David Lockwood•14 May 2012

REVIEW

Fairline Targa 38 GT

Name: Fairline Targa 38 GT
Brand: FAIRLINE

A British triumph with rocketship performance and five-star comforts

LIKES

- Hot performance and handling, especially with biggest engine option

- Joystick docking device really does work

- The huge options list makes this boat special

- Attention to detail with great fit and finish

- Terrific convertible cockpit with weather protection

- Well-executed layout and accommodation below decks

- Nice ambience thanks to stylish decor and soft furnishings

- Dedicated local agent is a boating enthusiast

- Fairline has established badge respect

NOT SO MUCH

- Fixed portlights in saloon

- Sun pad fixings could be improved so it stays down at speed

- Some spray in cockpit from the station-wagon effect when fast cruising

OVERVIEW

- UK boat builder’s best seller

Fairline’s smallest boat, a genuine English sports cruiser, isn’t short on performance. Nor fans. Our boat was hull no 224 but by the time you read this, the UK yard will be well over 250. However, this was just the second Fairline Targa 38 Grand Turismo off the factory floor, that is, with the new semi-hardtop with concertina canvas sunroof and better hull-side glazing.

While by far the majority of Fairline’s 38s are the Open model, we feel this is a much better boat. The new GT’s helm and cockpit derive weather protection from a substantial lid. The Open only has a soft top, some canvas running from the radar arch, and the addition of pesky clear side curtains.

Following its release at the Southampton boat show last September, the UK boating press can’t speak highly enough of the Targa 38 GT, which already won awards in popular Open guise. On top of that, Fairline is on the rebound financially.

Fairline received fresh backing when private-equity company Better Capital bought the business last July. It’s evolving existing models, like this 38, there are also new models like the 50s in build, and a semi-custom 80-footer will be launched to meet the top end of town.

"We’re 100 per cent behind Fairline," says Tony Sobol from Fairline Victoria and Lifestyle Motoryachts, with flash offices at Docklands where his 38 is moored. The dealership also covered NSW, Tasmania and the ACT at the time of writing.

In Melbourne, there are just half a dozen Fairline boats, says Tony, who clearly has room to grow the business. He wanted to make a big impression with this baby Fairline, to show just what’s possible, so he optioned up the demonstrator to the absolute hilt. An orthopaedic surgeon, his is a telling eye for detail and, he will tell you, hence the reason for Fairline.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- Absolutely loaded and ready to please

From a base price of $457,522 with the smallest D4 260hp engines, our demonstrator starts at $545,153 with the big D6 400hp upgrades. But the chummy Melbourne dealer added $119,114 in options. As such, this Targa 38 GT costing $664,267 isn’t one of the cheapest 38s around. But, boy, it’s one heck of a boat.

While Tony admits his demonstrator is "an obscene price for a 38", he points out that you can still get a beautiful boat for sub-$500,000. "There is huge interest in this boat," he adds, "because thanks to exchange rates it’s now priced on parity with a Taiwanese-built alternative. But we have superior UK finish and performance."

Big-ticket options on the demonstrator included generator and tropical-strength air conditioning ($35,925) also to helm deck and cockpit, Volvo Joystick ($25,155), Garmin radar and 5008 touch-screen GPS ($11,089) autopilot for Joystick ($8042) teak cockpit ($5,988), and folding teak cockpit table with sunbed conversion ($5,314).

The only regret was fitting AIS to the Garmin VHF radio ($2,799). There are just so many ships in the Port of Melbourne that the alarm was sounding every few hundred metres.

On the other hand, the sofa bed in the aft cabin that converts to a third berth was $1,027 well spent. Tony has three children and this is their domain. The standard layout has a sink and cupboard there instead.

"I went over the top but I wanted a premium boat with a big equipment list, a boat spec’d like a Squadron 50," he explains as we idle down the mighty Yarra past yet more ships. Beep, beep, beep goes the AIS.

DECK LAYOUT

- All-weather entertainer

There’s a lot of deck undercover, which is a good think is respect of the harsh Australian sun. Those wanting to work on their tan only need go forward, up some steps and along the safe side decks, to find the foredeck sun pad. En route, you might notice the big-boat deck fittings, moulded toe rails, blue LED lights and eventually the concealed windlass.

Looking back, the lines look fast, with raked windscreen and heavy-duty wipers, rooftop with a mast with radar dome, and a spotlight, of course. The mouldings are nice and fair, while the silicon wipes were executed with care.

Back aft, the swim platform is big enough to tote a 285 air hull, there are wet lockers for gear, and neat teak drink holders in the cockpit corners. A hard styling edge traces the L-shaped cockpit lounge, which converts to a daybed and has a concealed teak table around which six can do lunch. Tuck it all away at party time.

The amenities centre behind the starboard helm includes teak-topped servery, electric griddle with splashback, hot and cold water to a sink, a fridge and a separate garbage bin. In other words, it’s the complete go-to centre for outdoor entertaining.

The grey caulking in the teak floor was a nice detail, while the fast activation of the sunroof mechanism didn’t go unnoticed.

ACCOMMODATION

- Big interior, wonderful styling, abundant living space

"We’ve taken the boat down to Mornington. There’s a lovely restaurant at the end of the pier. We did lunch and then took a walk. We’ve done three days aboard and with the aft cabin the way it is we can sleep our three kids," explains Tony.

Indeed, the accommodation plan on this Targa 38 GT is really very impressive, especially in light of the 12.13 metre LOA footprint. There are two uncompromising cabins, separated by a comfortable saloon. The boat will easily sleep a family of four or more.

A guest couple will appreciate the scissor berths in the aft cabin as they slid together to form a double. You can also convert the dinette into an impromptu bed if you have to. Which is to say nothing of that convertible dinette in the cockpit that turns into a sun pad. Attach the supplied covers and you could sleep here in summer.

Design-wise, Fairline uses every bit of available space, with storage in abundance including underfloor, under stairs, under lounges, in nooks around the beds, drawers, side cupboards, open shelves, via hanging lockers and in various 'bins'. And as Tony says, the attention to detail and build quality is just excellent.

Ventilation is another high point, with triple opening ‘windows’ in the aft cabin alone, all of which have fly screens. The forward stateroom with island berth has a nice ceiling feature along with more opening (Oceanair) hatches and portlights, trick reading lights and generous headroom throughout.

It’s also nice to find a separate shower stall, with circular sliding ‘Tardis’ screen, on a boat of this size and, with 296 litres of water, you can weekend away. The Vacuflush freshwater head is just as welcome, while the square porcelain sink and chic bathroom fittings create a feeing of luxe. Ventilation comes via an opening portlight, extractor fan and air-con outlet.

The plush C-shaped leather lounge faces a dinette and television. Casting our eyes around, there’s an agreeable ambience created by light oak joinery, cream waffle-weave carpet, taupe soft liners and big (albeit fixed) windows for natural light. Sets the mood with iPod dock that plays music and streams video to the TV.

Alongside the companionway, the galley down is still convenient. Black Avonite counters sit atop drawers and a pot locker, fridge and convection microwave oven, with recessed round sink and two-burner stove. Ventilation comes via an extractor fan. Under the sofa/lounge you’ll find a dedicated crockery drawer.

Both grey and black water tanks are provided, and there’s a water gauge at the galley. The battery management panel includes a separate galley trip switch, digital readout, while the optional timber floor at this working galley area will help with clean ups.

MECHANICAL AND HULL

- Sharp hull, busy but profesional engineering

The 38 hull has pedigree, as it hails from Bernard Olesinski, the naval architect behind all Fairline (and Princess) boats. They get a bit of weather in the UK, so rough-water performance is a criterion. Batten down the hatches and button down the sharp bow and go for it. The V-forward design has a handy 18 degrees of deadrise aft.

While the engine room was busy due to the generator and extra engineering items, it was neatly laid out and well executed all the same. Lift out sub-lounge panels let you access all parts of the engines, while alloy wing tanks carry the fuel, with external shutoffs, balance lines and an extinguisher system.

Owners can easily see the clear strainers on the engines, dip the oil and top up the coolant. A visual inspection around the blocks and bilge and you’re pretty much right to go. The high-performance drives had Propspeed and, with full electronic fly-by-wire steering and no tie rod, the running surface is very efficient.

With an exhaust/water splitter on the generator, its operation was unobtrusive and we’d happily lunch aboard while it’s running. Who said winter was time to mothball the boat? Dial up the heating and get cosy.

ON THE WATER

- Fast getaway, speedy retreat

In keeping with the sports cruiser theme, the boat had Volvo Penta diesel engines had Aquamatic sterndrives spinning Duoprops. But here’s where things get interesting. Our demonstrator didn’t have the base twin D4 260hp models (33 knots), not the D4 300hp variants (37 knots), or the big D6 370hp engines (42 knots).

Our rocket ship ran the biggest possible Volvo Pentas, the D6 400hp EVC engines for, not that you have to wait for it, 45 knots top speed. According to Tony, the official sea trials in the UK with the big engines and nothing much in the way of gear or fuel resulted in 53 knots ."Dry and wild," is how he likes to explain the ride.

The matt-grey, purpose-designed dash housed a 12in multifunction display, autopilot, chain counter, trim tabs, analogue and electronic gauges, banks of rocker switches, throttles and wheel that fall to hand, chart locker and compass beyond.

A foldout teak foot platform lets you drive while looking out the open sunroof -- handy in tight spots -- or you can fold the bolster down and lean back into the helm chair. Co-pilot and navigator have their own lounge opposite.

On this glorious day when Port Phillip Bay resembled a bowling alley, we didn’t spare the horses. The Volvo Joystick made decamping and docking later a simple affair. Somewhere clear of the go-slow zone, with the drives in auto-trim mode, the boat shot out of the hole, thanks to the 400s. We ran down to St Kilda, banking in turns as tight as you dare.

Some fuel figures to contemplate. At 2500rpm, the boat does 24.4 knots for 70 litres per hour in total. Some 90 per cent of the 636 litre fuel supply gives a range of almost 200 nautical miles. Fuel consumption jumps to 93 litres per hour at 2800rpm for 32 knots and a range of 197 nautical miles. Fast cruise of 36.5 knots at 3200rpm sees 116 litres per hour and a 180 nautical mile range.

VERDICT

- Well-executed sports weekender

If ever the SUV acronym applied to a boat, this is it. The Targa 38 GT is a real sports utility vessel. It has British racing-car-like performance and handling, practicality to entertain family and friends, and generous accommodation to weekend away, and a fittingly flash fit and finish.

At that sweet 36-37 knot continuous cruise, with the engines under little load, we could have arrived at Geelong in an hour or Portarlington in half that time for a pot of local mussels and a pint. Then stayed the night. Sterndrive legs let you can anchor in close.

The only fault was a slight bit of sucked back spray in the cockpit when fast cruising. Otherwise, the Targa 38 GT is an inspirational fast getaway machine. In Melbourne, myriad bayside opportunities are now just minutes away.

Specifications:

Price as tested : $664,267 with upgraded 400hp D6 Volvo Penta engines, generator and tropical-strength air conditioning, Volvo Joystick, Garmin radar and 5008 touch screen GPS with autopilot for Joystick, teak cockpit, folding teak cockpit table with sunbed conversion, and more.

Priced from $457,522 with the smallest D4 260hp engines.

LOA: 12.13m

Beam: 3.64m

Draft: 1.02m

Weight: 7,687kg dry

Water: 296 litres

Fuel: 626 litres

Sleeping: 5 + 2

Engines: Volvo Penta D6 400hp EVC in-line, six-cylinder turbocharged diesels

Supplied by:

Fairline Victoria and Lifestyle Motoryachts

Shop RW-07 “Waterfront City”

439 Dockland Drive

Docklands, Victoria, 3008

Email: lifestylemotoryachts@gmail.com

Web: http://www.lifestylemotoryachts.com.au

Phone: Tony 0419 572 616, David 0417 543 150, Ian 0422 817 695

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Fairline Targa 38 GT

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