but I want to see what our waters have to offer, both river ways and coastal, and even hoping over to Europe, by everything I have read the Targa range are certainly capable. Maybe even a trip to my home country Ireland one day if brave enough.

Will certainly be signing up for a number of courses, Dayskipper etc, VHF, the club I am looking at is quite local (short drive) and has a few members on here by the looks of it. :)

Looking at Diesel only, not interested in petrol. Any recommendations on what to avoid or go for?

All help appreciated, safe travels all.

Rob
 
Hi Rob, I too am an ex-matelot and our third boat was a Fairline Targa 35, which was the upgraded version of the 33 on it's way to the latter 34. Great boat and at that time we had two teenage kids routinely cruising with us. Our lad used to have the aft cabin and daughter used to make up the saloon settee into a berth. Superb cockpit and with two twin forward facing helm seats ideal for the four of us.

The later Targa 34 is a great boat (Petem on here can comment far better as he has one) but a lot more money and quite a bit less stowage space down below - sufficiently so for us to discount when combined with the high prices they tend to attract. All down to what personal priorities are of course and the 34 certainly looks the dog's doo dahs.

Engine wise many Targa 33's had Volvo Penta AD41's - solid motors but getting on a bit so check for hours and maintenance. Oil analysis worth doing as part of survey. There was one on recently that had been re-engined with Mercruisers and whilst I would not usually go for them the fact that they were relatively new made it tempting. Our Targa 35 had VP KAD42's - an upgraded version of the AD41 base engine with things like a supercharger added for lower revs power boost.

Thing is with a sports cruiser is that you tend to spend much of your time in the cockpit as it is very sociable so heating outlets up there are a must (can be retro-fitted).

Targa 33 will certainly do all that you want to do if looked after and maintained. Another option would be an early Sealine S34 - we are currently buying one and looking forward to going back to sportscruiser boating :)
 
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Greg2 said:
Thing is with a sports cruiser is that you tend to spend much of your time in the cockpit as it is very sociable so heating outlets up there are a must (can be retro-fitted).
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That is very much on my list, I love late evening early morning, and without hugging a fan heater, will be planning on if it does not have it, it gets retrofitted.

Not afraid to tinker, bought a BMW a few years ago without the toys I wanted, spent a few months collecting parts from Ebay, then a day on a friends drive, stripped the interior and fitted satnav, bluetooth, reverse camera and a load of other toys, shame I wrote it off 6 months later :(

Thank you all for your advice, appreciated.
 
Speaking as his other half. He has an advantage in that I am going to be trying to persuade him to spend MORE not LESS money so that we can have a bigger, better boat. Although the Targa 33s do look to be my favourite so far.

One other thing. I know to fly the Oscar flag for man overboard. What flag would I fly for Cat overboard? I think it highly likely she will fall overboard at some point. ;-)

Steve
 
BruceK said:
you're such a fashionista. Any way, I shall delight in telling you, codswallop :D
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Brucey Boy
Might you write to the OP about your due diligence, perserverance, doggidness,single mindless and expense to get your ship, ship shape
I realise that the Tome would reduce the stockpile of parchment available to the Western World would be diminished considerably by such a communique, however the education therein would be so enlightening to all and Sundry
Plus the OP taboot!
:D
 
Kawasaki said:
Brucey Boy
Might you write to the OP about your due diligence, perserverance, doggidness,single mindless and expense to get your ship, ship shape
I realise that the Tome would reduce the stockpile of parchment available to the Western World would be diminished considerably by such a communique, however the education therein would be so enlightening to all and Sundry
Plus the OP taboot!
:D
Click to expand...

Very well. I have a Formula34 PC of the same vintage as the one posted above. Indeed who copied who is hard to tell and one could be forgiven for lumping them all into the same pot. I do not find mine a pain in the rectum and delight in telling Kwakkers here, it's not a "Formula for Disaster". I do in fact thoroughly enjoy her and use her more readily, and go out in far worse, than my local peers. Unlike them, in dry suits looking miserable and cold up on the flybridge, I can normally be found in Bermuda's, Crocs and a cheap Tesco t-shirt by George. I also have the benefit on a hot day to turn the tent into a bimini in 5 minutes flat and return it to tent in 10. I can have upteen different variations depending on which panels I open, remove or unzip. I have the horrendous outdrives. Beasts designed by the devil himself that lasted 27 years before I had to do a major overhaul. Just diabolical that is. Anyway since doing them life is peachy but you know, 27 years passes slowly when you're lying beneath Damocle's sword. And talking of lying. My wee 34 foot LWL jobbie has more usable interior space than your average tank top on traditional shafts 8 foot longer because we dont have to put the 5 foot long engines in the middle of the boat smack in the middle of prime real estate. And I dont have to pay more for berthing.

No, I quite like my rather versatile and aging old sports boat. Sure she costs more to keep running at her age than a millennial debutante. But then I paid 1/10th the price for her too. It all pans down to what your preferences are and what expectations you meet. I think you will be delighted with your Targa if that it what you choose to go for.

PS
Yes I spend a lot on my boat, an awful lot. But most of that is tarting her up and rectifying previous owner omissions, yadda yadda yadda. None of them are surprise costs though. Well, how much they cost was surprising, but you'll find that out on your own whatever boat you buy.
 
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RobBradley said:
How do you stop looking at boats way outside your budget? Do you ever stop dreaming of something bigger? Please tell me the itch at least starts to fade over time?
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Somebody always has a bigger / better boat than you. Always. I like looking at Ferari's and pretty women half my age. I cant afford either. No harm in looking and no harm in dreaming but just keep in mind, nothing is more disappointing than failed expectation so keep it real and keep within budget. It's a boat, it's not jewellery.
 
RobBradley said:
How do you stop looking at boats way outside your budget? Do you ever stop dreaming of something bigger? Please tell me the itch at least starts to fade over time?
Click to expand...

It is a beggar I know
I cured the 'Urge; by kinda dropping out of Society
Became an Instructor with a 'Commercial' ticket
Which enabled Me to work and instruct on all sorts of stuff up to 24 metres
Now 'the itch' as you call it has gone
Like you, I was looking at bigger and 'better'
We do/did I reckon
Some 'gin type palaces' I have Helmed and other big boats
Blimey what a load of rubbish but they look good
Especially in the Brochures with scantily clad young ladies adorning the deck/decks
Bigger aint always better Sir
Deffo where boats are concerned!
But that extra Cabin/ Bunk could be handy though
It's a Dilemma, it sure is!
:D:encouragement:
 
RobBradley said:
Any other makes/models similar to the Targa I should consider?
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Lots of sports boats out there, all much of a likeness. The Targa for its popularity is over priced for what it is imo but not lost money as it's easy enough to shift on. Whatever you buy just keep in mind your first boat is seldom a keeper but rather the one that helps you define what you really want. Me, my next boat is probably going to be a motorsailer....shock horror. But only once the kids are out the house.
 
Loving the banter. As for me, I bought a boat I had earlier rejected and was right to do so. I ended up with paying £39k less than the original asking price but knew I would have to spend a little (define little) on her, mostly cosmetic and not really essential work. I need at least 3 cabins due to the make up of the family and the foster boy is supposed to have his own room. With a total of 4 cabins including the crew one as well as the lounge that converts we have plenty of space. She sure ain't the most economical to run but she is comfortable and I love her, I'm even tempted to put a ring on her shaft. Perhaps I'm still in the honeymoon period, but when I had to leave her last Sunday, depression set in. SWMBO forgot to load our case from the boat so I'm going back down to get it tomorrow and of course I can't go there and back in one day :p
 
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