Suggestions please... day cruiser in the med?

  • Thread starter Thread starter OLG
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No I don’t Pete but they imho best fit the brief given thus far along with a few other Italian “ opens “ with shaft drives.
I agree that they do, but not in the best way. Not anymore.
Modern outboards opened an entirely new world of possibilities for day boats, up to sizes unheard of till not many years ago, and at Ferretti Group they are still missing that boat.
I very much doubt that Amati, who was a true innovator, would still be building the very same boats that he designed 50 years ago, if he were still around.
Which is essentially what they are doing at FG, on top of cutting corners to save costs in the process.
In fact, I have it on good authority that this is reflected in the most sluggish sales numbers among all their brands, already since several years.
If you are so positive about the brilliant future of Itamas, Galassi might well be interested to sell you the brand for not much more than a song.
I have a funny feeling that he would be rather happy to not include it in the IPO package that they are preparing... :rolleyes:
 
The old Targa 43 was such a good day boat
Maybe she WAS, but does she still is? Particularly for someone interested to enjoy her with a party of 8?
Budget considerations aside (which the OP didn't bring into the equation), at that size, nowadays the market is offering stuff like for instance the Midnight Express 43', which gives you twice the space.
Not to mention performance: she could eat Targas (and also Itamas for that matter) for breakfast, in any sea conditions...
 
Ah, a man with taste :encouragement: !

The old Targa 43 was such a good day boat that at one time there was 18 of them in Portals.

I'd say the new one is even better.

Wow, that is a lot of 43's in one place!

Targa 43 is on my wishlist, but I'm ignoring price at the moment. I think just the basics of the boat work so well. Good size (but is it enough space for 2 families?), loads of open space, great for getting in/out of the water and more than adequate sleeping arrangements. Plus it just looks stunning.
 
Maybe she WAS, but does she still is? Particularly for someone interested to enjoy her with a party of 8?
Budget considerations aside (which the OP didn't bring into the equation), at that size, nowadays the market is offering stuff like for instance the Midnight Express 43', which gives you twice the space.
Not to mention performance: she could eat Targas (and also Itamas for that matter) for breakfast, in any sea conditions...
You are not serious suggesting that ? The Op,s not in Miami :confused:
It will be nicked and cost 1/2 as much again in insurance .
I,ll give one 24 hrs before it driven away by a drug barons side kick on a crime ridden island where the paid off police will look the other way and just shrug there shoulders .
 
Wow, that is a lot of 43's in one place!

Targa 43 is on my wishlist, but I'm ignoring price at the moment. I think just the basics of the boat work so well. Good size (but is it enough space for 2 families?), loads of open space, great for getting in/out of the water and more than adequate sleeping arrangements. Plus it just looks stunning.

Ironically I'm spending 2 weeks on the family's Targa 43 in Portals at the moment. As PeteM said, a man with taste. I've always loved the lines of the 43 and the hull is superb. A design classic in my eyes.

We are 2 family's, (grandparents, the two of us and 2 kids). It's tight, but not unmanageable. The only real let down on the accommodation front is that Fairline decided to forget everything they had learnt about space management over the previous 20 years and decided to curve all of the seating, make the below dinette unconvertible (although we have semi converted ours into valuable bed space) and the outdoor dining a bit awkward for more than 4/5 on the oval table. What ever they were thinking I will never know (I don't think we have ever used one of our 15 or so cup holders that they filled all this dead space with). As an occasional overnighter you won't have a problem.

We have a 2005 model with the garage which is large enough to take a small Williams (albeit deflated), store skis and extra toys which is great fun for the kids. Coming back from Camp de Mar a few days ago, she cruised nose into the wind and sea at 26knots (2200rpm) fully loaded, really impressive handling and one of my favourite boat runs in 25+ years.
 
For the avoidance of doubt, there are two Targa 43 models....

1) The late nineties / early 2000's model - built like a brick sh1thouse and on shafts. Worth around £125-£200k.
2) The recent T43 OPEN on IPS drives - a beautiful thing with all the latest gadgets (decent mid cabin, hardtop, hi/lo, etc) costing £500k +.

The latter has a capacity of 12, the former probably does too.
 
Have to agree with you about a targa 43 we had one and a fabulous sea boat but I think you would struggle with 10 on board space wise. We upgraded to a targa 52 and on a trip last week we had 11 on board for the day and no complaints only remarks from the flybridge owners onboard about how much space there was .. and you have to love the sound of the d12s when there working for a living
 
10 would definitely be a struggle for a day, we'll be finding out next week!

You made the obvious upgrade with the same stunning lines! Congrats :)
 
thanks all, really useful.

I think we've found a contender, and also hitting the sweet spot in terms of size perhaps? 40'-50' range? I personally just don't think anything under 40' is going to give enough space for 2 families, sure its doable, but we want comfort and a bit of space without going too big.

So what else is out there worth looking at? The Targa 43 is certainly nice, but will cost a bit. How about a flybridge option at this size? Does the flybridge give you a lot more space than a open cruiser?
 
in that size range I think the sports cruisers have more entertaining space in the med.

If Mallorca is where you are looking, consider berth sizes and costs when choosing. They're worth investigating and may make up your mind for you... Where in Stockholm is your boat? I've got a Ryds day cruiser in Ekhagen/Brunsviken where I live and want to explore the archipelago more.
 
Its actually on the west coast, in Bastad.

One side of my family have been around Bastad and Torekov going back generations and I spent most of my summers out on boats fishing, snorkling and investigating places. Great memories. Stockholm is truly beautiful, but now that I have my own family and sadly family in Sweden become less, I'm keen to spend more time in the med, with the better weather. Also want to significantly upsize compared to the 22' Nimbus, which is a fantastic boat.
 
1) The late nineties / early 2000's model - built like a brick sh1thouse and on shafts. Worth around £125-£200k.

Without taking nothing away from its good build quality, she was more well engineered then build like a brick.

12 tons at medium load at 45 feet loa, and a beam of just under 13 feet is not what you'd call a brick house.
As an example a Pershing 43 with same engines and length but 14 feet beam weighs 17 tons, what would you call that a metal house?
Or a Sunseeker 44 Camargue with same engines weight about 14 tons but is 47 feet overall and 14 feet beam.

Old T43 is a great boat and I am a big fan, quite fast with Volvo 75s 480hp, doing 35 knots plus (I managed a whisker of 38 knots with one).
Does not like following beamy sea where it does chine walk with it.
I think the exterior is a bit tight if you are five persons or more, and that is the weak point of this boat.
Models 2003 upwards where improved with revisited more spacious tender garage which can fit a WIlliam 285 jet rib.
They also do well with Tamd 63s 370hp doing about 32 knots max speeds with a clean bum.
 
On a very similar med day boat basis, I bought a Rodman 38 flybridge. 12 m but quite beamy so good at anchor. Big cockpit for size and big bathing platform, sleeps 4. Deep V hull so good in the afternoon when the wind picks up or longer journeys. The Rodman 38 is CE rated for 8 in the Atlantic or 12 in the med, ,6 on the flybridge, 2 on the forefront sunpads, 4 in the cockpit, big fridge freezer in the galley. Beer fridge on the flybridge,, I was looking for a boat that would be good for 8 for a day, 4 for a weekend, 2 for a week. I used to have a targa 43 but for a day boat with friends the Rodman is better
 
On a very similar med day boat basis, I bought a Rodman 38 flybridge. 12 m but quite beamy so good at anchor. Big cockpit for size and big bathing platform, sleeps 4. Deep V hull so good in the afternoon when the wind picks up or longer journeys. The Rodman 38 is CE rated for 8 in the Atlantic or 12 in the med, ,6 on the flybridge, 2 on the forefront sunpads, 4 in the cockpit, big fridge freezer in the galley. Beer fridge on the flybridge,, I was looking for a boat that would be good for 8 for a day, 4 for a weekend, 2 for a week. I used to have a targa 43 but for a day boat with friends the Rodman is better

Thanks Kashurst, this is really useful and something I'm considering at the moment. Open cruiser v flybridge?

For what I want to use the boat for, and the size I'm thinking is going to be the right size (probably in that 40'-50' range), then a flybridge seems to offer a lot more space. Is there anything you miss from the Targa 43?
 
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