Fairline Targa 48 Gran Turismo

Spotlight

Established in 1967 and having recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, Fairline Yachts has a reputation for innovation and excellence.

The UK-based company has been building family and sports cruisers for almost 40 years of its history, embarking on the build of even larger craft in the early 1990s. It’s these craft that effectively cemented the brand’s global reputation, a reputation that has just entered a new stage of its evolution with the arrival of celebrated Italian designer Alberto Mancini and Dutch naval architects and superyacht specialist, Vripack, into the Fairline fold.

Fairline’s first Targa was launch in 1985. That boat, the Targa 33 set a benchmark for the modern express cruiser and helped establish the brand in markets outside of Europe.

Much more recently, Fairline launched the 48 Series in 2014. The innovative design incorporated both resin-infusion technology and a new monocoque deck construction, as well as a unique hull, designed exclusively for Volvo’s IPS pod-drive technology.

The Targa 48 Open has been one of Fairline’s most popular models. And now the company has released an updated version of the Targa 48 Gran Turismo (GT).

Based on the same hull, mechanicals and layout as the Targa 48, the Fairline Targa 48 GT, adds a level of luxury to the equation.

The craft we’re profiling is lying at Sanctuary Cove (Qld) and is available for immediate delivery. It has been upgraded for local conditions by Leigh-Smith Yachts and features an Australian-friendly ‘galley up’ layout and retains its full deck-level salon, aft sliding doors and opening hardtop.

Being one of the most recent 48 GT builds, Hull 48/529 GT also incorporates the latest 2018 upgrades to Fairline’s 48-foot range. These include a reworked interior to “maximise quality, comfort and style” and, says Fairline, the addition of the same full-length hull windows that feature on the award-winning Targa 63 GTO.

“Ensuring life below deck is bathed in natural light as well as adding a modern, sleek and stylish exterior look,” Fairline stated.

Grand proportions

While the Targa 48 Open offers plenty of protection for a sports boat, the Fairline Targa 48 Gran Turismo takes the equation one step further. The one-touch operation powered, glazed sunroof teamed with luxurious saloon seating makes for an ideally versatile experience both day and night – and the feeling of a much larger yacht.

Starting from aft, there’s a good sized cockpit with a large u-shaped lounge for the whole crew. A removable table delivers an al fresco dining experience and there’s a small wet bar to starboard just outside the sliding saloon door.

Two steps down from the cockpit is a large swim platform. The platform provides access to generous aft storage and, as it is powered, can be configured to accommodate and easily launch and retrieve a tender or personal watercraft.

Step into the salon and there’s room for more. On the portside a large lounge beckons. There’s more seating provided forward opposite the expansive starboard helm station which includes all the normal Volvo IPS controls and a full Garmin suit of electronics.

As noted above, the Fairline Targa 48 GT is traditionally a galley down craft. In this case, our local 48 GT has been redesigned to feature the galley at main deck level to starboard. There’s good storage, a two-pot electric hob, combination microwave and a large under-bench fridge and freezer.

As you’d expect from an established boat builder like Fairline, there’s also proper fiddled crockery storage and what is a functional yet stylish layout. Extra stowage is situated below decks in the sole.

Cabin fever

Below decks, there’s the familiar layout with plenty of room to move. The wide companionway and glazed hardtop ensure the space is flooded with light.

One of the benefits of the Volvo IPS coupled pod-drive system is space efficiency and this is obvious in the Targa 48 GT. The midships master cabin is expansive for a craft of this size. There’s a central double berth, seating area to starboard and plenty of natural light thanks to large fixed lights on both sides.

A full master ensuite is also standard.

The comfortable forward VIP cabin features a clever, convertible scissor island berth that can switch from single to double in seconds. There’s a two-way ensuite which it shares with a two-bunk third cabin.

These cabins are also are flooded with light thanks to the generous hull-side windows.

Ex-factory, the Fairline Targa 48 GT offers the option of a traditional galley down design with either two or three cabins. The former adds an extra lounge area on the lower deck level.

Power house

Powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS 600s rated at 435hp per side, the Fairline Targa 48 GT has plenty of performance. The factory claims a maximum speed is in 30kt region (56km/h) but local sea trials have indicated performance is even better (34kt-plus).

It’s a measure of the efficiency of the hull and Volvo’s IPS drives too that fuel efficiency barely changes from slow cruise (19kt at 2600rpm) right the way through 3600rpm max measured engine speed.

Fairline offers a 550hp IPS700 option for the really power hungry.

As most Aussie boat-buyers would expect, Hull 48/529 has been equipped by Leigh-Smith Yachts with an upgraded 11kW genset, Tropical aircon, a bowthruster and icemaker. With around 1300 litres of fuel and almost 500 litres of water available, coastal cruising is comfortably with the 48 GT’s brief

Aussie flavour

The Fairline Targa 48 GT, and the Fairline brand as a whole has much to offer Aussie boaties.

And an indication of its affinity with the Aussie boating lifestyle is the fact Fairline shot its main 2018 campaign imagery on Sydney Harbour earlier this year. The images were captured by Yachting Image’s, Charl Jordaan.

Karl Gilding, Business Development Director at Fairline Yachts, commented: “Export currently represents 89% of our annual [global] sales and Australia has always been an important market for us.

“Our 48-foot range of yachts is proving to be incredibly popular throughout the region with the size and specification perfectly suited to the Australian boating lifestyle,” Guilding stated.

It’s a sentiment with which Leigh-Smith Yacht’s, Ryan Leigh-Smith agrees.

“We’re seeing a lot of new interest in Fairline,” Leigh-Smith told boatsales.com.au.

“The 48 GT is very versatile. This is a boat that would suit a wide range of users. It’s got the performance for quick day tripping, but in three-cabin form there’s plenty of room for extended family.

“We’ve had a number of long-time customers move from long-range boats into this style. The layout, performance and engineering appeals right across generations of boat owners and users… And, best of all, you’re not missing out on any of the Euro flare and wow factor,” he said.

Specifications: Fairline Targa 48 Gran Turismo
Priced from: $1,300,000
Priced as tested: $1,350,000 (Hull 48/529 available for immediate delivery)
LOA: 15.64m (inc pulpit) submersible platform
Beam: 4.32m
Displacement: 13,500kg.
Draft: 1.18m
Fuel: 1300 litres (approx)
Water: 480 litres (approx)
Standard Engines: Volvo IPS600 435hp
Enquiries: Leigh-Smith Yachts, tel 07 5577 9200

Note: Boatsales.com.au spotlights are NOT boat reviews. All information and performance figures in Boatsales.com.au spotlights are supplied by the boat brand or dealership in question and have not been independently verified.