Targa 47 or Absolute 47 or ?

[crazy4557]

I'm starting to look around for the next boat with a view to buying later this year or early 19 and looking for another sports boat up to around the 50' length. I've always liked the Targa 47 with shafts, which is my preferred propulsion method. But T47 now starting to look a bit dated compared to the new more modern sleeker boats and the Absolute 47 is a cracking looking boat but has IPS and I'm unsure of them having heard a few costly rumours over the years.


Any other suggestions, bearing in mind it needs a good solid build quality along as well as a good residual, and prefer not a production boat like Jeaneau etc

 

[Eren]

Why not having a look at Azimut/Atlantis series?

 

[zt260]

Atlantis 47. Or atlantis 55
Depending on what age your after

Regds ash

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Shafts and all hardtop and decent power:
- Fairline 47 Targa GT
- Princess V48
- Sunseeker 47 Portofino
- Atlantis 47 HT (from 2008 onwards)
all these are powered with Volvo D9 575hp good power, reliable shafts. Atlantis has a bonus of full beam owners cabin. Suneeker has up down bathing platform.
- Absolute 47 with IPS600 Volvo D6 435hp save in fuel but over the years will have a higher service bill and Volvo dependent. Most noticable is the clutches in IPS which needs changing every 5 years. New updated clutches as used on bigger IPS should extend that by double.
- Suneeker 48 Portofino ( from 2009 and replacement of the 47) A bit underpowered with IPS600 doing 30 knots with a clean bum and medium load.
Both of these have full beam midships cabin.
- Azimut 43 S also with IPS600 fully enclosed hard top but I think still good looking.

 

[MapisM]

Shafts and all hardtop and decent power

Tut tut W, no mention of the DP 48/50 with Cat C12?
You are the only one around here could have thought of such connoisseur alternative!
Aside from another folk who is a bit biased, of course...

 

[Seastoke]

sessa c48
pershing 50

 

[crazy4557]

Shafts and all hardtop and decent power:
- Fairline 47 Targa GT
- Princess V48
- Sunseeker 47 Portofino
- Atlantis 47 HT (from 2008 onwards)
all these are powered with Volvo D9 575hp good power, reliable shafts. Atlantis has a bonus of full beam owners cabin. Suneeker has up down bathing platform.
- Absolute 47 with IPS600 Volvo D6 435hp save in fuel but over the years will have a higher service bill and Volvo dependent. Most noticable is the clutches in IPS which needs changing every 5 years. New updated clutches as used on bigger IPS should extend that by double.
- Suneeker 48 Portofino ( from 2009 and replacement of the 47) A bit underpowered with IPS600 doing 30 knots with a clean bum and medium load.
Both of these have full beam midships cabin.
- Azimut 43 S also with IPS600 fully enclosed hard top but I think still good looking.

Great summary, thanks PYB.
Not really a Sunseeker fan, not sure why as they are hugely popular. Targa 47 and P48 the default choice and both great boats, not looked at Atlantis yet, I'll take a look online. Azimut 43 a consideration that I'd not thought of either.
Ideally like a garage for decent size tender, 2 decent double cabins with ensuite for both, 3rd cabin would be a bonus, Volvo's my preferred choice at this size with TAMD 75p's having a solid reputation, don't mind canvas as bit concerned about noisy cockpit of hardtop boats.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Then Targa 47 GT is the way to go. They had the largest garage of the three, with Princess coming second and Absolute and Atlantis third and fourth.
For a main stream choice I also forgot the Cranchi 47 Mediterranee HT. Also equipped with Volvo D9 575hp. Really nice running boat, though the HT design is not to everyone liking.
Sessa C46 / 48 is a good suggestion and like the Absolute and Atlantis has a midships cabin and garage.

Other less mainstream Italian choices would be the Bruno Abbate G46 Primatist (this one sold very well) and Airon Marine 4800 T-Top. Both IPS Volvo 435hp powered.

Pershing 50 is another class of boat 16 meter much larger then two meters will tell versus a Fairline 47 Targa or a Princess V48. 2 x Man 800hp or 900hp 22/23 tons vs 15 tons.

If the buyer was buying in Italy in that size the market opens up;
- Rizzardi 45 Incredible
- Pershing 46
- Dalla Pieta DP48 (renamed 50 in 2008)
- Cayman 48 WA HT
- Uniesse 48 HT
Itama 50 for real open experience and pure deep Vee hull (dedicated to Portofino)
The Italians are half a meter longer to the mainstream choice, but all have three cabins.
With the acception of Cayman all where Man powered, (DP had also Cat option , and Uniesse also had Man, Cats or Cummins choices.
DP is the only one with tender garage. Italians invented the garage but in smaller sizes where not a fan of it.

The above mentioned are a higher quality Italian choice in my book, though with the exception of Pershing are not popular outside of Italy, France and Greece.

 

[MapisM]

With the acception of Cayman all where Man powered, (DP had also Cat option

W, while DP used MAN engines on several models (mine included), I never came across a 48/50 with anything else than the Cat 3196/C12. Are you sure that they built some with MANs?
Besides, IIRC her main dimensions were actually pretty close to the P50, though they are very different boats anyway - no Arnies on the DP, etc.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

W, while DP used MAN engines on several models (mine included), I never came across a 48/50 with anything else than the Cat 3196/C12. Are you sure that they built some with MANs?
Besides, IIRC her main dimensions were actually pretty close to the P50, though they are very different boats anyway - no Arnies on the DP, etc.

Yes DP was among the tallest in its class about 50 feet , something in the DP 48 versions.
She is in layout and function a bit on the old school of the 14 meter class sport cruisers, which was pioneered in a certain way by the old Gobbi 44 Sport, and then the old Fairline 48 Targa.

Till the Gobbi all 14-15 meter sport cruisers where two cabins or three cabins with aft cabin layout. Most Italian two cabin versions always featured aft cabins.

In Genoa boat show 1999 Dalla Pieta showed me a video of the boat planning with one engine and reaching speeds up to 25/26 knots. Cats 669hp option.

 

[jcwads]

I have to say, if I was lucky enough to be in this position I would go straight for the T47. They in my opinion hold their looks even against more modern boats. In fact I think it looks sleeker and has a statement of pure quality.

T47 is on my future shopping list.

 

[MapisM]

In Genoa boat show 1999 Dalla Pieta showed me a video of the boat planning with one engine and reaching speeds up to 25/26 knots.

LOL, why am I not surprised to hear that?
He told me once that whenever he'll have more time for boating, one of his 48/50 is the boat he would buy for himself.
Having seen and tried some of his other models, she's bound to be a great boat indeed, I reckon...

 

[MapisM]

I have to say, if I was lucky enough to be in this position I would go straight for the T47. They in my opinion hold their looks even against more modern boats. In fact I think it looks sleeker and has a statement of pure quality.

Zero interest to convince you or anyone else that the T47 isn't a good boat. In fact, I fully agree that the opposite is true.
Otoh, I don't think her look is so much different/sleeker/better, either - see example below.
Btw, I can't remember when FL introduced her in the market.
The other one, as PYB said above, was presented in 1999, and I suspect that the T47 came later...

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Fairline 47 Targa GT was launched in 2004 at Genoa out of all places. Fairline where selling 20 - 30 boats a years in Italy in around that time.

Out of the Brits I still prefer by a bit the Princess V48 though I think on the technical aspect and workmanship the Fairline of those ages where a bit better.
So it is a big challenge between the two.
I think on my first Mainstream list I would go with the Fairline.

On the second list I made for three cabin (italian) for me it is a challenge between the Rizzardi 45 Incredible and Uniesse 48 HT.
Without discounting most of what I put in that list including the Dalla Pieta.

 

[MapisM]

On the second list I made for three cabin (italian) for me it is a challenge between the Rizzardi 45 Incredible and Uniesse 48 HT.

I fully agree that the Uniesse is a good alternative, for anyone who likes the "half-way fishing boat" design (for lack of a better wording).
Ref. the Rizzardi, I've never seen a 45 in flesh, but she does look very nice, and as I'm told she has good performances.
Otoh, if a few other boats of the yard which I've seen (Rizzardi built Technemas) are anything to go by, the construction quality is nowhere near Uniesse and DP - which to be fair are hard to beat, in that department...

 

[Portofino]

My concern is the T47 is underpowered in Co of the Italians put forward .
We have 3 currently ( had 5 recently) on my jetty .Theres a lot of mass / bulk for D9 ,s
Suspect sub 25 knot cruise in every day use .
Agree the style seems pretty date less and agreeable can see the appeal but I would want 12-16 L engines

 

[rubberduck]

My concern is the T47 is underpowered in Co of the Italians put forward .
We have 3 currently ( had 5 recently) on my jetty .Theres a lot of mass / bulk for D9 ,s
Suspect sub 25 knot cruise in every day use .
Agree the style seems pretty date less and agreeable can see the appeal but I would want 12-16 L engines

Abs 47 does 40 knts, & on our recent refit the Guys who were working on her & also do a lot of FL stuff, said she was hard work as she was not designed to fall apart.
We had nothing but compliments from Volvo engineers etc. re build quality on our previous abs 41 as well.

 

[crazy4557]

Abs 47 does 40 knts, & on our recent refit the Guys who were working on her & also do a lot of FL stuff, said she was hard work as she was not designed to fall apart.
We had nothing but compliments from Volvo engineers etc. re build quality on our previous abs 41 as well.

I like the looks of the Absolute but the T47 is the default choice for many Brits and maybe me too, but I'm interested to hear about and look at alternatives. Whats the biggest tender size you can fit and any particular negative to be looking at in your experience?
Some real left field choices been suggested on here but I'm not sure I'd be 100% comfortable with going outside the box so to speak.

 

[stelican]

Abs 47 does 40 knts, & on our recent refit the Guys who were working on her & also do a lot of FL stuff, said she was hard work as she was not designed to fall apart.
We had nothing but compliments from Volvo engineers etc. re build quality on our previous abs 41 as well.

Hi Rubberduck
Glad your feeling well enough to talk boats.
Tell me is the Absolute IPS drive as that is very good top speed.

 

[MapisM]

Some real left field choices been suggested on here but I'm not sure I'd be 100% comfortable with going outside the box so to speak.

It all depends on whether your low comfort feeling depends on the idea that build quality on Brit boats is better, or is based on other factors like residuals, particularly in markets like the UK where some brands are unheard of.
If the latter, then stick to whatever you prefer among the most well known brands - you can't be too wrong with them anyway.
But if the first, I would suggest you to arrange a trip to Italy and have a look at some of the "left field choices" above, even if you possibly never heard of them.
I'm willing to bet that you'd be VERY surprised.